Minnesota
Sheep take on landscaping at Minnesota solar farm
Hundreds of sheep are hard at work this spring in central Minnesota — not on a farm, but beneath solar panels.
At the Serco Solar Array in Clear Lake, more than 600 sheep are being used to manage vegetation around the 1,200-acre site.
“We have 600 mews and all of them are with lambs, by the end of the summer we will have 1500 adult sheep and by the end of the project 7000 sheep,” said Briana Beck with Minnesota Native Landscapes.
Part of a growing relationship between Xcel Energy and MNL.
The sheep graze between rows of solar panels, keeping grasses trimmed and allowing native prairie plants to thrive –— all without using gas powered equipment or herbicides.
“Its really important for the health of the prairie, to get rid of that vegetation build up and also on solar sights for fire mitigation,” said Beck.
The sight itself is home to dozens of native prairie plants and flowers, one of which is essential to an endangered species.
“Sundial Lupine, that’s a legume species. It is the only known host plant for the Karner Blue Butterfly – Which is an endangered species,” said Beck. “Its fantastic to see the lupine blooming out here.”
“MNL provides the seeds for the pollinator mix that we are using at the Sherco project,” said Luke Molus, Head of Operations at Sherco Solar Array.
The goal of the cooperation is to protect vulnerable prairie lands and animal species. While also keeping the land fertile for any future farming uses.
“The top soil is pretty thin. Restoring the native prairie back to this area,” said Molus. “It’s actually going to help the topsoil become thicker and more healthy so that if the solar project gets decommissioned in say 30 years – If farmers do choose to come back, they’ll actually have better soil to grow on,=.”
In the meantime, the field is part of Minnesota’s broader effort to move away from fossil fuels. The Serco site will eventually try to replace the energy output once generated by the near-by Sherburne County Coal Plant.
“Serco solar one is the first phase of the Serco solar project that Xcel is building to replace the Sherburne County Coal Plant,” said Molus. “All three Serco projects will be a full replacement for the coal plant that retired back in 2023.
Molus says that Serco Solar Array one is providing energy for 150,000 customers.
Xcel Energy could expand the grazing project to other sites across the state in the coming years.
Minnesota
Minnesota woman detained by ICE needs emergency surgery for tennis ball-sized ovarian cyst, lawmakers say
Minnesota lawmakers are calling for the humanitarian release of a woman detained earlier this year, amid Operation Metro Surge, who is suffering from a tennis ball-sized ovarian cyst.
Federal immigration agents arrested 23-year-old Andrea Pedro-Francisco in Burnsville on Feb. 5, just days before she says she was scheduled to have surgery.
Pedro-Francisco moved to Minnesota seeking asylum with her mother back in 2019. Right now, she is being held in a detention center in El Paso, Texas.
State lawmakers — including practicing ER physician Sen. Alice Mann, D-Edina — held a news conference Thursday morning at the Capitol to push for Pedro-Francisco’s immediate release.
“An ovarian cyst this big can put weight on the ovary and cause the ovary to twist onto itself, cutting off the ovary’s blood supply. This is a medical emergency,” Mann said. “This can impact fertility, and we are talking about a 23-year-old. If not treated, this can lead to infection and even death.”
Also on hand Thursday was North Dakota-based pastor Ellery Dykeman, who said he met with Pedro-Francisco last week in the detention center. Dykeman said she looked thinner than he had seen her in pictures.
Dykeman said Pedro-Francisco told him she is forced to climb up to a third-level bunk despite immense pain extending from the right side of her abdomen to her back.
Earlier this month, Democratic Minnesota Congresswoman Angie Craig said her team is tracking 20 medical cases with improper care within ICE detention. A quarter of them have serious conditions, her office says.
WCCO has reached out to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for comment.
Minnesota weather forecast. (FOX 9)
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Most of Minnesota will be under a marginal risk of severe weather on Thursday, with rain and rumbles expected.
Thursday weather forecast
Local perspective:
A line of storms is expected to develop in west-southwest Minnesota on Thursday and grow in coverage as well as intensity tracking east into the early evening.
Large hail and damaging winds are the prevalent threats, but an isolated tornado is also possible along the line.
Isolated showers are expected to form in the western part of Minnesota on Thursday morning.
Rain chances in the Twin Cities area increase in the afternoon, as a line pushes through with possible thunderstorms.
Stay Sky Aware with FOX 9 for the latest.
The Source: This story uses information from the FOX 9 weather forecast.
A TikTok creator is no longer banned from parks in St. Paul, Minnesota, after appealing the city’s restriction, according to his agent.
St. Paul Parks and Recreation Director Andy Rodriguez earlier this month accused Josh Liljenquist of going to Pig’s Eye Park to “harass, record and profit from vulnerable adults residing there without said individuals’ permission.” Liljenquist, who is known for giving away food and cash in his videos, denied the allegation.
On Wednesday, Liljenquist’s agent shared a new letter from the city.
“Based on an evaluation of the facts of this situation as they were relayed during your appeal meeting, I will be rescinding your ban from our parks, effective immediately,” the letter from Rodriguez read.
Rodriguez also wrote the city expects “all residents and visitors to our parks to abide by the rules.”
“Our responsibility is to ensure park spaces remain safe, respectful, and accessible for all, and we appreciate your partnership in that effort,” the letter read.
Liljenquist told WCCO he has only recorded at Pig’s Eye Park once, and it was with the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office’s consent. He said he and his videographer always get consent from individuals they film, too.
Local organizations that work with people experiencing homelessness are split on Liljenquist’s impact. Sue Phillips, director of the Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing, said his content “is exploiting people experiencing homelessness/housing instability.” Feeding St. Paul founder Michael Brendale, on the other hand, said, “Josh has changed many lives, taken people off the streets.”
Liljenquist told WCCO he films his efforts instead of making them private in hopes of “inspiring other people to do it, showing that it doesn’t take a lot of money, it doesn’t take a lot of resources to go out there and do something for somebody.”
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