Gov. Dalrymple says if Minnesota energy regulators require utilities to pay more to burn coal it will hamper North Dakota's growing lignite industry, which already provides a large share of Minnesota's electric power. Regulators here imposed higher costs on coal-burners as part of a plan to require utilities to generate a quarter of their energy from renewable sources by 2024.

North Dakota is suing to force the state of Minnesota to drop restrictions on coal-generated electricity, but big utility companies here have already conformed to the rules and say they're not interested.

A consortium of six North Dakota utilities and coal mining companies is chipping in $500,000 to fight Minnesota's ban on energy generated by burning coal. The state's Industrial Commission filed the original lawsuit. The North Dakota legislature is also committing funds for the legal challenge.

Therefore, North Dakota officials feel the state should be exempt from a Minnesota law that requires utilities to pay more to burn coal, even those from out-of-state. It's part of Minnesota's Next Generation Energy Act of 2007 that requires new coal power emissions to be offset.

Coal ash spilled into Lake Michigan after a bluff collapsed below a coal power plant. But experts tested the waters and say the coal ash is so diluted that it should pose no threat to human health. The Sierra Club is suing the power plant owner. The group claims the company is violating the state's environmental laws and alleges the coal ash does pose a serious threat to health and the environment.

The city says not more than 30 percent of the homes on a block can be rentals, but some homeowners say that rule is illegal and unconstitutional. They say the city is unfairly restricting what they can do with their property and not giving them equal opportunity to obtain rental licenses.