Longtime Ely outfitter looks to sell after summer plagued by wildfires
Williams and Hall Outfitters in Ely has been in business for 33 years.
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Williams and Hall Outfitters in Ely has been in business for 33 years.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said an 80-year-old woman died while trying to escape a wildfire that forced evacuations in the Okanagan Lake region.
Nearly a month after a lightning strikes sparked wildfires in northern Minnesota, officials say conditions have started to ease and are starting to focus their efforts towards recovery.
After it was closed for more than two weeks due to wildfires, canoers and campers are starting to return to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Amid the wildfires in northern Minnesota, Bethany Hway is helping to buoy community through art.
A former U.S. Forest Service district ranger says a wildfire prevention project planned for an area near the Echo Trail was ready to move forward before it was delayed by a federal funding review and staffing reductions.
A pause in federal funding reportedly delayed a wildfire prevention program in one of the areas that went up in flames. As Photojournalist Nick Lunemann and Jeff Wagner discovered, a former U.S. Forest Service ranger has some burning questions he wants answered.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said he is considering calling a special session next month focusing on the wildfires that have devastated 72,500 acres of forest across the U.S. and Canada and community recovery.
Day trips will resume in some parts of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota on Monday. For local businesses, it's a lifeline.
Officials in northern Minnesota say some residents will be allowed to return to their homes as wildfire conditions improve.
Portions of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness will reopen for day use starting Monday, after wildfires prompted a rare closure of the forest last week.
Crews are working to keep wildfires burning across northern Minnesota from reaching public and private infrastructure, officials said in a news conference Friday afternoon.
Officials in northern Minnesota have extended a Boundary Waters closure order until Oct. 1 as wildfires have spread to cover more than 72,000 acres of land.
Wildfires in northern Minnesota have brought summer tourism to a near halt in the Ely area.
Minnesota officials said Monday in a news conference in Ely that nearly 25 wildfires are active in the Superior National Forest, with three detected on Sunday alone.
Minnesota officials are giving an update Monday afternoon about the effort to fight at least 15 wildfires burning up north.
Heavy smoke from several large wildfires blazing in Canada and Minnesota engulfed large swaths of the Midwest and East Coast.
Under the threat of at least 15 burning fires in and around the Boundary Waters, local authorities are closing roads. As smoke filled the air over the area this week, heroics played out on the water.
Records have been broken in several Minnesota communities, including parts of the Twin Cities, for the worst wildfire smoke measured, according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
The metro is no longer under an air quality alert, though northern Minnesota is.
Events and other scheduled outdoor activities are being canceled across Minnesota Thursday as hazardous wildfire smoke continues to pour down from the north amid an extreme heat warning.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced Wednesday members of the Royal Canadian Air Force successfully evacuated 11 Minnesota teenagers and four staff members from wildfires north of the border.
Just north of Minnesota's border with Canada, a dream wilderness adventure turned into a fight against time. Ubah Ali details the multi-national effort to bring 11 teenage campers and four guides to safety after they faced the fires in Canada.
The U.S. Forest Service has issued a mandatory, closure and evacuation in place for the million-acre Boundary Waters Canoe Area, forcing tour groups, many with children to get out immediately.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and other state leaders moved Wednesday to extend a peacetime emergency amid raging wildfires in the northern part of the state and southern Canada.
A man is dead and another is in custody after a shooting in St. Paul, Minnesota, late Saturday morning.
After months of hard work and preparation, hundreds of 4-H students got their chance to shine at the Minnesota State Fair Saturday.
Charges have been filed after the stolen Suni Lee statue was recovered Friday.
Andrew Benintendi had all three of his team's hits with his sixth-inning home run being the difference as the Chicago White Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 3-2.
Sam Ehlinger shined with a three-touchdown performance in the Denver Broncos' 34-6 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Friday night.
A man is dead and another is in custody after a shooting in St. Paul, Minnesota, late Saturday morning.
After months of hard work and preparation, hundreds of 4-H students got their chance to shine at the Minnesota State Fair Saturday.
Charges have been filed after the stolen Suni Lee statue was recovered Friday.
Carol Sawyer lived to 100, only missing the Minnesota State Fair two times in her life. Now, her legacy lives on through a bench dedicated in her honor. Fairgoers can be part of that legacy by stopping by it, snapping a photo and sharing it on social media.
The community is mourning the loss of Charles Dillon, also known as Chaz Millionaire, a longtime voice on the Twin Cities airwaves.
A major merger between Minnesota-based North Memorial Health and South Dakota-based Sanford Health was announced Friday morning, and is set to close in a matter of days.
Jena Hanson, a 20-year-old from Owatonna, will serve as the official goodwill ambassador for the Minnesota dairy industry and families for the next year.
A Minnesota college professor has been sentenced to three years' probation for stealing gun parts and ammunition from a Twin Cities store, according to court records.
Minnesota is facing its worst drought conditions in five years, experts say. About 88% of the state is either experiencing abnormally dry or drought conditions.
Minnesota's Iron Range has a history of iron ore mining dating back to the 1880s. But renewed conversations about copper-nickel mining in the area are fueling debate up north and beyond. Neighbors in the Ely area are navigating the divisive issue while staying largely united.
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 Franklin County Coroner's Office says Jack Pugh died March 30 from acute bronchopneumonia caused by cardiomyopathy, a disease that weakens the heart's ability to pump blood.
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.
Crews in St. Paul, Minnesota, are clearing out the city's largest encampment on Wednesday.
After officials in Minnesota's capital city announced they would shut down encampments for those experiencing homelessness, the City Council approved more than $1 million to expand capacity at local shelters.
The city of St. Paul, Minnesota, is taking a stand and closing encampments amid growing concerns.
The Minnesota Supreme Court has ended Mike Lindell's fight for the governor's office.
Minnesota GOP State Rep. Elliott Engen has pleaded guilty to DWI in connection with a March traffic incident that led to his arrest, according to court records filed on Thursday.
The ruling marks a blow to the federal government's long-delayed effort to prosecute Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who is accused of developing the plot to crash planes into the Pentagon and World Trade Center.
President Trump announced a deal to grant the U.S. control of more than 60 billion barrels of proven Venezuelan oil reserves.
"Space is the hot thing," President Trump said at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston.
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.
Dozens of cases of E. coli and salmonella in multiple states are linked to an alfalfa grower in Minnesota, health officials say.
Twin Metals says a copper-nickel mine near the Boundary Waters would bring hundreds of union jobs and 1,400 additional positions. Still, opponents say the environmental risks to the watershed are not worth the trade-offs.
Minnesota GOP State Rep. Elliott Engen has pleaded guilty to DWI in connection with a March traffic incident that led to his arrest, according to court records filed on Thursday.
Police say the statue of Olympic champion and Minnesota native Suni Lee has been recovered more than a year after it was stolen.
A teenager and two children were detained early Tuesday morning in connection to vehicle break-ins in south Minneapolis, according to police.
Minnesota officials say Christian Castro, charged in a January Minneapolis shooting, could cross into Mexico now that Texas has released him without honoring the state's extradition request.
Minneapolis police say a man was killed in a shooting early Friday morning in the East Phillips neighborhood.
Juul plans to market the new device under the brand name Juul2, along with updated versions of its tobacco- and menthol-flavored cartridges.
A major merger between Minnesota-based North Memorial Health and South Dakota-based Sanford Health was announced Friday morning, and is set to close in a matter of days.
Minnesota joined 23 states in suing the Trump administration Thursday, trying to stop new rules that could cut off federal funding for birth control clinics and other family planning services.
Minnesota will receive between $214 million to $307 million after tech giant Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, settled a landmark social media addiction lawsuit Wednesday.
While our summer has been dry, many can't say the same for their nose or eyes. Ragweed allergies are picking up steam.
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 legendary Minneapolis duo looks back on the Fair, a friendship that began as teenagers, the origin of "Jimmy Jam," and the challenge of turning more than 500 recordings into one homecoming show.
Tim Curry was known for his iconic performances in cult classics like "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" and the original screen adaptation of Stephen King's "It."
Audience members at a stage performance of "9 to 5: The Musical" in the U.K. were heard gasping aloud at the news of Dolly Parton's death Tuesday.
Andrew Benintendi had all three of his team's hits with his sixth-inning home run being the difference as the Chicago White Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 3-2.
Sam Ehlinger shined with a three-touchdown performance in the Denver Broncos' 34-6 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Friday night.
Colson Montgomery hit his 28th homer and Andrew Benintendi drove in two runs to help the AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 7-4 on Friday night.
The Minnesota Twins have called up top prospect Walker Jenkins with the status of All-Star center fielder Byron Buxton unclear.
Dallas Turner's performance for the Minnesota Vikings during training camp after a strong finish last season has underscored why they were so happy to get him in the first round of the 2024 draft.
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.
Democrat Jake Johnson, a high school math teacher, is running a competitive race against Republican Rep. Brad Finstad, prompting analysts to downgrade Finstad's reelection outlook.
In the aftermath of the primary, Republicans in Minnesota are more optimistic about their November chances than they ever have been.
In the aftermath of the primary, Republicans in Minnesota are more optimistic about their November chances than they ever have been.
The candidates for the Minnesota general election are all set, and the campaigns are shifting into a higher gear.
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.
Passing trains and scenic bluffs are a big part of Buffalo County, Wisconsin, but in the middle of it all is a garden where creativity and flowers grow together, all courtesy of a man named Herman Rusch.
Thousands of pictures of Split Rock Lighthouse are taken each year. And oftentimes a little island appears in those photos. Ellingsen Island has developed a following of its own.
There's a buzz at the fairgrounds as vendors, exhibitors and 4-H families get ready to welcome millions of people across a very specific stretch of time. Why is the Minnesota State Fair 12 days? Good Question.
While our summer has been dry, many can't say the same for their nose or eyes. Ragweed allergies are picking up steam.
Maybe you've experienced the "Sunday scaries" which is when you worry about the looming work week or wish you could have accomplished more over the weekend. The "August blues" create similar feelings, one being regret.
As if the constant barrage of political ads wasn't enough, some WCCO viewers are particularly bothered by the language candidates are using.
There's a certain elegance to the common loon. Its black and white plumage carries a gentle sheen of green as though dressed for a formal affair. Subtle colors that allow its piercing red eyes to steal your gaze.
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.
WCCO meteorologist Adam Del Rosso has the latest forecast.
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.
The humidity returns, with temps in the 80s and it'll linger into Sunday. Meteorologist Lisa Meadows has more.
The weekend is starting off with some showers and storms in the Twin Cities.
Saturday morning rain gives way to mostly cloudy, muggy afternoon, says meteorologist Adam Del Rosso.
Here are the latest headlines from WCCO.com.
The Minnesota Supreme Court has ended Mike Lindell's fight for the governor's office.
WCCO meteorologist Adam Del Rosso has the latest forecast.
The humidity returns, with temps in the 80s and it'll linger into Sunday. Meteorologist Lisa Meadows has more.
After months of hard work and preparation, hundreds of 4-H students got their chance to shine at the Minnesota State Fair Saturday.