CURE Press Releases

Washed out rapidan dam on the Blue Earth River - photo by Rob Levine

MN Judge rules state pollution control agency lacks authority to regulate water pollution from public ag drainage systems 

Land & Water, Land & Water Press Releases

In a recent decision, a Minnesota judge accepted the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s (MPCA) argument that it does not have the authority to regulate public agricultural drainage systems, infrastructure that aids crop production but funnels significant water pollution into Minnesota’s lakes, rivers, streams, and drinking water.  Ramsey County District Court Judge Leonardo Castro’s said in […]

MN Judge rules state pollution control agency lacks authority to regulate water pollution from public ag drainage systems  Read More »

Prairie Detention Facility

U.S. Bureau of Prisons fails to fulfill FOIA request for 7+ months. CURE sues.

CURE Press Releases, People & Communities, People & Communities Press Releases

People in Appleton deserve to know the foreseeable impacts of reopening the Prairie Correctional Facility  CURE has filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Bureau of Prisons (BOP) for failing to comply with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). In January 2026, CURE submitted a request to BOP for information related to a 2014 environmental and economic

U.S. Bureau of Prisons fails to fulfill FOIA request for 7+ months. CURE sues. Read More »

holstein cows in a barn

“How Big Is Too Big?” Minnesotans Demand Environmental Review of Mega Dairy 

Land & Water Press Releases

Community encouraged to attend MPCA Public Hearing in Morris on April 28   The push to “get big or get out” in farming has left its mark on rural Minnesota. In the last two years alone, 1,300 farms have gone out of business across the state, while large corporate operations have continued to expand. Now, Riverview LLP, one of

“How Big Is Too Big?” Minnesotans Demand Environmental Review of Mega Dairy  Read More »

Washed out rapidan dam on the Blue Earth River - photo by Rob Levine

Environmental Groups & Rural Minnesotans Say State Must Protect Water for Everyone 

CURE News, CURE Press Releases, Land & Water Press Releases

CURE and four other environmental organizations sue the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency under the Minnesota Environmental Rights Act  Across southern Minnesota, people are watching rivers creep closer to homes, roads wash out after heavy rains, and drinking water bills climb while the state agency charged with protecting Minnesotans’ water has declined to take action. That’s

Environmental Groups & Rural Minnesotans Say State Must Protect Water for Everyone  Read More »

PUC hearing on MN Power sale in October 2025.

CURE petitions for reconsideration of Minnesota Power private equity takeover 

CURE Press Releases, Energy & Innovation Press Releases

Revelations about undisclosed data center project in utility’s territory raises community concerns  On December 30, 2025, CURE formally petitioned the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to reassess its approval of the sale of ALLETE, the parent company of Minnesota Power, to two private equity investors—the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP) and Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP/BackRock), a subsidiary of BlackRock, the world’s

CURE petitions for reconsideration of Minnesota Power private equity takeover  Read More »

Small red house in the woods with lots of snow

CURE-led coalition calls on Gov. Walz to shield Minnesotans from harms of LIHEAP suspension

CURE News, People & Communities Press Releases

Today, eighteen organizations from across Minnesota that advocate for equity and justice in our energy system sent a letter to the administration of Governor Walz asking it to take action to protect the tens of thousands of Minnesotan households who will be severely impacted by the suspension of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Normally, LIHEAP funds would be distributed to

CURE-led coalition calls on Gov. Walz to shield Minnesotans from harms of LIHEAP suspension Read More »

MN PUC Greenlights Private Equity Takeover of Minnesota Power

Energy & Innovation Press Releases

Today, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) unanimously approved the sale of ALLETE, the parent company of Minnesota Power, to two private equity investors, the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP) and Global Infrastructure Partners, a subsidiary of BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager. This decision concludes a lengthy regulatory, legal, and public battle which

MN PUC Greenlights Private Equity Takeover of Minnesota Power Read More »

Erik Hatlestad honored for vital work on rural clean energy & electric co-ops 

CURE Press Releases, Energy & Innovation Press Releases

Last week, CURE’s Director of Rural Cooperative Energy, Erik Hatlestad, was named to the 2025 Grist50 list for his work on rural clean energy and electric cooperatives. This honor reflects Erik’s efforts helping design and pass the New ERA program that provides the largest investment in rural electrification in U.S. history. New ERA funding enables

Erik Hatlestad honored for vital work on rural clean energy & electric co-ops  Read More »

Duluth Night Skyline

Protect Minnesotans and the environment, reject the BlackRock buyout of Minnesota Power

Energy & Innovation Press Releases

Minnesota PUC must put public interest first by denying private equity greed The final comment period closed for the proposed private equity acquisition of ALLETE, parent company of Minnesota Power. Under the proposed acquisition, ALLETE would no longer be a publicly traded company and would be sold to two private equity investors, the Canadian Pension

Protect Minnesotans and the environment, reject the BlackRock buyout of Minnesota Power Read More »

Scroll to Top
Kelsey Olson

Kelsey Olson

Director of Environmental Stewardship

Envelope Linkedin

Kelsey Olson (she/her) joined CURE in 2025 as its Director of Environmental Stewardship. As a skilled environmental naturalist, Kelsey’s work focuses broadly on environmental education and advocacy with a keen focus on rural land use and how that use impacts our environment and climate. Working Lands, how land is used to support agriculture and forestry, is a key focus of her work. She brings 15 years’ experience in public communication, environmental education, and rural community engagement – strong communication strategies are core in her work. This includes two terms of service with AmeriCorps in the VISTA program in Oregon and Maryland and a nearly 10-year career as a naturalist followed. She recently worked on communications and marketing for rural economic development.

Kelsey lives in New London, MN, with her young children, husband, dog, and two cats. They enjoy spending time together outside and finding small treasures in nature. Visits to Minneapolis often include visits to one of their favorite historical museums, the American Swedish Institute. Kelsey enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, canning local produce, and making kombucha.