Public News Service

The Conservation Fund said it aims to protect five million acres of forest by 2035. (Adobe Stock)

National project helps MN push back against deforestation

Deforestation remains a concern in the U.S. but success stories are emerging and Minnesota advocates said new achievements bode well for all …

The union representing Minneapolis park keepers says since 1984, the department's superintendent's salary has increased by 229%, but in contrast, frontline workers' wages have fallen behind when factoring in inflation. (Adobe Stock)

Mpls. labor dispute highlights park workers' job challenges

With the July 4 holiday approaching, families are likely to spend time at municipal parks to celebrate and Parks Department staff in Minneapolis hope …

The Minnesota DNR says rivers in several parts of the state are running extremely high and fast, and conservation officers recommend people stay off the areas until water levels drop. (Photo courtesy of DNR)

Soggy MN weather prompts safety issues as state park season kicks off

Recent bouts of heavy rain are not just leading to flooded basements in Minnesota, they are reducing access to state parks just as summer demand …

The federal government collects more than $1 billion every year through an excise tax on such items as licenses, guns, arrows and fishing tackle to fund wildlife conservation programs. (Adobe Stock)

As Congress debates new Farm Bill, hunters and anglers speak up

This week, Congress is picking up work on a new Farm Bill and hunters and anglers said billions of dollars in investments in private-lands …

New findings complied by Climate Central note that warming temperatures have led to 49 fewer

Report: Great Lakes not as icy most winters

Minnesota is seeing a glaring lack of snow and lake ice this winter, and a new report underscores how climate trends are leading to diminished ice …

In the early stages of the pandemic, Minnesota saw a revival in fishing activity. But license sales have declined again, and the Department of Natural Resources hopes new outdoor recreation investments, including expanded fishing sites, will spur more interest. (Photo courtesy of DNR)

MN gets rolling on outdoor recreation investments

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources this month is outlining how it plans to use $150 million to make upgrades to its outdoor-recreation syst…

Old-growth forests, which provide crucial wildlife habitat, clean water and carbon sequestration, are under threat from the effects of climate change, magnifying drought, disease, insect damage and fire severity. (Adobe Stock)

Public feedback sought on old-growth forest protections

States such as Minnesota have several old-growth forests, and the timber industry is pushing back against a Biden administration proposal to limit …

Over the past year, Minnesota awarded 44

Outdoor Recreation Grants to Help MN Kids Stay Healthy

Health experts say soaking up nature and taking up outdoor activities can keep kids on a healthier path as they grow. But not all of them have equal …

A Minnesota law had said the state should commit 97 percent of lottery revenue to the outdoors. But that has fallen to around 70-percent. (Adobe Stock)

MN Looks to Return to Full Funding of Outdoors

It's been two decades since Minnesota created a special account to fund aspects of outdoor recreation. Over time, some of the funding has gone …

A statewide survey in Minnesota finds 39% of lakeshore property owners feel high wakes are a problem. (Adobe Stock)

Spurred by New Report, MN Explores Boat-Safety Policy

Boat shows are taking place around the country as water recreation enthusiasts look ahead to this summer's season. A new Minnesota report …

In addition to protecting shorelines, Minnesota lake advocates say enhanced boater training could protect all lake users from powerful waves that come from bigger watercraft. (Adobe Stock)

MN Asked to Step Up Boater Training with Certificate Program

BRAINERD, Minn. - Minnesota boat owners are storing their watercraft for the winter. But that isn't stopping the conversation about responsible water …

The Nature Conservancy says the U.S. loses nearly 1 million acres of forest lands each year through development and other factors, reducing nature's ability to capture and store carbon dioxide. (Adobe Stock)

Mapping Out Nature's Ability to Store Carbon with Pinpoint Accuracy

DULUTH, Minn. - As Minnesota looks to address the impact of climate change on the region, land managers and policymakers are reminded of the role …

The headwaters of the Mississippi River play a key role in providing drinking water to 2.5 million Minnesotans. (Adobe Stock)

Key MN Resource Swept Up in Climate-Change Threat

BEMIDJI, Minn. - Despite recent rain, the effects of Minnesota's dry summer remain visible, including shrinking levels in waterways. Those monitoring …

State authorities say the Greenwood Fire in Superior National Forest was caused by a lightning strike. (U.S. Forest Service)

Greenwood Fire Prompts Safety Reminders to Protect Crews, Public Assets

DULUTH, Minn. -- With summer winding down, Minnesotans might be tempted by a last chance to soak up nature in the northern wilderness. But a growing …

Minnesota-based CD3 Systems has developed self-service cleaning stations for boat owners to use amid efforts to stop the spread of aquatic invasive species. (Photo courtesy of CD3stations.com)

You Can Adopt a Highway; What About a Boat Landing?

MINNEAPOLIS -- "Only you can prevent forest fires" is among the more iconic public awareness campaigns. In Minnesota, new funding aims to make boat …

A grizzly bear roams inside Alaska's Denali National Park. (Adobe Stock)

No Selfies with Bears! National Park Advocates Offer Visitor Tips

INTERNATIONAL FALLS, Minn. -- With COVID-19 restrictions behind them, many Americans are jumping into the wilderness with both feet. National park …

Funding for Minnesota state parks and aquatic invasive-species management have been catapulted into the debate over tougher auto-emission standards. (Adobe Stock)

Political Fight Poses Threat to Environmental Funding in MN

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- As Minnesota lawmakers hammer out differences over the state budget, a major wrinkle has surfaced, which environmental groups said …

PolyMet's proposed copper-nickel mine for northeastern Minnesota had been under review for more than a decade before it became ensnared in a legal fight over permits and hearings. (Adobe Stock)

MN Supreme Court Ruling Halts PolyMet Project

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Environmental advocates say they're breathing a temporary sigh of relief after the Minnesota Supreme Court weighed in on a …

The spiny softshell is among the three turtle species allowed to be commercially harvested in Minnesota. (Adobe Stock)

MN Plan Aims to End Commercial Harvest of Turtles

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Efforts to protect popular species in Minnesota, such as walleye, have resulted in plenty of debates and policy action. But …

The Nature Conservancy says natural solutions, such as trees capturing carbon, can play a role in Minnesota trying to get back on track in reducing emissions. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Don't Overlook Nature's Ability to Fight Climate Change

MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota is struggling to meet emission reduction goals set more than a decade ago. But the authors of a new report issued today …

Youth-centered environmental groups say their generation is greatly concerned about climate change, and policymakers need to take their concerns more seriously. (Adobe Stock)

Climate Testimonials Aim to Spur Policy Action in MN

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- When Minnesota lawmakers convene for the next regular session in January, the pandemic is likely to top the agenda. But some hope …

Wakesurfing requires a large wake behind a boat. A study is underway to determine the possible impact of those big waves, and other recreational boating, on lake and shoreline health in Minnesota. (Adobe Stock)

New Study Aims to See If Big Waves Harm MN Lakes

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- This fall, University of Minnesota researchers will study how regional lakes are being affected by large waves from recreational …

Researchers say by not adding mines around the Boundary Waters, the region could add more than 4,000 tourism and outdoor recreation jobs over a 20-year period. (Adobe Stock)

Report Urges Protecting Boundary Waters from Mining

ELY, Minn. -- The Boundary Waters are among the sites featured in a new report that says they should be shielded from mining for certain minerals …

Lee Vue says Minnesota needs to improve access to nature for people of color. She says one example is the Mississippi River in North Minneapolis, where industrial areas and roads block access. (Lee Vue)

BIPOC Community: All MN Residents Should Have Access to Nature

MINNEANAPOLIS -- Calls to close racial gaps in the U.S. have been amplified since the police killing of George Floyd, and activists say access to …

Organizers with a coalition to protect the Boundary Waters from aquatic invasive species say they fear AIS will continue to spread north toward this group of lakes and tributaries. (Adobe Stock)

Groups Work Together to Protect MN Boundary Waters

ELY, Minn. - Late May signals the start of boating season in Minnesota, which includes one of the world's most well-known wilderness areas. But with …

Conservation groups hope that any bonding bill this year will include more money to protect Minnesota's natural resources, such as the Mississippi River headwaters. (Adobe Stock)

Conservation Groups: Bonding Bill Could Stabilize MN Economy

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Earth Day is being observed in non-traditional ways today due to the pandemic. In Minnesota, conservation groups are calling …

A leading conservation group says Minnesota has a number of landscapes that could help plant and animal species thrive despite the threat of climate change. (Adobe Stock)

Protection Urged for MN's Climate-Resilient Landscapes

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Scientists are sounding the alarm over how climate change is affecting certain habitats, but some Minnesota landscapes could serve …

Minnesota officials say more flood damage is occurring beyond the typical mapped high-risk areas, resulting in more property damage. (ci.austin.mn.gov)

Report: Local Governments Should Buy More Flood-Prone Land

ST. PAUL, Minn. - A new report says local governments in Minnesota and elsewhere should be more proactive in buying up undeveloped flood-prone land…

Fees paid by visitors at America's national parks Thursday will help fund President Donald Trump's Fourth of July

Trump's July 4 Extravaganza Siphons Money from National Parks

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The first ever "Salute to America," being staged by President Donald Trump in Washington this Fourth of July will divert $2.5 …

The rusty patched bumblebee, Minnesota's new official state bee, has lost 90% of its historical range and experienced a dramatic population decline. (Paloma Ayala/Adobe Stock)

Summer Bees are Buzzing, But For How Long?

ST. PAUL, Minn. – One out of every three bites of food you eat is dependent on pollinators doing their jobs – and threats to those …

Chippewa National Forest is one of many recreational sites in Minnesota that has benefited from the Land and Water Conservation Fund set to expire in six weeks without action from Congress. (health.state.mn.us)

Will Congress Rescue Popular Conservation Program?

ST. PAUL, Minn. – A program that has contributed to America's outdoor recreation opportunities and helped conserve public lands for a half …

The repair costs to update aging infrastructure at Minnesota's national park sites, including Voyageurs, is estimated at $17 million. (wildernessinquiry.org)

MN National Parks Need Fixing; Will Congress Act?

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Filling potholes, fixing restrooms, repairing visitor centers, maintaining trails and campgrounds - that's just a sampling of …

Many of the EPA regulations that Scott Pruitt scrapped or delayed as EPA administrator had not yet taken effect before his resignation. (Wikimedia Commons)

Government Watchdog Groups: Pruitt's EPA Exit "Long Overdue"

WASHINGTON – After allegedly overspending on everything from pens to lavish trips and accepting questionable deals from lobbyists, government …

Tettegouche State Park is considered a highly resilient area in a changing climate. (Doug Kerr/Flickr)

Study Shows Midwest’s Resilience in Changing Climate

ST. PAUL, Minn. – With climate change becoming a larger and larger headline, many wonder what their part of the Midwestern landscape could look …

DNR Warns Residents to Stay Off Ice

MINNEAPOLIS — There have been at least four incidents of animals, people or both falling through ice and needing rescue in Minnesota …

PolyMet Mining says its NorthMet mine would be dug 700 feet below ground, which critics say also poses potential threats to water quality. (PolyMet)

MN Precious Metals Mine Advances to Draft Permit Stage

ST. PAUL, Minn. – What could be the final public comment period is open on a proposal for PolyMet to mine copper, nickel and other precious …

Goats were used to thin buckthorn and other invasive plants in both Minneapolis and St. Paul this year. (Sam Greenhalgh/Flickr)

Goats: MN's Friendly New Form of Weed Control

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Goats are catching on as an effective and sustainable alternative to chemicals for controlling buckthorn and other fast-growing …

A coalition of environmental groups is asking the governor to reject legislation they say will hurt Minnesota's great outdoors. (mn.gov)

Environmental Bills on Governor's Desk

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Environmental groups in Minnesota say this legislative session was full of cutbacks and rollbacks that will have a …

Most of the trash along the Great Lakes is the result of human activity, and the job is often left to volunteers to pick it up. (NOAA)

Dedicated Volunteers Needed for Great Lakes Beach Cleanups

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Conservation groups are hoping the momentum from Earth Day continues into the rest of the year. Around the country this …

Lawmakers are hearing this week from residents who say they want clean water. (cleanwateraction.org)

Water Action Day is Wednesday in Minnesota

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Wednesday is Water Action Day in Minnesota, and a rally is being held at the state Capitol. It includes workshops to help …

Members of Congress have been hearing from those who don't want to see an end to cleanup from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. (NOAA)

Scientists Bend Lawmakers' Ears About Great Lakes

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Congress has been getting an earful over the past few days about President Trump's plan to gut the Great Lakes Restoration …

Protesters say they won't give up their fight to stop the flow of oil through Minnesota and other states. (MN350)

Pipeline Protesters Watching, Waiting

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Two activists from Seattle who were arrested last fall for trying to shut off the Enbridge pipeline in Minnesota will be back …

A push to take ownership of public lands away from the federal government has no legal merit, according to a new report. (dnr.gov)

Public Lands Ownership? Taxpayers, not States

MINNEAPOLIS – While the fight over public lands and who owns them has largely been played out in Western states, there are plenty of …

New research shows Great Lakes voters would be less likely to support a presidential candidate who plans to cut restoration funds for Lake Superior and the other Great Lakes. (iStockphoto)

MN Environmentalists Ask that Next President be a "Great Lakes President"

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Whether the winner is Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump, a broad coalition is hoping that whoever takes the White House is a "Great …

Rural Minnesotans, including farmers, are in St. Paul today, discussing their priorities in how local policymakers are responding to climate change. (iStockphoto)

Rural Minnesotans Talk Climate Change Priorities

ST. PAUL, Minn. – How will Minnesota's rural communities weather climate change in the coming years? That's the big question behind the final …

Minnesota has taken the lead in protecting pollinating insects from harmful pesticides, which environmentalists say will benefit the country's agriculture system. (iStockphoto)

Minnesota Takes Lead in Protecting Pollinators

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Minnesota is being called a leader when it comes to restricting the use of pesticides that environmentalists say hurt bees…

As a test run of the Nice Ride bike share program looks to become permanent in Bemidji, a similar program is set to kick off in Rochester later this summer. (iStockphoto)

MN Health Experts Look to Expand Bike Share Program

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Now in its final year, a bike share pilot program is earning praise from Minnesota health experts who are looking to expand the …

As part of National Walking Day, Minnesota health advocates are asking for more funding for the state's Safe Routes to School program. (iStockphoto)

National Walking Day Highlights Need for Safe School Routes

ST. PAUL, Minn. - As many people gear up for National Walking Day, some Minnesotans are asking the state to do more to help youngsters find safer …

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PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - September 18, 2024

2024Talks - September 18, 2024

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MN: Public Lands/Wilderness