Outdoor news coverage remains important during COVID-19 pandemic

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact many aspects of life in Minnesota and beyond, outdoor news coverage remains an important topic at WTIP. Closures to Isle Royale National Park and earlier this month in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness made headlines across the state.

At the same time, some environmental issues are taking a back seat for most media coverage and in talks during the current legislative session in St. Paul. Given WTIP’s geographic location in the far reaches of northeastern Minnesota, it’s a challenge to have a direct link inside the state Capitol to hear environmental issues being discussed by the Legislature.

WTIP’s Joe Friedrichs reached out to MinnPost Reporter Walker Orenstein to help bridge that gap. Orenstein covers the environment and workforce issues for MinnPost. In recent weeks, however, Orenstein has been covering healthcare and economic issues related to the new coronavirus.

In this interview, Friedrichs and Orenstein discuss the reopening of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness for day-use only until at least May 18, childcare issues surfacing statewide and what to expect for the remainder of the 2020 legislative session.

To read some of Orenstein’s recent reporting, click here.

Read more of his stories here and here.