Minnesota coalition pushes for state to solve nitrate

Jul 05, 2023

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Lewiston, Minn. (WKBT) -- A Winona County group is sounding the alarm over tests confirming nitrates are contaminating local private wells.

The Winona County Clean Water Coalition hosted a forum tonight in Lewiston.

Most nitrates come from plants, but nitrates in processed-meat products can put people at risk thyroid and colon cancer.

Coalition members say most nitrates in groundwater are due to agriculture, and since private wells are not regulated, those wells are more at risk.

"The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has been saying they'd work on this problem for several years, and the nitrate levels simply aren't going down."

Stanage says roughly 3,000 county residents currently can't drink the water out of their taps.

The coalition plans to send a petition to the EPA to put more pressure on Minnesota to act.

Anchor

Ken is ecstatic to work in his home state of Wisconsin. After graduating from UW-Madison in 2017 with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, he got his career started in Sports. He spent two years as a Weekend Sports Anchor at the CBS affiliate station in Bismarck, North Dakota, and then spent the last three years as WKBT's Sports Director. Ken is humbled and excited to be promoted to News Anchor at 5, 6, and 10, and while he won't be anchoring sports anymore, he’ll still be following all Wisconsin sports teams and Coulee Region high school athletics. Ken and his wife Leah love the La Crosse area and are excited to stick around WKBT and keep working on their house!

Favorite band: It varies by day. He’d say he's pretty eclectic.

Favorite movie: Inception

Family: Wife Leah and their two dogs: 2-year-old black Lab named Bear, and 3-month old golden retriever named Bella.

Pizza: Pepperoni and bacon

Sports teams: All Wisconsin teams, especially the Brewers and Packers

Thing he's bad at: Drawing, or basically anything you’d do in Art class

Favorite way to spend a day off?: Playing tennis with Leah, having some fun meals, and then spending time together with the puppies

June 5, 2023 @ 5:26 am

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