Environmental News

MPR News is your source for environment news from Minnesota and across the country.

Getting to Green: Minnesota’s energy future

Getting to Green is an MPR News series that shares stories about Minnesota’s clean energy transition, including what needs to be done to get there.

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Climate Cast

Listen to Climate Cast, the MPR News podcast all about our changing climate and its impact in Minnesota and worldwide.

Egg shortage prompts more backyard chickens, but bird rescuer cautions prospective owners
There is a rush to begin raising backyard chickens as grocery store egg prices continue to skyrocket amid shortages blamed on bird flu. However, raising chickens and getting eggs isn’t as easy or speedy as people may think.
Raccoon survives encounter with electrical transformer in Rochester
Nearly seven years after the MPR raccoon survived its high-wire adventure on the side of a St. Paul skyscraper — another Minnesota raccoon has beaten the odds to escape a life-threatening predicament.
Stearns County dairy herd tests positive for avian flu
The H5N1 virus appeared in raw milk samples collected from a Stearns County herd. Health officials say there's no concern for public safety, because milk sold in stores is pasteurized to kill bacteria and viruses.
Xcel Energy wants to store more spent fuel at Prairie Island nuclear plant. Public hearings are this week
Xcel wants to continue operating the plant into the 2050s. It’s requesting to store an additional 34 casks of spent fuel at the site. But spent fuel storage has a history of controversy at the plant near Red Wing, which is just 700 yards from the Prairie Island Indian Community.
Burning restrictions in place in 15 Minnesota counties, including in the Twin Cities
Starting today, burning restrictions are in place across more than a dozen Minnesota counties, including several in the Twin Cities metro. Among the counties affected by the restrictions are Hennepin, Ramsey, Chisago, Mille Lacs, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd and Washington counties.