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Pentagon announces another boat strike amid heightened scrutiny; An End to Hepatitis B Shots for All Newborns; DeWine veto protects Ohio teens from extended work hours; Wisconsin seniors rally for dignity amid growing pressures; Rosa Parks' legacy fuels 381 days of civic action in AL and the U.S.

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Trump escalates rhetoric toward Somali Americans as his administration tightens immigration vetting, while Ohio blocks expanded child labor hours and seniors face a Sunday deadline to review Medicare coverage.

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Native American tribes are left out of a new federal Rural Health Transformation Program, cold temperatures are burdening rural residents with higher energy prices and Missouri archivists says documenting queer history in rural communities is critical amid ongoing attacks on LGBTQ+ rights.

MN cities dig deep for safe drinking water, but can they meet goals?

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Monday, February 3, 2025   

An Environmental Protection Agency rule, finalized near the end of the Biden administration, calls on states and cities to replace all lead pipes in drinking-water systems within a decade.

This work is taking shape in Minnesota, even with uncertainty looming.

The federal rule was announced last fall, and prior to that, Minnesota laid out its goal of replacing all lead service lines by 2033. Cities such as St. Paul have been aggressive on that front.

With the help of state and federal aid, Brent Marsolek - the lead program project manager at the St. Paul Regional Water Services - said his staff has gradually increased no-cost pipe replacements for property owners, topping a thousand last year.

He touted the fairness of these projects.

"There are many residents," said Marsolek, "that just simply could not afford the $7,000 to $10,000 to get a lead service line replaced on their private property."

The federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law emphasizes steering money toward disadvantaged areas.

Prior to these efforts, cities such as St. Paul were replacing main lines running along streets but now have flexibility to move across property lines.

However, the Biden rule faces a legal challenge from a utility association, with questions lingering about the Trump administration possibly rescinding the changes.

Those concerned say the federal rule puts too much pressure on utilities to do their part in a short amount of time.

Maureen Cunningham - the chief strategy officer and director of water at the Environmental Policy Innovation Center - said applying for grants can be a difficult process but notes there is technical help.

She said keeping pace with the EPA mandate, which begins in 2027, will result in meaningful health safeguards.

"There would be a reduction of 1,500 cases of premature deaths from heart disease," said Cunningham, "and it would prevent up to 200,000 IQ points that are lost in children on average every year."

The contamination crisis in Flint, Michigan from a decade ago brought focus on health risks linked to lead levels in drinking water.

St. Paul officials say they have enough funding for line replacements for the next couple of years.

But President Donald Trump has been vocal about reducing spending and scaling back Biden-era investments. And Minnesota faces a budget deficit a few years from now.



Disclosure: Environmental Policy Innovation Center contributes to our fund for reporting on Climate Change/Air Quality, Environment, Water. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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