Netting Wasps To Help Fight Emerald Ash Borer
Scientists in Minnesota believe they've found an insect that can do what they haven't been able to do very well -- get rid of the emerald ash borer.
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Scientists in Minnesota believe they've found an insect that can do what they haven't been able to do very well -- get rid of the emerald ash borer.
On a warm spring night, Anoka County homeowners are indoors, spending an evening learning about an insect that's invading their property.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has confirmed an emerald ash borer infestation in Anoka County. It says the destructive tree pest was found in an ash tree on private property in the city of Ham Lake.
Since she was a child, the giant ash tree that towered over Rebecca Robinson's small home offered a cool refuge during sultry Midwest summer days. It was the same down her tree-lined neighborhood's block and throughout much of Waterloo, a leafy Iowa city that's home to about 4,000 ashes.
Over the next eight years, the city of Minneapolis plans to remove about 40,000 ash trees from around the city in order to combat the Emerald Ash Borer, a tiny green bug that's responsible for taking down trees that have stood for decades.
Minnesota officials have confirmed trees in Olmsted County are infested with the destructive emerald ash borer. The state Department of Agriculture said Wednesday the county will join Hennepin, Houston, Ramsey and Winona counties in a state and federal quarantine to prevent the infestation from spreading.
Emily from St. Cloud wants to know what happens to all the sandbags after the flooding is over? If the sand isn't contaminated with floodwater, it can be used as fill for things like playgrounds and sidewalks. But in most cases, the sand is contaminated.
Over the next eight years, Minneapolis will remove 40,000 ash trees from parks and boulevards, part of a $9-million initiative that began in January to eliminate the emerald ash borer. The beetle has killed millions of trees in the U.S., and has invaded neighborhoods across the Twin Cities. Ralph Sievert, director of forestry for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, says the idea is to phase them out over a period of time.
Minnesota officials reported success Wednesday in the battle to slow the spread of emerald ash borers, saying stingless wasps released in Great River Bluffs State Park near Winona two years ago are reproducing, which is evidence they're attacking the destructive tree pests.
Before you head to the cabin this 4th of July, the Minneapolis Park Board has an important message. Do not bring any wood you may have chopped from downed trees. They say this is imperative in their fight to stop the spread of Emerald Ash Borer.
Gov. Mark Dayton has proclaimed this week Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week in Minnesota. The designation is part of a nationwide effort to raise awareness of the destructive nature of the tree pests, and to spread the word about the "three P's of EAB" -- Prepare, Protect, and Plant.
Minneapolis officials are warning homeowners against pruning their ash trees.
Three new emerald ash borer infestations have been confirmed – one in Minneapolis, and two in St. Paul, says the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
Jason DeRusha replies to your cold weather questions.
An infestation of Emerald Ash Borer looks to dramatically alter the look of Fort Snelling Golf Club. Crews with the city's Park and Recreations Board were scheduled to begin removing about 200 ash trees from the golf course on Monday.
The emerald ash borer has found its way into La Crescent, Minn.
Minnesota is plotting its next steps in the fight to stop the spread of emerald ash borers.
At the University of Minnesota they're studying small wasps to see if they'll survive a Minnesota winter.
Experts will be gathering in La Crosse this week to share the latest information on invasive species.
The winner of Thursday's Celebrity Butter Carving Contest at the Minnesota State Fair? WCCO's very own, Rachel Slavik of course. She effortlessly churned out a replica TV and WCCO 4 logo for the title.
The tree-killing pest – the emerald ash borer – has done serious damage to trees at a local golf course. A new case, the first in 2012, was discovered at Fort Snelling Golf Club near the airport in Hennepin County.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture hopes trained sniffer dogs can become a new line of defense against the invasive pests, which threaten ash trees across the state and across the country.
Minnesota agriculture officials are encouraged by the initial results of a new way to find emerald ash borers.
In Minnesota, emerald ash borers usually strike the first of May, but not this year. They're actually striking now. Our warm spring has brought the tree killing beetle earlier than usual.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is preparing to hang thousands of traps across Minnesota in the hunt for emerald ash borer.
The FBI says that a suspect is in custody after protests in north Minneapolis Wednesday evening culminated in vandalism and the apparent compromising of federal documents.
A document left behind by law enforcement lists highly sensitive items that were taken from the vehicles, including multiple FBI access badges and wallets containing driver's licenses and credit cards.
Mark Scheifele had a goal and three assists, Jonathan Toews scored for the fourth consecutive game and the Winnipeg Jets beat the Minnesota Wild 6-2.
A couple and their six children say they were trapped inside their vehicle when tear gas exploded underneath.
Cell phone footage shared on social media by a Democratic state senator appears to show the moments after Wednesday's shooting took place, in which a woman calls 911 and can be heard pleading for help.
A document left behind by law enforcement lists highly sensitive items that were taken from the vehicles, including multiple FBI access badges and wallets containing driver's licenses and credit cards.
A couple and their six children say they were trapped inside their vehicle when tear gas exploded underneath.
A Minnesota lawmaker is proposing a bill that would pave the way for people to sue for compensation when federal officials violate their civil rights.
A dozen DFL lawmakers are calling for change after reports of federal officers getting into hospitals and detaining patients.
Department of Homeland Security officials have released more information on the Venezuelan migrant whom an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot in the leg in Minneapolis on Wednesday evening, but did not share any information indicating he was wanted for a violent crime.
The American Civil Liberties Union is filing a class action lawsuit against the federal government on behalf of three Minnesotans — two Somali men and one Latino man — "whose constitutional rights were violated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and other federal agents," the ACLU of Minnesota announced Thursday morning.
Most good Minnesota high school hockey teams face the offseason reality that their best players may leave for juniors. This year, Rogers had three key players decide not to, which has benefited the roster.
In a rare primetime address Wednesday evening, Gov. Tim Walz gave a six-minute-long address to Minnesotans where he called on President Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to "end this occupation."
President Trump is following through on a promise he made late last year to end deportation protections for some Somali immigrants in the country.
Faith leaders, union representatives and community members are calling for a Day of Truth and Freedom on Friday, Jan. 23 — urging all Minnesotans not to go to work, school or go shopping.
A Wisconsin man accused of sending the state Supreme Court's chief justice intimidating emails has been sentenced to probation.
Some schools in Minnesota and Wisconsin are delayed or closed on Tuesday as early morning rain makes the roads slick.
A western Wisconsin town is reveling in the national spotlight.
When he's not playing zone or man, Hall is carving it up at local hills. He has qualified for multiple professional snowboard competitions.
Two people were killed and another hurt in a crash in western Wisconsin Tuesday afternoon.
At Moth Oddities in northeast Minneapolis, volunteers moved through stacks of boxes as donations continued to pour in for families impacted by the increased presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the city.
Many people who serve in the U.S. military find it hard to ask for assistance when they've been trained to help and serve others.
Food Bank Eatery in North Minneapolis provides free meals for children, who may have little to eat after the pause of SNAP benefits for many in the community.
Firefighters are continuing a 44-year tradition that happens every year north of the Twin Cities.
It was a scary moment in the Twin Cities over the weekend, as a trailer hauling sled dogs turned over on Interstate 494 in Minnetonka.
The FBI says that a suspect is in custody after protests in north Minneapolis Wednesday evening culminated in vandalism and the apparent compromising of federal documents.
The family of Renee Good is preparing to potenially take legal action against ICE and the agent who shot her. Attorneys sent a new document to the federal government outlining the evidence they're looking at. Ashley Grams breaks down the new details at the federal and state levels.
Cell phone footage shared on social media by a Democratic state senator appears to show the moments after Wednesday's shooting took place, in which a woman calls 911 and can be heard pleading for help.
Employees fearful of the immigration crackdown have forced a number of Twin Cities restaurants to temporarily close their doors.
After both the shooting of Renee Good and the one Wednesday night, Democratic Gov. Tim Walz is calling for calm. He is appealing to the president to "lower the temperature" and "stop this campaign of retribution." Caroline Cummings has the latest.
It's a business model picking up steam across the Twin Cities. For instance, all the major sports venues in town, like Target Field and U.S. Bank Stadium, no longer accept cash.
WCCO gathered data on core staple items from Aldi in Apple Valley, Target in Fridley and Cub Foods in north Minneapolis.
Minnesota drivers have something to celebrate this holiday — a price drop at the pump.
With costs still high and budgets stretched, getting smarter with money matters more than ever.
There were 584 vehicles towed during this week's snow emergency in Minneapolis. That number stands at 352 and counting in St. Paul, where parking restrictions are in place until 9 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 2.
The FBI says that a suspect is in custody after protests in north Minneapolis Wednesday evening culminated in vandalism and the apparent compromising of federal documents.
A document left behind by law enforcement lists highly sensitive items that were taken from the vehicles, including multiple FBI access badges and wallets containing driver's licenses and credit cards.
Employees fearful of the immigration crackdown have forced a number of Twin Cities restaurants to temporarily close their doors.
Department of Homeland Security officials have released more information on the Venezuelan migrant whom an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot in the leg in Minneapolis on Wednesday evening, but did not share any information indicating he was wanted for a violent crime.
Minneapolis police are investigating after a man was shot multiple times overnight Thursday in the city's northeast corner.
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development says it began distributing payments on Friday to over 2,600 Minnesotans.
Just one day after dropping his bid for reelection, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said the state's paid family leave program is one of the most transformational bills the state has ever passed.
Roughly 12,000 Minnesotans have already applied for the state's new paid family leave program, according to an update by the Department of Employment and Economic Development.
It's a beauty technique that's exploding. Depending on your age, you might not have heard of it. It's called micro-needling.
The clock is ticking to snag a few more gifts and prepare for that holiday trip to visit family. As the pressure builds, so does the stress.
Here is everything you need to know about how to watch and stream the 2026 Golden Globes.
Bob Weir wrote or co-wrote and sang lead vocals on Grateful Dead classics including "Sugar Magnolia," "One More Saturday Night" and "Mexicali Blues."
Here are the significant books, films and characters joining the list of works in the public domain on Jan. 1, 2026.
Isiah Whitlock Jr. is perhaps best known for his role as state Sen. R. Clayton "Clay" Davis on HBO's "The Wire."
The band announced Perry Bamonte's death on their official website on Friday.
Mark Scheifele had a goal and three assists, Jonathan Toews scored for the fourth consecutive game and the Winnipeg Jets beat the Minnesota Wild 6-2.
The Minnesota Twins have claimed infielder Vidal Bruján off waivers from the Atlanta Braves.
Authorities said the alleged scheme involved 39 players, 17 different NCAA Division I men's basketball teams and 29 games.
Kiki Rice had 25 points on 8-for-9 shooting and Lauren Betts posted her third straight double-double, leading No. 3 UCLA past Minnesota 76-58 on Wednesday night.
Most good Minnesota high school hockey teams face the offseason reality that their best players may leave for juniors. This year, Rogers had three key players decide not to, which has benefited the roster.
The shooting death of Renee Good by an ICE agent has raised several legal questions.
The fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent has raised many legal questions. Constitutional law professor David Schultz, who has taught a class on police, criminal and civil procedure, has some answers.
The DFL race pits two prominent party leaders, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Rep. Angie Craig, against each other.
Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is calling for answers about the immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities. She is also denouncing the president's attacks on the Somali community and herself. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy shows us how, for Omar, this is a familiar position to be in.
Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is calling for clarity about the immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities.
On Dec. 9, 1965, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" debuted on CBS, and it became an instant classic. Lee Jenkins' home is proof that the show is still a hit six decades later.
Holiday lights are on full display across the state right now, and just south of the Twin Cities you'll find a Christmas light show that's been around for more than half a century.
The story begins years ago when the city acquired one of the T-38 Talon Thunderbird jets from the Air Force.
The holidays are upon us, and in the town of Kellogg, Minnesota, you'll find a toy store unlike any other.
With the holidays fast approaching, and lutefisk on the menu for many families, one Minnesota town has the distinction of being called the "Lutefisk Capital of the Country."
New polling shows most voters do not think last week's deadly ICE shooting was justified. But the Trump administration thinks so and suggested that Renee Good was a domestic terrorist. Experts say that's not a label to be taken lightly.
ICE is making arrests in Minnesota right next to shoppers grabbing groceries. The tense encounters are happening at places like Target, Walmart and other private businesses.
It's a question many people have been asking: What is the cost of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation in Minnesota? WCCO was able to get some numbers.
It's a business model picking up steam across the Twin Cities. For instance, all the major sports venues in town, like Target Field and U.S. Bank Stadium, no longer accept cash.
From the frozen ponds and lakes to the packed indoor rinks serving as community hubs, hockey is uniquely celebrated and cherished in Minnesota like no other state in the country.
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.
The Minnesota State Fair has unveiled its new food, drinks and vendors for 2025.
A suspect was taken into custody after an attack on Pearl Street Mall in Boulder on June 1 in which there were 15 people and a dog who were victims. The suspect threw Molotov cocktails that burned some of the victims, who were part of a march for Israeli hostages.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says the wind picks up tomorrow, the temps tumble down throughout the day, and there will be more light snow.
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.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says waves of light snow will pass through tonight, but it will stay mild.
Waves of light snow will pass through Thursday night, and the wind will pick up on Friday.
Wind picks up tomorrow, the temps tumble down throughout the day and there will be more light snow, WCCO meteorologist Mike Augustyniak reports.
He understands basketball; he's been refereeing for 64 years. He's been married for 63 years and was a parole officer for 43 years. Ron Poeschel has led an interesting life, including a stint in the White House.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says the wind picks up tomorrow, the temps tumble down throughout the day, and there will be more light snow.
The family of Renee Good is preparing to potenially take legal action against ICE and the agent who shot her. Attorneys sent a new document to the federal government outlining the evidence they're looking at. Ashley Grams breaks down the new details at the federal and state levels.
We're hearing from a woman who says the search for a stolen federal firearm brought federalagents to her front door. Ubah Ali is here to walk us through the video and new details.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says waves of light snow will pass through tonight, but it will stay mild.