Environmental News

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

Getting to Green: Minnesota’s energy future

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Voters overwhelmingly back Minnesota lottery spending on environmental projects for another 25 years
More than 77 percent of voters backed a constitutional amendment that continues to funnel tens of millions of dollars of Minnesota’s lottery proceeds into environmental research and natural resource protection efforts for another 25 years.
Public input sought on major powerline proposed for southwest Minnesota
Xcel Energy wants to build the roughly 170-mile power line from Garvin in Lyon County to Becker in central Minnesota. It would connect solar and wind energy from southwest Minnesota to the electrical grid.
Should Minnesota continue to put lottery dollars toward the environment?
Currently 40 percent of proceeds from the state lottery go into a fund aimed at protecting the state’s environment. Voters will decide next week whether to renew the fund for another 25 years, but a proposed addition is getting some pushback.
Man who killed eagles on a Native American reservation gets nearly 4 years in prison
A Washington state man who authorities say led a wildlife trafficking ring on a Native American reservation in Montana that killed thousands of eagles and hawks was sentenced to nearly four years in prison. 
DNR and residents sue to block controversial resort development outside Ely
State environmental regulators and a group of northeastern Minnesota residents have filed separate lawsuits to block a proposed $45 million resort development near Ely and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.
Should elephants have the same rights as people? A Colorado court may decide
Missy, Kimba, Lucky, LouLou and Jambo have lived in Colorado Springs for decades in the elephant exhibit at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Now an animals rights group is trying to get them released from what they say is essentially the equivalent of a prison for such highly intelligent and social animals known to roam for miles a day in the wild.
Renew it or lose it: Lawmaker asks voters not to skip ballot question on lottery amendment
This fall, Minnesotans will vote on whether to renew a proposal earmarking some money from the state lottery to fund environmental programs, including parks projects, conservation and clean water efforts.