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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.

Bigleaf maple syrup flows as profits drip from once-maligned Northwest tree

Bigleaf maple syrup flows as profits drip from once-maligned Northwest tree

The Pacific Northwest is getting into the lucrative maple syrup industry. Farmers and researchers in Washington state are beginning to tap the sweet potential of the much-maligned bigleaf maple tree.
by Anna King

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Locust swarms in Africa are worst in decades

Locust swarms in Africa are worst in decades

The worst outbreak of desert locusts in Kenya in 70 years has seen hundreds of millions of the bugs swarm into the East African nation from Somalia and Ethiopia. Those two countries have not had an infestation like this in a quarter-century.
by The Associated Press

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Top-five flood possible for the Red River this spring

Top-five flood possible for the Red River this spring

Communities along the Red River could see a top-five flood this spring, according to preliminary flood outlooks from the National Weather Service.
by Dan Gunderson

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As court case continues, MPCA defends handling of PolyMet permit, citing efficiency

As court case continues, MPCA defends handling of PolyMet permit, citing efficiency

In the third day of an unusual court hearing investigating alleged “procedural irregularities” in the way a mine permit was issued, former MPCA Commissioner John Linc Stine testified his agency asked the EPA to delay submitting critical comments because his staff was stretched too thin responding to other comments.
by Dan Kraker

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MPCA estimates greenhouse gas emissions for Winona Co. dairy farm expansion

MPCA estimates greenhouse gas emissions for Winona Co. dairy farm expansion

After Minnesota’s appeals court revoked a controversial permit for a proposed dairy farm expansion in Winona County, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency released a draft permit and an additional environmental review that shows the project’s potential impacts to the climate.
by Hannah Yang

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In court, environmental regulators accused of suppressing comments in PolyMet case

In court, environmental regulators accused of suppressing comments in PolyMet case

In the first day of what’s expected to be a five- to 10-day evidentiary hearing, a former EPA official said Minnesota officials asked the agency to withhold written comments that were critical of the proposed PolyMet copper-nickel mine. The MPCA says it followed the law.
by Dan Kraker

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How to talk with kids about climate change

How to talk with kids about climate change

Climate change is scary — even for the grownups. What are the best practices when it comes to talking to kids about our planet's future?
by Catharine Richert and Kelly Gordon

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