ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Feb. 16 (TNSres) -- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued the following news release: New reports from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) highlight restoration investments and improved water quality while calling for continued work to address persistent challenges in southeastern Minnesota. The study compares recent data with an initial round of monitoring and assessment conducted 15 years ago. The study finds many streams have very good or improved wat  more

ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Feb. 16 -- The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission issued the following news release on Feb. 14, 2024: On Thursday, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) began review of CenterPoint Energy's gas rate increase request and established interim rates for CenterPoint Energy customers. On November 1, 2023, CenterPoint filed a multi-year rate increase request. On Thursday, the Commission suspended the rates while the Department of Commerce, the Attorney General  more

ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Feb. 16 -- The Minnesota Utilities Commission issued the following decision involving Rate Regulated Gas Utilities: * * * INTRODUCTION DECISION ITEMS 1. Details 2024-028 ** G008,002,011/CI-23-117; G999/CI-21-565 Rate Regulated Gas Utilities In the Matter of a Commission Investigation into Gas Utility Resource Planning; In the Matter of a Commission Evaluation of Changes to Natural Gas Utility Regulatory and Policy Structures to Meet State Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goal  more

ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Feb. 16 -- The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission issued the following news release on Feb. 15, 2024: On Thursday, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) approved a proposal to move approximately 700 legacy Xcel Energy Community Solar Gardens (CSG) to a rate that is in line with newer gardens. Initially established by the Legislature in 2013, the CSG program allows Xcel customers to subscribe to a small solar farm run by a developer. Xcel is required to   more

ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Feb. 16 -- The Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus issued the following news on Feb. 15, 2024: Senator Jeff Howe (R-Rockville) yesterday presented a bill in the Senate Judiciary Committee that offers a technical fix to the successful Veterans Restorative Justice Act (VRJA), which passed in 2021. The VRJA aims to divert at-risk veterans towards probation and social service programs instead of jail time when they commit certain less-severe crimes, and provides incentives for   more

ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Feb. 15 -- The Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus issued the following statement on Feb. 13, 2024, by State Sen. Bill Lieske, R-Lonsdale: * * * On Thursday, January 25, weeks before the beginning of the new legislative session, the Minnesota House of Representatives committee that deals with healthcare issues heard and approved a controversial bill that would legalize assisted suicide in Minnesota. The bill's author, Rep. Mike Freiberg, said before the hearing that he was   more

ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Feb. 15 -- The Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus issued the following statement on Feb. 13, 2024, by State Sen. Carla Nelson, R-Rochester: * * * The new legislative session begins on February 12. Though we will not be crafting a new state budget this year, Minnesota faces a challenging fiscal situation that will significantly impact what we can realistically accomplish. Last year, the state had a record $19.5 billion budget surplus. However, the governor and DFL-led legi  more

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, Feb. 16 -- Taft, a law firm, issued the following news: Taft Detroit partner Patrice Arend authored the article, "Navigating new work provisions for pregnant, nursing employees," published in the Jan. 25, 2024 issue of the Detroit Legal News. The article gives insight into two significant pieces of legislation that expand workplace protections for pregnant workers and nursing mothers. The Providing Urgent Maternal Protections (PUMP) for Nursing Mothers Act offers enhan  more

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, Feb. 16 -- Taft, a law firm, issued the following news: Taft Cleveland partner Phil Bautista moderated a panel discussion hosted by the National Filipino American Lawyers Association (NFALA) on Feb. 13. The panelists shared their insight and experience on driving business growth and effective rainmaking strategies. Bautista serves as a co-chair of NFALA's Partners Network along with Natalie Garcia Lashinsky of Husch Blackwell. NFALA is a nationwide network of Filipino   more

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, Feb. 16 (TNSres) -- Taft, a law firm, issued the following news: Taft partner Rob Bilott will be speaking on a panel regarding PFAS exposures among firefighters at the International Firefighter Cancer Symposium in Miami, FL on Feb. 22. Dubbed by The New York Times Magazine as "The Lawyer Who Became DuPont's Worst Nightmare" in an article published on Jan. 6, 2016, Bilott has represented a diverse array of clients, nationwide, who have been harmed by per- and polyfluoro  more

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, Feb. 16 -- Taft, a law firm, issued the following news: Taft Detroit partner Michelle Harrell recently recorded a Litigation War Room podcast episode. Harrell is interviewed by attorney Maxwell Goss and tells the story of her battle against the City of Pontiac on behalf of the owner of a commercial office complex. Harrell offers takeaways for real estate litigation and for the litigation practice in general. To listen to the full episode, visit here (https://www.thelit  more

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, Feb. 15 -- The University of Minnesota issued the following news release: Catherine French and Timothy Lodge, professors in the College of Science and Engineering at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, have been elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). This is among the highest professional distinctions awarded to an engineer. The NAE elected 114 new members and 21 foreign members this year. Catherine French is a renowned structural engineer. She was r  more