Environmental News

MPR News is your source for environment news from Minnesota and across the country.

Getting to Green: Minnesota’s energy future

Getting to Green is an MPR News series that shares stories about Minnesota’s clean energy transition, including what needs to be done to get there.

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Judge bars property owner from landing helicopter at his Gull Lake home after lengthy legal dispute
Twin Cities CEO Doug Schieffer has been fighting with the city of East Gull Lake over whether he can take off, land and store his helicopter on his property. The city says that under its zoning ordinances, those activities constitute an “airport” and aren’t permitted in residential areas.
Klobuchar praises efforts to prevent future wildfires in Bemidji a year after massive storm
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar made a stop in Bemidji this past week for an update on the ongoing recovery efforts nearly a year after a devastating storm felled 9 million trees in the region.
Feds to close Grand Rapids lab that does global-leading research on forestry, climate change
The Trump administration plans to close two northern Minnesota U.S. Forest Service research facilities, including one in Grand Rapids that led globally recognized research on the impacts of climate change on forests and peatlands.
Veterinary toxicologist shares advice for pet parents who use cannabis
Renee Schmid, director of veterinary medicine and a senior veterinary toxicologist at the Pet Poison Helpline, told Morning Edition there’s consistently high call volume around animals and the drug.
Triplets! 3 baby eagles confirmed on Minnesota DNR EagleCam
Three baby eagles have hatched in the nest featured on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ EagleCam. They estimate that the young are about four days old.
Cleanup continues following train derailment near Warroad
Cleanup continued Monday — and may last for several weeks — following a train derailment over the weekend near Warroad. A precautionary evacuation of homes in the area has been lifted.
There are gaps in Minnesota's flood forecast network. Could AI help? 
A new model developed by a U of M researcher that blends artificial intelligence with more traditional forecasting techniques could bring flood forecasts to many parts of the state that lack them.
Lawmakers want Minnesota to study possibility of building new nuclear plants
A coalition of utilities, counties, clean energy groups and labor unions known as the Minnesota Nuclear Energy Alliance is pushing the Legislature to reconsider the state’s moratorium on new nuclear plants. Some legislators want to fund a study of the potential impacts.
New studies of old dogs help scientists understand where they came from
Scientists are tracing back the history of dogs using the oldest genes from the species ever studied. Scientists think dogs descended from an ancient population of gray wolves somewhere in Europe or Asia.