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.

Court upholds MN rules in copper-nickel mining challenge
The state appeals court dealt a setback to several environmental groups challenging the state's rules governing copper-nickel mining. The groups argued in a lawsuit that the state’s rules over mine waste disposal, mining areas and permits to mine for “nonferrous metallic mineral mining” don't adequately protect the environment.
The majority of private wells in southwestern Wisconsin are substantially polluted with fecal matter as concerns intensify over pollution of rural drinking water, according to a new study.
Listening to the 'canaries in the coal mine' of climate change
The latest dispatch from the frontier of climate change: An arctic community just saw the largest die-off of reindeer in a decade. Journalist Amy Martin is talking to the people witnessing such impacts firsthand.
In Great Lakes, high waters cause headaches, uncertainty
Water levels in the Great Lakes have reached record or near-record levels all summer. All that water is good for shipping on the lakes. But it's caused significant damage along the shoreline, and left many wondering whether high water levels are the new normal.
Emerald ash borer discovered in Worthington in SW Minnesota
Minnesota agriculture officials are placing Nobles County under emergency quarantine after emerald ash borers were discovered in Worthington. It's the first time emerald ash borers have been identified in Nobles County, the Department of Agriculture said.
Northern Metal gets extension for departure from Minneapolis location
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says a controversial metal shredding operation in north Minneapolis won't be closing this week, as expected. Neighbors have organized a rally to demand the company close its operations in their community.
Woman’s kayaking hobby brings delight, discovery at 106
Pat Marble, just a few weeks shy of 107, still spends her summers at the family lake house in Northome, about four and a half hours north of the Twin Cities where she lives. At the lake, she sleeps on the porch, and says she doesn’t do much housework anymore. But she has picked up a new hobby: kayaking.