http://minnesota.publicradio.org/about/people/mpr_people_display.php?aut_id=31036 en-us Copyright 2013 Minnesota Public Radio Sun, 19 May 2013 11:43:37 -0500 http://minnesota.publicradio.org/standard/images/mpr003/logo_mpr.gif http://minnesota.publicradio.org/?refid=0 The importance of exports to Minnesota's economy was highlighted by state economic development officials and Duluth business leaders in a news conference on Friday. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/05/17/economy/minnesota-export?refid=0 Fri, 17 May 2013 20:18:27 -0500 The first cohort of a new degree developed to prepare leaders for the unique challenge of tribal management graduates today from the University of Minnesota Duluth. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/05/16/education/umd-master-tribal-management?refid=0 Thu, 16 May 2013 17:49:43 -0500 The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has started the second phase of its ambitious study to determine why the state's moose population is declining so rapidly. Last week, they began collaring newborn moose calves. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/05/15/environment/study-moose-calves?refid=0 Wed, 15 May 2013 18:41:18 -0500 High temperatures and desert-like humidity readings are helping to drive an outbreak of wildfires in Minnesota and Wisconsin. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/05/15/weather/wildfires-break-out-near-park-rapids-red-lake-hinkley?refid=0 Wed, 15 May 2013 08:15:46 -0500 A controversial proposed copper-nickel mine in northeast Minnesota reached a major milestone Monday. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/05/13/environment/polymet-study?refid=0 Mon, 13 May 2013 21:37:29 -0500 As the Minnesota Senate debated the same-sex marriage bill Monday, some of our reporters in greater Minnesota asked state residents what they thought of the legislation. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/05/13/politics/same-sex-marriage-reaction-from-minnesota-residents?refid=0 Mon, 13 May 2013 18:34:06 -0500 Along the North Shore of Lake Superior, streams like the Lester River in Duluth are roaring, full of chocolate-brown, frothy, churning spring runoff. It's that time of year when hikers are warned to stay away from the creeks -- and when kayakers like Chris Baer flock to them. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/05/09/sports/photos-north-shore-thaw-brings-worldclass-kayaking?refid=0 Thu, 09 May 2013 07:29:23 -0500 Along the North Shore of Lake Superior, streams like the Lester River in Duluth are roaring, full of chocolate-brown, frothy, churning spring runoff. It's that time of year when hikers are warned to stay away from the creeks -- and when kayakers like Chris Baer flock to them. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/05/09/news/north-shore-kayak?refid=0 Thu, 09 May 2013 04:00:00 -0500 The moose population at Voyageurs National Park near International Falls is holding relatively steady, wildlife biologists announced Tuesday. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/05/07/environment/voyageurs-park-moose-count?refid=0 Tue, 07 May 2013 12:46:41 -0500 Many Minnesota maple syrup producers are reporting record harvests. This season's big sap days result from the same weather that draws howls of protest from mostly elsewhere. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/05/03/news/maple-syrup-production?refid=0 Fri, 03 May 2013 18:15:00 -0500 Rapid snowmelt is causing flooding concerns along some rivers and streams in northeast Minnesota. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/05/01/news/snowmelt-raises-flood-concerns-in-ne-minn?refid=0 Wed, 01 May 2013 17:25:03 -0500 After record snowfall in April, an unusual May snowstorm is forecast for soggy northeast Minnesota. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/05/01/regional/snowstorm-flood-concerns?refid=0 Wed, 01 May 2013 15:10:30 -0500 The coming-of-age story of Duluth's music scene could easily be called "North by Northeast." Now in its 15th year, the annual Homegrown Music Festival is a far cry from the late 1990s in Duluth, when there were hardly any local bands playing original music and even fewer places for them to play. The festival kicks off Sunday in Duluth, and over the next eight nights features more than 180 local bands playing 25 venues. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/04/26/arts/duluth-homegrown-festival?refid=0 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:40:11 -0500 A company that operates three taconite mines in northeast Minnesota says it is ready to produce a new kind of iron ore pellet that could potentially open new markets. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/04/25/business/cliffs-dri-pellet-production?refid=0 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:05:55 -0500 Duluth Mayor Don Ness and other northeast Minnesota leaders are urging state lawmakers not to reallocate unspent flood relief funding. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/04/24/news/duluth-mayor-legislators-unspent-flood-relief-funds?refid=0 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 17:50:49 -0500 The water levels on some of the Great Lakes are near all-time lows, including Lake Superior, according to a new report released Tuesday. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/04/23/environment/great-lakes-water-levels-reaching-record-lows?refid=0 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:17:17 -0500 Duluth-based aircraft manufacturer Cirrus Aircraft is on pace to unveil its long-awaited lightweight personal jet by 2015. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/04/22/business/cirrus-personal-jet?refid=0 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:08:05 -0500 Northeast Minnesota dug out Friday from a record-setting storm that dumped nearly two feet of snow on parts of the region, closed schools and cut off electricity to thousands of customers. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/04/19/regional/northeastern-minnesota-spring-snowstorm?refid=0 Fri, 19 Apr 2013 15:45:33 -0500 Another wintry blast has buried portions of Minnesota under more than a foot and a half of new snow, disrupted travel and closed schools. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/04/19/weather/winter-storm-minnesota?refid=0 Fri, 19 Apr 2013 06:44:10 -0500 Officials on the Iron Range are meeting with Minnesota Department of Transportation officials to discuss how to relocate a major highway in the region. Highway 53 between Eveleth and Virginia must be moved to make way for an open pit taconite mine expansion. But a newly proposed option would completely bypass both towns, and that's raised the ire of many local business owners. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/04/18/news/highway-35-iron-range?refid=0 Thu, 18 Apr 2013 06:14:00 -0500 Gov. Mark Dayton continued his budget-selling swing across Minnesota with a town hall meeting Tuesday in the Iron Range town of Virginia, Minn. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/04/16/news/dayton-virginia-town-hall?refid=0 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 22:39:04 -0500 Researchers at the University of Minnesota told Iron Range workers to protect themselves from taconite dust, despite a new study that was unable to prove that exposure to the dust causes the rare cancer mesothelioma. The study linked time spent working in the taconite industry to a higher risk of mesothelioma but stopped short of pinpointing its cause. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/04/12/health/cancer-and-taconite-work-linked?refid=0 Fri, 12 Apr 2013 16:21:14 -0500 Researchers today will visit the Iron Range to share findings of their study into possible links between asbestos exposure in taconite mines and the deadly lung disease, mesothelioma. More than 80 former miners have died from the rare cancer. For more than five years, researchers have been trying to determine whether exposure to dust in the mines and processing plants makes workers more vulnerable -- not only to mesothelioma but to other respiratory diseases. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/04/12/health/report-iron-range-miners-respiratory-disease?refid=0 Fri, 12 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0500 In the last few months, several hospitals in northeast Minnesota have stopped selling soda and other beverages that are sweetened with sugar. They are at the forefront of a growing national trend among health care facilities that are trying to combat the nation's obesity problem. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/04/05/regional/hospital-soda-ban-in-northeastern-minn?refid=0 Fri, 05 Apr 2013 17:36:33 -0500 AT&T has completed construction of a controversial new, 450-foot tall communications tower near the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/04/03/environment/att-completes-communications-tower-bwca?refid=0 Wed, 03 Apr 2013 16:15:45 -0500 The owner of a Duluth head shop and his son today were formally charged by the state with four felony counts of selling a controlled substance. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/04/01/news/last-place-earth-owner-formally-charged?refid=0 Mon, 01 Apr 2013 12:35:43 -0500 Tickets will go on sale Monday for this summer's Tall Ships festival, which can attract about 250,000 people to Lake Superior. That's how many came to the port city in 2010 to see the grand sailing ships that evoke the nation's nautical past in the largest event ever held in northeast Minnesota. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/31/regional/duluth-tall-ships-festival?refid=0 Mon, 01 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0500 Applications for Minnesota bear hunting licenses will be available starting Monday. The 3,750 licenses are available in 11 permit areas, down from the 6,000 available last year. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/30/regional/bear-hunting-licenses?refid=0 Sat, 30 Mar 2013 11:38:06 -0500 The first oceangoing ship of 2013 is expected to reach Duluth around midnight Friday, in the earliest arrival in the city for a "saltie." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/29/business/saltie-duluth-arrival?refid=0 Fri, 29 Mar 2013 19:15:49 -0500 Police arrested the owner of a controversial head shop Friday afternoon in Duluth for allegedly selling illegal synthetic drugs. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/29/news/last-place-on-earth-head-shop-owner-arrested?refid=0 Fri, 29 Mar 2013 18:48:10 -0500 The use of video conferencing software by a northern Minnesota city councilmember to attend meetings raises questions about how elected officials should face their constituents. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/26/politics/elected-officials-skype?refid=0 Tue, 26 Mar 2013 17:05:36 -0500 After more than a century in which iron mining has played a central role in the economy and culture of northeastern Minnesota, a new kind of mining is poised to join the taconite industry. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/26/environment/iron-ranges-copper-nickel-opportunity-threat?refid=0 Tue, 26 Mar 2013 06:00:00 -0500 A project to reroute a major highway on the Iron Range could be delayed by a year or more, after a plan to have the highway span an operating taconite mine was rejected. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/23/regional/mndot-rerouting-iron-range-highway?refid=0 Sat, 23 Mar 2013 09:44:43 -0500 Gov. Mark Dayton held a town hall meeting before a standing-room-only crowd of about 150 people in Duluth last night, to make the case for a budget plan that includes a tax hike on the wealthy and spending in education and other programs. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/20/politics/dayton-duluth-town-hall?refid=0 Fri, 22 Mar 2013 08:16:08 -0500 The 2013 Lake Superior shipping season is getting under way at the port of Duluth: The 1,000-foot Mesabi Miner is scheduled to be the first departure of the season Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/19/regional/duluth-shipping-season-set-to-begin?refid=0 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 15:25:52 -0500 The proposed high-speed rail line between Duluth and the Twin Cities inched one step closer to possible construction Monday. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/18/business/northern-lights-express?refid=0 Mon, 18 Mar 2013 19:16:14 -0500 More than 100 supporters and opponents of copper-nickel mining on the Iron Range gathered Friday for a five-hour informational forum in Virginia, Minn. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/16/environment/iron-range-mining-forum?refid=0 Sat, 16 Mar 2013 10:10:03 -0500 Loons will soon begin their migration back to the north woods. The birds are a cultural and natural icon, not only in Minnesota but across the Great Lakes states. But last fall, nearly 900 loons died while migrating south across Lake Michigan. Scientists are not sure what killed the loons, but they suspect that invasive species may be to blame. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/09/environment/invasive-species-may-be-killing-loons?refid=0 Mon, 11 Mar 2013 04:00:00 -0500 The 29th running of the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon takes off from Duluth on Sunday. The race was postponed from January because of a lack of snow. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/09/regional/beargrease-race-starts-sunday?refid=0 Sat, 09 Mar 2013 18:00:00 -0600 The Minnesota Executive Council unanimously approved an iron ore mining lease today as part of a continued mining renaissance on the Iron Range. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/06/magnetation-iron-ore-mining-lease-approved?refid=0 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 19:39:58 -0600 Departing from tradition, Duluth Mayor Don Ness showed a video as he delivered his State of the City address Monday night. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/04/politics/don-ness-duluth-state-of-city?refid=0 Mon, 04 Mar 2013 21:24:17 -0600 Mining has always been a boom and bust industry on the Iron Range. But proponents of the PolyMet plant and another proposed copper-nickel mines by Twin Metals, say the area is poised for a rebound. While backers of the mines tout the jobs they could bring, opponents ask whether those jobs are worth the environmental risk to the region's lakes and rivers. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/02/regional/minnesota-mining-jobs?refid=0 Mon, 04 Mar 2013 09:00:00 -0600 NORAD is considering removing two of its 18 Air Force sites from 24-hour alert, saying it would save millions of dollars without compromising its ability to defend against 9/11-style attacks. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/01/regional/norad-duluth-alert-proposal?refid=0 Fri, 01 Mar 2013 19:33:31 -0600 A veto by a taconite mining company has taken a popular plan to reroute a major northern Minnesota highway off the table. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/28/regional/highway-53-reroute?refid=0 Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:55:05 -0600 The city of Duluth has sued the federal government as part of its long-running dispute with the Fond du Lac Ojibwe Band over revenues from its Duluth casino. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/27/news/duluth-sues-federal-govt-over-ojibwe-casino-revenue?refid=0 Wed, 27 Feb 2013 18:50:30 -0600 Meetings to discuss plans to slow the spread of the invasive gypsy moth are being hosted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture this week in northern Minnesota. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/26/environment/strategy-against-gypsy-moth?refid=0 Tue, 26 Feb 2013 17:15:56 -0600 Cliffs Natural Resources discussed the company's flagging financial results for last year but sounded an upbeat note about this year at a meeting in Virginia Wednesday morning. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/20/business/cliffs-iron-ore-producer-bullish?refid=0 Wed, 20 Feb 2013 11:11:45 -0600 Birdwatchers from around the country have converged on northeast Minnesota this weekend to attend a well-known bird festival and to see rare owls along the North Shore. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/16/regional/minn-bird-festival?refid=0 Sat, 16 Feb 2013 09:25:50 -0600 The company planning the first proposed copper-nickel mine in northern Minnesota says it has made several environmental improvements to the project. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/14/environment/polymet-copper-nickel-mine?refid=0 Thu, 14 Feb 2013 17:29:41 -0600 The CEO of Cliffs Natural Resources announced Tuesday that two of its Minnesota taconite facilities have produced much higher grade iron-ore pellets. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/13/business/higher-grade-iron-ore-pellets-coming-from-iron-range-producer?refid=0 Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:58:53 -0600 Though it might seem impossible to many, a thriving scene has emerged on a North Shore beach where about 50 surfers brave the frigid water for waves they swear can compare to some of the best surfing in Hawaii or California. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/12/human-interest/lake-superior-surfing?refid=0 Wed, 13 Feb 2013 07:30:14 -0600 Some Duluth business leaders are concerned that the governor's plan to tax clothing and many professional services could hurt Duluth employers. But there is confusion and little clarity about how the tax plan would would affect business and competition. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/11/business/dayton-sales-tax-plan?refid=0 Mon, 11 Feb 2013 16:26:30 -0600 Authorities have arrested 30 people for selling crack cocaine in Duluth and neighboring Superior, Wis. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/08/news/operation-crackdown-ebt?refid=0 Fri, 08 Feb 2013 18:32:17 -0600 A bill introduced in the Minnesota Legislature would change the makeup of the board that oversees an Iron Range economic development agency. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/08/politics/bill-would-change-irrrb-oversight-board?refid=0 Fri, 08 Feb 2013 16:59:49 -0600 A mill in Two Harbors, Minn., that makes wood siding for homes has closed for four weeks as it undergoes a $6 million upgrade. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/03/regional/wood-mill-plant-upgrade?refid=0 Sun, 03 Feb 2013 10:03:21 -0600 A plan to shut down Otter Tail Power's coal burning Hoot Lake power plant by 2020 has been approved by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/01/31/business/hoot-lake-plant-stop-burning-coal?refid=0 Thu, 31 Jan 2013 18:08:44 -0600 The deadline to apply for some flood relief loans in northeast Minnesota has been extended another month. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/01/31/economy/duluth-flood-relief-deadline?refid=0 Thu, 31 Jan 2013 16:29:11 -0600 The CEO of Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel announced a new initiative to promote the importance of iron ore mining in Minnesota at a speech in Minneapolis Wednesday. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/01/30/business/iron-range-mining-us-steel?refid=0 Wed, 30 Jan 2013 15:17:15 -0600 Racers in the Arrowhead 135 ultra marathon in far northern Minnesota battled nearly a foot of snow that fell during the race. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/01/29/regional/heavy-snow-slows-down-arrowhead-ultramarathon-participants?refid=0 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 14:27:50 -0600 Now about brooms -- witch's brooms, to be exact. Small, tightly woven masses of branches that can appear high up in pine trees across northern Minnesota. These "brooms" are actually the genetic source of a lot of the landscape plants and shrubs sold at nurseries. They're not often easy to retrieve. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/01/29/human-interest/witchs-brooms-collectors?refid=0 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 04:00:00 -0600 Anyone who has driven along the North Shore of Lake Superior recently has likely noticed huge stands of dead birch trees. In recent years, several factors, including hungry deer, drought, development and thin, rocky soil, have drastically changed the forest in one of Minnesota's most popular and scenic areas. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/01/19/environment/north-shore-forest?refid=0 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 04:00:00 -0600 A Superior, Wis., company that reclaims old growth lumber from a grain elevator was making its debut Sunday night on a reality TV show called "Ax Men." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/01/27/business/wood-salvge-tv-reality-show?refid=0 Sun, 27 Jan 2013 10:17:45 -0600 The mining industry is holding a job fair on the Iron Range on Friday as mining employment in northeast Minnesota is growing. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/01/24/business/mining-job-fair-chisholm?refid=0 Thu, 24 Jan 2013 17:54:27 -0600 The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has cut the number of bears that controversial researcher Lynn Rogers can collar near his research station outside of Ely. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/01/23/environment/dnr-downgrades-permit-for-bear-researcher-lynn-rogers?refid=0 Wed, 23 Jan 2013 15:32:37 -0600 School children across northern Minnesota are enjoying an extra day off today because of frigid cold weather. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/01/22/regional/schools-closed-due-to-cold-weather?refid=0 Tue, 22 Jan 2013 12:14:39 -0600 The Environmental Protection Agency has issued final rules aimed at cutting air pollution from Minnesota's taconite plants that contribute to haze over the Boundary Waters and Voyageurs and Isle Royale National Parks. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/01/17/environment/epa-haze-bwca-voyageurs?refid=0 Fri, 18 Jan 2013 06:50:53 -0600 Believe it or not, there are still ships on the Great Lakes headed for Duluth even though the harbor there is clotted with ice. Their routes are made possible by the Coast Guard Cutter Alder. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/01/16/regional/duluth-icebreaker?refid=0 Wed, 16 Jan 2013 16:38:32 -0600 A federal appeals court ruled today that the Fond du Lac Ojibwe Band does not have to share revenues with the city of Duluth from its downtown casino. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/01/14/law/court-ruling-ojibwe-casino?refid=0 Mon, 14 Jan 2013 16:42:53 -0600 A new $78 million airport terminal will open in Duluth on Monday after nearly 10 years of planning and construction. More than half the funding came from federal grants, with state and local dollars covering the rest. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/01/12/regional/airpot-terminal-opens-duluth?refid=0 Sun, 13 Jan 2013 04:00:00 -0600 Duluth Mayor Don Ness on Wednesday declared January as Duluth Trafficking Awareness Month, kicking off a series of events across the city to raise awareness about girls being sold for sex. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/01/09/regional/duluth-trafficking-awareness-month?refid=0 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 15:32:17 -0600 Daily in Minnesota and across the country, young girls are bought and sold for sex. A group of advocates and law enforcement officials in Duluth is trying to increase awareness of the dangers and bring an end to the trafficking of girls. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/01/09/news/sex-trafficking?refid=0 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 07:00:00 -0600 In many Minnesota cities, water system are aging and in need of replacement. Recent major water main breaks have highlighted the massive labyrinth of underground pipes that delivers water to homes and businesses. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/01/08/news/aging-infrastructure?refid=0 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 04:00:00 -0600 A St. Louis County judge has ordered the controversial Duluth headshop Last Place on Earth to pay for police presence outside its downtown storefront. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/01/02/law/last-place-on-earth?refid=0 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 18:04:11 -0600 A new sled dog race begins Sunday, Jan. 6, on Minnesota's North Shore of Lake Superior. The Gichigami Express will include teams from Minnesota, Michigan, Alaska and Canada. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/12/28/regional/sled-dog-race-north-shore?refid=0 Sun, 30 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0600 Study reports resurgence in the number of Americans who say they hunt, fish and watch birds or other wildlife. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/12/27/environment/hunting-outdoors-popularity?refid=0 Thu, 27 Dec 2012 16:38:49 -0600 Wisconsin closed the last of its six wolf hunting zones on Sunday evening after reaching its target quota. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/12/24/environment/wolf-hunt-closes-in-wisconsin?refid=0 Mon, 24 Dec 2012 11:12:17 -0600 A popular holiday lights festival that has been embroiled in legal battles over free speech will continue for at least three more years. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/12/19/news/bentleyville-tour-of-lights-to-continue-despite-legal-battle?refid=0 Wed, 19 Dec 2012 18:53:18 -0600 A company that spent more than $40 million in taxpayer money on a coal-gasification power plant that was never built, now says it has secured the land it needs to build a natural gas-fired facility. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/12/19/business/excelsior-energy-natural-gas-fired-power-plant?refid=0 Wed, 19 Dec 2012 16:58:46 -0600 The owner of a Duluth head shop and three workers have been charged in a 54-count indictment accusing them of violating federal drug and regulatory laws. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/12/18/regional/last-place-on-earth-federal-indictments?refid=0 Tue, 18 Dec 2012 12:28:28 -0600 The Minnesota Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling Monday dismissing a challenge to the state's water quality standard protecting wild rice. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/12/17/environment/wild-rice-ruling-court-of-appeals?refid=0 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 16:47:07 -0600 Six months ago this week, flash floods tore through northeast Minnesota, ripping up roads and filling basements. The disaster caused more than $40 million in damage to private homes -- many of them without flood insurance. But some of the hardest hit areas have so far received very little state or federal funding. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/12/15/regional/minn-flooding-recovery?refid=0 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 07:45:00 -0600 The family of embattled Cook County Attorney Tim Scannell said his conduct with a 17-year-old girl is the result of serious emotional problems following his shooting a year ago. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/12/14/law/cook-county-attorney-tim-scannell-motive?refid=0 Fri, 14 Dec 2012 16:09:46 -0600 A Minnesota prosecutor has been ordered to stay away from a 17-year-old girl and her parents after being accused of an improper relationship with the girl. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/12/06/regional/scannell-restraining-order-young-girl?refid=0 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 14:40:27 -0600 A break in a fiber optic line west of Duluth has left about 650 people without telephone and emergency 911 service. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/12/04/news/broken-fiber-optic-lines?refid=0 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 17:00:00 -0600 A huge copper-nickel mine proposed for just south of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area has again increased the estimate of minerals at the site. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/12/04/environment/bwca-copper-nickel-deposit-estimated-size-grows?refid=0 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 13:45:50 -0600 Opponents of wolf hunting planned to hold a rally on the Iron Range on Saturday to protest the state's first ongoing managed wolf hunt. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/12/01/regional/wolf-trapping-protest?refid=0 Sat, 01 Dec 2012 10:17:55 -0600 Duluth and its surrounding areas are continuing to recover from the record June flooding that washed out roads and destroyed hundreds of homes. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/12/01/disaster/flood-recovery-duluth?refid=0 Sat, 01 Dec 2012 06:00:00 -0600 About 400 union members at a paper mill in Cloquet have voted to authorize a strike. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/11/28/labor/union-cloquet-paper-mill-authorize-strike?refid=0 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 20:09:39 -0600 Mayor Don Ness joined environmentalists in Duluth Wednesday to call on Congress to extend a federal wind energy subsidy. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/11/28/regional/duluth-wind-energy-subsidy-extension?refid=0 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 14:37:14 -0600 After years of economic struggles and budget deficits, the city of Duluth may be poised for a new era of prosperity. The city has announced several major industry investments in the area, unemployment is down and the local economy is diversifying. Business and civic leaders are more optimistic about the city's future than they've been in decades. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/11/27/business/duluth-economic-revival?refid=0 Tue, 27 Nov 2012 04:00:00 -0600 Iron ore mining is a classic boom and bust industry. When times are good, they can be really good. Of course, the opposite is true when the economy slows. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/11/19/business/analysts-say-taconite-layoffs-not-the-start-of-a-trend?refid=0 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 19:32:40 -0600 Several ski areas around the Twin Cities metro area are open this weekend and the state's largest resort, Lutsen Mountains, opens today. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/11/17/business/ski-area-open-today-with-limited-runs?refid=0 Sat, 17 Nov 2012 06:00:00 -0600 For about six weeks in October and November, Lake Superior anglers pull thousands of the silvery fish, also called cisco, from the lake's icy waters. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/11/13/regional/lake-superior-herring-fishery?refid=0 Wed, 14 Nov 2012 08:00:13 -0600 The city of Duluth asked a county judge Friday to shut down the controversial business Last Place on Earth. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/11/09/regional/duluth-asks-judge-to-shutter-last-place-on-earth?refid=0 Fri, 09 Nov 2012 14:37:42 -0600 Former U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan, a Democrat, has defeated Republican U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack in the 8th District race. Cravaack conceded the race a short time ago. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/11/06/politics/8thdistrict-cravaack-nolan?refid=0 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 20:35:22 -0600 Minnesota wolf hunters have killed 66 wolves as of 10 p.m. Monday in the first weekend of the state's first regulated wolf hunt. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/11/05/environment/wolf-hunt?refid=0 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 20:00:26 -0600 Like Minnesota's neighboring 8th District, Wisconsin 7th District race is garnering outside attention and money. But the candidates are more colorful. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/11/02/politics/wisconsin-seventh-district?refid=0 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 20:24:08 -0500 Minnesota's inaugural regulated wolf hunt, set to begin Saturday, is being received with sadness by many Ojibwe people. For them, killing the animals is unthinkable. To guard against it, all seven of Minnesota's Ojibwe bands forbid wolf hunting on their lands. While the bands acknowledge their legal authority over land they don't own may be limited, they still intend to make a point. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/10/31/environment/ojibwe-ban-wolf-hunting?refid=0 Wed, 31 Oct 2012 18:53:11 -0500 The late Sen. Paul Wellstone is being remembered for his caring for people on the 10th anniversary of the plane crash that killed him and seven others near Eveleth. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/10/25/politics/wellstone-anniversary-service?refid=0 Thu, 25 Oct 2012 17:37:44 -0500 When Minnesota's wolf hunt begins next Saturday, many of the state's cattle producers will be celebrating. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/10/24/environment/minnesota-cattlemen-laud-wolf-hunt?refid=0 Wed, 24 Oct 2012 14:00:47 -0500 An injured worker is able to speak and move after an explosion Monday morning at a coal-fired power plant along the North Shore. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/10/22/accident/power-plant--coal-explosion?refid=0 Mon, 22 Oct 2012 16:05:44 -0500 Wisconsin hunters killed four wolves Monday during the opening day of the state's wolf hunting season. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/10/16/environment/wisconsin-wolf-hunt-begins?refid=0 Tue, 16 Oct 2012 15:55:35 -0500 State officials are finding it difficult to police synthetic forms of marijuana. As a Duluth businessman continues to sell thousands of dollars worth of synthetic marijuana every day, authorities are trying new legal tactics to stop the sales. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/10/15/law/last-place-on-earth-legal?refid=0 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 18:07:36 -0500 People who suffered damage from this summer's record flooding in northeast Minnesota only have a few more days to apply for disaster assistance. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/10/12/news/minnesota-flood-help-deadline-nears?refid=0 Fri, 12 Oct 2012 13:24:38 -0500 An Iron Range development agency today is expected to approve two economic development loans that could result in nearly 70 new jobs in northeastern Minnesota. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/10/11/business/iron-range-board-economic-development-loans?refid=0 Thu, 11 Oct 2012 04:00:00 -0500 It's estimated that nearly $100 billion worth of copper, nickel and precious metals are contained beneath land outside Ely. But that could change later this month when the company is expected to release another estimate. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/10/09/business/estimates-grow-mining-potential?refid=0 Tue, 09 Oct 2012 07:00:00 -0500 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded Minnesota a $1.4 million grant to better educate women on the North Shore about the risks of eating fish with mercury contamination. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/10/05/health/grant-to-educate-women-on-mercury-contamination?refid=0 Fri, 05 Oct 2012 14:35:56 -0500 The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear appeal of the "roadless rule," a policy established in 2001 that bars development on about 50 million acres of roadless areas in national forests, including parts of the Superior National Forest. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/10/02/environment/supreme-court-declines-roadless-rule-appeal?refid=0 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 17:27:05 -0500 The St. Louis County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday to take a stand against the proposed constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/10/02/politics/st-louis-county-board-approves-resolution-opposing-marriage-amendment?refid=0 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 16:24:12 -0500 Duluth Mayor Don Ness wants his city to be one of the nation's premier destinations for people interested in biking and hiking. The city is building trails hoping they will lure young educated professionals to town, who in turn, will attract entrepreneurs seeking a talented workforce. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/10/01/human-interest/duluth-builds-trails?refid=0 Mon, 01 Oct 2012 16:42:32 -0500 The loggers are trying to draw attention to their effort to change federal law to allow them to carry heavier loads on interstate highways. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/09/27/regional/downtown-duluth-logging-truck-protest?refid=0 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 11:52:22 -0500 Logging truckers, protesting a federal law that limits the loads they can carry on interstate highways, will rumble down the old brick streets of downtown Duluth today. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/09/27/business/logging-truck-protest?refid=0 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 04:00:00 -0500 Loggers protesting to be allowed to carry heavier loads on the interstate plan a truck convoy demonstration through downtown Duluth Thursday morning. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/09/25/news/loggers-plan-convoy-demonstration-duluth?refid=0 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 15:58:09 -0500 The U.S. Department of Agriculture has cited the Lake Superior Zoo in Duluth for providing inadequate shelter for its farm animals. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/09/25/news/lake-superior-zoo-cited-inadequate-shelter?refid=0 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 14:19:44 -0500 Officials in northeast Minnesota have launched a new campaign to help homeowners who suffered damage in this summer's record flooding find the resources they need to rebuild their homes. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/09/19/regional/new-campaign-to-help-ne-minnesota-flood-victims?refid=0 Wed, 19 Sep 2012 14:09:02 -0500 Last month, the Department of Natural Resources shot a bear that wore a tracking collar. The animal had refused to leave an area where children were present. That bear's death lies at the heart of a longstanding tension between mainstream wildlife scientists and a controversial researcher. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/09/19/environment/lynn-rogers-bear-researcher?refid=0 Wed, 19 Sep 2012 06:28:00 -0500 A company involved with developing a controversial mine near the Boundary Waters expects to receive permits Thursday to do more exploration in the area. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/09/17/business/duluth-metals-drilling-permit?refid=0 Mon, 17 Sep 2012 19:19:51 -0500 Firefighters continue to battle several small wildfires burning in and around the parched Boundary Waters Canoe Area. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/09/14/regional/firefighters-still-battling-bwca-blazes?refid=0 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 16:44:12 -0500 A women's fashion retailer headquartered in Duluth will anchor a new $80 million office building in the city. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/09/14/business/maurices-to-anchor-new-duluth-tower?refid=0 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 14:50:07 -0500 U.S. Forest officials have closed some areas of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area because more small wildfires have ignited. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/09/13/environment/more-bwca-closures-after-new-fires-ignite?refid=0 Thu, 13 Sep 2012 16:16:07 -0500 A year ago, the Pagami Creek fire roared across the Boundary Waters, engulfing 90,000 acres of forest in a single day. Signs of the devastation are still present. But the potential for another such fire isn't remote. That blaze was part of a nationwide pattern of bigger, more extreme wildfires, http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/09/12/environment/pagami-creek-fire-one-year?refid=0 Wed, 12 Sep 2012 04:00:00 -0500 A year ago the Pagami Creek fire scorched 145 square miles of forest, mostly in the Boundary Waters area. Despite a striking amount of new growth, forest managers have major concerns, among them a huge loss of organic matter and the presence of invasive plants. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/09/09/environment/pagami-fire-aftermath?refid=0 Mon, 10 Sep 2012 04:00:00 -0500 The Superior National Forest has expanded a closure area in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area because of a small wildfire. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/09/06/environment/bwca-fire-nears-1999-blowdown-area?refid=0 Thu, 06 Sep 2012 14:08:22 -0500 The Superior National Forest has closed a small portion of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness because of five spot fires. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/09/05/environment/bwca-fire?refid=0 Wed, 05 Sep 2012 20:19:47 -0500 Firefighters attacked a wildfire burning in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness by air while ground crews built containment lines northwest of Ely. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/09/04/news/bwca-wildfire?refid=0 Tue, 04 Sep 2012 06:51:14 -0500 Leaders of some Iron Range communities are breathing a sigh of relief after the United Steelworkers union agreed to terms Sunday on a new labor contract with U.S. Steel. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/09/03/regional/contract-iron-range?refid=0 Mon, 03 Sep 2012 15:31:15 -0500 About 15 firefighters were battling a small wildfire Monday about 10 miles northwest of Ely in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/09/03/regional/ely-fire?refid=0 Mon, 03 Sep 2012 11:17:53 -0500 Labor negotiations affect nearly 3,000 mine workers at five facilities on the Iron Range that mine low-grade iron ore and process it into taconite pellets used to make steel. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/08/31/labor/iron-range-union-negotiation-labor-day-weekend-?refid=0 Sun, 02 Sep 2012 11:55:00 -0500 Time is running out on the United Steelworkers Union and five Iron Range taconite operations to hammer out a new contract. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/08/31/business/iron-range-possible-strike?refid=0 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 12:43:26 -0500 Contracts between three giant mining companies on the Iron Range and the United Steelworkers of America will expire at midnight Friday, and an apparent stalemate threatens to set in motion a strike that could disrupt the nation's steel supply. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/08/29/business/iron-range-mine-contracts?refid=0 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 15:51:18 -0500 In another sign of Duluth's ongoing fiscal turnaround, Mayor Don Ness has proposed a budget that avoids layoffs and maintains city services at current levels. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/08/27/politics/duluth-city-budget?refid=0 Mon, 27 Aug 2012 18:46:19 -0500 Georgia-Pacific announced earlier this week it would shut down its plant in Duluth that makes a product known as Superwood. One hundred-forty one employees will lose their jobs. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/08/24/business/georgia-pacific?refid=0 Fri, 24 Aug 2012 13:24:16 -0500 Gov. Mark Dayton on Friday called the disaster relief package the state Legislature will take up in a special session "a solid package." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/08/24/politics/dayton-flood-package-solid?refid=0 Fri, 24 Aug 2012 12:27:35 -0500 The state legislature today will consider a $167.5 million relief package for Duluth and other towns ravaged by summer floods and storms. The bulk of the funding would go to northeast Minnesota, where massive June flooding tore apart roads and submerged basements. Two months later some homeowners are still stuck in limbo. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/08/24/government/flood-aid-special-session?refid=0 Fri, 24 Aug 2012 04:00:00 -0500 DFL state Rep. Kerry Gauthier of Duluth announced that he will not run for re-election, amid calls to step aside after a scandal in which he admitted to sexual contact last month with a 17-year-old boy at a highway rest stop. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/08/22/politics/gauthier-seeks-reelection?refid=0 Wed, 22 Aug 2012 16:05:42 -0500 Georgia-Pacific says it will permanently close its plant in Duluth at the end of the month. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/08/21/business/georgia-pacific-closing-duluth-plant?refid=0 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 15:09:55 -0500 Two DFLers have announced their intention to run for the House seat currently held by Kerry Gauthier. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/08/20/politics/gauthier-candidates-announce?refid=0 Mon, 20 Aug 2012 18:13:45 -0500 Their budget under pressure, Duluth police have turned to video camera surveillance to fight crime. They say it works. But they aren't cheap. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/08/07/ground-level-price-of-safety-video?refid=0 Thu, 16 Aug 2012 07:00:00 -0500 After winning a hard-fought DFL primary in the closely watched 8th Congressional District, former U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan found himself launched into a competition for attention with his general election opponent, Republican U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/08/15/politics/eighth-district-showdown?refid=0 Wed, 15 Aug 2012 18:03:13 -0500 The competition to take on Republican U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack has received most of the political attention in northeast Minnesota. But there's another hotly contested DFL primary under way in the region: The battle to be the DFL's nominee to replace state Rep. Tom Rukavina, DFL-Virginia. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/08/12/politics/rukavina-replace?refid=0 Mon, 13 Aug 2012 04:00:00 -0500 The three DFL candidates competing for the party's nomination in the 8th Congressional District talked Tuesday morning about the need for elected officials to compromise. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/08/07/politics/eighth-district-debate-nolan-clark-anderson-cravaack?refid=0 Tue, 07 Aug 2012 13:36:51 -0500 With its frigid, often ice-choked water and legendary storms, Lake Superior can be a dangerous place for scientists to conduct research. But with two mechanical divers, researchers aim to tap the wealth of information deep inside the big, cold lake. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/08/07/science/automated-underwater-research-platform?refid=0 Tue, 07 Aug 2012 07:40:00 -0500 Construction is under way at Minnesota's newest state park, Lake Vermillion State Park near Ely. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/08/04/regional/vermillion-park?refid=0 Sat, 04 Aug 2012 11:02:11 -0500 A new documentary explores the life and mystery of "Wild Bill" Cooper of Willow River, Minn., the famous snowmobiler and infamous criminal. He disappeared more than 30 years ago and hasn't been seen since. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/07/27/regional/wild-bill-cooper?refid=0 Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:17:27 -0500 DNR officials say warm weather and recent flooding have combined to kill of fish in Big Sandy Lake in Aitkin County, about 60 miles west of Duluth. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/07/22/regional/fish-kills?refid=0 Sun, 22 Jul 2012 11:35:31 -0500 Gov. Mark Dayton on Friday toured flood-damaged towns in Carlton County southwest of Duluth, where local officials briefed him on the needs of communities and residents. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/07/20/regional/dayton-flood-tour?refid=0 Fri, 20 Jul 2012 16:29:40 -0500 Gov. Mark Dayton has requested federal assistance to help individual home and business owners who suffered property damage in last month's record flooding in northeast Minnesota. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/07/20/regional/dayton-flood-aid?refid=0 Fri, 20 Jul 2012 10:18:04 -0500 Federal and state officials opened a joint field office in Duluth to manage the recovery from flooding in northeast Minnesota one month ago. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/07/19/regional/flood-fema?refid=0 Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:14:16 -0500 Another federal disaster declaration would provide some assistance to homeowners, but that still likely won't cover all their needs. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/07/18/regional/duluth-flood-private-property-damage?refid=0 Wed, 18 Jul 2012 15:13:24 -0500 Two of the DFL candidates running to challenge incumbent U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack in Minnesota's 8th District held press conferences Wednesday to tout their support for copper-nickel and taconite mining. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/07/18/politics/8th-district-dflers-signal-support-for-mining?refid=0 Wed, 18 Jul 2012 13:43:23 -0500 The attempt to bring high-speed Internet access to rural regions has sparked debate over the proper role government should play in upgrading the information superhighway. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/07/18/business/rural-broadband-service?refid=0 Wed, 18 Jul 2012 04:00:00 -0500 Federal and state officials meet in Duluth Wednesday morning to begin assessing the damage done to homes and businesses by recent flooding. Results of the assessments could lead to federal aid for the region. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/07/10/disaster/fema-assessment?refid=0 Tue, 10 Jul 2012 21:37:47 -0500 Much of Carlton County in northeast Minnesota is expected to remain without emergency 911 service and other communications until about 7 p.m. tonight. So far, the loss of service has not resulted in any major public safety issues. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/07/10/news/carlton-county-phone-service-cut?refid=0 Tue, 10 Jul 2012 17:00:43 -0500 The city of Duluth grabbed headlines following flooding that surged across northeast Minnesota nearly three weeks ago. But several small towns just to the southwest suffered some of the most extensive damage. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/07/10/disaster/thomson-flood-recovery?refid=0 Tue, 10 Jul 2012 04:00:00 -0500 As they try to recover, hard-hit Duluth residents count on help from hundreds of volunteers from across the Midwest. The volunteers have come to the aid of people whose homes were inundated with water, helping them rebuild their lives. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/07/06/disaster/volunteers-flood-recovery?refid=0 Fri, 06 Jul 2012 17:21:58 -0500 Officials at the Lake Superior Zoo in Duluth say they will reopen in about a week, but animal exhibits remain closed indefinitely, as they continue to clean up after major flooding last month. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/07/06/regional/duluth-zoo?refid=0 Fri, 06 Jul 2012 12:19:46 -0500 Jay Cooke State Park in northeastern Minnesota will remain closed indefinitely because of damage to Highway 210 during recent severe flooding, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said Tuesday. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/07/03/region/jay-cooke-state-park-closed-indefinitely?refid=0 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 10:33:16 -0500 Two weeks after heavy rains flooded Duluth, closed a major state park and caused tens of millions of dollars in damage, locals are hoping for a big boost from the Independence Day holiday. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/07/03/region/flood-damaged-duluth-counting-on-fourth-of-july-business-jolt?refid=0 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 06:37:48 -0500 The United Way announced a new relief fund today for the region surrounding Duluth devastated by recent floods. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/07/02/disaster/flood-relief-fund?refid=0 Mon, 02 Jul 2012 19:33:21 -0500 Last week, Duluth residents awoke to the worst flooding in recent memory. Water overwhelmed a system designed to handle big storms, but not this big. It became apparent that Duluth's aging sewers could not handle so much water. City officials acknowledge that it may not be possible to prepare for such a storm. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/06/27/disaster/flood-duluth-overwhelmed?refid=0 Wed, 27 Jun 2012 18:36:00 -0500 Duluth officials said today they are transitioning from assessment to repair mode in the wake of last week's catastrophic flooding. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/06/25/disaster/flood-assessment?refid=0 Mon, 25 Jun 2012 18:26:30 -0500 Inside homes and businesses, people are still drying out waterlogged basements and assessing the damage from records floods -- much of which is not covered by insurance. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/06/22/regional/duluth-flood-insurance?refid=0 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 16:39:26 -0500 Duluth is beginning the arduous task of taking stock of the devastating damage left behind from Wednesday's historic floods, but this much is clear: The city is going to need to helping hand from the federal government to put itself back together again. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/06/21/disaster/flood-assessment?refid=0 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 06:54:26 -0500 State and local emergency management officials on Thursday will begin to assess the damage in Duluth after rain flooded rivers and creeks, sending torrents of water into the city and overwhelming the storm water system. Dozens of streets and highways were closed, giant sinkholes swallowed cars and homes and apartments were flooded. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/06/21/flood/duluth-damage-assessment?refid=0 Thu, 21 Jun 2012 06:40:00 -0500 A joint environmental program between Canada and the U.S. is on target to reduce toxic chemicals like mercury and PCBs from within the Lake Superior basin by 2020. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/06/16/environment/lakes-pollution?refid=0 Sun, 17 Jun 2012 09:30:00 -0500 Minnesota GOP U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack took some more heat at a meeting in Duluth Friday, as some critics pushed for a town hall meeting in the 8th District's largest city. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/06/15/environment/cravaack-holds-polymet-roundtable?refid=0 Fri, 15 Jun 2012 11:40:13 -0500 An Iron Range company that recycles old iron ore tailings has announced it will not build a new taconite plant in Minnesota. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/06/11/business/magnetation-taconite-plant-plans?refid=0 Mon, 11 Jun 2012 14:27:40 -0500 The sea lamprey was one of the first non-native species to invade the Great Lakes, and it's been one of the most destructive. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/06/08/environment/revolting-sea-lamprey-an-environmental-success-story?refid=0 Fri, 08 Jun 2012 15:42:46 -0500 The Environmental Protection Agency today awarded $850,000 to the city of Duluth to help the city clean up contaminated "brownfield" sites. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/06/07/business/duluth-epa-grant?refid=0 Thu, 07 Jun 2012 16:15:58 -0500 Wisconsin election officials are reporting heavy turnout today in the state's historic gubernatorial recall election. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/06/05/politics/wisconsin-walker-barrett-recall-voter-turnout?refid=0 Tue, 05 Jun 2012 11:48:45 -0500 Long-time DFL U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar endorsed Rick Nolan today in his bid to unseat GOP freshman incumbent Chip Cravaack. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/06/04/politics/oberstar-endorses-nolan?refid=0 Mon, 04 Jun 2012 13:38:04 -0500 The Superior National Forest has issued a harrowing new report recounting how several firefighters thought they were going to die during last year's Pagami Creek Fire. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/06/01/pagami-creek-report?refid=0 Fri, 01 Jun 2012 11:51:40 -0500 The effort to recall Wis. Republican Gov. Scott Walker has bitterly divided many towns and families. In Superior, a union stronghold just across the Duluth harbor, Walker's opponent Tom Barrett enjoys strong support. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/06/01/politics/wisconsin-scott-walker-tom-barrett-recall-vote-superior?refid=0 Fri, 01 Jun 2012 04:00:00 -0500 A fire last fall destroyed a small town's pharmacy. The trend toward big retailers and mail-order drugs is making it difficult to replace. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/05/25/ground-level-rural-health-care-babbitt-pharmacy?refid=0 Fri, 25 May 2012 00:00:00 -0500 Residents of Ely are regrouping after an extremely close call Thursday after a wildfire burned to within a couple hundred yards of the Iron Range town's southeastern edge. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/05/18/ely-fire?refid=0 Fri, 18 May 2012 17:43:37 -0500 Several small fires quickly grew into a 216-acre blaze. Superior National Forest District Ranger Mark Van Every says the fire got to within a couple of hundred yards of Ely. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/05/18/ely-wildfire?refid=0 Fri, 18 May 2012 07:25:34 -0500 Inside the Taconite Harbor Energy Center along Lake Superior's North Shore, three turbines the size of train engines crank out 225 megawatts of electricity. That's enough for all of Duluth and Superior, Wis. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/05/10/coal-power-plants-cost-environmental-pressure?refid=0 Thu, 10 May 2012 17:34:56 -0500 National unemployment figures are still high and with an upcoming election, members of Congress are organizing job fairs back in their home districts. While these fairs might make good politics, they don't often lead to jobs. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/05/03/congress-unemployment-job-fairs?refid=0 Thu, 03 May 2012 00:00:00 -0500 A company that recycles taconite mining waste into iron ore concentrate has been fined $40 thousand dollars for violating the state's dust emission rules. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/05/02/taconite-recycler-fined-dust-emissions?refid=0 Wed, 02 May 2012 16:02:55 -0500 The two main issues being discussed at the Midwest Wolf Stewards Conference are hunting and the depredation of livestock by wolves. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/04/26/duluth-wolf-conference?refid=0 Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:57:51 -0500 Reporter Dan Kraker talks with Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer about the stories that people are talking about in Duluth. Kraker tells us about a new sub-atomic research facility, the growing need for dredging in Lake Superior and the running of the smelt. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/04/25/kraker_debrief?refid=0 Wed, 25 Apr 2012 08:31:44 -0500 Forty years ago, Duluth was nuts over smelt. Hordes of people flocked to Lake Superior streams and beaches every spring to net the the small silver fish. The smelt population crashed in the 1980s, but diehard smelters are still keeping the tradition alive. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/04/24/duluth-smelt-season?refid=0 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:36:59 -0500 Freshman U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack is expected to be one of the most heavily targeted incumbents this year. But the question of who will emerge as his challenger in the 8th District November's election is still very much up in the air. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/04/20/nolan-clark-anderson-debate-in-duluth?refid=0 Fri, 20 Apr 2012 06:51:19 -0500 Cirrus Aircraft's new Chinese owners will provide a nearly $100 million investment to complete development of the company's long-delayed personal jet, the Vision SF-50, a project that could create hundreds of jobs in the area. The Duluth-based company expects to deliver its first plane in 2015. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/04/18/cirrus-finally-gets-funding-to-develop-personal-jet?refid=0 Wed, 18 Apr 2012 18:34:15 -0500 A large aerospace company called AAR announced plans Tuesday to open a major aircraft maintenance center in Duluth. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/04/17/aircraft-company-bringing-more-than-200-jobs-to-duluth-mayor-says?refid=0 Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:21:21 -0500 In a year of upside-down weather, it was fitting in a way that parts of northeast Minnesota awoke to about a foot of heavy snow Monday morning. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/04/16/northeast-minnesota-snow?refid=0 Mon, 16 Apr 2012 12:37:50 -0500 A new center opened in Duluth to provide badly needed housing for homeless American Indian families. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/04/11/native-american-housing-center?refid=0 Wed, 11 Apr 2012 18:20:51 -0500 Despite a thriving arts and outdoors scene, young people say Duluth does not welcome them -- a perception business and civic leaders are trying hard to change to meet a new population growth goal. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/04/10/duluth-population-growth-plan?refid=0 Tue, 10 Apr 2012 16:12:29 -0500 Salties make up only about 10 percent of shipping traffic in the Duluth harbor, but help Midwestern farmers reach international markets. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/04/06/first-saltie-of-season-reaches-duluth-harbor?refid=0 Fri, 06 Apr 2012 14:43:16 -0500 Duluth Mayor Don Ness called for a more confident and optimistic Duluth in his state of the city address Monday. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/04/03/duluth-don-ness-state-of-city?refid=0 Tue, 03 Apr 2012 08:49:33 -0500 The white-tailed deer is one of Minnesota's most iconic and abundant wild creatures. But the deer are taking a toll on our forests. A new study released today documents the drastic impacts deer are having on the forest along the North Shore. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/04/02/north-shore-deer-population?refid=0 Mon, 02 Apr 2012 04:00:00 -0500 In the fall, Duluth is famous among birdwatchers for the scores of hawks that fly past. But it's also a birding haven in the spring, when both raptors and songbirds migrate north. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/03/30/early-spring-vignette-bird-migration?refid=0 Fri, 30 Mar 2012 04:00:00 -0500 Minnesota is a cold place. But a new study released Tuesday shows the state has more geothermal energy potential than previously understood. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/03/27/geothermal-energy-potential?refid=0 Tue, 27 Mar 2012 17:34:04 -0500 Minnesota is at the front line of a national effort to slow the spread of invasive gypsy moths, which have defoliated and killed thousands of acres of trees on the East Coast. Although they have made incursions into Minnesota for decades, so far they have not established a reproducing population in the state. The destructive critters have slowly munched their way westward and are now hungrily eyeing the forests of the Arrowhead region. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/03/26/gypsy-moth-invasion?refid=0 Mon, 26 Mar 2012 17:46:37 -0500 The chance to work with their hands, learn from peers and create something lasting draws a growing number of people to North House's woodworking classes. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/03/23/woodworking-low-tech-craft?refid=0 Fri, 23 Mar 2012 16:31:02 -0500 Officials at Isle Royale National Park are deciding how best to address a sharply declining wolf population. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/03/20/park-officials-isle-royale-wolves?refid=0 Tue, 20 Mar 2012 19:09:33 -0500 Unseasonably warm weather and drought conditions have land managers scrambling to make early preparations for what could be a severe fire season. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/03/15/drought-conditions-wildfire-risk?refid=0 Thu, 15 Mar 2012 18:45:28 -0500 Each week, we check in with one of our reporters in Greater Minnesota to hear about some of the stories they're tracking. This week, Dan Kraker tells us about closed campsites in BWCA, the opening of the shipping season on the Great Lakes and new rules which should make it easier to cross the border. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/03/14/kraker-debrief?refid=0 Wed, 14 Mar 2012 10:37:39 -0500 The waning mild winter sets up a promising start to shipping season on Lake Superior. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/03/13/shipping-season-start?refid=0 Tue, 13 Mar 2012 20:21:02 -0500 A northern Minnesota state lawmaker who is trying to shorten the approval timeline for a proposed new iron pellet plant has changed plans. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/03/13/magnetation-iron-range-approval?refid=0 Tue, 13 Mar 2012 19:02:52 -0500 Release of the long-awaited review was delayed last fall when the EPA asked PolyMet for more modeling of how the controversial precious metals project would meet water and air quality regulations. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/03/12/polymet-environmental-review?refid=0 Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:53:34 -0500 For many small business owners in northeast Minnesota, winter typically brings the sound of money. Not this year. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/03/09/snow-tourism-northeast-minnesota?refid=0 Fri, 09 Mar 2012 05:00:00 -0600 SkyWest Airlines began providing air service to the Bemidji area today. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/03/02/bemidji-air-service?refid=0 Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:52:59 -0600 Researchers have updated the number of Iron Range workers known to have died from a rare lung cancer. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/03/01/mesothelioma-iron-range?refid=0 Thu, 01 Mar 2012 18:58:14 -0600 Both proponents and foes of controversial proposed sulfide mining projects in Minnesota are launching public relations offensives, starting with events in St. Paul. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/02/29/sulfide-mining-dispute?refid=0 Wed, 29 Feb 2012 18:08:20 -0600 "Today is not the day to make a trip up to Duluth," a State Patrol captain said after a major winter storm hit parts of northern Minnesota. The storm slowed the commute in the Twin Cities as well. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/02/29/winter-storm?refid=0 Wed, 29 Feb 2012 07:13:03 -0600 Cathy Wurzer talks with MPR's Dan Kraker about his investigative reporting. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/02/27/kraker0227?refid=0 Mon, 27 Feb 2012 10:00:52 -0600 The courthouse shooting in Grand Marais last December shocked the small North Shore town of about 1,000 people. The consequences of the incident, however, are resonating far beyond the violence. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/02/27/grand-marais-older-men-pursuing-teen-girls?refid=0 Mon, 27 Feb 2012 07:00:00 -0600 The Teamsters Union endorses former Congressman Rick Nolan for the DFL nomination in Minnesota's 8th Congressional District. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/02/16/nolan-teamsters-endorsement?refid=0 Thu, 16 Feb 2012 19:10:26 -0600 Minnesota Power, the utility serving the Arrowhead region, is proposing a new transmission line from Winnipeg to the Iron Range to bring additional hydropower to northern Minnesota. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/02/09/winnipeg-to-minnesta-high-voltage-power-line-proposed?refid=0 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:13:18 -0600 Wolf educators in Minnesota are panning the new Liam Neeson thriller "The Grey," calling it "as accurate a portrayal of wolf behavior as King Kong was about gorillas." /collections/special/columns/statewide/archive/2012/02/wolf-center-says-new-liam-neeson-film-full-of-scat.shtml?refid=0 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:23:54 -0600 Every Wednesday we chat with one of our reporters in greater Minnesota to learn about some of the news they're tracking. MPR's Phil Picardi spoke with Minnesota Public Radio News reporter Dan Kraker who was in our Duluth bureau. They talked about a Super Pac that's going after Eight District Congressman Rep. Chip Cravaack. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/02/01/duluth?refid=0 Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:58:15 -0600 Frostbite, sleep deprivation and harrowing descents in pitch blackness are all part of the strange allure of an extreme ski, bike or foot race in far northern Minnesota that begins before dawn on Monday morning. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/01/27/arrowhead-135-ultra-marathon?refid=0 Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:03:57 -0600 Community organizations in Duluth launched a new anti-racism campaign Tuesday featuring edgy billboards and posters to spur community dialogue. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/01/24/duluth-racism-campaign?refid=0 Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:49:41 -0600 For the first time the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa will have a full time sheriff's deputy patrolling the reservation. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/01/23/grand-portage-sheriff?refid=0 Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:38:08 -0600 Cook County in far northeastern Minnesota lost electricity for nearly two hours early Monday morning. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/01/23/cook-county-electricity-outage?refid=0 Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:07:13 -0600 The only living Tuskegee Airman in Minnesota, will be a guest of honor at the first Duluth showing of "Red Tails," the new George Lucas film about the pilots. Their military successes helped end segregation in the U.S. military. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/01/20/duluth-tuskegee-airman?refid=0 Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:18:25 -0600 The last laker of the 2011 shipping season pulled into port in Duluth Wednesday morning. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/01/18/lake-superior-shipping-season-ends?refid=0 Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:17:32 -0600 The bonding proposal announced today by Gov. Mark Dayton includes $3.6 million to build a water pipeline from Lake Superior to the Lutsen Mountains ski resort. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/01/17/water-pipeline-proposal?refid=0 Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:30:37 -0600 Organizers of the 29th running of the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon this winter in northeastern Minnesota will decide Sunday afternoon whether to proceed with this year's race. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/01/13/beargrease-status?refid=0 Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:39:06 -0600 The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has announced new strategies for trying to slow the spread of aquatic invasive species. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/01/06/zebra-mussel-tactic?refid=0 Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:53:26 -0600 The city of Duluth laid out its strategy Thursday in an increasingly fractious dispute with the Fond du Lac Ojibwe Band. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/01/05/duluth-mayor-threatens-to-close-casino-over-money-spat?refid=0 Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0600 The strong global mining industry is fueling more job growth in northeastern Minnesota. A Duluth foundry has announced a $12 million expansion that will create 30 new jobs. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/01/03/mining-expansion?refid=0 Tue, 03 Jan 2012 18:00:15 -0600 Jim Sanders, who for 15 years was the calm presence at the center of some of northern Minnesota's most fractious environmental battles, retires today from his position as the Superior National Forest supervisor. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/12/30/jim-sanders-retires?refid=0 Fri, 30 Dec 2011 04:00:00 -0600 The man who was accused of shooting a prosecutor and witness in a Cook County courthouse earlier this month has died in custody. There is no evidence of foul play, according to law enforcement. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/12/27/cook-county-suspect-dies?refid=0 Tue, 27 Dec 2011 10:26:42 -0600 There are signs that the recession of the past few years is lifting across some of Minnesota. But demand at food shelves in the northeastern part of the state is soaring. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/12/26/northeast-food-shelves?refid=0 Mon, 26 Dec 2011 11:14:48 -0600 Monday is the last day for more than two months to make a reservation at one of Minnesota's state parks. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/12/25/state-park-reservations?refid=0 Sun, 25 Dec 2011 12:16:33 -0600 A couple of inches of snow fell on much of the North Shore Friday. But the unusually dry winter is taking a toll on some tourism related business in the Arrowhead region. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/12/23/north-snowfall?refid=0 Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:31:17 -0600 The Fond du Lac Band of Ojibwe and the city of Duluth are both appealing a recent court decision that ends an agreement over the tribe's downtown Fond-du-Luth casino. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/12/22/duluth-ojibwe-casino-payment?refid=0 Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:47:05 -0600 Congress has approved $300 million to continue a multiyear program aimed at fixing some of the Great Lakes' most severe environmental programs. Some of the money is expected to benefit Lake Superior and Duluth. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/12/21/clean-up-great-lakes?refid=0 Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:48:45 -0600 A federal judge has sided with two "street preachers" saying they have the right to express their views at a holiday festival in Duluth. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/12/21/judge-street-preachers?refid=0 Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:26:13 -0600 The newly-hired superintendent of the Duluth public schools does not have a state license as required by Minnesota law. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/12/21/duluth-schools-superintendant?refid=0 Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:14:27 -0600 It's Wednesday, when we check in with one of Minnesota Public Radio's reporters outside of the Twin Cities. The big news in northeast Minnesota of course is the shooting that took place in the Cook County courthouse last Thursday. Minnesota Public Radio reporter Dan Kraker was in Grand Marais last week covering the story. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/12/21/regionaldebrief?refid=0 Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:02:35 -0600 The Duluth School Board voted late Monday to place school superintendent I.V. Foster on paid administrative leave. A Minneapolis law firm that represents the Board will investigate unspecified allegations made against Foster. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/12/20/unspecified-allegations--duluth-superintendant?refid=0 Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:33:54 -0600 A 42-year-old Grand Marais man was charged Monday with attempted murder for allegedly opening fire on the Cook County prosecutor and a trial witness at the courthouse last week. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/12/19/cook-county-shooting-charges?refid=0 Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:15:39 -0600 Daniel Schlienz, 42, is accused of opening fire on the county prosecutor and two others after a jury convicted him of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/12/16/cook-county-courthouse-shooting?refid=0 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 13:00:57 -0600 A Minnesota Department of Public Safety spokesman says 3 hurt in Grand Marais shooting. The suspect is in custody. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/12/15/courthouse-shooting?refid=0 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 07:40:26 -0600 New research from the University of Minnesota Duluth says abandoned iron ore mine pits could be ideal places to store electricity generated by wind turbines. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/12/15/abandoned-mine-pits-wind-energy?refid=0 Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:07:59 -0600 A federal magistrate judge recommends that two men be allowed to preach their Christian beliefs at a popular winter festival in Duluth. A federal district judge will affirm or reject the recommendation later this week. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/12/14/duluth-street-preachers?refid=0 Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:44:42 -0600 An early morning blast of snow hit the Duluth area Wednesday, creating treacherous road conditions. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/12/14/duluth-snow-rain?refid=0 Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:16:27 -0600 For the data storage industry, Minnesota's frigid climate is a selling point. Server computers generate so much heat that the companies are looking to take advantage of ways to save power and costs. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/12/14/minn-data-storage?refid=0 Wed, 14 Dec 2011 04:00:00 -0600 The St. Louis County Board of Commissioners will vote on a resolution Tuesday to support non-ferrous mining projects in the county, including the highly controversial PolyMet Mine. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/12/12/mining-project-st-louis-county?refid=0 Mon, 12 Dec 2011 18:00:57 -0600 Minnesota DNR officials will unveil a plan Friday in hopes of fixing a long-standing problem involving state land inside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/12/07/dnr-bwca-land-exchange?refid=0 Fri, 09 Dec 2011 04:00:00 -0600 The Superior National Forest has released the first of several reports assessing its management of the Pagami Creek Fire, which burned nearly 150 square-miles in and near the Boundary Waters this past summer. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/12/07/pagami-fire-management-report?refid=0 Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:07:00 -0600 The city of Duluth won a major victory at the Minnesota Supreme Court Wednesday in a long-running dispute over retiree health care benefits. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/11/23/duluth-retirees-health-benefits?refid=0 Wed, 23 Nov 2011 11:45:33 -0600 Jim Carlson, owner of the Last Place on Earth headshop, doesn't think the government has the right to shut down sale of his products, or the junk food he struggles with. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/11/23/last-place-on-earth?refid=0 Wed, 23 Nov 2011 04:00:00 -0600 The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa has prevailed in its long-running dispute with the city of Duluth over revenues from the tribe's downtown Fond-du-Luth Casino. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/11/21/fond-du-luth-casino-ruling?refid=0 Mon, 21 Nov 2011 19:01:52 -0600 The quest to stop invasive species from reaching the Great Lakes in the ballast water of ocean-going ships is moving forward, but there's a lot of argument over how strict requirements should be. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/11/21/ballast-water?refid=0 Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:58:21 -0600 The U.S. House passed a bill Tuesday that would create a national standard for cleaning ballast water in ships. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/11/16/ballast-water?refid=0 Wed, 16 Nov 2011 15:52:40 -0600 The deer hunting season wraps up this weekend for most hunters, and they are starting to make up for a slow opening weekend. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/11/15/deer-hunt-season?refid=0 Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:06:56 -0600 As lawmakers in Washington struggle to slash federal spending, a transportation program called Essential Air Service has received close scrutiny. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/11/14/skyrocketing-costs-of-air-service?refid=0 Mon, 14 Nov 2011 04:00:00 -0600 Voters in the Iron Range town of Virginia decided overwhelmingly Tuesday to surrender control of their local hospital. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/11/08/vrmc-city-charter?refid=0 Wed, 09 Nov 2011 06:00:00 -0600 Voters will decide whether to change the city charter to allow city-owned Virginia Regional Medical Center to affiliate with another system. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/11/07/virginia-hospital-vote?refid=0 Mon, 07 Nov 2011 04:00:00 -0600 More than a month after the Pagami Creek Fire ripped through a slice of the most popular area in the canoe area, signs of life are beginning to show. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/10/20/boundary-waters-pagami-creek-fire-new-growth?refid=0 Thu, 20 Oct 2011 15:17:37 -0500 Cargo shipping in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River navigation system supports 227,000 jobs and pumps billions into the U.S. and Canadian economies, says an industry-funded report. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/10/18/great-lakes-shipping-study?refid=0 Tue, 18 Oct 2011 13:00:47 -0500 An estimated 500 people braved frigid winds to greet Norway's King Harald V and Queen Sonja at a Duluth park Monday afternoon. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/10/18/norway-royalty-dedicate-enger-tower?refid=0 Tue, 18 Oct 2011 04:00:00 -0500 An estimated 500 people braved frigid winds Monday to greet King Harald V and Queen Sonja at Enger Park in Duluth this afternoon. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/10/17/norway-royalty-dedicate-enger-tower?refid=0 Mon, 17 Oct 2011 18:30:15 -0500 The King and Queen of Norway arrive in Duluth this afternoon on the last full day of their trip to the region. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/10/16/norwegian-royal-visit-to-duluth?refid=0 Mon, 17 Oct 2011 04:00:00 -0500 In Minnesota's bear hunting season, which wraps up Sunday, far fewer bears were killed this year than last. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/10/13/bear-season-wrap?refid=0 Fri, 14 Oct 2011 05:00:00 -0500 On Wednesdays, we check in with one of our reporters based outside the Twin Cities to find out what's going on in that part of Minnesota. For the past several weeks our Duluth reporter Dan Kraker has been covering the Pagami Creek Fire, still burning in the Boundary Waters. He's also gearing up for a royal visit. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/10/12/kraker?refid=0 Wed, 12 Oct 2011 09:40:24 -0500 Seattle-based Silicon Energy celebrated a grand opening Monday on the Iron Range. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/10/10/solar-energy-plant-iron-range?refid=0 Mon, 10 Oct 2011 17:18:33 -0500 As review of a controversial Polymet mining project proposal nears conclusion, some supporters are worried about a potential environmental roadblock: wild rice. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/10/07/wild-rice-obstacle-mine?refid=0 Fri, 07 Oct 2011 19:10:15 -0500 The King and Queen of Norway are coming to Duluth, and preparations are being finalized for the royal visit. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/10/06/duluth-norway-royal-visit?refid=0 Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:27:59 -0500 Crews in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area will be facing hot and dry conditions for the rest of the week as they work to fight the Pagami Creek fire, which is still 71 percent contained. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/10/06/hot-dry-conditions-slow-containment-of-bwca-fire?refid=0 Thu, 06 Oct 2011 12:15:13 -0500 An Iron Range company that recycles taconite waste from old mines has announced a major deal with a steel company that could result in more jobs in northern Minnesota. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/10/05/magnetation-iron-range-expansion?refid=0 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 13:01:14 -0500 A controversial proposed copper and nickel mine project south of Ely has hired two huge engineering firms to help prepare the project for formal environmental and regulatory review. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/10/04/twin-metals-engineering-firms?refid=0 Tue, 04 Oct 2011 16:47:45 -0500 A fourth Democrat has entered the race to try to unseat first term Republican Rep. Chip Cravaack, who scored a surprising victory last November over longtime incumbent Jim Oberstar. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/10/04/daniel-fanning-enters-8th-district-race?refid=0 Tue, 04 Oct 2011 13:45:41 -0500 Federal funding expired today for a program to capture captured timberwolves that have preyed on livestock, killed pets or threatened people. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/09/30/funding-expires-to-capture-remove-protected-timberwolves?refid=0 Fri, 30 Sep 2011 19:13:17 -0500 Advocates say more controlled burns are the best way to balance the benefits and danger of fires, but the National Forest says they try to let the forest's natural processes work on their own. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/09/29/boundary-waters-pagami-creek-fire-controlled-burns?refid=0 Thu, 29 Sep 2011 16:21:19 -0500 The huge wildfire still burning in the Boundary Waters Canoe Areas is 64 percent contained. But windy weather could test the fire lines cut through the forest to contain the blaze. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/09/28/bwca-fire-contained-wind-poses-risk?refid=0 Wed, 28 Sep 2011 17:51:43 -0500 The effort to contain the Pagami Creek wildfire burning in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness has cost $11 million to date, according to officials battling the 93,000-acre blaze. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/09/28/boundary-waters-wildfire-11-million-dollars?refid=0 Wed, 28 Sep 2011 07:35:37 -0500 A group of five DFL state legislators from the Iron Range is asking the DNR and the Minnesota Attorney General to sue the U.S. Forest Service over its management of the Pagami Creek Fire, which is still burning in the Boundary Waters. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/09/27/iron-range-lawmakers-want-to-sue-forest-service-over-bwca-fire?refid=0 Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:45:32 -0500 Rep. Chip Cravaack opposes funding for a proposed high speed rail line connecting Duluth and the Twin Cities. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/09/27/cravaack-opposes-high-speed-rail-duluth-twin-cities?refid=0 Tue, 27 Sep 2011 14:44:52 -0500 Superior National Forest officials say they hope to have the huge Pagami Creek fire fully contained by the end of the day Saturday. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/09/26/officials-hope-bwca-fire-will-be-contained-by-saturday?refid=0 Mon, 26 Sep 2011 15:38:55 -0500 Wet weather is helping firefighters strengthen their grip on the Pagami Creek fire, which has now burned for more than a month in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/09/20/bwca-wildfire-23-percent-contained?refid=0 Tue, 20 Sep 2011 08:53:37 -0500 Firefighters are optimistic that the wet weather will continue to help contain their battle against a Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness wildfire that as already burned about 147 square miles. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/09/20/pagamikraker?refid=0 Tue, 20 Sep 2011 08:42:12 -0500 The Pagami Creek wildfire is now 23 percent contained, permanent residents evacuated a week ago have been allowed to return, and parts of the Boundary Waters that had been closed are open again. But that doesn't mean everyone's happy. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/09/19/residents-question-fire-management-policies?refid=0 Mon, 19 Sep 2011 17:11:51 -0500 The governor said today the state will do whatever it can to protect homes threatened by the fire. Officials also warned the blaze would "wake up" in coming days as dryer conditions take hold. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/09/16/bwca-fire-friday?refid=0 Fri, 16 Sep 2011 13:35:47 -0500 Elite western "hotshot" firefighters have a lot of expertise in arid and mountainous terrain, but the Pagami Creek Fire in the Boundary Waters presents challenges many of them have never faced. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/09/16/hotshots-adapt-to-bwca-watery-wilderness?refid=0 Fri, 16 Sep 2011 07:17:42 -0500 The size and scope of fighting the Pagami Creek wildfire in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is growing by leaps and bounds. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/09/15/rocky-mountain-team-takes-over-pagami-creek-fire-management?refid=0 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 10:39:04 -0500 Rain, cooler temperatures and even a few snow showers helped more than 300 firefighters on Wednesday as they continued to struggle to get a handle on the Pagami Creek wildfire. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/09/14/boundary-waters-fire-rages-uncontained?refid=0 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0500 Calmer winds and cooler temperatures are helping slow the spread of a fire in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/09/14/bwca-pagami-creek-fire-slows?refid=0 Wed, 14 Sep 2011 09:05:14 -0500 The Pagami Creek Fire that started in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness has now engulfed about 100,000 acres, prompting officials to consider more evacuations. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/09/13/pagami-fire-60000-acres-evacuations-underway?refid=0 Wed, 14 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0500 Smoke is obscuring so much of the ground that pilots are unable to give an accurate description of how much land has been burned. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/09/13/pagami-fire-in-bwca-prompts-evacuations?refid=0 Tue, 13 Sep 2011 08:07:10 -0500 Residents and campers near the Boundary Waters fire are being asked to evacuate as a wildfire burning in northeastern Minnesota continues to grow. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/09/12/wind-gusts-fuel-wildfire-in-northeastern-minn?refid=0 Mon, 12 Sep 2011 17:17:47 -0500 The Pagami Creek fire in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness grew from 4,500 acres to 11,000 acres over the weekend. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/09/12/pagami-creek-fire-grows?refid=0 Mon, 12 Sep 2011 09:05:24 -0500 Soon after two airplanes slammed into the World Trade Center towers on Sept. 11, 2011, a Minnesota Air National Guard unit launched into action. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/09/09/148-fighter-wing-pilots-recall-eerie-days-following-911?refid=0 Fri, 09 Sep 2011 13:21:01 -0500 More than 100 firefighters are working to control a wildfire burning in the Boundary Waters wilderness area east of Ely. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/09/06/firefighters-work-to-control-fire-in-boundary-waters-wilderness-?refid=0 Tue, 06 Sep 2011 15:00:16 -0500 Lightning ignited the Pagami Creek Fire on Aug. 18. It smoldered for a week, then low humidity and higher winds caused it to quickly grow. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/09/02/bwca-pagami-creek-fire-being-left-to-burn?refid=0 Fri, 02 Sep 2011 13:34:05 -0500 The Duluth Airport Authority has received a $4.7 million grant from the FAA to continue work on a new terminal. It's part of the FAA's commitment to pay one-third of the project's $60 million cost. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/09/02/duluth-airport-grant?refid=0 Fri, 02 Sep 2011 12:24:02 -0500 Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson has joined five of her colleagues in the region in a new effort aimed at keeping Asian carp and other invasive species out of the Great Lakes. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/09/01/great-lakes-invasive-species-swanson?refid=0 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 16:05:12 -0500 A long-running dispute between the city and the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is back in federal court, where a judge could determine if a revenue-sharing agreement is legal. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/08/31/fond-du-luth-casino?refid=0 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:02:18 -0500 Duluth Mayor Don Ness laid out his plan Thursday for how to close a big hole in next year's budget. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/08/25/duluth-mayor-don-ness-cuts-tax-hikes-state-aid-loss?refid=0 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:00:00 -0500 It was a meeting focused on bread and butter issues — jobs, taxes, and education — when Rep. Chip Cravaack met with his Duluth constituents. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/08/25/cravaack-town-hall?refid=0 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 04:00:00 -0500 Amid mounting pressure, 8th District GOP Rep. Chip Cravaack has announced he will hold an open town hall meeting at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Duluth airport. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/08/23/cravaack-duluth-town-hall?refid=0 Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:24:07 -0500 Responding to growing criticism that he has avoided his district's largest population and media center, U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack announced Tuesday that he will host an open town hall meeting Wednesday at the Duluth airport. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/08/24/cravaack-takes-flak-for-town-hall-accessibility?refid=0 Tue, 23 Aug 2011 06:45:00 -0500 Federal scientists are one step closer to developing a new way to treat ballast water in ships on the Great Lakes in a effort to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/08/22/great-lake-ballast-water?refid=0 Mon, 22 Aug 2011 19:14:37 -0500 The city of Duluth is courting a major aviation company that officials hope could provide 250 well-paying jobs. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/08/19/duluth-aar-aircraft-services?refid=0 Fri, 19 Aug 2011 16:44:17 -0500 Iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes are up sharply, according to new data from the Lake Carriers' Association. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/08/17/iron-ore-shipments-great-lakes-sharply-up-?refid=0 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:32:34 -0500 The DNR has drafted a moose management and research plan that lays out several strategies for reversing a steep decline in the state's moose population. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/08/16/moose-policy?refid=0 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 18:44:07 -0500 The Fond du Lac Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa has purchased a sacred Ojibwe island on the St. Louis River. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/08/16/fond-du-lac-band-buy-sacred-island?refid=0 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:45:32 -0500 The National Park Service has designated Split Rock Lighthouse on the North Shore of Lake Superior as a National Historic Landmark. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/08/15/split-rock-national-historical-landmark?refid=0 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 11:40:39 -0500 Hibbing Taconite has been fined more than $15,000 for air pollution violations at its giant production facility near Hibbing. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/08/11/hibbing-taconite-violations?refid=0 Thu, 11 Aug 2011 16:18:58 -0500 Republican U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack held public meetings in the relatively remote towns of Deer River and Grand Portage in his 8th District this week. Some of his constituents are urging him to host a town hall meeting in Duluth. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/08/11/cravaack-more-meetings-urged?refid=0 Thu, 11 Aug 2011 16:10:59 -0500 The new Republican congressman was warmly received by an audience in the state's 8th Congressional District, a traditional DFL stronghold. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/08/10/cravaack-eighth-district-meeting?refid=0 Wed, 10 Aug 2011 06:43:28 -0500 Recent economic events don't seem to be affecting several high-profile mining projects in the northeastern part of the state. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/08/08/mining-industry-holds-up-in-volatile-economy?refid=0 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 19:19:08 -0500 Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar is urging the Air Force to assign active duty personnel to the Duluth Air National Guard Base. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/08/05/klobuchar-lobbies-for-duluth-air-national-guard-base?refid=0 Fri, 05 Aug 2011 17:49:58 -0500 The American Steamship Company and more than 100 employees on the Great Lakes have reached an agreement to end their week-long strike. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/08/05/great-lakes-strike-ended?refid=0 Fri, 05 Aug 2011 17:30:57 -0500 Fourteen freighters that haul taconite and other goods across the Great Lakes have been laid up by a strike, without resolution in sight. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/08/04/maritime-union-strikes-holding-up-taconite-shipments?refid=0 Thu, 04 Aug 2011 19:21:29 -0500 The partial shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration could delay construction of a new terminal at the Duluth airport by a year. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/08/03/faa-shutdown-could-delay-construction-at-duluth-airport?refid=0 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 19:11:38 -0500 This week's debt ceiling vote in Congress was particularly agonizing for U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/08/03/cravaack-debt-ceiling-struggle?refid=0 Tue, 02 Aug 2011 17:49:40 -0500