Protecting yourself, and loved ones, from wildfire pollution
There are new discoveries about the impact of Canadian wildfire smoke that's polluting our skies and threatening our health.
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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.
Over 27 million acres of land have burned across Canada since the start of the 2023, marking the country's worst wildfire season on record.
The fires, which are still burning, have brought smoke and hazardous air quality to millions of Americans.
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.
Smoke from the wildfires raging in Canada in 2023 have affected parts of the U.S. and even traveled across the Atlantic to Europe. Here is the expected forecast for the smoke.
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.
Poor air quality due to wildfires can be dangerous for pets both indoors and outdoors. Experts are sharing safety and health tips.
Does a mask help with air pollution? Here's how to protect yourself from wildfire smoke as Canadian wildfires cause poor air quality in parts of the U.S.
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.
The first six weeks of Canada's 2023 wildfire season put it on track to be its most destructive in history.
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.
On June 14, 2023, the AQI value in Minneapolis was 243. For those who spent most of their time outside that day, the particulate-rich air they breathed in was roughly equivalent to smoking 8.8 cigarettes.
No one in the entire country is dealing with worse air than Minnesota right now. And doctors say when the air gets this bad – everyone needs to take notice.
No one in the entire country is dealing with worse air than Minnesota right now. And doctors say when the air gets this bad – everyone needs to take notice.
Joseph Dames looks at where the hazardous air in Minnesota is coming from, and what you can do about it.
Carter Casmaer, a dog owner who lives in Minneapolis, started a petition to "stop the rushed shutdown" of the park. He's gathered over 1,000 signatures.
Fifteen Minnesotans charged for conspiracy to impede or injure federal agents are part of what President Donald Trump considers a terrorist group, prosecutors said.
Trevor Larnach led off the game with a home run, Kody Clemens added a three-run shot and the Minnesota Twins clinched another series in Texas with an 12-2 victory over the Rangers.
A 31-year-old Minneapolis man is facing nearly two dozen charges following an eight-hour standoff with police along the city's Eat Street corridor last week.
A new cannabis dispensary just opened north of the Twin Cities metro and the city's mayor is one of the owners.
Carter Casmaer, a dog owner who lives in Minneapolis, started a petition to "stop the rushed shutdown" of the park. He's gathered over 1,000 signatures.
Fifteen Minnesotans charged for conspiracy to impede or injure federal agents are part of what President Donald Trump considers a terrorist group, prosecutors said.
A 31-year-old Minneapolis man is facing nearly two dozen charges following an eight-hour standoff with police along the city's Eat Street corridor last week.
A new cannabis dispensary just opened north of the Twin Cities metro and the city's mayor is one of the owners.
Police in Bloomington, Minnesota, are asking for the public's help to find 17-year-old Joseline Tapia, who has had no contact with her family or law enforcement since late April.
A proposed data center in Elk River, Minnesota, is drawing major backlash from residents.
Prosecutors allege a 35-year-old man intentionally set fire to his former girlfriend's Cambridge, Minnesota, home while her husband, a Marine veteran, and his service dog were inside.
Tyler Walter Edwards pleaded guilty in April to second-degree unintentional murder for the July 25, 2024, death of Maxton Keith Gudowski.
Carla Anderson was last seen at her Greenwood Apartments residence in Wadena on the evening of Nov. 13, 1987, after spending time with her family.
Authorities in central Minnesota say alcohol and speed may have contributed to a crash that seriously injured two people Saturday night.
A big birthday party is coming up this summer, one that every American can celebrate. And it could help the fireworks industry explode with record sales. WCCO explores how much Americans spend each year on fireworks.
A man serving a life sentence in a Wisconsin prison for killing six hunters during a confrontation over trespassing in 2004 has died, officials said.
Two women were involved in a deadly head-on crash Tuesday night in Chisago City, Minnesota.
Attorneys for Salah Sarsour, president of Wisconsin's largest mosque, told a federal judge he has lost 30 pounds and is not receiving consistent medical care for Type 2 diabetes while held in an Indiana jail.
President Trump was in western Wisconsin Friday afternoon to host a roundtable on farming at Custer Farms in Chippewa Falls.
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.
Carter Casmaer, a dog owner who lives in Minneapolis, started a petition to "stop the rushed shutdown" of the park. He's gathered over 1,000 signatures.
Fifteen Minnesotans charged for conspiracy to impede or injure federal agents are part of what President Donald Trump considers a terrorist group, prosecutors said.
A place for dogs to play or a sacred site? Right now, it's both, but it likely won't be for long. Ashley Grams explains.
Today's charges in Minnesota allege ties to antifa. President Trump signed this order last fall that labeled antifa a "domestic terrorist organization." In Good Question, Jeff Wagner digs into how the protest movement is defined and the challenges of separating free speech from actual threats.
More than a dozen protesters are facing federal prosecution months after the largest immigration operation in U.S. history swept through Minnesota. The Department of Justice says they were part of conspiracy to block and hurt ICE agents. Ubah Ali was at the federal courthouse and spoke to one of the defendants.
Target is tapping designer and TV personality Isaac Mizrahi for a newly created role as creative director at large as the discounter aims to reclaim its reputation for stylish clothing on a budget.
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.
A 31-year-old Minneapolis man is facing nearly two dozen charges following an eight-hour standoff with police along the city's Eat Street corridor last week.
A 35-year-old Minnesota woman has been charged with negligent storage of a firearm after her 10-year-old daughter allegedly took her gun and threatened their neighbor with it.
U.S. prosecutors in Minnesota on Tuesday announced charges against 15 people they say conspired to "violently oppose immigration law enforcement," though U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen failed to describe a single example of injuries to federal agents when repeatedly questioned.
A Minnesota swim coach is accused of "grooming type behavior" toward a student's sister, including sending explicit text messages and a nude photo to the 15-year-old girl, according to charges filed Friday.
Prosecutors allege a 35-year-old man intentionally set fire to his former girlfriend's Cambridge, Minnesota, home while her husband, a Marine veteran, and his service dog were inside.
Emily Pearson has a rare genetic disorder that causes severe, painful reactions to sunlight.
Jenn Glass has been taking a GLP-1 since last November. The 53-year-old mother of three has already lost more than 30 pounds, but she's focused on something beyond the number on the scale.
It's a gruesome problem impacting livestock in southern states and veterinarians worry it could come to Minnesota.
Minnesotans weathered the third air quality alert triggered by ozone of the year Monday. If two more happen, it will tie the yearly record.
HCMC in Minneapolis got what they wanted, a large financial boost from lawmakers, and now the leaders of Minnesota's busiest trauma hospital say they'll put their money where their mouths are and get to work restructuring finances.
Luke Skywalker's lightsaber from the "Star Wars" sequel "The Empire Strikes Back" is expected to sell for at least $1 million at an upcoming auction.
Rio de Janeiro's Military Fire Department said one of the helicopters crashed in the parking lot of a car dealership, where several electric vehicles were parked, igniting a fire.
There's plenty to do in Minnesota this weekend, including some major anniversary parties, Maple Grove's ever-popular Chalkfest and much more!
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.
Trevor Larnach led off the game with a home run, Kody Clemens added a three-run shot and the Minnesota Twins clinched another series in Texas with an 12-2 victory over the Rangers.
Minnesota Twins catcher Victor Caratini is a master of the strike zone. He's one of the best in baseball at using replay to turn balls into strikes.
Emily Pearson has a rare genetic disorder that causes severe, painful reactions to sunlight.
Josh Bell hit a three-run homer in the first inning, Byron Buxton went deep for the 23rd time this season, leading off the sixth, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Texas Rangers 4-2 on Monday night.
Natasha Howard had 18 points to lead seven players in double-figure scoring for the Minnesota Lynx in a 107-74 victory over Portland.
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.
School's out, summer's here, and if you're heading to the lake on Highway 10, you may just stumble upon hidden treasure.
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.
Fifteen Minnesotans charged for conspiracy to impede or injure federal agents are part of what President Donald Trump considers a terrorist group, prosecutors said.
A big birthday party is coming up this summer, one that every American can celebrate. And it could help the fireworks industry explode with record sales. WCCO explores how much Americans spend each year on fireworks.
Minnesotans weathered the third air quality alert triggered by ozone of the year Monday. If two more happen, it will tie the yearly record.
Milder winters mean more ticks survive to the following spring, and a southern species that can trigger a red meat allergy is now gaining ground in Minnesota as a result.
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.
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.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says scattered showers will return tonight with rounds of rain throughout the day tomorrow.
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 Chris Shaffer says it'll be rainy and cooler tomorrow with highs in the upper 60s.
Another round of rain is headed for the Twin Cities late Tuesday, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer.
Wednesday will not be a washout, but expect rounds of rain. There could also be thunderstorms in the mix, WCCO meteorologist Mike Augustyniak reports.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says scattered showers will return tonight with rounds of rain throughout the day tomorrow.
A place for dogs to play or a sacred site? Right now, it's both, but it likely won't be for long. Ashley Grams explains.
A fugitive holed-up in an apartment on Eat Street in Minneapolis last week and started shooting at law enforcement. Charges against him say he shot through the door towards the deputies directly outside.
Today's charges in Minnesota allege ties to antifa. President Trump signed this order last fall that labeled antifa a "domestic terrorist organization." In Good Question, Jeff Wagner digs into how the protest movement is defined and the challenges of separating free speech from actual threats.
More than a dozen protesters are facing federal prosecution months after the largest immigration operation in U.S. history swept through Minnesota. The Department of Justice says they were part of conspiracy to block and hurt ICE agents. Ubah Ali was at the federal courthouse and spoke to one of the defendants.