Recent content from Greg Stanley
Minnesota to take the pulse of the Mississippi River, from the headwaters to Iowa border
State regulators will study the health of Minnesota's entire 650-mile stretch of the river this year.
Minnesota House lawmakers push forward fertilizer tax to clean up contaminated wells
The tax on farmers, smaller than earlier proposals, cleared a key House committee.
Minnesota to close state park on Iron Range, turn it back into a mine
A reclamation company wants to find usable iron in the waste pilings at Hill Annex Mine State Park in Calumet, Minn.
Happy Earth Day! Here are some big and small ways to reduce your carbon footprint.
Eat less beef. Ride the bus. Turn down the thermostat. For Earth Day, we bring you ideas on how to do your part and reduce your carbon footprint.
White House yet to release sustainable jet fuel tax credit rules; corn farmers eager to mix in ethanol
The lucrative federal tax credit created by the Inflation Reduction Act could be a boon for corn farmers, if it's ever released.
Legislation would give state land to Red Lake Nation
Local residents say they were blindsided by the Upper Red Lake proposal; DNR said it was not consulted about bills.
Bill would transfer vast tract of Minnesota-owned woodlands back to White Earth tribe
The proposal would change ownership of portions of the White Earth State Forest within the band's reservation boundaries.
Video of wolf killing Minnesota deer becomes political fodder
The video was publicized by U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber, who wants gray wolves off the endangered species list.
Dairy processor fined for overwhelming southeastern Minnesota sewer plant by dumping raw milk
Plainview Milk Products Cooperative has been cited for four spills in the last two years.
What caused the 'horrific' deformities of Minnesota frogs in the 1990s?
The discovery by Minnesota middle schoolers became national news, leading to similar finds elsewhere in the country.
Minnesota DNR goes to court to stop Minneapolis man from building riverfront house
The Minneapolis City Council approved Andy Wattenhofer's plan, but the DNR says it encroaches on a protected bluff.
Record ocean temps likely cause of Minnesota's weird non-winter
Ocean temperatures, which reached record highs for the sixth straight year, are supercharging weather around the globe.
Minnesota DNR calls for stepping up battle against carp, but postpones decision on barrier
The state's invasive carp strategy was updated Thursday for the first time in a decade.
State says it will provide clean drinking water in southeast Minnesota, but offers no new curbs on farm pollution
State Rep. Rick Hansen, chair of the House environment committee, called the state's response "embarrassing" and said the EPA should reject it.
Minnesota will build charging stations, replace trucks with VW settlement cash
The final round of settlement money from the company's emission scandal will be used to get dozens of old diesel engines off the state's roads.
Minnesota to close Upper Sioux Agency State Park in February
As directed by the Legislature last year, the state will transfer ownership of the land to the Upper Sioux Community.
Lynx recovery plan aims to keep Minnesota population stable, even as winters warm
The plan calls for $31 million in studies and support to halt the endangered animal's decline.
Minnesota man faces a $15,000 bill after his blown tire started a wildfire
The Minnesota DNR says the man is responsible for the cost of putting out a 32-acre wildfire.
Fairmont drops bid to allow shoreline patio after Minnesota regulators sue
The city agreed to disallow the construction rather than fight the state in court.
State's record warm December will leave mark on landscape
Without a deep snowpack, deer likely will flourish. It will cause havoc for moose, however, and likely lead to more summertime algal blooms on lakes.
Minnesota poised to protect 23 species of native fish once seen as throwaways
Such species as bowfin, gar, redhorses and buffalo fish perform valuable functions in aquatic ecosystems.
Loons are Minnesota's new icon, but they're wintering in Florida
The loon population is estimated at a stable 12,000, but there are some warning signs for the species.
Lawmaker: Tax fertilizer to clean up farm pollution in southeastern Minnesota
Rep. Rick Hansen, DFL-South St. Paul, wants to revive a plan to have farmers pay more to help reduce nitrate.
Farm seeking to expand its dairy operation loses legal fight to Winona County
Daley Farm had sued the county, saying officials had stacked an expansion vote against the large feedlot.
MPCA: We have no evidence Smith Foundry polluted Minneapolis neighborhood
The Environmental Protection Agency made a surprise visit to the iron foundry in May, and said it found a raft of problems. But Minnesota regulators insist they don't have the data to show Smith released excess soot.
St. Paul foundry fined $41K for air pollution permit violations
The MPCA's enforcement record at a different foundry in Minneapolis has come under scrutiny.
EPA to Minnesota: Take action to protect people from polluted wells in eight counties
A coalition of groups had asked the EPA to declare a public health emergency.
EPA: Foundry has been polluting Minneapolis air since 2018
Surprise inspection in May leads to order for Smith Foundry to come into compliance.
In remarkable turnaround, Minnesota cities consume much less water than decades ago
The conservation success is credited to upgrades in appliances, plumbing fixtures and garden sprinklers.
Minnesota plans to demolish dam in Hinckley over local objections
Removing the dam would bring back fish and mussels that have been gone from this stretch of the Grindstone River.
Woman killed in hit-and-run on Lake Street in south Minneapolis
Police are looking for a white pickup truck that fled on 13th Avenue S. after striking the woman.
Fridley man charged in March death of infant son
The criminal complaint says Aaron Michael Orlando Rathke, 23, would abuse the child until he passed, then try to resuscitate him.
Climate change spiked heat that canceled Twin Cities Marathon, climatologist says
The muggy 92-degree weather was more than 40 degrees hotter than ideal for running, race officials said.
In a rocky corner of Minnesota, botanists race to save imperiled cactus
The future of Minnesota's ball cactuses relies on the survival of a young group near an active granite quarry.
After more than 40 years, Blaine seeks split from Lexington's water system
Lexington's water is too dirty, Blaine argues, but it faces counter-accusations of covert actions.
Normally loners, loons are converging on Minnesota lakes to fuel up for migration
The birds are feeding on cisco, a little fish that's a crucial food source.
Minnesota mussel decline blamed in part on the plight of the mudpuppy
The salamander mussel, which hangs on only in a stretch of the St. Croix River, is proposed for endangered status.
Minnesota DNR sues city of Fairmont, restaurant owner to stop lakefront patio
The City Council approved the plan 3-2 over the objection of its planners.
Air quality threat downgraded as gusty winds spare Minnesota from worst of wildfire smoke
Wildfire smoke from Canada will linger across the state Friday, but it won't be as thick as feared.
Scattered August storms have helped, but drought persists across Minnesota
Much more rain is needed to break the dry spell. Time may be running out this year.
Canadian fires will blanket state with smoke the next two days
For a record 10th time this summer, state meteorologists issued a red category air quality alert.
Excessive heat warning for Twin Cities, Mankato areas; heat index could reach 105
A heat advisory remains in effect across the southern half of Minnesota. Much-needed rain has done little to moderate the high temps and humidity.
Wild rice is growing in once-polluted St. Louis River. But geese keep eating it up.
Canada geese are gorging themselves on the once-polluted river's environmental success story.
Beset by engorged winter ticks, Minnesota moose suffer a ghastly fate
Though they're native parasites, the ticks have been aided by a changing climate.
State vows to replace amenities of state park after it's closed and returned to tribe
At a public meeting in late June, residents bemoaned the loss of a recreational and tourist attraction.
Dozens of wells ran dry after Blaine pumped water without permit, DNR says
The city pumped 380 million gallons of water from wells without a permit, causing at least 47 nearby homes to run dry.
Minnesota's wolves are far better at catching fish than previously known
The Voyageurs Wolf Project has tracked wolves teaching themselves to hunt spawning white suckers.
Historic boom in Lake Superior's crucial herring population could be best in 40 years
A stunning turnaround for the popular fish could sustain Minnesota's commercial fisheries and North Shore restaurants for years.
Minnesota bans commercial turtle trapping after 20-year effort
About 20 commercial trappers took 10,000 wild turtles a year.
Minnesota voters will decide whether to keep using lottery dollars for environmental restoration
A constitutional amendment will be on the ballot in 2024 to use 40% of lottery dollars on the environment.
Air quality alert issued for Minnesota as smoke from dozens of wildfires covers state
Air pollution will reach dangerous levels until Friday morning
Lawmakers reach historic deal on environment, climate, energy
The bill features a broad ban on PFAS and $1 billion in new spending for environment and energy projects.
Minnesota set to close state park, return land to Dakota tribe
A bill at the Legislature aims to return historic homelands that now make up Upper Sioux Agency State Park.
Minnesota leads U.S. in wild bird deaths caused by avian flu
This year, the number of cases has fallen significantly in the state and across the U.S.
Minn. gas station owners ignored leak for more than a month, MPCA says
A resident near the gas station in Elgin, Minn., smelled gasoline from his faucet. A trout stream was also polluted.
Hungry Minnesota bear gets a little too close with wildlife biologist
Alexander Aman captured the encounter on video.
Flooding begins as record-setting snowfall melts into state's rivers
Gov. Tim Walz signed a bill Monday moving $40 million into a disaster assistance fund for immediate use.
'Astonishingly large' swings between floods, droughts common in Minnesota
Climate change has made rain and snowfall more intense.
How bad will spring flooding be in Minnesota? 5 key questions answered — and a silver lining
After a winter of record-setting snow, a predicted warmup next week will send water into every river basin.
Compromise deal aims to keep White Bear Lake from drying up
The study could help save an overpumped aquifer that has been draining the lake.
Minnesota lawmakers consider steeper fines for violating limits on water use
The proposals follow revelations of excessive water use by farmers and others during the 2021 drought.
Record number of invasive silver carp caught in upper Mississippi
Commercial fishermen pulled up the carp this week near Winona. The catch shows that the invasive fish are on the cusp of becoming intractable in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Chances of major flooding still high in Stillwater, Red Wing, forecast says
Slow melting in the next 7-10 days could ease the flood threat, the National Weather Service outlook said.
An 'uncommon common man': Minnesotans mourn Bud Grant
To those who knew him and those who didn't, Bud Grant was a quintessential Minnesotan.
Lakes vulnerable to toxic algae blooms can be seen from space, EPA scientists say
A pigment in dangerous bacteria can help forecast outbreaks before they start.
The MPCA was supposed to limit nitrates a decade ago. Officials say they can't
Studies have found that more than 70% of Minnesota's nitrate pollution comes from agriculture. Less than 10% comes from point sources such as wastewater treatment plants, that MPCA could regulate, leaders say.
DNR: Bottled water plant proposed for Elko New Market poses no threat to environment
The agency doesn't believe a California-based company's plans to bottle and sell up to 310 million gallons a year will have a significant impact.
Minnesota's drought is finally easing under deep snow cover
The state is off to one of the snowiest starts to a year in decades.
Fighting drought, potato farmers in northern Minnesota overdrew their water permits by tens of millions of gallons
They likely face few consequences, because of laws that one regulator says are inadequate.
Rush Creek fish kill likely caused by manure, pesticide runoff, MPCA says
No single culprit was found in a seven-month investigation into what killed more than 2,500 fish.
Winona County feedlot sues nonprofit members, public officials over expansion denial
Daley Farm says the process wasn't fair. Opponents say the lawsuit is an intimidation tactic.
2040 carbon-free energy bill advances to Walz for signature
The state Senate narrowly approved a requirement along party lines that utilities meet escalating carbon cuts over the next 17 years. The House passed the bill last week.
Minnesota counties are changing logging rules to protect endangered bats
Aitkin and Carlton counties are the first in Minnesota to update logging plans with northern long-eared bats in mind.
When humans kill a single wolf, it can decimate an entire wolf pack
The ripple effect from the killing of wolves by humans was less apparent when they die of natural causes.
