Hottest year ever updates from Minnesota: "Minnesota residents have used twice as much natural gas this winter as last winter"; northern lakes may not be ice-free for the fishing opener

Snapshots from the cold front: How the endless winter is affecting Minnesota (- TwinCities.com

 Resort owners wonder if northern lakes will be free of ice for the walleye fishing openers...Trollhaugen ski resort in Dresser, Wis., is experiencing its longest season ever...Corn growers need the soil to reach 50 degrees for seeds to grow properly. In western Minnesota this week, soil temperatures were only 33 degrees -- and had actually fallen over the past two weeks...It's tough on deer and pheasants "when we've had winters that linger this late," said Steve Merchant, wildlife manager at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources...Minnesota residents have used twice as much natural gas this winter as last winter