The issue, which came to dominate portions of the 2013 legislative session, has resurfaced in a more subdued manner this year, and it remains to be seen if any substantive legislation might come up for consideration.

U.S. Senate candidates joust over foreign steel and the PolyMet mine proposal.

The state exported $20.7 billion worth of manufactured, mining and agricultural products last year, down $106 million from a record $20.8 billion in 2012.

The Senate Finance Committee turned down Sen. Matt Schmit's bid to amend frac sand legislation into the game and fish bill less than a week after it removed from the same bill by a different committee. However, Gov. Mark Dayton's administration has voiced strong support for Schmit's proposal, creating the potential for it to reemerge before session's end.

The state Executive Committee on Thursday will meet to revisit the controversial sale of 77 leases for mining in northern Minnesota.

On its face, the vote taken recently by the state’s top constitutional officers to delay the granting of mineral rights leases on the Iron Range for six months was democracy in action: government bending to a public outcry and pledging to explore the issues raised.

Debate on the PolyMet copper mining project on the Iron Range is heating up as the DNR takes two days of public comment on a draft environmental study.