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.
When he's not playing zone or man, Hall is carving it up at local hills. He has qualified for multiple professional snowboard competitions.
Audits completed in the past 10 years show that Minnesota has lacked the teeth to properly vet attendance records and go after possible fraudsters proactively.
From severe weather to extreme heat and everything in between, 2025 was a year full of big swings and big storms across Minnesota.
Kelly Loeffler says 6,900 borrowers were suspended for 7,900 PPP and EIDL loans worth approximately $400 million.
According to the Coon Rapids Police Department, the crash happened in the area of 119th Avenue Northwest and Northdale Boulevard Northwest at approximately 3:45 p.m.
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 the Coon Rapids Police Department, the crash happened in the area of 119th Avenue Northwest and Northdale Boulevard Northwest at approximately 3:45 p.m.
Kaholy Her will be sworn in as mayor of Minnesota's capital city on Friday, officially kicking off her three-year term.
Not many people were outside on Thursday morning, but those who were shared their hopes for 2026. Many said they were starting off the year with a sense of optimism.
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.
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.
As a new year begins, there are several new laws taking effect in Minnesota.
The Steele County Sheriff's Office is asking for help in finding a missing teenager, last seen in early December.
Family and friends are mourning a young mother and long-time waitress who lost her life on Christmas Eve.
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.
Audits completed in the past 10 years show that Minnesota has lacked the teeth to properly vet attendance records and go after possible fraudsters proactively.
Right now, Minnesota's child care system is in the national spotlight. But months ago, the federal government told state officials they needed to make serious improvements. As our Conor Wight shows us, the state was told that a lack of oversight could increase the risk of fraud, waste and abuse.
Kelly Loeffler says 6,900 borrowers were suspended for 7,900 PPP and EIDL loans worth approximately $400 million.
Republican Minnesota state Rep. Walter Hudson hopes the hearings raise awareness of the fraud problem on a national scale, but with a bit more focus than flair.
A congressional watchdog committee wants to grill Minnesota leaders about the state's multi-million-dollar fraud crisis. House Oversight hearings start on Capitol Hill next week. The committee's Republican chairman just accused top Minnesota Democrats of being asleep at the wheel, or worse. Jeff Wagner explains the high stakes heading into an election year.
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.
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.
Twin Cities police say they believe there could be more victims of a 37-year-old man charged earlier this month with child sex crimes.
Broken Clock Brewing Cooperative is a tap room, a brewery, coffee shop and an event center on Marshall Street in northeast Minneapolis. During Christmas, it was unfortunately a community for thieves.
A grocery store worker on Minnesota's North Shore is charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing a customer in the neck on Saturday afternoon while in the midst of a mental health crisis.
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.
The family of a Minnesota Vikings player who died at training camp from heat exhaustion in 2001 is still fighting to protect others.
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.
When he's not playing zone or man, Hall is carving it up at local hills. He has qualified for multiple professional snowboard competitions.
Harrison Smith's 14th year as a steadying presence and energizing force in the secondary for the Minnesota Vikings has hardly been smooth.
All eyes will be on the University of Minnesota dance team this month as they hope to add to their 23 national titles at the UDA Dance Nationals in Orlando, Florida.
Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier said Thursday she will undergo surgery, sidelining her for the upcoming season of the 3-on-3 basketball league she cofounded.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy returned to practice on Wednesday, with his injured throwing hand improving enough to give him an opportunity to play in the final game of the season.
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.
Minnesotans who welcomed a child this year were able to start applying this week to the state's new paid family and medical leave program to take time off in 2026.
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 Chris Shaffer says it'll be sunny but cold tomorrow as clouds move out overnight.
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.
From severe weather to extreme heat and everything in between, 2025 was a year full of big swings and big storms across Minnesota.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says we'll finally catch a break from the snow for the next couple of days.
Last year was a year of big swings and big storms for the next weather team. Adam Del Rosso takes a look back at the highs and lows of the year.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says it'll be sunny but cold tomorrow as clouds move out overnight.
The Wisconsin-River Falls football team is playing in the national championship this Sunday. They boast the best offense in all of Division III. But you don't get this far without a good defense, too. Ren Clayton introduces us to safety Andre Hall, whose "action sports side hustle" has taken a back seat during this title chase.
Right now, Minnesota's child care system is in the national spotlight. But months ago, the federal government told state officials they needed to make serious improvements. As our Conor Wight shows us, the state was told that a lack of oversight could increase the risk of fraud, waste and abuse.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says we'll finally catch a break from the snow for the next couple of days.
The new year can mean a new mindset for many. Some welcomed the fresh start bright and early, diving into 2026 by plunging into an icy lake. They told Frankie McLister why they're optimistic about the year ahead.