Highway 53 Relocation Ahead of Schedule
VIRGINIA, Minn. - Last fall, work began on the Highway 53 relocation project near Virginia. Plans call for the new roadway to be open to traffic this November. But so…
Mining & Environmental News
Dayton Announces $350M in Federal Funds for Water Quality
ST. PAUL - Governor Mark Dayton, today, January 17, signed an agreement with the United State Department of Agriculture, to secure $350 million in federal funding to protect and improve waters in 60,000 acres across 54 Minnesota counties. The new…
Majority of Superior Shipyard Workers Test Positive for Lead
SUPERIOR, Wis. - Health officials say the majority of more than 200 workers tested for lead exposure at a Superior shipyard had elevated levels of lead in their blood. Wisconsin and Minnesota health departments began a joint investigation last spring…
ATV Accident Leaves Teen in Critical Condition
FREDENBERG TOWNSHIP, Minn. - On January 16, 2017, around 3:00 p.m., the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office, along with area volunteer fire departments, responded to an ATV crash involving a 13-year-old male driver near the 6500 block of Stevens Road…
2016 Shipping Season Coming to a Close
DULUTH, Minn. - The 2016 shipping season is coming to a close, with the last Last Laker of the Season, the Lee A. Tregurtha arriving in the Twin Ports earlier today.…
Search Canceled for Father, Toddler Swept into Ocean
NORTH BEND, Ore. (AP) - The Coast Guard has suspended its search for a father and his young son who were swept into the sea by a wave along an Oregon beach. The agency, along with Oregon State Police and…
Indoor Plants Liven Up Homes
DULUTH, Minn. - Many people use indoor plants to liven up the inside of their homes. And though taking care of indoor plants can seem effortless, it’s important to learn about the…
Shipping Season Heading into Winter Layup
DULUTH, Minn. - The 2016 Great Lakes commercial shipping season wraps up this weekend with the Soo Locks (Sault Ste. Marie) set to close at midnight Sunday, January 15. The last four freighters heading into the Port of Duluth-Superior for…
Mountain Iron Fire Leaves One Dead
UPDATE 1-16-17: Authorities have confirmed that the female who died in this fire has been identified as Ginnie L. Hanka, 57, from Mt. Iron, Minnesota. Her husband, 61-year-old David M.…
Public Scoping for Proposed Withdrawal of Federal Minerals in Rainy River Watershed
DULUTH, Minn. - Today, January 13, 2017, the U.S. Forest Service published a notice of intent (NOI) in the Federal Register to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to study the proposed 20-year withdrawal of federal minerals on the Superior…
Essar Minnesota Sues Essar Global
NASHWAUK, Minn.-Essar Steel of Minnesota has filed a $1 billion lawsuit against Essar Global, the company that owns it. Essar of Minnesota is claiming they paid their parent company about $1.1…
Study: Trace Medications, Chemicals May Be Harming Fish
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - A Minnesota Pollution Control Agency study finds trace levels of pharmaceuticals and other chemicals may be harming fish in Minnesota rivers and lakes. Recent studies found a variety of pharmaceuticals and other chemicals in Minnesota…
Fire Deaths in Minnesota Drop to Second-Lowest Level Ever
ST. PAUL, Minn. - Authorities report that one person died in the morning hours of January 12, at an apartment fire in Mound. This is the first fire fatality of 2017 for the state of Minnesota, and it comes on…
Essentia Helps Provide New Service at Chester Bowl
DULUTH, Minn. - The Chester Bowl Ski Hill in Duluth is now home to a brand new service this season, thanks to a generous grant from the…
Environmental report card highlights threat from 'mega-rains' for Minnesota
A draft environmental report card for the state warns that as global temperatures warm, Minnesotans need to prepare for increases in catastrophic ``mega-rains'' and a greater spread of tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease.The report card comes from the Environmental Quality Board, which will discuss the draft next week. The final version will provide a foundation for the Minnesota Environmental Congress in February.The report card singles out climate-related issues for the lowest marks.Minnesota is getting more frequent ``mega-rains,'' when at least 6 inches affects over 1,000 square miles. Minnesota has experienced seven in the past 17 years, compared with four in the previous 27. Minnesota recorded two this summer alone.The report also shows how ticks are becoming more widespread across Minnesota with the warmer weather.___Online:The draft 2017 Minnesota Environment and Energy Report Card can be viewed at: http://bit.ly/2hwjr4CMinnesota Environmental Congress: https://www.eqb.state.mn.us/environmentalcongress
