The Department of Natural Resources is auctioning rights to prospect and mine for metallic minerals on close to 64,000 acres in northeastern Minnesota, in Aitkiin, St. Louis and Lake counties, the Associated Press reports.

Some people in northern Minnesota are finding that while they own their homes and land, they don't necessarily own the minerals below. Now they're trying to stop state officials from giving mining companies the rights to drill on their property. The state routinely sells land while holding on to the mineral rights. Leasing those rights can bring the state tens of millions of dollars a year.

A representative who is hearing from worried constituents is asking the attorney general to issue an opinion on whether the state's eminent domain laws could be interpreted in landowners' favor.

Employees say problems at the hospital that treats dangerous mental patients have gotten worse under an administrator who started six months ago. They describe a tense and chaotic work environment that's led several psychiatrists to quit. A state official says the hospital is close to losing its license.

Opponents of a state plan to auction off the mineral rights in three areas of northeastern Minnesota hope to force an environmental review. They'll file a petition Tuesday asking the DNR to study the effects of mineral prospecting in the areas. They say it could affect water quality and property values near the sites in St. Louis, Lake, and Aitkin Counties.

Counties in southwest Minnesota are seeing record land prices with rates expected to keep climbing. Officials say rural landowners should expect a 2012 property tax increase of 20 to 30 percent.