Environment

The Minnesota Court of Appeals has reversed a decision by state regulators to renew a wastewater permit for U.S. Steel's Minntac iron mine in northeastern Minnesota.

A revised environmental review of the proposed Line 3 replacement pipeline by state regulators says Lake Superior would likely not be threatened if the new line were to spill oil.

This was a big year for environmental news in Minnesota: Water Gremlin was temporarily shut down over lead poisoning threats, Gov. Tim Walz created a climate “subcabinet” to address the state’s climate change goals, and Xcel Energy decided to retire two coal plants earlier than planned. MPR News reporters Dan Kraker and Elizabeth Dunbar join the program and look back at the top stories in environmental news in 2019 and ahead to what’s to come in 2020.

In Montana, a former Silicon Valley entrepreneur wants to create a massive, privately funded public park. Some ranchers oppose the American Prairie Reserve and say they can better conserve the land.

We’ve been collecting your questions about climate change. Now, we’ll give you the answers!

A mysterious die-off of freshwater mussels has scientists scrambling to find a cause. Freshwater mussels clean water and provide habitat to countless other species.

As part of our ongoing series, we explore how well you can get around the state in an electric vehicle.

Have you ever driven past or hiked along a Minnesota river and wondered what gives it that particular color? One MPR News listener did. She asked, "Why is the Mississippi River so muddy when compared to other rivers like the St. Croix? Has it always been this way?"

A Twin Cities doctor is drawing on the theories she uses in health care to take her climate activism to the next level.

The city’s epic struggle with downtown crows and their poop intensifies in the winter. Chasing them away falls to a dedicated band of city workers armed with lasers, starter pistols and crow distress calls. MPR News spent a night with the crew.