Lessons from the past for the GOP to become a majority party
The way forward is to do something different in Minnesota so the Republican Party is competitive in all parts of the state.
Greater Minnesota
School bond referendum requests fare better in 2018, but rural-urban divide persists
Low-property-wealth rural districts — knowing that their taxpayers have to shoulder a higher proportion of any referendum ask — are being forced to triage their bonding asks.
Women will change the Range
The new large swath of red on the political map overlooks a lot, especially how divided women are on the future of mining.
The DFL will be in control of the Minnesota House. What does that mean for the environment?
Exactly what policies the DFL may be able to send to Walz’s desk with a new House majority is far from clear. But Tuesday’s election results may be as much about what won’t get passed by the Legislature as what will get through.
With help from Trump and the economy, Stauber turns CD8 red
Contributing equally if not more to Stauber’s victory was his local bona fides. “I knew the family,” was the phrase most often used in voter interviews on Election Day.
Four things you need to know about the DNR’s latest PolyMet decision
The decision marks a pivotal moment for the $1 billion project — and could have political ramifications just days before the Nov. 6 elections.
Hemp is being touted as the Midwest’s next big cash crop. What would that mean for the environment?
Even if the market for industrial hemp becomes viable, a green revolution isn’t likely to result from mass production of the crop.
Minnesota’s buffer law is likely to change — no matter who wins the governor’s race
With Gov. Mark Dayton leaving office, the buffer law has become one of the top natural resource issues in the governor’s race between Republican Jeff Johnson and DFLer Tim Walz.
Distinctive Grand Rapids-based Northern Community Radio explores the world through a local lens
Northern Community Radio, which went on the air in 1976, is an independent affiliate of National Public Radio.
Restocking wolves on Isle Royale raises questions about which species get rescued
Restocking wolves on Isle Royale is the first time that the National Park Service has intervened in a designated wilderness area to manipulate a predator-prey relationship.
The vexing economics of child care in Minnesota, explained
The problem is especially stark in Minnesota. The state was ranked as the fifth least affordable in the U.S. for infant care, according to a 2017 report from the national Child Care Aware organization.
How immigration is changing high school sports in Greater Minnesota
As demographic changes transform the student makeup of many classrooms around the state, they have also impacted the state’s high school sports scene.
‘The lifeblood’: On the Iron Range, small businesses build off mining’s success
The sector includes companies that make everything from massive conveyor belts to radiators and air coolers to replacement parts for machines that crush ore to special tools used by miners.
Minnesota has convened yet another panel on wild rice. Can it actually get anything done?
In many respects, 2018 was a long and winding road back to square one for Minnesota’s wild rice standard.
Minnesotans: Conservation Fund protects our vital public lands and needs your support
The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), a program that funds our outdoor spaces in all 50 states, is set to expire on Sept. 30 if Congress doesn’t act.
Long Prairie’s growing immigrant population helps keep local schools vital
“We have had an influx of new families that have managed to come to Long Prairie, and they have their kids in our schools, which is absolutely great,” said Mayor Don Rasmussen.
Can Minnesota garlic become a thing? The state’s growers have ambitious plans for a burgeoning industry
With help from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the state’s garlic growers have embarked on an effort to see if Minnesota garlic can become a full-fledged industry.
Can the DFL reconnect with rural Minnesotans?
If you look at the electoral map of Minnesota in 2016, it’s possible to conclude that the DFL no longer is a statewide party.
Le Sueur County jobless rate: Low-paying jobs partly account for it
ALSO: Rally participants in St. Cloud oppose travel ban; a John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon update; turkey truck tips over; and more.
Chronic wasting disease tracked to farm near Dassel
ALSO: Feds return 60,000 acres to Red Lake Band; Willmar-area women participate in Washington march; Ag secretary nominee meets with general approval; and more.