How Canadian wildfires caused a summer of smoke for Minnesota
Canadian wildfires in 2023 caused multiple days of smoke and poor air quality in Minnesota.
Canadian wildfires in 2023 caused multiple days of smoke and poor air quality in Minnesota.
New research suggests the record amount of smoke is either reversing or stalling several gains made across the country when it comes to reducing air pollution.
There might be snow outside right now, but it was just a few months ago when the air was filled with smoke. Now, there's new information about how that smoke continues to threaten our clean Minnesota air.
Smoke from wildfires is not the only reason for poor air quality this year. It turns out, those wildfires created another kind of pollution: Ozone.
Canadian authorities are warning while we could be dealing with this smoke, they could be dealing with more states of emergency until October.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an orange-level air quality alert for northern and central Minnesota this week due to more Canadian wildfire smoke.
The devastating fires in Canada have been creating hazy skies in Minnesota and Wisconsin. We've had several air quality alerts issued this summer. Our skylines, thick with pollution, have been slow to clear.
There are new discoveries about the impact of Canadian wildfire smoke that's polluting our skies and threatening our health. Investigative reporter Jonah Kaplan and photojournalist Mike Durenberger traveled to Canada for a closer look at this North American crisis.
There are new discoveries about the impact of Canadian wildfire smoke that's polluting our skies and threatening our health.
Another air quality alert is in place for northern Minnesota until Tuesday afternoon. Once again, the cause is wildfires burning in Canada. Investigative reporter Jonah Kaplan has a preview of our special series airing all this week on WCCO News.
Reporter Jonah Kaplan and photojournalist Mike Durenberger traveled to Manitoba, Canada – the source of the wildfire smoke currently making its way through Minnesota – to give you a first-hand look at the problem.
Crews right now in Manitoba, as stretched thin as they are, say their only option is to watch and wait as the provinces's 200th wildfire of the season starts rages on.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an air quality alert for central and northern Minnesota due to wildfire smoke.
As more people across the country are seeing the impact of wildfires and smoke, scientists are turning to the promise of big data, technology and collaboration to keep big fires from spreading.
Three straight years of dry weather has impacted fruits and vegetables, and now smoke from the Canadian wildfires is creating new challenges.
Meteorologist Joseph Dames has the latest on an air quality alert set for 8 a.m. Friday through 3 p.m. Saturday.
Meteorologists with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency use air quality data collected from 24 stations around the state to help determine when to declare air quality alerts.
So far in 2023, no fewer than 24 air quality alerts have impacted our warm weather days this year. That's a record that may keep building, as the latest update on Canadian wildfires indicates we're likely not done with smoky skies.
Wildfires in Canada have been raging for weeks and there are 500 fires burning in the country, the vast majority uncontrolled.
Dauntless is a Minnesota company that operates a fleet of aircraft that can rapidly dump water on remote fires. The Fire Boss aircraft they use is made in South St. Paul.
The St. Paul Saints almost called off their game Wednesday afternoon because of the foul air.
Smoke from the wildfires raging in Canada have affected parts of the U.S. and even traveled across the Atlantic to Europe. Here is the expected forecast for the smoke.
Experts say a KN95 mask can help during the worst days, or just staying inside. But during the height of summer break, that's not always an option.
Experts say everyone should limit their time outside Tuesday because of the air quality. But, rain or shine, Jeremy Underwood and his team are out in the elements.
Over 27 million acres of land have burned across Canada since the start of the year, marking the country's worst wildfire season on record.
There are a ton of connections and similarities between the Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves who meet in Round 2 of the NBA playoffs beginning this weekend.
For local hat maker Karen Morris, her designs serve as an outlet for so much more than just wearable art.
Grab an umbrella if you're heading outside Saturday morning, but you shouldn't need to use it for too long.
This heated debate comes just one day after a pro-Palestinian encampment agreed to pack up and clear out after reaching an initial agreement with university administration.
Despite recent incidents, carjackings and auto thefts are actually down across Minneapolis.
For local hat maker Karen Morris, her designs serve as an outlet for so much more than just wearable art.
This heated debate comes just one day after a pro-Palestinian encampment agreed to pack up and clear out after reaching an initial agreement with university administration.
Despite recent incidents, carjackings and auto thefts are actually down across Minneapolis.
The man who officers shot in Woodbury during a standoff outside a Target store now faces assault charges.
A man who was involved in a shootout that killed a 14-year-old boy at a Woodbury graduation party in the summer of 2021 was sentenced Friday to 20 years in prison.
At St. Cloud State, students and faculty were told in 2023 that the university faced tough decisions ahead, and proposed a series of cuts to faculty and programming. They included closing the School of Public Affairs, as well as dropping dozens of areas of study.
Authorities are searching for a man they say robbed a central Minnesota bank on Thursday.
The Morrison County Sheriff's Office says it received a report around 6:48 p.m. of an ATV accident on the Soo Line Trail, about a mile west of Highway 10 in Bellevue Township.
rom unpredictable weather to unpredictable farm prices, rural Minnesotans face challenges every day.
Canadian wildfires in 2023 caused multiple days of smoke and poor air quality in Minnesota.
Anglers will head to Wisconsin this weekend for the state's fishing opener, where they'll get a good idea of how the mild winter will also impact the fish bite during next week's opener in Minnesota.
Twenty-four-year-old Madison Bergmann, of St. Paul, was charged with one count of first-degree child sexual assault with a child under age 13.
Officials say that a school shooting threat was "neutralized" at a middle school west of Madison, Wisconsin, Wednesday morning, with no reported injuries to those inside the school.
Police are removing an encampment of pro-Palestinian protesters at the University of Wisconsin's Madison campus on Wednesday morning and have taken away several protesters.
Six middle school students and two adults were injured in a school bus crash near Hudson on Thursday morning.
Dr. Greg Ekbom founded LimbFit, a Christian nonprofit that designs and fits prosthetics and also works side-by-side in hospitals with Ukrainian trauma surgeons.
The nation's third-largest food bank is using a 24-hour fundraiser to fight food insecurity.
An Eden Prairie family is keeping their son's legacy alive, one year after his sudden death.
Fifteen-year-old Bennett Fisk loves baseball and has been playing youth league his whole life. Unfortunately, last season, he had to sit out because even the largest adult-size baseball helmet didn't fit his head and it was too unsafe to play without a helmet.
For the first time in Minnesota cannabis usage on 420 is legal.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem claimed in a new book to have met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during her time in Congress.
Minnesota Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan highlighted a way on Friday for more people to become police officers thanks to public safety funding passed last session at the Capitol.
Two measures that would strengthen gun laws in the state are now on their way to the Minnesota Senate.
A bill to legalize sports betting in Minnesota is in serious trouble, running afoul of the partisan rancor over the arrest of a state senator on a felony burglary charge.
Democratic Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs has signed a bill to undo a long-dormant law that bans all abortions except those done to save a patient's life, but the ban is still in effect until the fall.
For local hat maker Karen Morris, her designs serve as an outlet for so much more than just wearable art.
Are you looking for love this summer? Caribou Coffee is ready to play cupid.
John Lauritsen looks at how a Breezy Point barn went from housing buffalo and cattle to hosting customers and wedding parties.
For Minnesota sports fans, this is the wrong time for Bally Sports North to go black.
Americans are struggling to keep up with their credit card payments and personal bankruptcies are rising — and it's starting to worry economists.
Despite recent incidents, carjackings and auto thefts are actually down across Minneapolis.
The man who officers shot in Woodbury during a standoff outside a Target store now faces assault charges.
A man who was involved in a shootout that killed a 14-year-old boy at a Woodbury graduation party in the summer of 2021 was sentenced Friday to 20 years in prison.
The Hennepin County Attorney's office has entered into a contract with a Washington D.C.-based law firm amid an internal shakeup to prosecute Ryan Londregan, who shot and killed Ricky Cobb II on an interstate last summer.
There were four different robberies of this variety with five victims within a period of less than half an hour in Bucktown Thursday morning. One of them was caught on video.
More new mothers and babies die in the United States than in any other high-income country, and Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than White women.
You may have seen an anti-abortion ad that's taken over Minnesota airwaves recently. Esme Murphy reviewed 15 years of state abortion data to show us what's true, what needs context, and what is misleading.
Spring has sprung, and so have allergies. And if you've felt like your sniffles and sneezes are worse this year, you're not alone.
Mike Max is going to turn 60 years old this year and he's been thinking a lot about how to make the next ten years healthy years.
Minnesotans love to get outside no matter the season. Something about being in nature always seems to leave us feeling better. So why does it feel good to get outdoors? Good Question.
See who's nominated for the 77th annual Tony Awards. The Tonys will air live on CBS and Paramount+ on Sunday, June 16.
Paramount said long-time CEO Bob Bakish will leave the company, which is in discussions to explore a sale or merger.
Billie Eilish, the pop musician and two-time Oscar winner, will stop in St. Paul for two shows on her upcoming tour.
French screen actor Gerard Depardieu was reportedly detained for questioning and released Monday after two women accused him of sexual assault.
The vinyl sales alone were monumental, Billboard said, with "the largest sales week for an album on vinyl in the modern era."
There are a ton of connections and similarities between the Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves who meet in Round 2 of the NBA playoffs beginning this weekend.
Anglers will head to Wisconsin this weekend for the state's fishing opener, where they'll get a good idea of how the mild winter will also impact the fish bite during next week's opener in Minnesota.
This inaugural season of the PWHL has been a long time coming.
The St Paul Academy boys' tennis team is hoping to hold onto the dynasty they've created, working to three-peat their single-A state championship title.
A bill to legalize sports betting in Minnesota is in serious trouble, running afoul of the partisan rancor over the arrest of a state senator on a felony burglary charge.
University of Minnesota students continue growing calls across the country for a cease-fire in Gaza. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy spoke with the students leading the demonstrations about why it's so important to them.
University of Minnesota students continue growing calls across the country for a cease-fire in Gaza. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy spoke with Ethan Fine, a leading voice of Jewish students on campus. Hamline University Professor David Schultz weighed-in on the rights of students and the university.
University of Minnesota students continue growing calls across the country for a cease-fire in Gaza. Most of the protestors are not of Palestinian, Muslim or Jewish heritage. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy explores the motives of local protesters.
University of Minnesota students continue growing calls across the country for a cease-fire in Gaza. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy spoke with Sana Wazwaz, the president of the local chapter of American Muslims for Palestine.
Before marijuana was legalized in Minnesota, the state patrol and other law enforcement agencies repeatedly voiced their concern over how to determine if someone pulled over was high on cannabis.
John Lauritsen looks at how a Breezy Point barn went from housing buffalo and cattle to hosting customers and wedding parties.
It's one of the few covered bridges remaining in the Midwest, and it's seen a lot of traffic over the years.
Decades ago, at an 88-acre pasture near Annandale, cars replaced cows and French Lake Auto Parts was born.
There's an attraction in Fergus Falls that's centered around a man-made disaster.
In this week's Finding Minnesota, John Lauritsen goes to New Ulm where the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame is celebrating 35 years.
Whether you're a new driver or new to the state, scheduling a driving test in Minnesota can be a bumpy road.
From drama involving Democratic Minnesota state Sen. Nicole Mitchell to now-former Republican Congressman George Santos, we've recently seen the flames of expulsion being fanned.
Releasing balloons is like slowly littering potentially miles from where the person let them go.
Minnesotans love to get outside no matter the season. Something about being in nature always seems to leave us feeling better. So why does it feel good to get outdoors? Good Question.
What do Lebron James, David Bowie and Bill Gates all have in common? They're left-handed. While they're a minority of the population, they're not alone. So why are we right- or left-handed? Good Question.
Many Minnesotans were treated to a stunning double rainbow on Thursday.
Nicolae Miu, a 54-year-old man from Prior, Lake, Minnesota was found guilty of six criminal charges, including first-degree reckless homicide. Miu's trial lasted eight days in a Hudson, Wisconsin courtroom.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed early Tuesday, March 26 after a column was struck by a container ship that reportedly lost power, sending vehicles and people into the Patapsco River.
An early spring snowstorm made for many beautiful sights across the state of Minnesota over the weekend.
State fire officials say a grass fire near Waseca is contained Monday morning after burning more than 1,000 acres.
Meteorologist Adam Del Rosso has the full forecast for Saturday morning.
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.
Grab an umbrella if you're heading outside Saturday morning, but you shouldn't need to use it for too long.
Meteorologist Adam Del Rosso has a brief update early Saturday morning.
Steady rain is falling to the north and will make it to the Twin Cities in the morning hours on Saturday.
The 150th running of the Kentucky Derby takes place Saturday. While the event is technically a horse race, it's perhaps better known for its fashion — specifically the hats. For local hat maker Karen Morris, her designs serve as an outlet for so much more than just wearable art.
Hundreds of Minnesotans are taking steps to raise awareness for Parkinson's disease Saturday in Plymouth.
Here's a look at your 4 things to do on Saturday during a fun-filled weekend.
It's off to the races Saturday afternoon at Kitchen and Rail. We may not be in Kentucky, but that doesn't mean we can't get in on the derby fun here in the Twin Cities. We're joined now by Victor Salamone and Maggie Mell from Kitchen and Rail.
A night filled with great food, delicious wines and helping keep kids healthy. That's what you can expect from WineFest, set for next weekend at The Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, The Depot. We're joined now by Nick Engbloom with the University of Minnesota Foundation and Kevin Coughenour of Jester Concepts and Parlour.