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Upper Midwest Newsroom

The Upper Midwest Newsroom is a public media collaboration between Wisconsin Public Radio, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, Prairie Public in North Dakota and Minnesota Public Radio News, made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Secrets of the universe: Scientists in South Dakota may have found dark matter

Secrets of the universe: Scientists in South Dakota may have found dark matter

Dark matter is a mysterious, theoretical substance that NASA calls “the invisible glue that holds the universe together.” Inside an old gold mine deep in South Dakota’s Black Hills, researchers believe they’re close to moving from theory to proof.

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Federal rule change may pressure Minnesota’s historic Pipestone quarry, advocates warn 

Federal rule change may pressure Minnesota’s historic Pipestone quarry, advocates warn 

Preservation advocates are lining up against a proposed federal rule change that could affect how the nation cares for historic places, including the Pipestone quarry, a southwestern Minnesota site sacred to Native people.
by Melissa Olson

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In Duluth, advocates say wider access to anti-overdose drug is saving lives

In Duluth, advocates say wider access to anti-overdose drug is saving lives

Naloxone is saving opioid users in northeastern Minnesota who otherwise might have died. Getting the opioid antidote in the hands of people who need it most has been key. In Duluth, Harm Reduction Sisters are handing it out for free.
by Jessica Bari

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Native entrepreneur continues to build EV charging stations on tribal land across the Midwest

Native entrepreneur continues to build EV charging stations on tribal land across the Midwest

Native entrepreneur Bob Blake has built 80 EV charging stations on tribal land across the Midwest and has handed over ownership of the assets to the tribal nations. Blake said he has found ways to work around the barriers that keep capital out of Indian Country.
by Melissa Olson

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Minnesota hemp farmers rethink the crop as federal hemp-THC ban approaches

Minnesota hemp farmers rethink the crop as federal hemp-THC ban approaches

After growing hemp since 2019, Jeremy Saueressig decided to plant more soybeans this year instead. He’s among the hemp farmers calling it quits due to uncertainty.
by Nicole Ki

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How a Native-owned company helped tribes bridge the digital divide 

How a Native-owned company helped tribes bridge the digital divide 

Madonna Peltier Yawakie saw a yawning, unmet need for Wi-Fi networks and digital connections on tribal lands and then set herself on a journey to meet it. Her success is part of a quiet national boom in Native-owned businesses.
by Melissa Olson

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Hemp builds houses, economy and opportunity in one Minnesota tribal community

Hemp builds houses, economy and opportunity in one Minnesota tribal community

Hoping to diversify its economy beyond gambling, the Lower Sioux Indian Community has put its chips on hempcrete, a sustainable housing insulation. The operation is part of a quiet, national surge in Native-owned startups. But steep challenges remain.
by Chris Farrell

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Native entrepreneurs bring jobs and inspiration to their communities

Native entrepreneurs bring jobs and inspiration to their communities

The number of Native entrepreneurs is on the rise in Minnesota. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with two indigenous business owners about their unique success and challenges.
by Angela Davis, Chris Farrell and Maja Beckstrom

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New generation of Native entrepreneurs building an economic future grounded in culture, history

New generation of Native entrepreneurs building an economic future grounded in culture, history

For centuries, tribal trade fueled culture and commerce. The reservation system severed those ties, but they never died. A new generation is reclaiming that entrepreneurial spirit as tribes work to diversify their economies beyond casinos.
by Leah Lemm

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