Minnesota

OPINION EXCHANGE | U.S. regains climate cred. How about Minnesota?

Published

2 years ago

August 21, 2022

OPINION EXCHANGE | U.S. regains climate cred. How about Minnesota?

Opinion editor’s notice: Star Tribune Opinion publishes a mixture of nationwide and native commentaries on-line and in print every day. To contribute, click on right here.

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The passage of the Inflation Discount Act marked probably the most important achievement ever by Congress to answer the local weather disaster. Because the Star Tribune Editorial Board wrote on Aug. 13, it re-establishes the U.S. as a frontrunner on mitigating local weather change.

With this laws, federal lawmakers have devoted $369 billion towards addressing local weather change over the subsequent 10 years. Within the Editorial Board’s phrases, “the invoice and extra efforts by different nationwide, state and native authorities entities may minimize greenhouse gases by 40% by the tip of the last decade.” This can be a main accomplishment of the IRA, however the editorial fails to notice the function that Minnesota leaders can and should play in addressing local weather change.

Minnesota is among the quickest warming states within the nation. Local weather change is already having an unlimited affect on our waters, lands, wildlife and residents. But the state has failed to fulfill its previous emissions reductions objectives and remains to be not again on observe. To keep away from the worst impacts of local weather change, we have to cut back emissions by not less than 50% by 2030.

Congress might have reasserted its credibility on local weather, however our state leaders can’t but say the identical. Minnesota ought to seize this chance to go bold local weather laws and reveal what it means for a state to guide on local weather mitigation.

Minnesota’s pure and dealing lands — like forests, pastures and croplands — can sequester roughly 20% of our carbon emissions. The IRA acknowledges the potential of pure local weather options and dedicates $20 billion to climate-smart agriculture to assist producers cut back greenhouse gasoline emissions on their farms.

State legislators permitted $500,000 for a soil well being help program in 2022, a welcome step that acknowledges the function farmers play in managing massive swaths of Minnesota’s land space, and due to this fact our local weather. However with about half the land within the state in agricultural manufacturing, the Legislature’s funding — even with the addition of latest federal funding — will not be ample.

The IRA additionally invests $5 billion for forests, supporting administration actions to scale back wildfire threat and assist our cities, cities and tribal communities plant extra bushes. This funding from Congress will assist extra Minnesotans entry the advantages bushes present, like offering us with clear air to breathe, decreasing pollution and sediment in our water and mitigating the impacts of local weather change.

However in recent times, Minnesota has fallen behind on investing in forests. Packages for reforestation, seedling manufacturing and forest administration have all gone underfunded. This hurts the well being of our forests, our residents and our economic system, together with Minnesota’s sturdy forest merchandise trade.

Latest evaluation discovered that the IRA will help 10,000 jobs in Minnesota yearly for the subsequent decade, together with expert jobs throughout diversified industries resembling the ability, buildings and transportation sectors. These jobs and the related financial exercise will generate roughly $130 million in native, state and federal authorities income yearly for 10 years.

Collectively, the IRA’s modern incentives and investments in agriculture and forestry, renewable vitality, clear transportation and extra will drive an estimated $6.6 billion of funding right here in Minnesota over the subsequent decade.

We applaud Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith and Reps. Angie Craig, Betty McCollum, Ilhan Omar and Dean Phillips for voting in favor of this funding in our local weather and reclaiming our nation’s standing as a frontrunner on local weather change.

Now’s the time for Minnesota to construct on the progress Congress has made. The governor’s administration has been engaged on growing a Local weather Motion Framework that can define key areas for local weather investments. In 2023, legislators can put sources behind these methods.

Complementing this federal funding with bold state motion to speed up the enlargement of pure local weather options would make an excellent larger distinction and put Minnesota on a path towards a brighter future.

Now isn’t the time to let up.

Mary Brainerd is chair and Ann Mulholland is director of The Nature Conservancy in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.

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Minnesota

‘As bad as I’ve ever seen it’: Partisan dysfunction worsens in Minnesota Legislature

Published

16 minutes ago

January 11, 2025

Press Room

‘As bad as I’ve ever seen it’: Partisan dysfunction worsens in Minnesota Legislature

In recent years, the DFL has largely been in control and unaccustomed to compromise, he said. Republicans, meanwhile, have been largely shut out; now they have pent-up demand for a modicum of power, he said. “Poof, that’s what we have right now,” Schultz said.

In addition, he said, the Legislature is relatively young with many new members and a lack of negotiating experience or prowess.

In the past two sessions, especially in 2023, the DFL used its power to pass a litany of progressive policies, spurning GOP attempts to moderate the proposals. “The Democrats played winner-take-all politics; you could argue Republicans would have done the same thing,” Schultz said.

“Now both sides are playing winner-take-all, take-no-prisoners politics,” he said.

Difficult negotiations usually come at the end of legislative sessions as lawmakers try to pass big policy bills and a two-year state budget. This year, the acrimony arrived early and risks upending the entire session.

It wasn’t expected to go this way. The House was set to be tied 67-67 after the November election, and both parties were discussing how to amicably share power. But Republicans backed away from negotiations after a judge ruled in December that newly elected Democrat Curtis Johnson didn’t live in his Roseville-area House district and was ineligible to take office. As a result, the seat was left vacant.

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Minnesota

Quick Hits: Steven Crowl, Wisconsin Use Big Second Half to Beat Minnesota

Published

12 hours ago

January 10, 2025

Press Room

Quick Hits: Steven Crowl, Wisconsin Use Big Second Half to Beat Minnesota

MADISON, Wis. – Steven Crowl got run into by Minnesota forward Frank Mitchell with a head of steam. No foul was called, much to the frustration of the Wisconsin bench. When the Badgers coaching staff and reserves saw next, it elicited a different reaction.

Crowl drove to the open lane with Mitchell out of position and the bench erupted with fist pumps after he finished with his right hand, again through contact from Mitchell for a three-point play. It added to the momentum of a big second half that turned a close game into an 80-59 Wisconsin rout over the Gophers at the Kohl Center.

Wisconsin (13-3, 4-2 Big Ten) ran its winning streak to five games and as the Badgers and Crowl continued mastery over the Gophers. UW has won eight straight against its border rivals and Crowl – following his team-high 18 points – is averaging 15.7 points on 66.1 percent shooting in six career starts against his home-state team.

John Tonje added 11 of his 16 points in the second half, as the Badgers shot 57.7 percent in the second half to outscore Minnesota, 50-30.

Wisconsin went 11-for-28 from three, three of which came on a 13-2 run early in the second half that pushed the lead to double digits. Nolan Winter (eight points), John Blackwell (nine), and Crowl all hit from the perimeter over a 2-minute, 40-second run, hitting as many threes as UW hit the entire first half.

Dawson Garcia was the only player in double figures for Minnesota (8-8, 0-5), finishing with a game-high 22.

The Badgers struggled out of the game with Kamari McGee (15 points) replacing Max Klesmit (right ankle) in the starting lineup. UW started 2-for-10 and got only marginally better throughout the half. McGee, Tonje, and Blackwell combined to shoot 4-for-18 from the floor, as UW shot only 32.3 percent (10-for-31).

Down as many as 10 in the opening minutes, UW chipped away at the deficit to lead at the break with its defense. The Badgers turned eight turnovers into nine points and 3-for-10 on shots around the rim.

Minnesota took the lead on a pair of Garcia free throws early in the second half, but UW outscored them, 40-12, over the next 12 minutes, and 40 seconds.

What it means: The first half looked like what Wisconsin-Minnesota games have been the last few seasons, as the last five games have been decided by a total of 16 points. The second half looked like the Wisconsin offense we’re getting used to seeing.

Star of the game: Crowl was the only steady offensive weapon through both halves for Wisconsin. The graduate center had nine points on 3-for-4 shooting in the first half and nine points on 3-for-3 shooting in the second half.

Stat of the game: Wisconsin went 19-for-24 from the line while Minnesota was only 8-for-13.

Reason to be Concerned: Klesmit went through warmups but missed his first game in two years, not a surprise after hearing head coach Greg Gard talking about the injury Wednesday. How long Klesmit will be out, especially with some tougher competition coming up on the schedule, is a storyline.

Don’t overlook: Wisconsin has touted its depth since the beginning of the season but stuck with its same starting five and eight-to-nine-man rotation. Without Klesmit, McGee had 15 points, five rebounds, three steals, two assists, and is 3-for-4 on 3-point attempts in his first collegiate start.

What’s next: Wisconsin stays at home for its opening against Ohio State on Tuesday night. The Buckeyes (10-6, 2-3) registered two of the Big Ten’s best out-of-conference wins in knocking off No.19 Texas and No.4 Kentucky on neutral sites but have struggled in conference play, having lost two of three with the one win coming in double overtime at Minnesota. Led by Bruce Thornton’s 17.1 points, Ohio State has four players averaging in double figures and seven players scoring at least 7.0 per game.

UW has won four of the last five meetings in the series. The tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. and will be televised on Peacock.

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Minnesota

Gophers commit Tori Oehrlein continues to dominate, setting MN prep record

Published

23 hours ago

January 10, 2025

Press Room

Gophers commit Tori Oehrlein continues to dominate, setting MN prep record

Crosby-Ironton four-star guard Tori Oehrlein verbally committed to the Gophers in November and it looks like they will have a future star when she arrives on campus in 2026. She has absolutely dominated to begin her junior campaign.

Oehrlein has been putting up unbelievable numbers all season, averaging 29.8 points, 16.7 rebounds, 9.5 assists and 7.3 steals per game — and her performance on Tuesday night might’ve been her most impressive.

The 5-foot-11 guard broke the Minnesota high school girls basketball state record with 21 assists in a 113-33 victory over Hinckley-Finlayson. She ended Tuesday night’s game with a ridiculous box score of 30 points, 21 assists, 12 rebounds and 12 steals, marking her third quadruple-double of the season.

Oehrlein is only a junior this year, so head coach Dawn Plitzuweit and the Gophers will have to wait more than a year until she’s able to play for Minnesota. Crosby-Ironton is a perfect 14-0 this season and Oehrlein looks like one of the best players in the state regardless of class.

According to ESPN’s recruiting rankings, Oehrlein ranks No. 43 nationally in the class of 2026. The only high schooler in Minnesota who ranks high in 2026 is Kentucky commit Maddyn Greenway, who ranks 18th nationally.

Greenway, the daughter of former Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway, is averaging 31.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 4.8 steals per game at Providence Academy.

Another high school phenom who has been offered by the Gophers is Duluth Marshall ninth-grader Chloe Johnson. The class of 2028 recruit is averaging 28.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 3.8 steals per game for the Hilltoppers.

Stay up to date on all things Gophers by bookmarking Minnesota Gophers On SI, subscribing to our YouTube Channel, and signing up to receive our free Gophers newsletter, which will enter you into a drawing for the EA College Gameday 25 video game (you choose between PS5 or Xbox).

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