MPCA

Jul 8, 2015

Lawmakers seek greater rail-safety transparency

Rep. Frank Hornstein served as ringleader for a press conference to commemorate the second anniversary of the fatal Lac-Megantic freight train crash to push for better rail safety in Minnesota.

May 1, 2015

Bird flu gets swift action; water debate continues

Legislators and the governor are trying to keep pace with the expanding avian flu crisis affecting turkey farmers.

Apr 3, 2015

Non-budget disputes unsettled

A variety of hot-button policy issues remain unsettled this session, and the gulf between positions taken by the governor and either or both legislative chambers leaves just about many of those proposals in jeopardy.

Dec 3, 2014

Winds shifting in agriculture

After their swing-district victories, House Republican will push farm issues like streamlining permits and regulations.

Nov 14, 2014

MPCA chief grilled over mega-dairy decision

A senate panel questioned the agency for requiring a stringent environmental review for a proposed dairy facility that would be the largest in the state.

Oct 9, 2013

MPCA plan targets nitrogen runoff from farms

Minnesota used to be a wheat state. But the state agricultural scene has drifted dramatically in favor of soybean and corn crops, which these days yield a much more productive and profitable harvest for the state’s cropland.

Jun 15, 2012

Boom in frac sand mining leaves Minnesota regulators scrambling

Silica sand mining has become a booming business in southeastern Minnesota, and as a result it’s also become a burgeoning issue at the Legislature.

Oct 19, 2011

Government reform: Dayton’s turn

With another state budget deficit looming, Gov. Mark Dayton’s administration is planning to go public with ideas to change how government operates. House Republicans have made the most noise this summer and fall about government restructuring with their Reform 2.0 initiative.

Oct 14, 2011

Stadium wars: Here comes Minneapolis

Since Gov. Mark Dayton’s administration unveiled its analysis of the risks associated with the proposed Minnesota Vikings stadium site in Arden Hills on Wednesday, opinion has varied as to whether it dealt a fatal blow to the Ramsey County/Vikings plan.

Jul 14, 2010

PCA whistleblower has paid a steep price

When the news broke last month that the state and 3M are in settlement talks over damage to natural resources caused by contamination from perfluorochemicals produced by the Minnesota-based manufacturing giant, Fardin Oliaei was paying close attention.