On a busy Saturday in July, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources conservation officer Jacob Swedberg was patrolling Big Floyd Lake near Detroit Lakes when he spotted a loon. As he watched, a jet ski turned sharply toward it, then chased the bird as it raced across the lake, trying to get up enough speed to take off."The loon was just about out of the water when the jet ski finally turned away from it,” Swedberg said. “So, of course, I go flying over there and was like, ‘What the heck are you doing?’”The teenage operator told Swedberg that her younger brother wanted a better look at the...…On a busy Saturday in July, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources conservation officer Jacob Swedberg was patrolling Big Floyd Lake near Detroit Lakes when he spotted a loon. As he watched, a jet ski turned sharply toward it, then chased the bird as it raced across the lake, trying to get up enough speed to take off."The loon was just about out of the water when the jet ski finally turned away from it,” Swedberg said. “So, of course, I go flying over there and was like, ‘What the heck are you doing?’”The teenage operator told Swedberg that her younger brother wanted a better look at the...WW…

St. Cloud, Roseville and Bemidji became the latest Minnesota cities Monday to adopt mask mandates to prevent the spread of COVID-19.Mandates in St. Cloud and Bemidji go into effect immediately. The Roseville requirement goes into effect July 27.After a lengthy debate, the St. Cloud City Council voted 5-2 to approve the emergency ordinance.It requires face coverings in all indoor public places, with several exemptions, including children under age 5 and people unable to wear a mask due to a medical condition.Council members Paul Brandmire and Mike Conway voted against the mandate, saying...…St. Cloud, Roseville and Bemidji became the latest Minnesota cities Monday to adopt mask mandates to prevent the spread of COVID-19.Mandates in St. Cloud and Bemidji go into effect immediately. The Roseville requirement goes into effect July 27.After a lengthy debate, the St. Cloud City Council voted 5-2 to approve the emergency ordinance.It requires face coverings in all indoor public places, with several exemptions, including children under age 5 and people unable to wear a mask due to a medical condition.Council members Paul Brandmire and Mike Conway voted against the mandate, saying...WW…

Split Rock Lighthouse State Park is always a popular destination in the summer. Its majestic rock cliffs and historic lighthouse overlooking Lake Superior draws thousands of visitors every year. Its campground fills up most summer weekends. But park manager Katie Foshay said this year, more people than usual are flocking to the park for day visits, too — in part, she suspects, because other summertime activities and travel have been canceled due to COVID-19. "We are definitely seeing an increase in numbers,” she said. “I think with all of the major events like concerts and...…Split Rock Lighthouse State Park is always a popular destination in the summer. Its majestic rock cliffs and historic lighthouse overlooking Lake Superior draws thousands of visitors every year. Its campground fills up most summer weekends. But park manager Katie Foshay said this year, more people than usual are flocking to the park for day visits, too — in part, she suspects, because other summertime activities and travel have been canceled due to COVID-19. "We are definitely seeing an increase in numbers,” she said. “I think with all of the major events like concerts and...WW…

For the past several years, University of Minnesota researchers have studied wolves in Voyageurs National Park to learn how they spend their summers.They’ve uncovered some fascinating details. Wolves are often thought of as bloodthirsty carnivores that hunt large mammals. But in the summers, the researchers tracked them catching freshwater fish —.The research requires funding for staff salaries and equipment. The collars fitted with a GPS device that researchers use to track the wolves cost more than $2,000 each, said Joseph Bump, associate professor in the university’s  Department of...…For the past several years, University of Minnesota researchers have studied wolves in Voyageurs National Park to learn how they spend their summers.They’ve uncovered some fascinating details. Wolves are often thought of as bloodthirsty carnivores that hunt large mammals. But in the summers, the researchers tracked them catching freshwater fish —.The research requires funding for staff salaries and equipment. The collars fitted with a GPS device that researchers use to track the wolves cost more than $2,000 each, said Joseph Bump, associate professor in the university’s  Department of...WW…

Under a gray sky threatening rain, Tim Adams steered his fishing boat across the Black River near La Crosse, just upstream from where it empties into the Mississippi. He joined a small fleet looking for something that shouldn't be here: Invasive carp. Adams wants the carp gone.“I enjoy the river as much as anybody, like riding around in our pontoon boat in the summertime,” Adams said. “I don't want the things jumping in the boat." Adams, of Wabasha, fishes and boats on these waters, both for fun and as a commercial fisherman. He's worried that invasive carp will crowd out native...…Under a gray sky threatening rain, Tim Adams steered his fishing boat across the Black River near La Crosse, just upstream from where it empties into the Mississippi. He joined a small fleet looking for something that shouldn't be here: Invasive carp. Adams wants the carp gone.“I enjoy the river as much as anybody, like riding around in our pontoon boat in the summertime,” Adams said. “I don't want the things jumping in the boat." Adams, of Wabasha, fishes and boats on these waters, both for fun and as a commercial fisherman. He's worried that invasive carp will crowd out native...WW…

Every weekday, Mugesi Ogongi drives from her home in Monticello to the Northstar train station in Big Lake.Then, she takes the commuter train to Minneapolis, where she works as a mental health professional at M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital. As an essential worker, Ogongi . But in the early days of the pandemic, she said there were sometimes as few as five people on the train. Some riders have returned, she said, but not as many as there used to be before COVID-19.Ogongi attributes the drop in ridership to people losing their jobs to the pandemic....…Every weekday, Mugesi Ogongi drives from her home in Monticello to the Northstar train station in Big Lake.Then, she takes the commuter train to Minneapolis, where she works as a mental health professional at M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital. As an essential worker, Ogongi . But in the early days of the pandemic, she said there were sometimes as few as five people on the train. Some riders have returned, she said, but not as many as there used to be before COVID-19.Ogongi attributes the drop in ridership to people losing their jobs to the pandemic....WW…

The city of Bemidji recently reached a settlement with 3M to help pay for treating contamination in the city's water supply.3M will pay $12.5 million toward building and operating a new treatment facility to remove chemicals known as PFAS, or per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances.The city discovered elevated levels of PFAS in its wells in 2016. It’s believed that the source of the contamination was firefighting foam used during training at the regional airport, which is located near the wells. 3M manufactured PFAS used in aqueous film-forming foam used for suppressing fires for...…The city of Bemidji recently reached a settlement with 3M to help pay for treating contamination in the city's water supply.3M will pay $12.5 million toward building and operating a new treatment facility to remove chemicals known as PFAS, or per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances.The city discovered elevated levels of PFAS in its wells in 2016. It’s believed that the source of the contamination was firefighting foam used during training at the regional airport, which is located near the wells. 3M manufactured PFAS used in aqueous film-forming foam used for suppressing fires for...WW…

Fifteen years ago, Tu Lor Eh Paw’s family left their small village in Burma, now known as Myanmar, seeking a better life away from political violence and unrest.Part of her family fled first to Thailand and then to Minnesota in 2011, while others stayed behind.Paw, a student at Bethel University, has been closely watching this week’s news of a , in which the military seized power and detained many of the country's leaders. "I just don't know what's going on with my family that's left over there,” she said. “I feel very uneasy, and not having any type of communication with my aunts and...…Fifteen years ago, Tu Lor Eh Paw’s family left their small village in Burma, now known as Myanmar, seeking a better life away from political violence and unrest.Part of her family fled first to Thailand and then to Minnesota in 2011, while others stayed behind.Paw, a student at Bethel University, has been closely watching this week’s news of a , in which the military seized power and detained many of the country's leaders. "I just don't know what's going on with my family that's left over there,” she said. “I feel very uneasy, and not having any type of communication with my aunts and...WW…

A state lawmaker is pushing for stronger safety protections for workers at Minnesota meat and poultry processing plants, where COVID-19 outbreaks sickened hundreds of employees during the pandemic.Rep. Dan Wolgamott, DFL-St. Cloud, is author of a bill that would give meatpacking workers the right to refuse to work in conditions they deem unsafe. It also would require meat processing employers to provide paid sick time for workers to recuperate from illness, injury or to care for ill family members.The bill would impose new requirements on meat processing plants to prevent the spread of...…A state lawmaker is pushing for stronger safety protections for workers at Minnesota meat and poultry processing plants, where COVID-19 outbreaks sickened hundreds of employees during the pandemic.Rep. Dan Wolgamott, DFL-St. Cloud, is author of a bill that would give meatpacking workers the right to refuse to work in conditions they deem unsafe. It also would require meat processing employers to provide paid sick time for workers to recuperate from illness, injury or to care for ill family members.The bill would impose new requirements on meat processing plants to prevent the spread of...WW…

Jerry Relph, a first-term state senator from St. Cloud, died Friday of complications of COVID-19.But Relph had been dealing for weeks with difficulties connected to his coronavirus infection. He sought hospital care more than once and, according to people kept abreast of his condition, his condition deteriorated in recent weeks. “Jerry dedicated his life to service, and representing Senate District 14 was one of the highest honors he had,” his wife, Pegi Broker-Relph, said in a statement released Friday night. “I can’t count the number of times he would come home at night and tell me...…Jerry Relph, a first-term state senator from St. Cloud, died Friday of complications of COVID-19.But Relph had been dealing for weeks with difficulties connected to his coronavirus infection. He sought hospital care more than once and, according to people kept abreast of his condition, his condition deteriorated in recent weeks. “Jerry dedicated his life to service, and representing Senate District 14 was one of the highest honors he had,” his wife, Pegi Broker-Relph, said in a statement released Friday night. “I can’t count the number of times he would come home at night and tell me...WW…