A clipper system will bring colder air and snow showers to northwest Minnesota today. Colder air and snow showers will develop statewide into Saturday. Get the latest weather news on Updraft.
Coming up on Morning Edition: Many deer hunters in northern Minnesota are angry. They blame wolves for threatening their beloved tradition. This week, hunters have been gathering across the northern third of the state to vent their frustrations, and learn about a new group that's promising to take action. Dan Kraker brings us the story.
Coming up at 11 a.m.: In his new book “Crossings: How Road Ecology is Shaping the Future of Our Planet,” environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb illustrates how roads that are helpful for humans can be disastrous for wildlife. How can we design transportation that’s good for all? He joins host Kerri Miller on this week’s Big Books and Bold Ideas.
The U.S. is trying to reduce its dependence on China for the critical minerals and rare-earth elements needed to build everything from batteries for electric vehicles to military weapons systems. Part of the solution might come from a new extraction process developed in North Dakota.
“We can do it a lot cheaper, a lot faster and also we can make sure we don’t get some of the problem impurities that would cause some of the environmental concerns later,” said senior research manager Nolan Theaker, referring to pollution associated with traditional hard rock mineral extraction methods.
Hundreds of deer hunters in northern Minnesota are gathering at a series of crowded meetings this week to vent their frustrations about a lackluster hunting season and direct their ire at the animals they believe are to blame for a demise in their beloved tradition — the state’s thriving population of grey wolves.
“We’re plagued with wolves. And they will not do a thing. They say it’s a federal issue. So, I think it’s time the hunters take care of the problem themselves. Whatever it takes to get rid of them.”
In the decades since Prairie Island established its bison herd, tribal nations have worked to get U.S. Department of Agriculture support for the growing and processing of Indigenous foods. And they want more say in how those systems operate.
“I think it’s really important to understand that we as Dakota people here on our homelands, we have had a 10,000-year relationship with our relatives,” said Paul Dressen, the education director at Prairie Island Indian Community, says about bison.
What else we're watching:
DOJ alleges city of Anoka discriminated against tenants with mental health disabilities. The U.S. Department of Justice alleges the city of Anoka notified landlords of potential nuisance calls and encouraged landlords to evict tenants who were the subject of the calls. Sometimes those communications included personal details about tenants’ mental illnesses.
High-profile attacks on Derek Chauvin and Larry Nassar put spotlight on violence in federal prisons. The assaults have renewed concerns about whether the chronically understaffed, crisis-plagued federal Bureau of Prisons is capable of keeping people in its custody safe.
Minnesota Varsity League launches scholastic middle school esports program. Middle schools around the state can level up opportunities for students wanting to play esports with the launch of a league of their own.
