Greater Minnesota

After contentious zoning approval, Hermantown now delays controversial data center's permits
The small northern Minnesota city tabled consideration of the two permits after a group opposing the proposed data center filed a petition asking for additional environmental review of the controversial project.
Blue Earth hospital offers hope amid nationwide rural maternity ward closures
Hospital labor and delivery units are closing all across the country, most notably in rural areas where care providers are already few and far between. But a couple of rural hospitals in Minnesota are doing the opposite: they're expanding.
Rural health care in Minnesota: What's changing and why?
Mayo Clinic Health System recently announced it will end on-call labor and delivery services in Owatonna in November. MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks about what it means for families — and for rural health care in Minnesota.
Controversial northern Minnesota data center proposal advances despite opposition
After an hourslong meeting, the Hermantown City Council approved a needed zoning change to advance the proposed data center that’s being developed by an unnamed Fortune 50 company.
What to know about data centers in Minnesota
Mega data centers are being proposed across Minnesota. But they use a lot of water and electricity. MPR News guest host Catharine Richert and her guests talk about why these projects are creating so much debate and what you need to know.
In this west-central Minnesota town, fiddle jams draw players from ages 3 to 86
The Sunburg Minnesota Community Fiddlers started with a few people getting together to jam. One woman made it her mission to build that group into an intergenerational community centered around music and fun. 
New measles case confirmed in Rochester area, bringing state total to at least 20 in 2025
Public health officials in Olmsted County confirmed a case of measles in an unvaccinated child living in the Rochester area in southeastern Minnesota. It is the 20th confirmed measles case in the state so far this year.
Rural Voice: Community members in Wadena talk about solutions to social isolation
Rural Voice is back! This week, Kerri Miller is in Wadena for a town hall conversation about social isolation and the need for more mental health care in rural communities.
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe sues 3M, other companies over 'forever chemicals' contamination
The lawsuit says the band's testing found "alarming" levels of PFAS in lake water, fish and deer on the Leech Lake Reservation. Tribal members depend on hunting, fishing and cultivating wild rice for food, and for cultural and religious practices.