Lead Levels In North Mpls. Cause Concern, Scrap Yard Under Scrutiny
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is concerned about air quality and the levels of lead in an industrial area of north Minneapolis.
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The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is concerned about air quality and the levels of lead in an industrial area of north Minneapolis.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is forming a new advisory committee on environmental justice.
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.
The U.S. Supreme Court blocked the U.S. Postal Service Monday from enforcing new regulations for voting by mail, just days before midterm election voting is set to start in Minnesota.
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Sunshine returns to the Twin Cities Tuesday with breezy northwest winds early, then a quieter afternoon.
A lawsuit and the threat of tens of millions of dollars in damages have dampened a victory for neighbors opposed to data center development in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota.
It's the fifth time in six years that Minnesotans are approaching fall during a drought. The time of year is right when homeowners typically start repairing their yards. Is it worth fighting back now or simply waiting until spring?
A lawsuit and the threat of tens of millions of dollars in damages have dampened a victory for neighbors opposed to data center development in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota.
The Minneapolis City Council is considering an ordinance that would mandate a "human monitor" in the front seat of driverless cars.
As the seasons change, it's time to start planning for fall fun, but getting to a popular spot in Lake Elmo, Minnesota, may look a little different this year.
A St. Paul, Minnesota, brewing company is facing a foreclosure notice from its lender, which claims the company owes at least $8 million.
The University of Minnesota says it will remove one of their ten automated license plate reader cameras this week after community members expressed concerns.
For those who use diesel fuel, the cost has gone up 30 cents a gallon in the last week and more than $2 dollars in the last year. Minnesota farmers say the increasing cost could impact consumer prices.
Sarah McNamara wasn't expected to make it to birth; she is now 3.5 years old and the winner of the 2026 Toddler of the Year contest.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says it is canceling a Twin Metals Minnesota mineral lease.
Authorities in northern Minnesota are investigating after a man was found dead in the yard of a home Sunday morning.
People in the Twin Cities will see sunny conditions on Tuesday and a high temperature of around 70 degrees.
A $1.8 billion project to replace the Blatnik Bridge, which links Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin, is now underway.
An 18-year-old man has pleaded guilty to killing 10-year-old Lily Peters in Wisconsin four years ago. He was then given a life sentence with the possibility of extended supervision after 25 years.
A Wisconsin prosecutor says he will not file election bribery charges against billionaire Elon Musk even though the state's bipartisan elections commission said he likely broke state law.
A Wisconsin high school football player has died from injuries sustained during a game on Thursday night.
Dozens of cases of E. coli and salmonella in multiple states are linked to an alfalfa grower in Minnesota, health officials say.
The nonprofit opened its Twin Cities doors in 2010 and now runs a seven-woman operation out of a warehouse stocked entirely with what other Minnesotans gave away.
An Annandale, Minnesota, boy who survived overwhelming odds as a baby is once again facing a serious heart battle.
Zy'ire was diagnosed with bone cancer in his tibia, and throughout treatment, his love of the game helped keep his spirits up. Make-A-Wish Minnesota granted his wish by putting him on the sideline in Vikings gear.
Lt. Ryan Kelly, the first Minneapolis officer to arrive at Church of the Annunciation on Aug. 27, 2025, described walking in to find dozens of children hiding in the pews — and locating 2 who had already died.
After the Annunciation Catholic Church mass shooting in Minneapolis, there were loud calls for action on guns.
The U.S. Supreme Court blocked the U.S. Postal Service Monday from enforcing new regulations for voting by mail, just days before midterm election voting is set to start in Minnesota.
The U.S. Supreme Court is keeping new Postal Service rules on hold, meaning Minnesota's mail-in voting process will stay the same for the upcoming election.
President Trump is calling claims that artificial intelligence could destroy humanity a hoax, plus more of the day’s top stories.
The Supreme Court left intact a ruling that blocked the U.S. Postal Service from enforcing new regulations for mail voting, rejecting the Trump administration's effort to move forward with the rules in the midterms.
GOP Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky returned to Capitol Hill on Monday for the first time in three months, ending a prolonged absence that sparked widespread speculation about his health.
The Minnesota Department of Human Services is working with a contractor to correct an autism treatment plan backlog that is frustrating both parents and providers.
You've probably seen THC drinks at Minnesota bars and liquor stores, but those made-in-Minnesota drinks could disappear this winter if new federal rules take effect.
The 2026 Minnesota State Fair is rolling out more than three dozen new food items this year, on top of all the returning favorites — which makes putting together a game plan for your visit no small task.
President Trump said Friday that the U.S. will waive higher tariffs on ground beef imports, which he says will reduce beef prices by 25%. Some cattle ranchers, including those in Minnesota and Wisconsin, worry the plan will hurt them financially.
An outbreak of E. coli and salmonella is linked to an alfalfa grower in Minnesota, health officials say. WCCO speaks with a food safety expert about the risks associated with alfalfa sprouts.
Police say a man was injured Saturday evening in a shooting at a Circle Pines, Minnesota, gun shop.
On Saturday, law enforcement across the country observed National Police Woman Day.
Minneapolis Police are investigating a shooting that took place overnight near the 300 block of 1st Avenue North.
The Minnesota Department of Corrections has denied supervised release for a man convicted in the 1970 killing of a St. Paul, Minnesota, police officer.
A longtime family-run Thai restaurant in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota, is picking up the pieces after an individual broke a window and tried to enter early Monday morning, but the owner says the incident won't drive them from the area.
The strike will include OBGYNs, psychiatrists and critical care physicians at Mercy Hospital's Coon Rapids campus and Allina Unity's campus in Fridley.
After 334 days in a neonatal intensive care unit in Maple Grove, Minnesota, North Memorial Health's "miracle baby" is finally home.
Affordable Care Act recipients in 30 states are set to receive the $500 checks starting in October. Here's why.
The money will fuel a 10-year push into precision medicine at a hospital system that treats children from before birth through young adulthood.
Hospice nurses who work for Allina Health are set to begin a seven-day strike on Friday.
WCCO is tracking everything you can go out and do 4 Your Weekend, including at the Minnesota State Fair.
While performing in St. Louis on Saturday night, Lionel Richie appeared at one point to lean on a piano for support, according to video from the show.
Louis Lee came to Minnesota decades ago from Hong Kong to become a student at the University of Minnesota. He says listening to comedy helped him learn English.
The vault is open. Recordings no one's ever heard, spanning 40 years of Prince's musical career, are now available on a new album called "Timeless."
The community is mourning the loss of Charles Dillon, also known as Chaz Millionaire, a longtime voice on the Twin Cities airwaves.
The Yankees beat the Twins 8-3 Monday on a night they clinched their 61st postseason berth and ninth in 10 seasons.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray began the week in the NFL concussion protocol in continuing his recovery from an illegal hit to the head that forced him out of his first game with the team in the first quarter.
Behind almost every hockey player is a hockey parent. Emmy Loycano, a Westonka, Minnesota, hockey mom, never played the sport. But her husband did, and her boys do. Her daughter, Lily Loycano, always came along for the ride.
Carson Wentz came in after Kyler Murray's first-quarter concussion in his Minnesota debut and led a spirited comeback against the rival Green Bay Packers as the Vikings scored 29 straight points to close a 39-22 victory to open the season Sunday.
Steven Kwan homered to lead off the game, Tanner Bibee had seven strikeouts in 6 2/3 strong innings, and the Cleveland Guardians beat the Minnesota Twins 9-2 to pull within a half-game of the American League Central-leading Chicago White Sox.
In August, a law changing the age for criminal prosecutions in Minnesota went into effect. The law bars children under 13, no matter how serious the crime, from being prosecuted. It's unclear what will happen to kids now accused of these crimes.
Maryland and New Hampshire have similar laws but carve out exceptions for serious violent crimes like murder and rape; Minnesota's version, effective August 1, 2026, has none.
Demuth has been running ads focusing on a million-dollar funding proposal that Klobuchar supported that was stripped out of a funding bill.
She has won four races for U.S. Senate by double digits, and now Sen. Amy Klobuchar is campaigning to become Minnesota's next governor.
The DFL primary in Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District was supposed to be close, but it wasn't. Former Lakeville Mayor and state Sen. Matt Little beat two well-known opponents by double digits.
Built in 1886, the Prospect House was once a resort hotel. The third floor is preserved to show what the hotel looked like back then, but for Jay Johnson, the real history is in the basement.
For nearly a half century, the Haunted Mansion at the Minnesota State Fair has been scaring people silly.
It is one of the most uniquely shaped buildings at the Minnesota State Fair, and it holds nearly 80 years of history.
For five generations, one family has run the Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours along the St. Croix River.
Keith Richardson is a home brewer and beer memorabilia collector. His collection got so big that, two years ago, he moved everything into an old toy store near downtown Lanesboro and opened the Hammarama Museum and Gift Shop.
It's the fifth time in six years that Minnesotans are approaching fall during a drought. The time of year is right when homeowners typically start repairing their yards. Is it worth fighting back now or simply waiting until spring?
The first days of school can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. New teachers, new classes, maybe even a new building. It can be a lot to manage without a plan.
A school night usually means earlier bedtimes and setting multiple alarms. WCCO spoke with a sleep medicine physician about how many alarms you should set to wake up.
Behind the fried foods and thrilling rides, farming remains at the heart of the Minnesota State Fair, where farm families work around the clock to get their animals ribbon-ready.
Visitors are spending tens of millions of dollars to experience all there is at the Minnesota State Fair. It's a 12-day production that costs tens of millions of dollars to put on.
The Minnesota State Fair has unveiled its new foods for 2026.
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.
Sunshine returns to the Twin Cities Tuesday with breezy northwest winds early, then a quieter afternoon, says meteorologist Joseph Dames.
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.
Sunshine returns to the Twin Cities Tuesday with breezy northwest winds early, then a quieter afternoon.
High temperatures on Tuesday will be in the 60s and 70s across Minnesota, according to NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer.
This year marks the fifth time in six years that Minnesota has had a drought entering the fall, a time when homeowners typically start repairing their yards. In this Good Question, Jeff Wagner learns whether it's worth fighting back now or simply waiting until spring.
Investigators say an explosion Monday at a fuel transfer facility in northern Minnesota left one person injured.
Minneapolis Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Lisa Sayles-Adams will discuss options to address the district's budget issues in a Tuesday night school board meeting.
The U.S. Supreme Court is keeping new Postal Service rules on hold, meaning Minnesota's mail-in voting process will stay the same for the upcoming election.
President Trump is calling claims that artificial intelligence could destroy humanity a hoax, plus more of the day’s top stories.
Sunshine returns to the Twin Cities Tuesday with breezy northwest winds early, then a quieter afternoon, says meteorologist Joseph Dames.