Greater Minnesota

City officials say Owatonna needs new police, fire stations. Distrustful residents are pushing back
City officials in Owatonna say their police and fire stations are out of date and in disrepair. But their $65 million proposal to build new ones is getting pushback from residents who want a say in the process.
Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness marks 50 years with familiar challenges
The challenges of 1976 facing what became Friends of the Boundary Waters Area Wilderness are similar to those faced by the group today after Congress overturned a federal ban on mining near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Is forward-facing sonar making fishing in Minnesota too easy?
Real-time imaging technology allows anglers to spot fish, track their movement and even watch how they react to a lure. Critics say it crosses an ethical line and worry it could increase pressure on fish populations.
Minnesota hunters are donating more venison for local food banks
Minnesota's Hunter-Harvested Venison Donation Program has been around since 2007, but it's growing more popular. The idea is simple: Hunters donate deer to local processors, who prep it for food shelves and feeding programs.
Investing in the arts pays off in southwest Minnesota
Small Minnesota towns are seeing big returns on their investments into the arts. This story on arts in southwest Minnesota is the first part in an MPR News series on how art shapes rural economies.
Hermantown tables vote on key agreements for contentious Google data center
The Hermantown City Council voted Monday night to table a decision on a tax break and development plan for a proposed Google data center. The project promises to provide tens of millions of dollars for the city and schools — but has bitterly divided residents.
Tax breaks for data centers? Minnesota cities weigh incentives to lure the mega-projects 
Hermantown officials are expected to vote Monday night on a proposal to extend tax incentives to Google in exchange for city and school funding and infrastructure costs — and the largest private investment in the city’s history.
Boundary Waters canceled permits, no-shows up last year
The U.S. Forest Service says more than 40 percent of permit reservations for May 1 through Sept. 30 of last year were never used.