Minnesota News

MPR News is your go-to source for Minnesota news and stories.

From local stories from your Minnesota neighbors to breaking news updates across the state, we have you covered.

Court sends PolyMet permit back to state environmental regulators
A state court on Monday sent a key air emissions permit for the planned PolyMet mine back to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, a setback in the company’s bid to open the state’s first copper-nickel mine.
The latest on COVID-19 in Minnesota
Minnesota’s most recent COVID-19 data shows new daily cases are up, but key metrics continue to hover at relatively low levels.
Rangers clear BWCA closure zone as officials keep eye on Quetico wildfires
Rangers worked through the weekend to reach campers spread across a vast swath of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness that's now closed to visitors amid a growing threat from wildfires just across the Canadian border.
St. Cloud looks to restore old stormwater tunnel for bats
The project will build a new, rerouted storm sewer to replace an existing brick-and-mortar tunnel built in the 1920s. That old tunnel will be restored to provide critical habitat for bats facing population declines due to a deadly fungal disease.
Deepening drought prompts Minnesota to step up response
Minnesota officials have stepped up their drought response as the state grows drier. The drought is threatening water supplies and agriculture, and raising the risk for more wildfires.
State Sen. David Tomassoni announces ALS diagnosis
Longtime state Sen. David Tomassoni of Chisholm says he has Lou Gehrig's disease, also called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS. He says he intends to continue serving his district as well as being an advocate for those living with ALS.
Forest Service expands Boundary Waters closure north of Ely amid growing wildfire concerns
Superior National Forest officials on Saturday night issued a new, much larger temporary closure order for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness north of Ely amid growing concerns about the threat posed by wildfires burning just across the Canadian border.
July 17 update on COVID-19 in MN: Deaths, hospital needs stay low as new cases rise
New daily cases are up, but key metrics continue to hover at relatively low levels. Officials do remain concerned about the growth of the highly contagious COVID-19 delta variant among the state’s unvaccinated population.
Quetico fires being closely monitored as new Boundary Waters closure takes effect Saturday
Forest Service and firefighting personnel in the U.S. are stepping up their response to wildfires burning in Ontario that threaten to cross the international border into Minnesota's Boundary Waters.