Greater Minnesota

The Minnesota Public Facilities Authority has awarded $37.2 million for projects to strengthen municipal infrastructures for drinking water and wastewater treatment through Minnesota.
Koochiching County says wetland laws hinder economic development
Nearly 80 percent of the land in Koochiching County is considered wetlands. Officials there say state and federal laws protecting the resource create big obstacles for economic development.
Willmar says upcoming population estimate too low
Willmar city officials say a forthcoming estimate of the city's population falls short by at least 700 people.
Low bids for construction projects both help and hurt
Bids are coming in low for public works projects - good news for taxpayers, but tough business for contractors.
Livestock auctioneers compete for world championship
Some of the fastest-talking auctioneers in the world compete for title of World Champion on June 13, in Fergus Falls.
After 85 years, protecting refuge still a challenge
The Upper Mississippi National Wildlife and Fish Refuge turns 85 this month, and biologists are still hard at work to protect it.
Detroit Lakes residents slow to embrace reverse 911
Detroit Lakes is among a growing number of cities using reverse 911 systems to communicate with the public during emergencies. But only about 10 percent of the city's residents have signed up.
From the archive: What happened at Red Lake?
"What Happened in Red Lake?" aired on MPR News the Friday, Saturday and Sunday after the shooting.
From the archive: Explaining tribal sovereignty
In the days after the Red Lake shooting, the Red Lake Band of Chippewa restricted access to its reservation. The move was legal because the reservation is a sovereign nation. On March 25, 2005, MPR News hosted a discussion of sovereignty issues.