Environment

Anti-Mining Activists Gather In Penokee Hills This Weekend

Mike Simonson — Fri, 17 May 2013 23:01:07 +0000

Native and non-native people will join tomorrow at a river downstream from a proposed open-pit iron ore mine in the Penokee Range.

Mysterious Virus Plagues Ammunition Plant's Famous Salamander

Terry Bell — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:30:00 +0000

A virus is infecting salamanders at the former Badger Army Ammunition Plant near Baraboo.

DNR May Delay Exploration License For Penokee Mining Company

Mike Simonson — Thu, 16 May 2013 22:07:12 +0000

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) may want more information on exploration plans from the company that wants to mine the Penokee Range.

City Of Adams Rolls Out Red Carpet For Green Energy Company

Glen Moberg — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:28:11 +0000

The Adams city council and the Adams-Friendship Area School Board voted to let an Australian company make Adams its American headquarters.

GOP Shrinks Land Stewardship Program, Requires Land Sell-Off

Shawn Johnson — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:31:28 +0000

Republicans on the legislature's budget committee have approved a plan that would reduce borrowing for Wisconsin's Land Stewardship Program and force the state to sell off thousands of acres it already owns.

Black Flies Disturbing Nesting Whooping Cranes

Chuck Quirmbach — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:36:19 +0000

There's more evidence that black flies are making it harder for whooping crane chicks to be hatched in central Wisconsin.

Northern WI Wildfire Mostly Contained; Several Dozen Evacuated

WPR News — Wed, 15 May 2013 12:02:15 +0000

UPDATE AT 9:45am: The Department of Natural Resources says the fire has been largely surrounded and was "90 percent contained" this morning. It has burned about 8,700 acres and is considered the largest forest fire in northern Wisconsin in 33 years.

Residents were evacuated overnight from Loon Lake, Sand Lake, Murray Lake, Potowatomi Estates, Rock Lake, Beauregard Lake, Catherine Lake, Ellison Lake and the Village of Barnes. Fifty-nine people had registered at the Drummond High School evacuation site as of 7 this morning.

A wildfire that began at around 3:30 Tuesday afternoon had burned more than 6,700 acres in Douglas and Bayfield Counties as of early this morning, and destroyed at least 50 structures.

Intense Wildfire Rages In Douglas County

Mike Simonson — Tue, 14 May 2013 22:58:57 +0000

UPDATE AT 9:00 PM: The Douglas County Sheriff has asked for police help from elsewhere in the region to assist with sealing off a perimeter around the fire area. Also, people in the German Lake area of Barnes Township have been told they must evacuate.

UPDATE AT 8:42 pm: The fire is spreading into Bayfield County, driven by 30 mph winds. Officials are evacuating an area near Barnes called Potawotomi Estates.

An out-of-control wildfire is forcing the evacuation of part of Douglas County at this hour.

High Levels Of Wastewater Chemicals Found In Minnesota's Lakes, Rivers

Maureen McCollum — Tue, 14 May 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Pharmaceuticals, cocaine, and a variety of other chemicals are more widespread in Minnesota’s lakes and rivers than previously thought.

New Breed Of Satellite Will Monitor Water Quality Of Wisconsin's Lakes

Mike Simonson — Tue, 14 May 2013 10:00:00 +0000

For more than 30 years, satellites have been checking the water quality of Wisconsin’s lakes. Now, new satellites will take a closer look.