April 17, 2025 - Do you need an excuse to get out on the lake? Or to spend some time on a nearby waterway? The MPCA is searching for volunteers who want to do just that by being a Water Monitor. MPCA Volunteer Water Monitoring Program Coordinator, Waverly Reibel, explains how you can be a part in helping improve the quality of water in our state wh…

Jan. 16, 2025 More than 100 Electric Vehicle models are now available in the U. S. market. Jukka Kukkonen, Chief EV Educator and Strategist wctricith Shift2Ele, discusses how far the EV technology has grown and improved: with better range, new features, and vehicles for everyday lifestyles. For more info, see EVinfoList.com.…

April 10, 2025 - Less than 1% of native prairie and savanna ecosystems exist today. That's why Kim Musser, co-director of the Minnesota State Mankato Water Resource Center and Henry Panoswitch, founder of Prairie Enthusiasts have developed a stewardship program to get youth involved in nature to protect our natural heritage.…

March 26, 2025 - Eighty-percent of Americans can't see the Milky Way from their backyards due to light pollution. Astronomer Dr. James Lowenthal at Smith College talks about how it affects our health, our climate, wildlife and all aspects of our lives in negative ways. He discusses solutions and how we can all make a difference.…

March 20, 2025 - The third annual Lakes Conference is set to bring water expertise and inspiration to lake stewards on March 20-21, 2025. ISG Water Business Unit Leader, Julie Blackburn, discusses common lake misconceptions, and how the conference is designed to empower lakes residents and stakeholders with practical tools and knowledge for managin…

March 13, 2025 - In June 2024, the Rapidan Dam suffered catastrophic failure when floodwaters tore around the west end of the dam, eating away the shoreline and sending a century's worth of sediment stored behind the structure down the river. Dr. Phil Larson, co-director of Minnesota State Mankato's Earth Systems Laboratory, and MSU alum Dr. Zach H…

March 12, 2025 - A permit application to mine sand and gravel on land immediately adjacent to one of the Mankato area's newest and largest parks has been withdrawn following a flood of opposition. Community effort led by Charles Eltonga, who started a petition which helped to save the park from mining, was a success.…

March 6, 2025 - Xcel Energy says it will go carbon-free earlier than anticipated. Bria Shea, regional VP of planning and policy discusses what is included in the new Xcel plan which was recently approved by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission.By KMSU

Feb. 27, 2025 What is happening with climate change in the Trump era? Peter Prengaman, global news director for the Associated Press' Climate and Environmental team discusses Trump's new climate policies and what they mean for climate journalism over the next four years.By KMSU

Feb. 20, 2025 "The Nature of Oaks" by Doug Tallamy is considered a highly important book because it sheds light on the crucial ecological role oak trees play in the environment, highlighting their vital function as a keystone species that supports a vast array of wildlife, and advocating for their protection and planting in our landscapes.…

Feb. 6, 2025 - MNSU Urban Studies Professor Dr. Paul Prew’s research and personal interests revolve around the growing concerns regarding the destruction of our environment. KMSU's Karen Wright talks with Prew about how we can understand this global crisis in the capitalist world-system and what we, as individuals, can do to make a difference.…

January 9, 2024 The Blue Earth County Property & Environmental Resources/Waste & Recycling Division is seeking public input on proposed changes to its County Solid Waste Management Plan. Mark Manderfeld and Taylor Piotter discuss how you can learn about, and have input into this Plan at an upcoming Open House on Jan. 21, 2025.…

Dec. 19, 2024 Magma Power, LLC, is pioneering energy technology to harvest the power of volcanoes for renewable energy. Magma Power CEO, Levi Connor, spoke with KMSU's Karen Wright about the proprietary system designed to safely, efficiently and cost effectively extract geothermal energy from magma reservoirs.…

Dec. 12, 2024 - Toby Bond is a Senior Scientist at the Canadian Light Source (CLS), Canada’s national synchrotron facility, where he specializes in x-ray imaging of batteries and fuel cells for companies doing industrial R&D. Bond says what’s most exciting about the research is that it suggests we may be near the point where the battery is no longe…

Dec. 4, 2024 Author and Explorer, Jonathan Waterman, has witnessed first-hand the effects of climate change in one of America's last wild places - the Arctic. His recently published book, "Into the Thaw: Witnessing Wonder Amid the Arctic Climate Crisis," draws from his life's most profound journeys over the past 40 years. Despite the unfolding clim…

Nov. 21, 2024 Fresh Energy's J. Hamilton Drake represented Minnesota at the COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan this past week. She witnessed the historic 2015 Paris Agreement in support of the global response to the threat of climate change, and has attended nine COP summits. She shares her insights with KMSU's Karen Wright for "Every Day is Earth Da…

Nov. 14, 2024 Global Climate and Environmental News Director, Peter Prengaman, leads the Associated Press global climate and environment team. Prengaman was at the COP29 Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan when KMSU's Karen Wright talked with him about how U.s. President-elect Donald Trump's win last week will affect international efforts to combat clim…

Nov. 7, 2024 Recent college graduate, Luke Drummer of Mankato, is hoping to make a difference and improve the environment. He is a member of the Conservation Corp of Minnesota and Iowa. Learn about how he is having an impact in the communities of Eagle Lake and Lake Crystal.By KMSU

Oct. 31, 2024 The Living Earth Center is hosting its 19th Annual Earth Conference - From Extraction to Regeneration: The Future We Create. One of the keynote speakers of the event, Michael Wilson Becerril, who is an activist scholar specialized in Environmental Justice, spoke with KMSU's Karen Wright about the consequences of extraction on both the…

Oct. 24, 2024 More than a quarter of the dangerous climate-heating greenhouse gas emissions produced around the world today come from food. Mark Easter, Senior Research Associate at the Natural Resources Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University and author of "The Blue Plate: A Food Lover's Guide to Climate Change" talks about his research on t…

Oct. 17, 2024 KMSU's Karen Wright talks with one of the world's leading climate scientists, Rob Jackson, who is Chair of the Global Carbon Project, a senior fellow at Stanford's Woods Institute for the Environment and Precourt Institute for Energy, and author of "Into the Clear Blue Sky: The Path to Restoring Our Atmosphere."…

Oct. 10, 2024 If you can't pay your heating bill this winter, your energy can be disconnected. Minnesota Valley Action Council provides assistance for those who need extra help with their energy bills and home weatherization. Brianna Parr-Baker and Emily Holicky explain available resources.By KMSU

October 3, 2024 The environmental and economic impact of food waste is substantial, and author Teralyn Pilgrim, a Zero-Waste Food advocate describes how we can all make a difference in her new book, No Scrap Left Behind: My Life without Food Waste.By KMSU

Sept. 26, 2024 The city of Eagle Lake received a grant to create a Resiliency Plan. City Administrator Jennifer Bromeland explains what that means and how the community will be involved in making the city more climate-friendly.By KMSU

Sept. 19, 2024 What is SWCD and why should I care? You may see SWCD Supervisor listed on your ballot when you vote, and you just check a box without knowing what you're voting for. Emily Minge, Political Organizer with Land Stewardship Action, explains the power of Soil and Water Conservation Districts and how they use your tax dollars to promote s…

August 15, 2024 Emissions from diesel vehicles are harmful for all of us. Dr. Sara Adar, Associate Professor of Epidemiology at University of Michigan talks about why young children are especially vulnerable to the effects of diesel exhaust and what can be done about it.By KMSU

Sept. 4, 2024 Dr. Johnna Leddy, a researcher at U of Iowa holds 32 U.S. patents and studies how electrochemistry will change the energy distribution of the planet. Leddy is the keynote speaker for the 34th Leonard Ford Lectureship at MNSU and explains how her research looks at solutions to lower environmental loads and energy costs through chemistr…

Aug. 29, 2024 Zero Waste Day in the Park is Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024 at Sibley Park Pavilion, Mankato, noon - 3 p.m. The event is free and includes a clothing swap and repair, electronics recycling and repair, info about recycling, composting, reusing, etc. plus free food, live music and face painting. Jane Dow and Betty Winkworth of Mankato Zero Wast…

August 22, 2024 The Eco-Experience is back for the 2024 Minnesota State Fair. MPCA Communications Specialist Steve Mikkelson discusses the new displays ranging from a giant plastic bag-nado, new electric vehicle options, to solutions for Climate Change.By KMSU

Aug. 8, 2024 Brian Belefant has written a fictional novella called, The Sultan of Garbage" which has parallel lessons to what is happening with consumerism in our world today. Belefant, a former ad agency writer and creator discusses how his attitudes have changed with protecting our world vs. promoting what he describes as "crap".…

Aug. 1, 2024 Peter Prengaman, Global Climate and Environment News Director of the Associate Press (AP) talks with KMSU's Karen Wright about how climate policy is being covered (and ignored) by influential leaders and what we can do to be heard.By KMSU

July 25, 2024 - During the week of July 22-28, visit one of the participating restaurants to enjoy delicious food and celebrate the partnerships between Region Nine’s farmers and restaurants. Sabri Fair, Reg. 9 Dev. Commission Environmental and Sustainability Planner talks about this event dedicated to highlighting the variety of products available…

July 18, 2024 Climate-smart Commodities: How can we grow food that is more climate smart? Dr. Beth Fisher, professor of soil science and geology at Minnesota State Mankato talks about her research that is exploring regenerative agriculture and how it can make a difference in climate health.By KMSU

July 11, 2024 Dr. Tracey Holloway, professor of energy analysis and policy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison tells us how to make a Corsi–Rosenthal Box for our homes to improve air quality in our homes. She discusses the unhealthy effects of air pollution.By KMSU

June 27, 2024 Because of climate change, heat waves have more than tripled since the 1960s, resulting in an 857% increase in heat-related deaths from 1986, according to the 2024 Heat Wave Report from ValuePenguin.com. Mankato Clinic Family Physician John Benson talks about staying safe in the extreme heat.…

June 13, 2024 The Living Earth Center is managing the Blue Earth County Community Farm and fulfilling a need to feed underserved residents. Laura Peterson and SkyAnne Walker talk about the work the organization is doing and how you can become involved.By KMSU

June 20, 2024 PlantSwitch turns agricultural byproducts into into plastic alternatives that are compostable, high-performance, and affordable. Dillon Baxter, co-founder of PlantSwitch says his mission is to replace all petroleum-based single-use plastic with plants. The company's proprietary technology upcycles agricultural residues into a plant-ba…

June 6, 2024 Last week, MN Governor Tim Walz signed a law which makes Minnesota the first state in the Midwest to phase out the sale of Fluorescent lighting. Fresh Energy's Eric Fowler talks about this law and others that will impact how much $$ Minnesotan's save on utility bills and lower emissions.…

May 30, 2024 Dr. Severin Borenstein, Director of the Energy Institute at Haas - University of California Berkely, discusses the economics of rooftop solar power and what we can learn from California.By KMSU

May 23, 2024 Twenty years ago, Minnesota took a step toward a cleaner environment when the MPCA fist removed a lake from its list of polluted bodies of water in the state. Since then, more than 60 other lakes have also returned to health. Scott McClean, Southwestern Minnesota Watershed Supervisor, discusses the "de-listing" process and the work tha…

May 15, 2024 Weather is one of the most talked about topics in our day-to-day life. But what about Climate Forecasts? What are they? How can we use them? And how soon will they be on your local TV newscast. Meteorologist Lauren Casey at Climate Central talks about the Climate Shift IndeBy KMSU

May 9, 2024 Electronic Waste (E-waste) is the fastest growing waste stream in the world and it's full of valuable metals that can be reclaimed, Maria Jensen, co-founder of RECA (Recycling Electronics for Climate Action), based in Minnesota talks about her organization's work toward a 100% e-waste collection bill.…

May 2, 2024 Love Earth Now: The Power of Doing One Thing Every Day is a book by Cheryl Leutjen. KMSU's Karen Wright talks with the author about finding one's own path to living more earth-conscientiously.By KMSU

April 25, 2024 Sonia Parr-Baker talks about an event called LESS IS BEST event on Sat. April 27, 2024. Details: Less is Best - Ways to Reduce Waste Event Less is Best - Ways to Reduce Waste Event Hosted by Mankato Area Zero Waste Saturday, April 27, 10 a.m-1 p.m. Sibley Park Pavilion, Mankato Breakout Sessions: 10:00-10:20: Beyond Plastics 10:30-10…

April 18, 2024 The Blue Earth Project,advocating for ecological resilience in Southern Minnesota. KMSU's Karen Wright talked with Blue Earth Project founder Paul Ebbenga about the program's kick-off to create a better environment for all. Check out The Blue Earth Project's new website as it kicks off Earth Day 2024: https://blueearthproject.org/…

April 11, 2024 Students in Gustavus Adolphus College professor Jeff Jeremiason's Environmental class senior project was to take an inventory of greenhouse gases in the city of St. Peter. KMSU's Karen Wright talked with Gabe Mauer, Lucy Peterson, Ari DeVries and Scott Knowlton about what they learned.…

April 4, 2024 You Can Score Your Shore and improve water quality and our natural environment according to Holly Bushman, Environmental Resource Specialist from LeSueur County. She will be one of the speakers at the upcoming The Future of Southern Minnesota Lakes 2024 Conference on April 13, and will discuss this program. https://www.isginc.com/…

March 28, 2024 "Can We Regenerate Soil Health and Enhance Corn Productivity in the U.S. Corn Belt through Perennial Cover Crops and Poultry Integration”. It's a long title for a very important research -- saving and improving the soil in southern Minnesota and beyond. Dr. Mriganka De, a soil scientist at Minnesota State Mankato talks about his rese…

March 21, 2024 What is the State of the Minnesota River? Carly Griffith, the Water Program Director with the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy gives us a preview for an upcoming Town Hall to be held on Saturday, March 23, 2024 at the Kato Ballroom 10 - 11:30 a.m., Mankato. Anyone who cares about our waters is welcome to attend.…