Pine County adopts a 6-month moratorium on data centers will hold public meeting Aug 18, 2026

Pine County News reports… Pine County will hold a public hearing on Aug. 18 after adopting an interim ordinance authorizing a six-month moratorium on data center developments earlier in July.…

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New MN Music Video The People have the Power by The Real Chuck NORAD

The Real Chuck NORAD is a musical collective of Twin Cities music scene activists, promoters and musicians. They are about to release their debut EP, Circuit. Their music sounds trippy and vaguely …

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There’s hope for some iteration of the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program

Benton Institute for Broadband and Society reports on the federal funding that supported the adoption side of the BEAD access goal… Cities, counties, nonprofits, libraries, community colleges…

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Hasting City Council to vote on data center moratorium on Aug 17, 2026 (Dakota County)

The Twin Cities Pioneer Press reports… The Hastings City Council on Monday night moved forward a potential pause on any data center development, joining a growing number of cities across the state …

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La Crosse (WI) City Plan Commission advances 18-month moratorium on data center development

News 8 Now reports…  La Crosse city leaders took the first step Saturday toward pausing data center development, with the City Plan Commission advancing an 18-month moratorium on new data cen…

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La Crosse (WI) City Plan Commission advances 18-month moratorium on data center development

News 8 Now reports…  La Crosse city leaders took the first step Saturday toward pausing data center development, with the City Plan Commission advancing an 18-month moratorium on new data cen…

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North Mankato data center moratorium tabled for two weeks

KEYC reports… The North Mankato City Council held a public hearing on August 3, 2026, regarding a moratorium and study on data centers within city limits. The meeting was well attended……

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The data center debate, part two on 1A

Last week, I wrote about the first part (or a two-part) series on data centers on MPR’s 1A. Part two was on today. The spoke to folks with differing views on if, how and why data centers have a pla…

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FOX9 tracks view on proposed data center locating to the former Star Tribune

I wrote about the proposed data center locating to the former Star Tribune earlier. FOX9 has followed up with notes on varying options of location stakeholders on the project… What they’re sa…

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Some electric cooperatives lose interest in BEAD due to pole attachment rule changes

Telecompetitor reports… Pole attachment requirements added late in the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program rollout have become a sticking point for electric cooperatives, …

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MN eNews Aug 2026: More data center news, BEAD updates and regulations in Minnesota

Minnesota ranks 18 BroadbandNow has released the results of a recent survey on broadband pricing and today’s budgets. Minnesota ranks 18 for average cost of broadband (highest cost being number 1).…

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EVENT Aug 5: Public hearing regarding La Crosse (WI) consideration of a temporary data center moratorium

I know La Crosse is Wisconsin, but it’s Minnesota adjacent. WXOW reports… A proposal to temporarily halt new data center development in the City of La Crosse is moving forward this week…

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5 Questions with Neon Arrival on their debut album Summer. Never. Fails. Playing in Rochester Aug 7, 2026

Neon Arrival is a little bit country and a little bit country rock. The sound of the debut album, Summer. Never. Fails., is positive and almost wholesome or maybe better put happy ending. But they …

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Administration plans to study the 4.4 GHz band for full-power commercial licensed use

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) reports… The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) at the U.S. Department of Commerce announc…

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Otsego City Council unanimously approves a one-year moratorium on data centers (Wright County)

I wrote about the July 27 City Council meeting in advance of the meeting… The Otsego City Council unanimously approved a one-year moratorium on data center projects Monday… On July 27, …

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More info on Monday’s (Aug 3) North Mankato city council meeting on data centers

I have written about this meeting earlier, but this article from Free Press Mankato gives the time and place…. North Mankato City Council will hold a public hearing Monday on a proposed inter…

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Federated Rural Electric to buy Windomnet for $7.5 million

KEYC TV reports… The City of Windom heard from three potential buyers for its community-owned telecom, Windomnet, and chose to accept an offer of $7.5 million from Federated Rural Electric an…

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Senator Klobuchar Asks AI Expert About Cybersecurity Against AI Attacks

A video from Forbes… During a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on Thursday, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) asked Bob Everson, the Chief Architect of Provider Mobility at Cisco Systems, about cybe…

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US Senate Panel talks about permitting Reform and fiber to supporting growth of AI

Broadband Breakfast reports… The rapid growth of artificial intelligence is putting unprecedented pressure on U.S. communications networks, telecommunications leaders told a Senate panel Thur…

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MN Daily looks at environmental aspects of data centers

The MN Daily (University of Minnesota student newspaper) reporter, Madina Elmi, talks with environmental activists, students and Minnesota Daily reporter Shayne Tarquinio about the status of data c…

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CleanCore forms to joint venture to build a data center in Minnesota

PR Newswire reports… CleanCore Solutions, Inc. (NYSE American: ZONE) (“CleanCore” or the “Company”) today announced that it has entered into a 10-year Colocation Servi…

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Data center developer set to buy Minnesota Star Tribune’s North Loop printing plant (Hennepin County)

The Minnesota Star Tribune reports… A Virginia-based data center developer signed a purchase agreement for the Minnesota Star Tribune’s former printing plant, one of the last remaining large …

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MNIT activates statewide cybersecurity response to support affected communities and protect critical infrastructure

A press release from MNIT… A coordinated cyberattack targeted operational technology at more than 30 Minnesota community water systems on July 26 and 27. Minnesota IT Services (MNIT) immediat…

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MN Office of Broadband Development announces first signed BEAD deal

I mentioned this yesterday in the OBD Updates, but I’m glad to highlight it again today, because it’s pretty big news. Broadband Breakfast reports… Minnesota has notched a milesto…

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Residents of Harmony are talking about data centers before the City County meeting on Aug 5 (Fillmore County)

Harmony has an upcoming City County meeting in Harmony (Aug 5) to discuss data centers. In the meantime, people are talking. KAAL TV reports… Harmony residents said the project has caused friction …

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Brookings looks at data center regulation in various states, including Minnesota

Brookings looks at data center moratoriums versus oversight… Data center construction is exploding amid the artificial intelligence (AI) boom—and so is the community backlash against these pr…

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WCB Announces Lifeline Minimum Service Standards and Indexed Budget

The FCC announces… By this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) announces the minimum service standards for Lifeline-supported services as required by the 2016 Lifeline Ord…

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Office of Broadband Development Update July 29 2026: East Central Energy (ECE)

From the Office of Broadband Development… Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) updates Upcoming Tribal broadband summit +…

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Office of Broadband Development Update July 29 2026: East Central Energy (ECE)

From the Office of Broadband Development… Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) updates Upcoming Tribal broadband summit +…

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