Environmental News

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Getting to Green: Minnesota’s energy future

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The man who put the ‘snap’ in Honeycrisp is stepping aside
Jim Luby, who has led the fruit breeding program at the University of Minnesota since 1982, is retiring. His is one of the researchers credited with developing such apples as the Zestar!, the SweeTango and, the giant among them, the Honeycrisp. He’s also developed many other fruits too. It’s involved a lot of hard work, experimentation and tasting thousands of apples.
Confused Minnesota lilacs produce rare fall blooms
It’s not easy to trick flowers but Minnesota’s unusual weather has been great at convincing lilacs to rebloom for fall. One researcher at the University of Minnesota says it can happen and it’s nothing to worry about.
Support dog's presence didn't bias sex abuse trial, Minnesota appeals court rules
In July 2023, a Stearns County jury found Jairo Fernandez Sorto guilty of first-degree criminal sexual conduct for abusing a teenage girl for years starting when she was eight. Stearns County’s facility dog, Nova, was present in the courtroom as the 15-year-old testified.
Florida’s coral reefs are still ailing but doing better
A year after the worst coral bleaching ever recorded, Florida's reefs are slowly recovering. Despite elevated ocean temperatures, scientists say this summer they didn’t see significant bleaching.
Can the most popular red wine in the U.S. endure climate change?
Bold cabernet sauvignon wines made Napa Valley famous. Now, hotter temperatures are starting to damage the grapes, so some wineries are starting to experiment.
'Mr. Greedy,' a prolific penguin dad, has died at age 33
Mr. Greedy, a beloved member of the Maryland Zoo, was a prolific breeder who helped boost the endangered African penguin population. He died following an age-related health decline, the zoo said.
Bringing back ‘bio supermarkets’: Program helps landowners restore vanished wetlands
Wetlands help prevent flooding, filter nutrient pollution, store carbon and provide wildlife habitat. But many have disappeared due to draining and filling. A partnership between the federal government and a nonprofit is helping willing private landowners restore wetlands in the Upper Mississippi headwaters.
East Phillips group gets 1-year extension to buy Roof Depot site
A neighborhood organization planning to purchase the Minneapolis Roof Depot site now has an extra year to come up with the funds, after hitting road blocks in finding the money. The City Council passed a measure Thursday extending the deadline from next week to September 2025.