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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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Climate Cast

Listen to Climate Cast, the MPR News podcast all about our changing climate and its impact in Minnesota and worldwide.

Scientists gather to study risk from microplastic pollution

Scientists gather to study risk from microplastic pollution

Scientists say "microplastics" are turning up everywhere in oceans, from the water itself to the guts of fish and the poop of sea otters and giant killer whales. Research into the impact of these tiny bits of broken-down plastic is just getting underway.
by The Associated Press

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Colombians grapple with a big problem: Wandering hippos

Colombians grapple with a big problem: Wandering hippos

An estimated 80 hippos, perhaps more, live in the area around the Rio Magdalena, Colombia’s principal river. They're descendants of four hippos that were brought to the country by infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar.
by The Associated Press

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Crews extinguish stubborn fire at Northern Metal in Becker

Crews extinguish stubborn fire at Northern Metal in Becker

Officials in Becker, Minn., said Saturday that the stubborn fire at the Northern Metal Recycling facility has finally been extinguished.
by MPR News Staff

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Report: Minnesota paying out $135K annually due to wolf kills

Report: Minnesota paying out $135K annually due to wolf kills

In the last decade, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture has paid out an average of $135,000 on about 110 wolf depredation claims each year.

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'Antarctica melts,' NASA says, showing effects of a record warm spell

'Antarctica melts,' NASA says, showing effects of a record warm spell

Taken just nine days apart, two images illustrate the impact a recent warm period had on the Antarctic Peninsula. NASA says such warmth "has become more common in recent years."
by Bill Chappell

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As fire continues, state halts most Northern Metal operations in Becker

As fire continues, state halts most Northern Metal operations in Becker

State pollution control regulators Friday ordered the Northern Metal Recycling to stop accepting scrap metal at its site in Sherburne County, effectively halting the company's operation at the facility before it could begin.
by Kirsti Marohn

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Investigation of Becker scrap fire begins amid health worries

Investigation of Becker scrap fire begins amid health worries

Officials said the fire at the new Northern Metal Recycling plant is largely contained, after firefighters separated a portion of the vehicle pile and let it burn out, creating a fire break. But the debris continued to smolder Thursday, sending a diminished but still visible plume into the clear winter sky.
by Kirsti Marohn

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Home renovators reap rewards of reuse, recycling

Home renovators reap rewards of reuse, recycling

Hundreds of thousands of tons of construction and demolition waste — much of it from home tear-downs and remodeling jobs — end up in landfills every year. But some homeowners are learning it's environmentally and financially rewarding when those materials are reused or recycled.
by Martin Moylan

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Superior refinery evacuated amid concerns that tower might fall

Superior refinery evacuated amid concerns that tower might fall

Workers at the Husky Energy oil refinery in Superior, Wis., were evacuated Thursday because of concerns a tower at the facility might fall. Superior police said there is no threat to public safety.
by Andrew Krueger

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