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It's the fifth time in six years that Minnesotans are approaching fall during a drought. The time of year is right when homeowners typically start repairing their yards. Is it worth fighting back now or simply waiting until spring?
This year marks the fifth time in six years that Minnesota has had a drought entering the fall, a time when homeowners typically start repairing their yards. In this Good Question, Jeff Wagner learns whether it's worth fighting back now or simply waiting until spring.
The state's forest health consultant says severe drought can mute some colors and push trees to drop leaves early — or hold them later, depending on the species. Peak is still expected from late September through mid-October.
Average temperatures across the U.S. soared to record heights between June and August in 2026, a new report found.
The unofficial end of summer left some boaters in Minnesota high and dry over Labor Day weekend. Most of the state is bone dry right now. That's led to lower lake levels and banged-up boats.
The unofficial end of summer left some boaters in Minnesota high and dry over Labor Day weekend. Most of the state is bone dry right now. The conditions have led to lower lake levels and damaged boats. WCCO's Jeff Wagner and photojournalist Nick Lunemann share how boaters can safely navigate the challenges.
Minnesota is facing its worst drought conditions in five years, experts say. About 88% of the state is either experiencing abnormally dry or drought conditions.
Experts say the ongoing drought in Minnesota is the worst they’ve seen in the past five years. Ubah Ali spoke to a state climatologist who says we should act now, while we still have a choice.
Minnesota's drought has reached extreme levels in part of northwestern Minnesota, as more than 88% of the state is now feeling the impacts.
Much of Minnesota is now under severe drought. In the Twin Cities, we're running 4 inches below normal rainfall this summer. Jason Rantala explores whether we could see a repeat of our extreme drought from just a few years ago.
Minnesota's Drought Monitor Map shows that a part of northwestern Minnesota is now experiencing extreme drought conditions and much of northeastern Minnesota is in severe drought.
Despite rain on Thursday, sections of severe and extreme drought are expanding in a newly-released drought map.
Drought conditions have spread across much of Minnesota, with some of the state's driest conditions in central and northern Minnesota.
Minnesota’s drought is getting worse. The latest conditions show nearly half the state is dealing with severe drought conditions. That includes part of the metro. Photojournalist Ray Campos and Frankie McLister show how it's impacting Minnesota farmers.
Three of four units of Hungary's Paks nuclear power plant were not in operation and the fourth was operating at about 50%, as of Wednesday morning.
Water levels on the Danube River have dropped so low that dozens of World War II German battleships – and even the remains of an ancient woolly mammoth — are emerging into view.
While some soaked up Friday’s downpour, other Minnesotans were left bone dry.
Minnesota could see some much needed rain overnight, though will likely not reverse the course of a drought that is spreading throughout the state.
With hot days ahead, Minnesota farmers in of all kinds are trying to navigate the heat and dry weather.
With more hot days ahead, farmers of all kinds in Minnesota are trying to navigate the heat and dry weather. John Lauritsen shows who's experiencing drought conditions and what they're doing to get by.
A super El Niño could be taking shape in the coming months. While you may be wondering what that means for this summer, it's the winter where we could see the biggest impact. NEXT Weather Meteorologist Lisa Meadows explains.
Minnesota saw some much-needed rain this week, but not over the ongoing fires in the Northland. Experts say the outlook for summer could spell even more trouble.
Even with the recent rains, moderate drought and abnormally dry conditions continue to cover 80% of Minnesota.
This week's rain has given some respite from ongoing drought conditions. But as of May 15, a quarter of Minnesota is still in a moderate drought.
A grass fire happened Thursday in Corcoran, northwest of the Twin Cities — and it might not be the last one the state sees in the immediate future. Frankie McLister as a closer look at the fire threat we’re facing.
Minneapolis will be the fifth stop in an eight-city tour. Tickets for the Jan. 24 game at Target Center go on sale to newsletter subscribers at 3 p.m. and to the general public at 4 p.m. Thursday.
Students at Wayzata West Middle School were let out early Thursday after a fire in the bathroom.
Officials in Stearns County, Minnesota, are issuing an advisory about a wedding venue they say is operating despite a court order demanding its owner comply with safety regulations.
Nearly half of Americans with medical debt owe at least $2,000, forcing them to make tough choices, new research shows.
The man who sprayed vinegar at Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar during a Minneapolis town hall meeting as the city endured a surge of immigration agents and the deaths of two U.S. citizens was sentenced to 14 months in prison Thursday after reaching a deal with prosecutors.
The man who sprayed vinegar at Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar during a Minneapolis town hall meeting as the city endured a surge of immigration agents and the deaths of two U.S. citizens was sentenced to 14 months in prison Thursday after reaching a deal with prosecutors.
A Twin Cities physician who has spent the last two years learning to live with a life-changing injury is making a remarkable recovery.
Anthony LaRoque and Amias LaRoque have not been seen since Monday and were last believed to be in the area of the 600 block of Jackson Street Northeast or the 3000 block of 39th Avenue South.
More than two months after a shooting in an Oakdale, Minnesota, backyard left a 33-year-old St. Paul man with life-threatening injuries, family members are still waiting for answers.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension says it arrested Castro around 2:15 p.m. Wednesday in the area of Second Avenue South and Third Street in Minneapolis.
Officials in Stearns County, Minnesota, are issuing an advisory about a wedding venue they say is operating despite a court order demanding its owner comply with safety regulations.
From making the paper for Crayola crayons to getting a visit from Mr. Rogers. John Lauritsen shares the history behind a Little Falls paper mill, and how its ruins have become its future, in this week's Finding Minnesota.
The shelter, located in St. Cloud, says a visitor had been looking at the kitten, a 2-month-old named Marin, for a while before taking him out of his kennel and stuffing him into their bag.
Fall color season is almost here, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says several factors will determine when the leaves peak and how brilliant they'll be.
Students were sent home from a school in Renville County, Minnesota, on Tuesday morning due to kitchen troubles.
In downtown Hudson, Wisconsin, a small gallery is making room for a lot of creativity.
A $1.8 billion project to replace the Blatnik Bridge, which links Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin, is now underway.
An 18-year-old man has pleaded guilty to killing 10-year-old Lily Peters in Wisconsin four years ago. He was then given a life sentence with the possibility of extended supervision after 25 years.
A Wisconsin prosecutor says he will not file election bribery charges against billionaire Elon Musk even though the state's bipartisan elections commission said he likely broke state law.
A Wisconsin high school football player has died from injuries sustained during a game on Thursday night.
In downtown Hudson, Wisconsin, a small gallery is making room for a lot of creativity.
The nonprofit opened its Twin Cities doors in 2010 and now runs a seven-woman operation out of a warehouse stocked entirely with what other Minnesotans gave away.
An Annandale, Minnesota, boy who survived overwhelming odds as a baby is once again facing a serious heart battle.
Zy'ire was diagnosed with bone cancer in his tibia, and throughout treatment, his love of the game helped keep his spirits up. Make-A-Wish Minnesota granted his wish by putting him on the sideline in Vikings gear.
Lt. Ryan Kelly, the first Minneapolis officer to arrive at Church of the Annunciation on Aug. 27, 2025, described walking in to find dozens of children hiding in the pews — and locating 2 who had already died.
The man who attacked a high-profile Minnesota politician is expected to learn his fate in federal court Thursday, plus more of the day’s top stories.
The man who sprayed vinegar at Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar during a Minneapolis town hall meeting as the city endured a surge of immigration agents and the deaths of two U.S. citizens was sentenced to 14 months in prison Thursday after reaching a deal with prosecutors.
Minnesotans can start submitting absentee ballots on Friday to vote in the midterm election.
Reps. Zach Nunn and Mariannette Miller-Meeks reversed course on a House resolution to require congressional approval for continued military action against Iran, citing open-ended war concerns ahead of competitive midterm races.
Minnesota Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar questioned FBI Director Kash Patel in a Senate hearing Tuesday over the federal investigations into the shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti earlier this year in Minneapolis amid Operation Metro Surge.
The Minnesota Department of Human Services is working with a contractor to correct an autism treatment plan backlog that is frustrating both parents and providers.
You've probably seen THC drinks at Minnesota bars and liquor stores, but those made-in-Minnesota drinks could disappear this winter if new federal rules take effect.
The 2026 Minnesota State Fair is rolling out more than three dozen new food items this year, on top of all the returning favorites — which makes putting together a game plan for your visit no small task.
President Trump said Friday that the U.S. will waive higher tariffs on ground beef imports, which he says will reduce beef prices by 25%. Some cattle ranchers, including those in Minnesota and Wisconsin, worry the plan will hurt them financially.
An outbreak of E. coli and salmonella is linked to an alfalfa grower in Minnesota, health officials say. WCCO speaks with a food safety expert about the risks associated with alfalfa sprouts.
The man who sprayed vinegar at Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar during a Minneapolis town hall meeting as the city endured a surge of immigration agents and the deaths of two U.S. citizens was sentenced to 14 months in prison Thursday after reaching a deal with prosecutors.
More than two months after a shooting in an Oakdale, Minnesota, backyard left a 33-year-old St. Paul man with life-threatening injuries, family members are still waiting for answers.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension says it arrested Castro around 2:15 p.m. Wednesday in the area of Second Avenue South and Third Street in Minneapolis.
New body camera video shows the moments police officers came under fire at a Minneapolis apartment complex earlier this month.
A new WCCO documentary follows one Minnesota woman's decision to turn a painful secret into a fight for change..
Nearly half of Americans with medical debt owe at least $2,000, forcing them to make tough choices, new research shows.
The strike will include OBGYNs, psychiatrists and critical care physicians at Mercy Hospital's Coon Rapids campus and Allina Unity's campus in Fridley.
After 334 days in a neonatal intensive care unit in Maple Grove, Minnesota, North Memorial Health's "miracle baby" is finally home.
Affordable Care Act recipients in 30 states are set to receive the $500 checks starting in October. Here's why.
The money will fuel a 10-year push into precision medicine at a hospital system that treats children from before birth through young adulthood.
Country music star Kenny Chesney is returning to Minneapolis next year.
WCCO is tracking everything you can go out and do 4 Your Weekend, including at the Minnesota State Fair.
While performing in St. Louis on Saturday night, Lionel Richie appeared at one point to lean on a piano for support, according to video from the show.
Louis Lee came to Minnesota decades ago from Hong Kong to become a student at the University of Minnesota. He says listening to comedy helped him learn English.
The vault is open. Recordings no one's ever heard, spanning 40 years of Prince's musical career, are now available on a new album called "Timeless."
Minneapolis will be the fifth stop in an eight-city tour. Tickets for the Jan. 24 game at Target Center go on sale to newsletter subscribers at 3 p.m. and to the general public at 4 p.m. Thursday.
Luke Keaschall went 3 for 5 and scored from second base on Victor Caratini's game-ending single in the 13th inning to send the Minnesota Twins past the New York Yankees 5-4.
The Minnesota Vikings announced on Wednesday that running back Jordan Mason has been placed on injured reserve due to an injury suffered in the team's victory over the Green Bay Packers Sunday.
Max Fried earned his first victory since April 27, backed by home runs from Cody Bellinger and Spencer Jones that helped the New York Yankees keep pace in the AL East race with an 8-1 win over the Minnesota Twins.
The team's new leader is just 20 years old and only graduated from Roseville in 2024.
In August, a law changing the age for criminal prosecutions in Minnesota went into effect. The law bars children under 13, no matter how serious the crime, from being prosecuted. It's unclear what will happen to kids now accused of these crimes.
Maryland and New Hampshire have similar laws but carve out exceptions for serious violent crimes like murder and rape; Minnesota's version, effective August 1, 2026, has none.
Demuth has been running ads focusing on a million-dollar funding proposal that Klobuchar supported that was stripped out of a funding bill.
She has won four races for U.S. Senate by double digits, and now Sen. Amy Klobuchar is campaigning to become Minnesota's next governor.
The DFL primary in Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District was supposed to be close, but it wasn't. Former Lakeville Mayor and state Sen. Matt Little beat two well-known opponents by double digits.
From making the paper for Crayola crayons to getting a visit from Mr. Rogers. John Lauritsen shares the history behind a Little Falls paper mill, and how its ruins have become its future, in this week's Finding Minnesota.
Built in 1886, the Prospect House was once a resort hotel. The third floor is preserved to show what the hotel looked like back then, but for Jay Johnson, the real history is in the basement.
For nearly a half century, the Haunted Mansion at the Minnesota State Fair has been scaring people silly.
It is one of the most uniquely shaped buildings at the Minnesota State Fair, and it holds nearly 80 years of history.
For five generations, one family has run the Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours along the St. Croix River.
If you're buying ground beef at the grocery store, there's a good chance that part of it came from a country outside the United States.
It's the fifth time in six years that Minnesotans are approaching fall during a drought. The time of year is right when homeowners typically start repairing their yards. Is it worth fighting back now or simply waiting until spring?
The first days of school can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. New teachers, new classes, maybe even a new building. It can be a lot to manage without a plan.
A school night usually means earlier bedtimes and setting multiple alarms. WCCO spoke with a sleep medicine physician about how many alarms you should set to wake up.
Behind the fried foods and thrilling rides, farming remains at the heart of the Minnesota State Fair, where farm families work around the clock to get their animals ribbon-ready.
The Minnesota State Fair has unveiled its new foods for 2026.
A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.
Minnesotans got a great view of the northern lights Tuesday night.
A look at the newest addition to the polar bear population at St. Paul, Minnesota's Como Zoo.
From food shelves to school programs, our team is proud to serve where it matters most.
Clouds and drizzle Thursday morning give way to a little sunshine later while we wait for our next storm system, WCCO meteorologist Joseph Dames reports.
In Minnesota, weather can be all over the place. Here at WCCO, we want to give you what you need to prepare for what's happening next.
The Twin Cities will dry out from overnight storms Thursday, but heavier rain is on tap to end the work week, says meteorologist Joseph Dames.
Clouds and drizzle Thursday morning gave way to a little afternoon sunshine in the Twin Cities ahead of the arrival of a storm system that's triggered a NEXT Weather Alert.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer has the latest forecast.
The Help the House Foundation is hosting its second annual House Party Gala on Sept. 27 at the Radisson Blu in Bloomington, bringing together top chefs to raise money for hospitality workers facing financial, physical, or mental hardship.
The inaugural MODE by Flickr festival runs through Sunday with free large-scale art installations, workshops, concerts in Loring Park, and a breakdancing competition at Peavey Plaza.
Bachmann's is hosting the Fall Crawl, an event featuring over a dozen local artists, garden container inspiration, and home decor ideas for the season.
Clouds and drizzle Thursday morning give way to a little sunshine later while we wait for our next storm system, WCCO meteorologist Joseph Dames reports.
Seventeen sex trafficking victims were rescued amid raids last week at several Twin Cities hotels last, authorities say.