Ben Maas
@masbenmaas.bsky.social
đ€ 1732
đ„ 972
đ 2087
Studying water quality for the state of Minnesota
reposted by
Ben Maas
Minnesota Star Tribune
about 5 hours ago
U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Cmdr. Greg Bovino is seen deploying a gas canister at Mueller Park in south Minneapolis this afternoon. Video by Ben Luhmann.
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Ben Maas
Saralovesyou
about 7 hours ago
Am I correct that the green gas is hexachloroethane? Iâm going to pull recommendations from this 1994 US military report on it.
apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA...
This shouldnât be legal.
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Ben Maas
Ashley Miller
about 8 hours ago
An observer arrested in Suth Minneapolis. Photo by Richard Tsong-Taatarii/The Minnesota Star Tribune
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The wrong Senator from Minnesota is retiring...
about 7 hours ago
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Ben Maas
Chris Ingraham
1 day ago
Minnesota's Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth made a Facebook post critical of an anti-ICE protest at a church, and got ratioed by her own daughter in the comments
www.facebook.com/LisaforMN/po...
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Ben Maas
Michael Hawthorne
1 day ago
"Left unplugged, some of these wells leak toxic chemicals hundreds of feet below the surface, potentially contaminating groundwater, and spit climate-warming methane gas into the atmosphere." Jonathan Bullington and
@adrianaperez.bsky.social
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At one time, Illinois was a top oil producer. Today, that legacy is a $160M problem.
Abandoned oil and gas wells pose environmental and public health risks. For three decades, the state has mismanaged funds earmarked for minimizing the threat.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/18/illinois-oil-wells-abandoned-contamination/?share=ogbltma0liwenmtscmal
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1 day ago
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Ben Maas
Chris Jones
6 days ago
www.thegazette.com/state-govern...
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Chris Jones launches Iowa ag secretary campaign with call to 'retreat from ethanol'
Clean water advocate and author Chris Jones formally launched his campaign for Iowa secretary of agriculture Thursday with a sharp critique of the state's farm economy â calling for a "retreat from et...
https://www.thegazette.com/state-government/chris-jones-launches-iowa-ag-secretary-campaign-with-call-to-retreat-from-ethanol/
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6 days ago
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Long time followers are familiar with the environmental issues of CAFOs. This is a great example "manifesting is a process whereby large factory farms transfer their manure to smaller farms that arenât subject to manure disposal regulations... sometimes the smaller farms are owned by the CAFO."
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7 days ago
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Friken Mercator projection... Greenland isn't even THAT big.
www.npr.org/2026/01/07/n...
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How large is Greenland, really? Your map may be deceiving you
Talk of annexation has Greenland in the news again. But due to quirks of cartography, some common maps show the territory much larger than it is.
https://www.npr.org/2026/01/07/nx-s1-5668482/greenland-mercator-map-size-distortion
8 days ago
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Ben Maas
Aaron Rupar
9 days ago
Frey: "You cannot drag pregnant women through the snow. You're not allowed to take teenagers out of their car and detain them when they are in fact American citizens. That is against the law in every state. That is against our US Constitution."
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reposted by
Ben Maas
Minnesota Star Tribune
8 days ago
Reporter Louis Krauss saw this. An agent apparently dropped a flash grenade that was left with the pin still in it on Park Avenue after driving away in a squad car.
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reposted by
Ben Maas
Minnesota Star Tribune
8 days ago
Video shows a chaotic scene from earlier Tuesday a couple of blocks from where Renee Good was killed. Agents released a high-powered smoke grenade to clear the way through a crowd of protesters at the intersection of Oakland Avenue and 34th Street. Video by Louis Krauss.
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Ben Maas
Chris Steller
8 days ago
Gift link
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/13/u...
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3 Prosecutors Quit After Push to Investigate ICE Shooting Victimâs Widow
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/13/us/3-prosecutors-quit-after-push-to-investigate-ice-shooting-victims-widow.html?unlocked_article_code=1.EFA.s5zQ.djGxEXwRB5qQ&smid=url-share
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Not a huge surprise, but goodness this is terrible news. It's the Environmental Protection Agency, not the Business Protection Agency
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9 days ago
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This rescue cat, and former street cat, somehow survived on the streets for a year. Now, full on spoiled.
10 days ago
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"around 4,000 gallons of manure spilled from the farmâs manure storage facility. The dairy must pay $90,000 [out of the $120,000 fine] to the agency [WI DNR] to address harm from the fish kill."
www.wpr.org/news/monroe-...
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Monroe County dairy agrees to pay $120K fine tied to manure spill
A Monroe County dairy farm will pay $120,000 under a settlement over alleged violations of the stateâs environmental laws.
https://www.wpr.org/news/monroe-county-dairy-agrees-to-pay-120k-fine-tied-to-manure-spill
11 days ago
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"almost 47% of new private wells in the county contain arsenic above two parts per billion, the detection limit for most water testing labs. Roughly 13% of wells had amounts of the element at rates above ten ppb, the maximum contaminant level..."
www.startribune.com/arsenic-scot...
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Arsenic is showing up in Scott County drinking water
The chemical joins a growing list of contaminants surfacing in south suburban drinking water, from PFAS to cyanazine to nitrates.
https://www.startribune.com/arsenic-scott-county-water/601558142?utm_source=gift
12 days ago
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If you have found the reporting on this week's events that MPR and the Star Tribune were able to do to be good or useful, then consider becoming a member. They are only able to do their work because of its members and subscribers.
13 days ago
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reposted by
Ben Maas
Climatologist49
13 days ago
âïž 75-year annual snowfall trend. Snowfall is decreasing almost everywhere during this period. It's as if something has changed. đđąđ
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14 days ago
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Ben Maas
Titus Seilheimer
15 days ago
Historical PFAS trends in the Great Lakes using four decades of archived fish.
#GreatLakes
đ§Ș
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
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Five years ago there was an attack at the Capitol. NPR has a visual archive of the events leading up to and including the attack on the Capitol. Worth your time to look at, lest it gets scrubbed away from our collective memory.
apps.npr.org/jan-6-archive/
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Jan. 6, 2021: A visual archive of the Capitol attack
NPRâs Jan. 6 archive brings together reporting, video, documents and testimony to show what really happened during the Capitol riot. Explore the timeline, cases and evidence behind the attack.
https://apps.npr.org/jan-6-archive/
16 days ago
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Ben Maas
Jalopnik
17 days ago
Tires cause up to 90% of road microplastics, with the average tire losing 6- 9 pounds of rubber in a lifetime. Just how bad is the toxicity?
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What Actually Happens To Tire Tread When It Wears Away, And Is It Harmful? - Jalopnik
https://www.jalopnik.com/2063020/what-happens-tire-tread-when-wears-away-harmful/?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_campaign=Echobox-Jalopnik&utm_medium=Social-Distribution&utm_source=Bluesky#Echobox=1767576953
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reposted by
Ben Maas
Caitlin Gilbert
22 days ago
The share of counties where 95% or more of kindergartners were vaccinated against measles has dropped from 50% before the pandemic to 28%, according to our analysis of public records from 44 states and the District of Columbia. At least 19,000 schools are now more vulnerable to outbreaks.
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Aimee Bock is the face of the Feeding our Future fraud scheme in Minnesota.
www.mprnews.org/story/2025/1...
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Court clears path to seize millions in assets from Feeding Our Future ringleader
A federal judge approved a preliminary order that could allow prosecutors to seize millions in cash, property and a Porsche from Feeding Our Future ringleader Aimee Bock.
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/12/30/judge-clears-path-to-seize-millions-in-assets-from-aimee-bock
22 days ago
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TIL that Winona Ryder is from Winona, Minnesota! ...and that their name actually is Winona.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winona_...
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Winona Ryder - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winona_Ryder
22 days ago
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Timeline serendipity
24 days ago
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This is crazy! But did you know that Gatorade used glass bottles until 1998?? We don't have to drink microplastic This bit of info was inspired by season 5 of 'Stranger Things', they showed the Gatorade in glass bottles. Some info. on Gatorade bottle evolution:
thirstpals.com/when-did-gat...
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24 days ago
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"The federal RFS [Ethanol mandate] adds about 30 cents per gallon to the wholesale cost of gas, on average. Consumers pay more for each gallon and use more gas because of ethanolâs lower energy content, which leads to about 3% lower fuel efficiency for E10."
minnesotareformer.com/2025/12/23/e...
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Ethanol mandate: bad for the economy, bad for the environment âą Minnesota Reformer
None of this is the fault of Minnesota farmers, who operate under the incentives that the state and federal government have put into place.
https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/12/23/ethanol-mandate-bad-for-the-economy-bad-for-the-environment/?emci=ae9ce094-14e0-f011-8195-000d3a1d58aa&emdi=38117a30-18e0-f011-8195-000d3a1d58aa&ceid=75026
29 days ago
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âIt's up to the private well owner to take care of their own health,â said Freshwaterâs Carrie Jennings. âIf you live in a city, your city is regulated and has to do that for you. But if you have your own well, it's up to you... and things can go wrong with wells.â
www.mprnews.org/story/2025/1...
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Private well owners in Minnesota encouraged to test for arsenic, other contaminants
A group of nonprofits are holding free water screening clinics throughout the state for private well owners to test their water supplies. Arsenic is a naturally occurring metalloid and has been linked...
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/12/22/private-well-owners-in-minnesota-encouraged-to-test-for-arsenic-other-contaminants
29 days ago
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30 days ago
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reposted by
Ben Maas
Climatologist49
about 1 month ago
High temperatures Christmas Day 1922 - the warmest on record (since 1895). Will Christmas 2025 be warmer? đ„đ
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Get out there and enjoy the longer days, Minnesota! Only 182 days until we start to lose daylight again.
about 1 month ago
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Ben Maas
Melaine Le Roy
about 1 month ago
Furgg Glacier and Matterhorn 1905 | 2022 đ· @glacionaut
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I am looking forward to the work I will be doing at the Minnesota DNR to better understand and protect Minnesota's water resources! The team I am part of is the Groundwater Atlas Program, which assesses groundwater data for each county in the state of Minnesota.
www.dnr.state.mn.us/waters/groun...
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County Geologic Atlas (CGA) Series
Minnesota counties with geological and hydrogeologic atlases.
https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/waters/groundwater_section/mapping/county-geo-atlas.html
about 1 month ago
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Ugh, I forgot about Ryan...
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about 1 month ago
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Well, it is with mixed emotions that I inform you all that I have once again left academia and have started a new position with the MN DNR to study water quality for the state of Minnesota. I enjoyed my 2.5 years at Metro State University, but it is on to the next adventure!
about 1 month ago
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reposted by
Ben Maas
Minnesota Star Tribune
about 1 month ago
President Donald Trumpâs proposed 2026 budget would eliminate all federal funding for Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center and the other eight regional climate science centers, which Congress began establishing in 2008.
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Scientists warn federal funding cuts could undermine walleye recovery in Minnesota
The Trump administration froze grant money awarded to the Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center in August and wants to cut its budget next year.
https://bit.ly/4iWmjnr
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"Derek Vekich of Bovey filled in a wetland with more than 9,000 square feet of unpermitted fill near Trout Lake in Itasca County" But 'We aLl WaNt ClEaN wAtEr'
www.pca.state.mn.us/news-and-sto...
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Bovey man fined more than $20,000 for stormwater and wetland violations
MPCA investigation determined Derek Vekich committed stormwater and wetland violations in 2024.
https://www.pca.state.mn.us/news-and-stories/bovey-man-fined-more-than-20000-for-stormwater-and-wetland-violations
about 1 month ago
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I did such a good job clearing snow around the mailboxes this morning the mail delivery person thanked me.
about 1 month ago
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I guess it is time that I stop using Times New Roman as my font of choice...
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about 1 month ago
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reposted by
Ben Maas
WuTangIsForTheChildren
about 1 month ago
Students walked out of school at Burnsville High School in Minnesota to protest Trumpâs ICE gestapo terrorizing their communityâŠ.the kids are alright đȘ! "NO MORE ICE! NO MORE ICE!"
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With today's snow, I think the cross ski trails will be in great condition across central and northern Minnesota!
about 1 month ago
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Ben Maas
Paul Kelleher
about 1 month ago
âThe National Wildlife Health Center in Madison is the only center in the country dedicated to preventing and detecting wildlife disease. Research at the facility, which has already lost about 30% of staff, includes bird flu, chronic wasting disease and more.â
www.jsonline.com/story/news/2...
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Trump budget jeopardizes 3 U.S. science research centers in Wisconsin
The fate of the centers isn't sealed, since Congress ultimately has the power to assign funds. But until a decision is made, scientists are uneasy.
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2025/12/08/trump-budget-jeopardizes-3-u-s-science-research-centers-in-wisconsin/87463961007/
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Ben Maas
That Cargo Bike Guy (Ese Tipo De Bici Carga)
about 2 months ago
Wow! Pretty impressive. Source: Electrek
search.app/JKqTf
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Ternâs NYC delivery e-bike fleet crosses 1 million miles, with some bikes rolling past 30k
Urban e-bike maker Tern just hit a major milestone in one of the toughest proving grounds on the planet: New...
https://search.app/JKqTf
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The 'U' used to be a proper campus...
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about 2 months ago
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"Yet the mysterious origin of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in nearly half of Apple Valleyâs wells, some 24 miles from the nearest 3M site, doesnât change the fact that the city faces a $100 million bill to flush them from its system."
www.startribune.com/apple-valley...
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âForever chemicalsâ slam small cities with big water bills as they surface farther from 3M sites
Apple Valley will likely hike water rates to fund a $100 million project to rid its wells of PFAS.
https://www.startribune.com/apple-valley-pfas-3m-settlement-water-wells/601527652?utm_source=gift
about 2 months ago
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Ben Maas
Dr. Jeff Masters
about 2 months ago
Are you one of the 38% of U.S. households with a gas or propane stove? If so, spend the $50 needed to get an induction stove! New study: "if you use a gas stove, youâre often breathing as much nitrogen dioxide pollution indoors from your stove as you are from all outdoor sources combined.â
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Switching to electric stoves can dramatically cut indoor air pollution
A new study links gas and propane stove emissions to asthma and other health risks. Transitioning to electric could reduce exposure by over 50%.
https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2025/12/gas-propane-stoves-nitrogen-dioxide-exposure-health-risks-switching-electric#:~:text=A%202024%20study%20of%20air,and%20ovens%20are%20turned%20off
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