Elk River farm using Christmas trees to feed goats, shelter animals
As Christmas trees across the nation come down, a farm in Elk River, Minnesota, is finding a new purpose for the pines.
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As Christmas trees across the nation come down, a farm in Elk River, Minnesota, is finding a new purpose for the pines.
While peatlands occupy just 3% of Earth's land surface, scientists say they store about 30% of the planet's land-based carbon. That's more than double held by the world's forests, according to the Nature Conservancy.
In Minnesota, scientists say we are sitting on a climate change superhero. Peatlands, a type of wetland, cover more than 10% of the state — that's the most of any in the lower 48. But over time, peatlands have been misunderstood and mistreated. Now, some are trying to change that.
A mining company wants to dig for materials beneath the Mississippi River in Cottage Grove, Minnesota. The proposal is getting plenty of pushback from neighbors and government agencies.
We know forever chemicals, known as PFAS, are a growing concern. That's why the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency wants to get a better idea of just how pervasive they are in our environment. Adam Del Rosso got to learn more this week about their newest way to track them.
Following the accidental draining of a lake at William O'Brien State Park, environmentalists say they have a rare opportunity to rid the lake of invasive greens.
Plastic pollution is a "grave, growing and under-recognized danger" to health that is costing the world at least $1.5 trillion a year, a report in the Lancet medical journals warns
The International Wolf Center in Ely, Minnesota has introduced its two newest ambassador wolves to the exhibit pack.
$2.5 million is going towards trees in the Twin Cities. That money will not only plant new trees but also help to remove hazardous ones.
The incident occurred at Grand Prismatic Spring near Old Faithful as tourists were enjoying a close-up view of the famous and popular hot spring.
We first met Minneapolis grandmother Donna Minter back in April when she started a cross-country bike ride. Thousands of miles later, she's crossed the finish line. Adam Del Rosso explains why she hopes the trip has an impact on everyone.
Every time we take flight, there's an environmental cost. Now, scientists are trying to grow a solution that could also be big business for Minnesota farmers.
Every time we take flight, there's an environmental cost. As WCCO's Erin Hassanzadeh explains, scientists are trying to grow a solution that could also be big business for Minnesota farmers.
A group of high schoolers from diverse backgrounds gathered at YMCA Camp Ihduhapi in Loretto, Minnesota for the SPARKS (Student Peer Adventure and Recreation Knowledge Specialists) Spring Leadership Retreat, where they honed their wilderness skills and developed leadership qualities.
It's that time of year when cottonwood seeds begin floating through the air like summer snow, and HVAC professionals say they're more than just a seasonal nuisance.
State and federal lawmakers are unveiling a mobile unit designed to destroy PFAS and other dangerous chemicals in Lake Elmo, Minnesota.
34 million people live in one of these major U.S. cities that's sinking, new research shows. See if your area is on the list — and how quickly the land is moving.
Forty thousand tulips are blooming right now at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska.
A few years ago, Minnesota set a lofty goal when it comes to protecting the environment. Gov. Tim Walz signed a law requiring utility companies to provide 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040. We wanted to know: Is Minnesota on pace to reach that goal? Good Question. Jeff Wagner explains the innovation keeping the state on track and how you can help
Research shows 1% of the world's rivers are responsible for 80% of all plastic flowing into the ocean.
Topping the list of this year's most endangered rivers in America is our very own Mississippi River. It's driven by flooding and concerns around how prepared we are to deal with a disaster. In Climate Watch, Erin Hassanzadeh tells us how University of Minnesota researchers are looking at a way to target and remove plastics.
For more than 50 years, we've been celebrating Earth Day to protect our planet. As Caroline Cummings reports, dozens of Minnesotans who gathered at the state capitol today worry we're not doing enough.
Earth Day has roots in the Badger State. The founder was a politician and conservationist who grew up in the town of Clear Lake, Wisconsin. Derek James traveled to St. Croix Falls to learn about his vision for a better planet.
In hundreds of U-S. cities, sewage spills into creeks and rivers each time there’s heavy rainfall. The water contamination is a growing concern for environmental advocates as climate change intensifies storms. National Environmental Correspondent David Schechter explains.
In 1993, Don Shelby and a crew from WCCO embarked on a journey to Churchill, Manitoba in Canada. The trip was sparked by this curiosity: How do people and polar bears live side by side in the same town? Thirty years later, WCCO returned to Churchill, enamored by the same thing. Erin Hassanzadeh shows us what's putting the town and its famous bears at risk.
Justin Jefferson finally passed the 1,000-yard mark in the last game of the season for the Minnesota Vikings.
The DFL race pits two prominent party leaders, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Rep. Angie Craig, against each other.
In 2018, annual ridership peaked at more than 780,000 passengers. There was a dramatic drop during the pandemic, with an all-time low of just over 50,000 riders in 2021.
Abby Roque tied it with 29 seconds left with goalie Ann-Renée Desbiens off for an extra attacker, Marie-Philip Poulin scored her second goal of the game 3:12 into overtime and the Montreal Victoire beat the Minnesota Frost 3-2 on Sunday.
The Minnesota Vikings finished a frustrating season by beating the resting Green Bay Packers 16-3 on Sunday.
In 2018, annual ridership peaked at more than 780,000 passengers. There was a dramatic drop during the pandemic, with an all-time low of just over 50,000 riders in 2021.
Police in Hopkins, Minnesota, are investigating a deadly shooting that happened Saturday afternoon.
A late-night stop at a gas station in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, could have turned dangerous — but quick thinking and teamwork helped prevent the worst.
Police in Champlin, Minnesota, canceled a missing persons alert late Saturday after a young mother and her infant daughter were found safe.
At the Minneapolis Convention Center, it's horns honking, engines revving and car gurus gathering under one big roof.
Two people are dead after a head-on crash in Stearns County, Minnesota, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.
Early season, snow and cold have given many trails the snowpack they need. Winter fun comes with the fresh snow, but so do challenges.
A man is dead and a person is in custody after an apparent shooting near Wolverton on New Year's Day, according to the Wilkin County Sheriff's Office.
From severe weather to extreme heat and everything in between, 2025 was a year full of big swings and big storms across Minnesota.
According to Minnesota Lottery, one Minnesota Millionaire Raffle ticket was sold at a Holiday Stationstore in Coon Rapids on 13051 NW Round Lake Blvd. The other was sold in International Falls at Forestland Sales on 1111 3rd St.
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.
A Wisconsin woman who almost killed her sixth-grade classmate to please the fictional Slender Man has been ordered back to a state psychiatric hospital after she escaped from her group home last month.
Several schools in Minnesota and Wisconsin are reporting delayed starts on Monday amid a messy morning commute.
The U.S. Justice Department has sued three states, including Illinois and Wisconsin, and D.C. for not turning over requested voter information to the Trump administration.
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.
On Sunday, members of Minnesota's Somali community spoke out against President Trump's social media post calling for an end to temporary protected status.
The DFL race pits two prominent party leaders, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Rep. Angie Craig, against each other.
Former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman's children join lawmakers on both sides of the aisle in condemning a video President Trump posted about her murder.
Several lawmakers are condemning President Trump after he shared a video on social media Saturday alleging Gov. Tim Walz is behind the assassination of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman.
Gov. Tim Walz has no shortage of potential GOP opponents in the race for governor. Last month, businessman Kendall Qualls narrowly won a GOP straw poll. He joins Esme Murphy on WCCO Sunday Morning at 10:30 a.m.
The race for U.S. Senate in Minnesota gets underway in less than a month with both the DFL and GOP holding party caucuses Feb. 3. The DFL race to succeed Tina Smith pits two prominent party leaders, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Rep. Angie Craig, against each other. Sunday morning, Esme Murphy sat down with Flanagan.
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.
While no illness has been reported so far, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says 54 stores in the state were affected by Gold Star Distribution's recall.
This season of giving can really do a number on our recycling systems. But we can all be part of the solution.
Police in Hopkins, Minnesota, are investigating a deadly shooting that happened Saturday afternoon.
Police in St. Paul, Minnesota, say a man is hospitalized and another is in custody in connection to a shooting overnight Saturday in the city's North End neighborhood.
A man is dead and a person is in custody after an apparent shooting near Wolverton on New Year's Day, according to the Wilkin County Sheriff's Office.
A Minneapolis day care says that vandals damaged the facility early this week, after a YouTube video purporting to expose fraud among day cares in the Twin Cities metro area went viral.
The ringleader of what authorities called the largest pandemic fraud case in the United States has been ordered to forfeit more than $5 million.
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.
The Minnesota Athletic Trainers Association says of the middle and high schools they know of, only 49% have an athletic trainer providing some level of service.
From 2021 to 2025, Smart Therapy Center submitted claims totaling $31.8 million across all Minnesota Department of Human Services programs, according to that data. But the provider was only approved for a fraction of those payments.
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.
The message, aired on Channel 4 on Christmas Day, reflected on the impact of President Trump's second term in office thus far.
Feeding America's CEO said the organization is "incredibly grateful" for Taylor Swift's large donation.
Justin Jefferson finally passed the 1,000-yard mark in the last game of the season for the Minnesota Vikings.
Abby Roque tied it with 29 seconds left with goalie Ann-Renée Desbiens off for an extra attacker, Marie-Philip Poulin scored her second goal of the game 3:12 into overtime and the Montreal Victoire beat the Minnesota Frost 3-2 on Sunday.
The Minnesota Vikings finished a frustrating season by beating the resting Green Bay Packers 16-3 on Sunday.
Quinton Byfield had a goal and an assist, Samuel Helenius scored his first goal of the season, and the Los Angeles Kings defeated the Minnesota Wild 5-4 in a shootout on Saturday night.
Brianne Jenner scored twice to lead the Ottawa Charge to a 5-2 win over the Minnesota Frost on Saturday.
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.
Fear and uncertainty continue in Minnesota's Somali communities as ICE continues its intensified focus on the Twin Cities.
Opposition to ICE actions is widespread among Democratic elected officials throughout the state, though nowhere more than in Minneapolis, home to the state's largest Somali population.
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."
Have you ever wondered how the actors memorize so many lines? A neurologist says everyone could strengthen their memories by taking cues from actors.
It's a beauty technique that's exploding. Depending on your age, you might not have heard of it. It's called micro-needling.
According to the Smithsonian Magazine and Britannica, eggnog has British roots.
With the time-honored tradition of gift giving comes gift concealing.
The story of "The Wizard of Oz " is 125 years old, yet still reinventing itself in all kinds of forms.
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 Lisa Meadows says tomorrow will be cloudy, have fog and top out in the mid-30s.
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 Adam Del Rosso says an icy mix will be arriving in the metro by noon. It'll be light but it'll still make things slick.
It will be a messy forecast today as an icy mix of sleet, freezing rain, and snow will move through the metro starting around noon.
A warm front will bring sleet and freezing rain to southwestern Minnesota and the metro area by early Sunday afternoon, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Adam Del Rosso.
Former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman's children join lawmakers on both sides of the aisle in condemning a video President Trump posted about her murder.
Sixteen years of commuting came to a close on Sunday. The Northstar line made its final ride after the Vikings game to get fans home safely to the north suburbs. WCCO's Marielle Mohs caught up with the farewell riders.
WCCO meteorologist Lisa Meadows says tomorrow will be cloudy, have fog and top out in the mid-30s.
WCCO meteorologist Adam Del Rosso says an icy mix will be arriving in the metro by noon. It'll be light but it'll still make things slick.
Gov. Tim Walz has no shortage of potential GOP opponents in the race for governor. Last month, businessman Kendall Qualls narrowly won a GOP straw poll. He joins Esme Murphy on WCCO Sunday Morning at 10:30 a.m.