🛶 The BWCA mining ban is over. What's next?

The BWCA Mining Ban Is Over. What's Next?

Now that Rep. Pete Stauber's bill to end the Biden-era ban on mining near the Boundary Waters has passed in congress, the future of Minnesota's northern wilderness is a lot less certain. On today's episode of the podcast, we talked to Joe Friedrichs of Paddle and Portage about what comes next, and if there's any hope for conservationists. [🎧 City Cast Twin Cities]

• No development (yet): The overturning of the ban does not necessarily mean mining will start any time soon. Lifting the ban doesn't mean automatic approval of mining projects, and any mining project would still need to go through the regular permitting pipeline and get state-level approvals even if it’s taking place on federal land. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources put out a statement shortly after the ban was lifted to remind folks that Minnesota still has some of the most rigorous state-level environmental protections in the nation. [Save the Boundary Waters / 🎧 City Cast Twin Cities]
• Is mining the BWCA really 'America first'? Friedrichs says there are a lot of holes in that argument. Twin Metals, the company seeking to mine near the BWCA, is from Chile. They would likely ship the copper and nickel ore across the Pacific to be smelted in China before the purified metals are sold back to the U.S. [🎧 City Cast Twin Cities]
• Not just Minnesota's waters: The Bois Forte Band of Chippewa released a statement arguing that the possibility of mining poses a threat to the rights of the Band as secured in the Treaty of 1854. Tribal leaders in the First Nations community in the Quetico region said that they weren't given any opportunity to testify before congress acted on the ban, even though pollution of the waters would directly impact their land and sacred resources. [Bois Forte Band of Chippewa / Northwest Ontario News]

RIP this guy's neighbors: A Minnesota Wild fan spent more than $20,000 to purchase the massive X that used to sit atop the Xcel Energy Center, and he is displaying it in his St. Paul front yard while the Wild compete in the playoffs. In a post on X, he showed off his X's ability to blast train horns, smoke, and fire every time the Wild score in the playoffs. [Pioneer Press]

Eyes on Uptown: New public safety measures will be coming to Uptown starting in November. Eight community safety ambassadors – city employees who are trained in first aid, connecting people to social services, and checking in with local businesses about crime – will be patrolling the neighborhood on a regular basis. Community safety ambassadors have already been patrolling stretches of Lake Street and Franklin Avenue, and the program is intended to improve safety without relying solely on police. [MPR News]

HERC fight continues: Zero Burn Coalition activists have been on a hunger strike since April 10, demanding Hennepin County shut down the HERC trash incinerator in the North Loop. They say the facility, located near a densely populated, majority-Black community, contributes to higher rates of cancer, asthma and other health issues. County Commissioner Angela Conley said closing HERC would require major reductions in food waste, adding the county does not want to move backward by returning to landfills. [Spokesman-Recorder / 🎧 City Cast Twin Cities]

Music in Mears Park: Lowertown Sounds announced eight free summer concerts at Mears Park featuring incredible local acts like Dr. Mambo's Combo, Black Market Brass, Sophie Hiroko, and more. Between these shows and the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, Lowertown is going to be a great area to hang out this summer. What upcoming outdoor concerts are you looking forward to? Reply to this email to let me know! [Pioneer Press]

Who is it for? As the United Village project rises near Allianz Field, longtime St. Paul residents are questioning who the Midway’s redevelopment is for. New restaurants, offices, and a hotel are coming, but nearby blocks remain vacant after years of closures, leaving gaps in basic necessities like groceries. Some welcome the investment, while others say it prioritizes visitors and rising property values over community needs. [Spokesman-Recorder]

Thursday, Apr 23

• 🧪 Convergence Summit 2026 | Donaldson, Bloomington
• 🆓 "Still We Rise" | History Theatre
• 🎤 Rochelle Jordan | Fine Line
• 🎹 Cornbread's 99th B-Day Party Extravaganza | The Hook and Ladder Theater
• 🎭 Shanty Boys of Pine County | Art House North
• 🎵 Bob Moses and Cannons | Palace Theatre
• 🎸 The Ultimate Doors: Tribute To The Doors | Varsity Theater

Friday, Apr 24

• 🎨 St. Paul Art Crawl | St. Paul Wards 5, 6 & 7
• 🎤 Grieves | Turf Club
• 🌿 Captain Planet's Not Mad, Just Disappointed | Phoenix Theater
• 🎭 Roxy's Cabaret: Barbara Streisand and Friends | Roxy's Cabaret
• 😂 Law & Order the Unscripted Parody | Strike Theater
• 🎼 jeremy messersmith Fox/Coyote Album Show (Sold Out) | The Parkway Theater
• 🤖 Oklou with Vickie Cherie | First Avenue

• Music Teacher at Perpich Center for Arts Education | $28.53 – $55.42 per hour (PT)
• Emissions Reduction Program Manager at MN Dept. of Transportation | $78k – $116k per year
• Climate Outreach Community Liaison at City of Minneapolis | $66k – $92k per year
• Deputy Director Parks and Recreation at City of Golden Valley | $118k – $158k per year
• Sr Communications Specialist at Amherst H. Wilder Foundation | $75k – $79k per year