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Gov. Mark Dayton has appointed eight people to a new committee to advise the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Dayton created the panel by executive order last year after the Legislature abolished the MPCA Citizens' Board.
An air pollution health advisory is in effect for central and southern Minnesota. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says a combination of low clouds, fog and light southeasterly to easterly winds are combining Thursday to cause fine particle pollution to approach a level considered unhealthy.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says it came up with a variety of creative approaches to the state's environmental challenges in 2015. The agency's "Swimmable, Fishable, Fixable?" report in April offered evidence about impaired water quality and its causes.
Gov. Mark Dayton kicked off visits to mining operations in other states Tuesday as he prepares to make a major mining decision in Minnesota. The state is considering whether to allow a mining company to open Minnesota's first copper-nickel operation. And it is a decision that is sparking controversy.
To some it's a lump of rock, but to others it's a sweet outdoor treat gone sadly sour. A group of enthusiasts plans to clean up piles of trash and other blights on parts of Sugar Loaf, an 80-foot rock that overlooks Winona.
A Robbinsdale lake is contaminated after a contractor accidentally released cement grout into a storm sewer Wednesday. Crystal city officials say the accident happened during work on a water main project on County Road 9.
Two members of Congress introduced legislation Tuesday that encourages states in the Great Lakes region to develop voluntary programs aimed at reducing farm pollution that causes harmful algae blooms.
The thick haze caused by smoke from more than 100 Canadian wildfires is causing unhealthy air quality conditions across a large part of Minnesota. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency reports that the air quality is rated unhealthy for everyone from a large part of northwestern Minnesota, including Detroit Lakes, extending down to Brainerd and St. Cloud toward the Twin Cities suburbs.
Just two weeks after it was abolished by the Minnesota Legislature, an influential environmental citizen's board held its last meeting on Tuesday.
A shaky coalition of lawmakers that compiled a package of environmental and agricultural programs may not hold up in a coming special session, forcing Gov. Mark Dayton and legislative leaders to seek enough support for a final piece of the state budget Thursday and pause their hopes for a Friday special session.
Environmental groups are hoping to preserve a citizen oversight board at the state's pollution control agency, but it may be too late. Gov. Mark Dayton and top lawmakers worked Tuesday to put the finishing touches on a deal for the state's budget, including a retooled environment budget that Dayton previously vetoed.
Scientists specializing in the Great Lakes are going to be hearing about the challenge plastic pollution poses for the lakes during a conference at the University of Vermont.
Now that Minnesota lawmakers will be pulled back into action, the second-chance stampede is on. Groups with a gripe about the budget are trying to get in on the special session provoked by a promised veto of a $17 billion education spending plan, and some want Gov. Mark Dayton to veto other bills too.
In the town of Worthington, lake life is a part of the culture. "Whenever we poll the community about what the most important features are, what their proudest of in the community, Lake Okabena always comes in number one," Okabena Ocheda Watershed District's Dan Livdahl said.
President Barack Obama's proposed budget for 2016 seeks a $50 million cut in a multi-year program to clean up the Great Lakes. The president's spending plan released Monday requests $250 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, down from $300 million appropriated for this year.
State officials say a new report shows that Minnesota businesses lead the nation in reducing or eliminating dangerous pollutants from their work processes.
First it was tiny plastic beads, but now scientist are rising concerns about fibers from clothing polluting the Great Lakes. A recent study found polyester fleece sheds thousands of fibers when it's washed.
Scientists who have reported that the Great Lakes are awash in tiny bits of plastic are raising new alarms about a little-noticed form of the debris turning up in sampling nets: synthetic fibers from garments, cleaning cloths and other consumer products.
The southern half of Minnesota is under an air pollution advisory. Warmer temperatures, along with moisture and low winds, are causing fine particles to be trapped near the ground. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says it's unhealthy for people with respiratory health problems.
On Tuesday, California became the first state to ban single-use plastic bags like the ones used in Target and grocery stores across the country. The plastic bags will be phased out over the next two years, but people can still use them for vegetables and meats. Paper bags will cost 10 cents while reusable bags will be free to use.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says more data analysis must be done to determine whether changes to the state's water quality standards are warranted to protect wild rice from sulfates.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an air pollution health alert for western Minnesota effective through noon on Friday. The agency says a strong temperature inversion, snow melt and fog are trapping fine-particle pollution near the surface, causing unhealthy levels for sensitive groups. An air pollution health advisory has also been issued for the southern half of Minnesota — including the Twin Cities and Rochester — beginning Thursday evening and extending into Friday morning. Fine-particle concentrations are expected to increase and may reach unhealthy levels for sensitive groups for short periods.
A government report says the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency should do more to make sure a Great Lakes cleanup program is meeting its goals. Congress has spent about $1.3 billion on the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative over the past four years.
A new study finds that chemicals from household products, prescriptions and illegal drugs are common in Minnesota lakes. MPCA scientists chose 50 lakes at random and tested the water for 125 chemicals. The common insect repellent DEET was found in 76 percent of lakes.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is giving a mixed report on the Mississippi River watershed in the St. Cloud area.
Pinch-hitter Josh Rojas had a go-ahead, two-run single in the ninth inning in his Kansas City debut and the Royals outlasted the Minnesota Twins 8-6.
NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss is still making big catches long after he finished playing football.
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 Bloomington Jefferson girls softball team won their first-ever state championship on Friday with a 1-0 win over Forest Lake.
Years after a football injury left him paralyzed, a milestone once feared out of reach has finally been met by Bloomington teen Ethan Glynn.
The Bloomington Jefferson girls softball team won their first-ever state championship on Friday with a 1-0 win over Forest Lake.
Years after a football injury left him paralyzed, a milestone once feared out of reach has finally been met by Bloomington teen Ethan Glynn.
Officials in Robbinsdale are trying to get to the bottom of a mystery with its drinking water.
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.
Police in St. Paul, Minnesota, say they're investigating an overnight shooting on the city's east side.
Two men are in custody and facing criminal charges in connection to last month's fatal shooting of 17-year-old Tyson Goodsell in North Mankato, Minnesota.
Dozens of infrastructure projects around Minnesota will move forward following the ceremonial signing of a $1.2 billion infrastructure bill by Gov. Tim Walz on Friday.
Authorities have arrested a man suspected of starting his mobile home on fire late Thursday afternoon in northeastern Minnesota.
Thursday was an emotional day for the friends and family of Minnesota National Guard members returning from a monthslong deployment, and WCCO was there in St. Paul for the momentous homecoming.
The Minnesota state track meet is taking place at St. Michael-Albertville High School. Athletes have worked hard to get there, but perhaps no one has worked harder than Montevideo senior Jessa Norby.
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.
A Minnesota man was arrested in Wisconsin Saturday afternoon for allegedly driving under the influence with four children inside his car, officials say.
A driver went airborne during a high-speed police chase in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, after fleeing a traffic stop.
Fifty beagles rescued from animal testing in Wisconsin are set to arrive in Minnesota Thursday.
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.
Colin and Sophie Hortman presented several of their mother's former staffers with the "Melissa and Mark Hortman Award" for dedication and leadership in public policy at a DFL fundraising dinner on Friday. June 14 will mark one year since Mark and Melissa Hortman were killed in their home in what prosecutors called a politically motivated attack.
Gov. Tim Walz on Friday signed an infrastructure bill to invest in projects across the state.
Dozens of infrastructure projects around Minnesota will move forward following the ceremonial signing of a $1.2 billion infrastructure bill by Gov. Tim Walz on Friday.
President Trump is heading to western Wisconsin Friday afternoon to host a roundtable on farming in Chippewa Falls, where he's expected to discuss his agricultural policies.
President Trump was in western Wisconsin Friday afternoon to host a roundtable on farming at Custer Farms in Chippewa Falls.
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 24-year-old man is accused of fatally stabbing a St. Paul, Minnesota, barbershop owner on the city's east side late last month, according to a criminal complaint filed on Friday.
Two men are in custody and facing criminal charges in connection to last month's fatal shooting of 17-year-old Tyson Goodsell in North Mankato, Minnesota.
Authorities have arrested a man suspected of starting his mobile home on fire late Thursday afternoon in northeastern Minnesota.
Police in St. Paul, Minnesota, say they're investigating an overnight shooting on the city's east side.
Minneapolis Park Police are asking for the public's help with identifying a person of interest connected to an assault last month at Minnehaha Falls.
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.
In Dakota County, where there are just under a million residents, there were 25 suspected overdoses between May 29 through June 2 — two of which were fatal.
The Minnesota Department of Human Services is reexamining over 5,000 Medicaid service providers across the state in an effort to combat fraud.
Parents of Minnesota's most vulnerable children say lawmakers let them down, and now they're going to extremes to fight an insurance company that's denying coverage.
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.
Peabo Bryson, a two-time Grammy-winning singer and songwriter known for Disney movie hits "Beauty and the Beast" and "A Whole New World," has died at age 75.
Pinch-hitter Josh Rojas had a go-ahead, two-run single in the ninth inning in his Kansas City debut and the Royals outlasted the Minnesota Twins 8-6.
NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss is still making big catches long after he finished playing football.
The Bloomington Jefferson girls softball team won their first-ever state championship on Friday with a 1-0 win over Forest Lake.
Olivia Miles scored a career-high 28 points and set a WNBA rookie record with eight 3-pointers, and the Minnesota Lynx held off the Golden State Valkyries 87-84 for their sixth straight victory.
Minnesota Wild forward Marcus Foligno has received this season's King Clancy Memorial Trophy for leadership and service.
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.
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.
For nearly 50 years, Farmamerica has been sowing agricultural knowledge near Waseca, Minnesota.
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.
We can't control the prices are the grocery store, but what we can control is how to stretch that hard earned dollar, especially when shopping for fruits and vegetables. So what's the best way to keep fruits and vegetables fresh?
If Minnesota lawmakers won't vote on a bill, why can't the people? That's what Carol from Stillwater wants to know after the gun reform bill never made it to the House floor. In Good Question, Jeff Wagner explains how statewide ballot measures are created.
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.
Saturday will be present with temperatures in the upper 80s. The warm weather sticks through Sunday with storm chances returning Sunday night. Meteorologist Adam Del Rosso breaks down the next few days and shares when we could be looking at a stretch of 90 degree days.
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.
High temperatures will be in the 80s across much of central and southern Minnesota on Saturday, according to NEXT Weather meteorologist Lisa Meadows.
Temperatures in the Twin Cities will drop to the 60s on Saturday morning following storms on Friday night, according to NEXT Weather meteorologist Lisa Meadows.
NEXT Weather meteorologist Lisa Meadows says there's a slight chance for severe storms on Friday night that could produce damaging winds and hail.
Twin Cities is celebrating Pride month, here's how you can participate.
The Mill City Museum will be serving up some sweet treats this summer. Sarah Peterson stops by WCCO to introduce her new MNHS Press book, Dish and Tell: Recipes from the Heart and tells us what to expect at the Mill City Museum.
Saturday will be present with temperatures in the upper 80s. The warm weather sticks through Sunday with storm chances returning Sunday night. Meteorologist Adam Del Rosso breaks down the next few days and shares when we could be looking at a stretch of 90 degree days.
Reg Chapman updates on latest headlines of the day.
The Edina Art Fair, one of top-ranked art festivals in the nation, is underway. People from across the country are in the Twin Cities community for the event. John Lauritsen shows the unique opportunity for artists and vendors.