News
Congress follows states’ lead and bans microbeads
Legislative pressure from several states including Minnesota leads Congress to ban plastic microbeads beginning in 2017.Continue reading
Minnesota’s huge surplus? A bit of an illusion
Forecasted budget surplus for the remainder of 2016-17 is a bit illusory Continue reading
Dayton to convene water quality summit
Alarmed about the rising levels of contamination in Minnesota’s lakes, rivers and wetlands, Gov. Mark Dayton said he’ll convene a statewide water quality summit in February.Continue reading
The unopposed: Meet Minnesota’s newest House member
When the polls closed Tuesday and the results rolled in, Flanagan won the race for the House seat that includes St. Louis Park, Golden Valley, Plymouth and Medicine Lake,Continue reading
Legislator’s tour highlights efforts to mitigate damage to state’s land, water
Minnesota has been a pioneer in farming techniques and agricultural stewardship. As large-scale industrial farming has replaced family farms, we’ve seen many changes on the rural landscape over the years. Those changes include both economic and environmental impacts that some argue have made farming while preserving soil and water quality more challenging.Continue reading
Governor Dayton’s response to Rep Pat Garofalo on the Clean Power Plan
On September 21, Governor Dayton responded to a letter from Representative Pat Garofalo about the Clean Power Plan. In the letter he reiterates his administration is “committed to protecting and improving the environment, including taking substantive measures to address climate change.” He says he is “determined that we do so in a cost-effective manner that increases jobs and provides for economic opportunities across Minnesota.”Continue reading
With regret, MPCA Citizens’ Board shuts down
The Citizens’ Board of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency met for the last time Tuesday.
The Legislature had eliminated the board during this year’s special session. That action takes effect next week. Some business groups had pushed earlier this year to limit the board’s power, but its elimination came as a surprise.Continue reading
Legislature Passes “Historic Step Backwards” On Environment
A revolt among Minnesota Senate Democrats failed to stop the passage on an environmental bill early Saturday morning. Debate on the legislation which DFL Sen. Scott Dibble had called a “historic step backwards” for the environment forced what was supposed to be a one day special session into the early hours of Saturday morning.
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After feedlot feud, MN citizens’ board may bite the dust
The Legislature’s upcoming special session will likely see the end of an era in Minnesota, with lawmakers poised to abolish a citizens’ board that for decades has wielded broad power over some of the state’s most important environmental decisions.Continue reading
Dayton & Daudt tout ‘tentative budget deal,’ Bakk says some Senate DFL votes in doubt
A tentative deal on a special legislative session might be in jeopardy because of dissension within the DFL Senate caucus, where Majority Leader Tom Bakk on Wednesday admitted he might not be able to line up the votes needed to pass bills.Continue reading