Water

Water shortages and problems around Minnesota — and the country — have many wondering what is the true cost of clean and reliable water. This reporting is supported in part by The Water Main, a project of American Public Media.

A look at the day's political news.
A look at the day's political news.
Wisconsin mine may hold key to controversial Minnesota project
A closed Wisconsin mine is playing a prominent role in the ongoing debate over mining for metals like copper and nickel, a debate that's currently raging in Northern Minnesota.
A look at the day's political news.
Five at 8 – 11/9/09: Hacking up the Internet
Putting the Internet back in the bottle, the perils of political promises, the joy of the surprise visit from your soldier-child, the clash of the pierced-nose culture, and Taylor Swift's monologue song.
Corroding Williams sewage treatment plant concerns town
A sewage treatment plant in a small northern Minnesota town is failing and threatens to dump thousands of gallons of raw sewage into Lake of the Woods.
New concerns raised over blacktop sealant runoff
A long-standing ritual of homeowners - sealing their blacktop driveways - is getting new scrutiny from the state of Minnesota because sealant from driveways and parking lots may be washing off into ponds and streams as hazardous waste.
Livestock farmers have last chance to get waivers
A voluntary program to help livestock farmers comply with environmental regulations ends next year and those who haven't made the changes yet have until the end of the week to apply for a waiver. Otherwise, the agreement commits farmers to make improvements by the end of next year.
Ring dike program will protect more than just farms
More than $4 million will pay for ring dikes around farmsteads in the Red River Valley, but flood protection is only a secondary goal for the federal program.
Human activity along Mississippi River creating "dead zone" downstream
Internationally-known marine ecologist Nancy Rabalais joins Midday to explain the Mississippi River ecosystem and what can be done to protect it. Rabalais is at Gustavus Adolphus College for the Nobel Conference, "H2O: Uncertain Resource."