Capitol Report: The State of MN's Natural Resources

With the commencement of several fall hunting seasons, this week’s Capitol Report focuses on the health of Minnesota’s natural resources. Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Tom Landwehr joins Capitol Report moderator Shannon Loehrke to appraise the health of pheasant, waterfowl and deer populations. Chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen (R-Alexandria), weighs in on wolf populations, chronic waste disease (CWD) in Minnesota’s deer population, and the wellbeing of Minnesota’s lakes and rivers.

The Senate Committee on Human Services Reform Committee held several meetings September 20-21. The panel conducted a fiery discussion of a requirement that all individuals age 13 and older living or working in a child care setting have a fingerprint-based background study. The change was made during the 2017 legislative session to comply with the federal Child Care Development Block Grant. We provide excerpts.

Finally, an occasionally shimmering globe six feet in diameter hangs majestically above the Capitol Rotunda. The Minnesota Historical Society’s Brian Pease provides the history of this century-old chandelier and explains what makes it so unique.