Kiss me underneath the baldfaced wasp’s nest

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Pipestone National Monument is an ancient red rock quarry in southwestern Minnesota, and Magellan Pipeline is an Oklahoma-based company trying to reopen a fuel pipeline that passes near it. State regulators rescinded a permit for the work last year, but now the Trump administration has proposed a federal rule change that would make it easier to disregard Native voices in discussions over projects like this.

At a town hall meeting last January during Operation Metro Surge, Rep. Ilhan Omar was accosted by a man who sprayed the contents of a syringe at her. The substance turned out to be apple cider vinegar (which yes, smells atrocious but isn’t particularly dangerous unless you’re a smoked pork butt trying to dry out) but the assailant — Anthony Kazmierczak — is still going to serve 14 months in federal prison.

Trump’s handpicked chair of the Federal Reserve, Kevin Warsh, just raised interest rates against Trump’s wishes, so what gives? The short answer is that the conflict in the Middle East has driven gas prices up, but the economy still appears to be growing, despite already high inflation. It’s a bit of an odd situation, so the move is meant to promote continued stability. There’s also a longer answer, and you can start here.

Farming and solar power are often seen as being at odds with each other — land covered with solar panels seems like it shouldn’t be great for growing plants — but a project in Big Lake is trying to show how they can work together. It’s called agrivoltaics, which yes, sounds a little like a ‘50s doo-wop group.

Community Voices: Bill to promote ‘agrivoltaics’ will help to prevent the loss of productive land

It’s been a good summer if you don’t like mosquitos, but not a great one if you don’t like wasps, who appear to be flourishing. People like Sammy Lett, though, seem to be … enjoying it?

On Instagram, he posted a video of [a] nest, pitching it as a spot for romance. “The closer you get to the active wasp nest, the greater the sense of danger. And therefore, the greater the romantic potential,” he said.

I think there’s a J.G. Ballard novel about that.

A cow in Brown County tested positive for rabies after behaving oddly. A further 13 cows have been quarantined and 40 more are being watched closely. No word yet on what happened to Farmer Brown.

And finally in your news roundup: American Girl has introduced the first American Girl doll from Wisconsin, Daisy Davenport. The company was founded in Wisconsin 40 years ago and the new doll celebrates that anniversary. She plays guitar and soccer and comes with a bag of cheese curds and a sixer of Spotted Cow.

The post Kiss me underneath the baldfaced wasp’s nest appeared first on MinnPost.

Originally reported by MinnPost by Steve McPherson. Read the full story at the source.