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April 23, 2026

The BWCA Mining Ban Is Gone. Now What? Plus, Twin Cities' Cover Band Moment

City Cast Twin Cities

The BWCA Mining Ban Is Gone. Now What? Plus, Twin Cities' Cover Band Moment

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The Biden-era moratorium on mining near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area is gone. Pete Stauber's bill passed Congress, and the future of one of Minnesota's most beloved wilderness areas is suddenly a lot less certain. We talk with Joe Friedrichs of Paddle and Portage about what it means, what comes next, and whether there's any reason for hope. Then: have you noticed a lot more cover bands on Twin Cities stages lately? Racket's Jay Boller has, and he wrote a great piece about it. We get into the economics, the nostalgia, and what it means for original artists in this city.

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