Natalie Ryder

Growing up in Lake Crystal, Minn., Mike Roll remembers swimming and enjoying the splendor of the town’s namesake – Lake Crystal.
Once he had children, he wouldn’t let them swim in the lake’s waters.
“In my lifetime … my lake has been destroyed. So, in my mind, I was like, well, how many others have been destroyed that other people’s kids will never get a chance to use them?” Roll said.

Two White Earth Band members have been charged with allegedly operating an airboat and mechanical harvesting device on a public land wild rice lake, Height of Land Lake, in Becker County.
According to criminal complaints, Jesse Barrientez, 36, and Reino Rousu, 54, each face three misdemeanor charges related to illegal wild rice harvest.

Minnesota is home to five National Park Service-managed properties: Voyageurs National Park, the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, Grand Portage National Monument, Pipestone National Monument, and the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway.
Each destination is offering limited services to visitors during the federal government shutdown, but there is no park-specific information on which services are available, as 68% of the workforce has been furloughed.