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.
Defender Lee Stecklein and forward Grace Zumwinkle are staying put in Minnesota after the PWHL's Frost re-signed both players.
Sunday marks one year since a politically motivated attack killed former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and seriously injured state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette. As Minnesotans begin reflecting on the shocking day, many are choosing to remember how the Hortmans lived.
Minneapolis resident Davis Moturi was shot outside his home in 2024. The shooting happened after more than a year of harassment and 38 calls to 911. A lawsuit filed earlier this month claims the couple that sold him and his wife their south Minneapolis home didn't protect them.
The U.S. military has killed Niño Guerrero, the alleged leader of Venezuela-based gang Tren de Aragua, President Trump announced Friday.
Thousands of providers who were cut off from Medicaid billing can once again receive funds, at least for now, as the Minnesota Department of Human Services navigates a revalidation process drawing bipartisan criticism.
Minneapolis resident Davis Moturi was shot outside his home in 2024. The shooting happened after more than a year of harassment and 38 calls to 911. A lawsuit filed earlier this month claims the couple that sold him and his wife their south Minneapolis home didn't protect them.
Schools in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, are ending the year on a high note after a tumultuous time during Operation Metro Surge.
Before Melissa Hortman was elected to the Legislature and later became speaker of the Minnesota House, she began her career fresh out of law school at a local legal aid office. In her short time doing that work, one family said she made a generational impact on them.
About 28 cities submitted their interest to U.S. Soccer as part of the bidding process. Minneapolis was chosen as one of the 14 finalists.
The University of Minnesota has renamed the sports complex at its Minneapolis campus from Williams Arena to The Barn by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation says an exploding population of mayflies could cause serious trouble for drivers in southeast Minnesota.
Saturday and Sunday will be breezy and cool in the Twin Cities as crisp Canadian air settles in.
Two men on a Minnesota trail helped rescue a missing woman who had been stuck in the mud for three days.
School's out, summer's here, and if you're heading to the lake on Highway 10, you may just stumble upon hidden treasure.
Two women were involved in a deadly head-on crash Tuesday night in Chisago City, Minnesota.
A man serving a life sentence in a Wisconsin prison for killing six hunters during a confrontation over trespassing in 2004 has died, officials said.
Two women were involved in a deadly head-on crash Tuesday night in Chisago City, Minnesota.
Attorneys for Salah Sarsour, president of Wisconsin's largest mosque, told a federal judge he has lost 30 pounds and is not receiving consistent medical care for Type 2 diabetes while held in an Indiana jail.
President Trump was in western Wisconsin Friday afternoon to host a roundtable on farming at Custer Farms in Chippewa Falls.
A federal judge heard arguments Wednesday on whether to throw out former Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan's felony obstruction conviction, postponing her sentencing indefinitely while he considers the matter.
On the Lake Harriet shoreline in Minneapolis Saturday evening, dozens of children picked up a fishing rod for the first time.
Hours after the announcement, community members were eager to learn more about the one challenged with leading the most scrutinized police department in the country.
Created by Freedom Reads, a nonprofit organization in Connecticut, the Inside Literary Prize is the first major U.S. book award decided exclusively by incarcerated readers.
A 23-year-old man from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, faces a criminal vehicular homicide charge after prosecutors say he hit and killed a person on a highway, then fled.
Quincy Street isn't just at the center of Art-A-Whirl, it's at the heart of the Arts District in northeast Minneapolis. The road itself, however, is falling apart. And the only thing bumpier than the exposed brick is the reaction to the city's plans to fix it.
The U.S. military has killed Niño Guerrero, the alleged leader of Venezuela-based gang Tren de Aragua, President Trump announced Friday.
Thousands of providers who were cut off from Medicaid billing can once again receive funds, at least for now, as the Minnesota Department of Human Services navigates a revalidation process drawing bipartisan criticism.
Before Melissa Hortman was elected to the Legislature and later became speaker of the Minnesota House, she began her career fresh out of law school at a local legal aid office. In her short time doing that work, one family said she made a generational impact on them.
Before Melissa Hortman was elected to the Legislature and later became speaker of the Minnesota House, she began her career fresh out of law school at a local legal aid office. In her short time doing that work, one family said she made a generational impact on them.
Politicians are pointing fingers as the state grapples with an ongoing fraud crisis. Right now, Medicaid providers are trying to navigate getting recertified and paid.
Target is voluntarily recalling two types of baby wipes due to concerns that the products may be contaminated with bacteria that may cause "serious and life-threatening infections," the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Friday.
The dream of a woman in Minnesota started with excitement, but quickly unraveled into loss after she said she fell victim to a scheme that targeted more than 30 Spanish speakers.
For years, it was all hands on deck; a business model buoyed by a bevy of free time that sent sales surging in a way never before seen. But as Minnesota enters lake season, outdoor sales for boats, jet skis and more have almost dropped anchor.
Jester Concepts' Monday announcement noted that Borough will mark its remaining five weeks of service through June 27 with events celebrating the restaurant's history, and it encouraged customers to reserve tables during the final weeks.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has issued a consumer advisory for four products produced by Milkjam Creamery, an ice cream shop in Minneapolis, due to "the potential presence of metal fragments," the state agency said.
A man serving a life sentence in a Wisconsin prison for killing six hunters during a confrontation over trespassing in 2004 has died, officials said.
The suspect, Victor Mata Villarreal, was wanted for attempted murder of a police officer after shooting at law enforcement during a vehicle chase earlier this week, officials said.
Minnesota Sen. John Hoffman's family released a statement Thursday afternoon addressing Vance Boelter's change of plea in federal court, saying that "there is not justice when our family and our state will never truly heal."
The state-level case against Vance Boelter — the man who pleaded guilty in federal court to shooting two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses — will continue, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced Thursday afternoon.
Eat Street businesses in south Minneapolis are back open Wednesday after several had to shelter in place during Tuesday's standoff.
Minnesotans weathered the third air quality alert triggered by ozone of the year Monday. If two more happen, it will tie the yearly record.
HCMC in Minneapolis got what they wanted, a large financial boost from lawmakers, and now the leaders of Minnesota's busiest trauma hospital say they'll put their money where their mouths are and get to work restructuring finances.
The studio also incorporates balance and cognitive training to help clients maintain stability and coordination as they age.
Minnesota officials say they have completed a review of almost 5,600 "high-risk Medicaid providers," part of an effort to stave off the federal government's freezing of $2 billion in funding.
Minnesota state officials are feeling pressure from the federal government, working to revalidate thousands of Medicaid providers who operate in programs that are at high-risk for fraud.
There's plenty to do in Minnesota this weekend, including some major anniversary parties, Maple Grove's ever-popular Chalkfest and much more!
Anthony Head played librarian and mentor Rupert Giles in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and recently appeared in "Ted Lasso."
Everywhere you look in downtown Minneapolis, people are sporting purple in honor of Prince.
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is on the cover of Madden NFL 27, the first Bear ever to grace the primary cover of the massively popular video game.
Wednesday is the beginning of a five-day celebration of the icon we know, love and miss: Prince.
Defender Lee Stecklein and forward Grace Zumwinkle are staying put in Minnesota after the PWHL's Frost re-signed both players.
About 28 cities submitted their interest to U.S. Soccer as part of the bidding process. Minneapolis was chosen as one of the 14 finalists.
The University of Minnesota has renamed the sports complex at its Minneapolis campus from Williams Arena to The Barn by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.
Committed to staging a legitimate competition for their starting quarterback position, at least during this less-urgent part of the offseason, the Vikings have divided the time in drills with the first team between Kyler Murray and incumbent J.J. McCarthy. That's the way they'll start training camp next month, too.
Ahead of the 2026 Special Olympics games, some young Special Olympians had an awesome Thursday on the court with the Minnesota Lynx.
After disputes about ballots and concerns about voting totals, businessman Kendall Qualls won the endorsement.
Minnesota's endorsing conventions are over, and the story of the weekend is the upset of House Speaker Lisa Demuth in the GOP governor's race.
Minnesota's election season officially kicks off this week as both major parties hold conventions to endorse candidates for governor and U.S. Senate, with competitive battles on the Republican side and clearer paths for Democrats.
Both parties begin the endorsement process today in Rochester and Duluth, with the August primary just two months away.
Friday, the Democratic and Republican parties begin the process of endorsing nominees for statewide offices.
School's out, summer's here, and if you're heading to the lake on Highway 10, you may just stumble upon hidden treasure.
Nearly 40 years ago, a building was sent over piece by piece from Norway to a farm in Chippewa County, Minnesota. It's one of the only stabburs in the United States.
Minneiska, Minnesota, is a small river town on Highway 61 near the Mississippi River, but at one point it was home to a castle.
The sign is 51 feet tall and 63 feet wide. And when it was built 85 years ago it was one of the largest neon signs in the entire country.
There's a place in Wabasha County, Minnesota, where people go wild for wildflowers.
Minnesotans weathered the third air quality alert triggered by ozone of the year Monday. If two more happen, it will tie the yearly record.
Milder winters mean more ticks survive to the following spring, and a southern species that can trigger a red meat allergy is now gaining ground in Minnesota as a result.
She didn't win her party's endorsement, but Republican Lisa Demuth plans to keep running for governor anyway. History shows that might actually work in her favor.
Cops are cracking down on a popular way to pedal around town.
If you're holding back on spending or worried about losing your job, you are not alone. U.S. consumer sentiment just hit an all-time low this month.
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.
The Minnesota State Fair has unveiled its new food, drinks and vendors for 2025.
The Twin Cities will be breezy and feature a few clouds on Saturday, according to NEXT Weather meteorologist Mike Augustyniak.
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.
NEXT Weather meteorologist Mike Augustyniak says Twin Cities residents could see some rain showers on Friday night before a breezy Saturday.
Showers and storms could develop around dusk Friday and continue overnight.
Friday evening will be mostly sunny, breezy and dry, but storms may develop later.
The Twin Cities will be breezy and feature a few clouds on Saturday, according to NEXT Weather meteorologist Mike Augustyniak.
Sunday will mark one year since a politically motivated attack killed former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and wounded state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette. As family, friends and Minnesotans reflect on the loss, many are choosing to remember the Hortmans for the way they lived. Ubah Ali explains how.
The U.S. men's national team is off to a great start in the World Cup. Mike Max speaks to excited fans at a watch party at Peavey Plaza in downtown Minneapolis.
NEXT Weather meteorologist Mike Augustyniak says Twin Cities residents could see some rain showers on Friday night before a breezy Saturday.
From tragedies to triumphs, Frank Vascellaro has brought us Minnesota's biggest stories for two decades. WCCO reporters and anchors share some of their best memories of the seasoned journalist.