Wildfire Smoke & Heat: The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued a “Purple Alert” for Very Unhealthy air across northeast Minnesota (Cook, Lake, Koochiching, Itasca, and much of St. Louis), warning wildfire smoke plus 90s temperatures could raise health risks for everyone. Water Quality & Fish Health: A new DNR/MPCA report rates Minnesota lakes using fish surveys from 2006–2025, finding 77% of assessed lakes fully support fish biodiversity while 23% are impaired, often tied to phosphorus and habitat disturbance. Public Health—Cyclospora: Michigan’s cyclospora outbreak has surged to nearly 1,000 cases, with investigations expanding into dozens of states; experts say the source is still unclear and CDC funding cuts are raising concerns about response capacity. Clean Energy Grid Fight: Rochester approved a path for eminent domain tied to a new transmission line meant to ease grid strain and support renewables, setting up potential property-rights battles. Conservation in Action: Como Park Zoo is sending 3,000 Wyoming toad tadpoles to Wyoming as part of a recovery program for a species extinct in the wild. Community Climate Tech: Wayzata’s Electric Vehicle Ride & Drive invites residents to test EVs and other electric gear while highlighting local emissions reductions.