A century of fire suppression is worsening wildfires, hurting forests
Years of keeping fire out of America's forests led to a buildup of dead trees and brush — fuel for today's larger, hotter, more lethal wildfires.
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Years of keeping fire out of America's forests led to a buildup of dead trees and brush — fuel for today's larger, hotter, more lethal wildfires.
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.
"Thank you to the Minnesota wildland firefighters who answered the call to help our neighbors in the north," said Gov. Tim Walz.
Wildfires in Canada have been raging for weeks and there are 500 fires burning in the country, the vast majority uncontrolled.
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.
The first six weeks of Canada's 2023 wildfire season put it on track to be its most destructive in history.
Esme Murphy talks with Professor Lee Frelich, director of the University of Minnesota Center for Forest Ecology; Minnesota DNR Wildfire Prevention Specialist Allissa Reynolds; and climatology professor John Abatzoglou with the University of California Merced.
Esme Murphy talks with Mike Augustyniak, WCCO's director of meteorology.
A week after it was first detected, a wildfire in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is 100% contained, officials said.
Forest officials have determined a wildfire burning in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness was caused by a human.
The U.S. Forest Service said the exact cause remains under scrutiny, but investigators determined Saturday that human actions sparked the fire.
Officials say crews are making "good progress" in fighting a wildfire in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
A sigh of relief as Minnesotans overcome the latest weather challenge, firework displays for the Fourth of July should not be impacted by drought conditions or wildfire risk.
The latest in the wildfire in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
For a time, smoke and ozone left Minnesota blanketed with the worst air in the entire country. WCCO's Jason Rantala picks up our Team Coverage with how dirty air can impact everyone's health.
Wildfires are burning in Canada, but it's affecting people far beyond the borders.
Wildfires in Canada are having an impact on air quality here in Minnesota.
Jeff Wagner learned not even an ocean can get in its way.
State officials say burning restrictions will go into effect in northeastern Minnesota Wednesday.
The thick, heavy smoke from Canadian wildfires engulfed New York this week. It started easing yesterday, but experts warn it will likely come back. As Michael George explains, some people are getting creative to clean the air inside their homes.
Images of a smoke-filled Manhattan were top of mind for many Minnesotans Thursday as they stepped outside into much better air. But those Canadian wildfires could pose a problem all summer long.
"Typically for Canadian wildfires, their season starts in July, so this year it started in early May. You know, we saw those bouts of smoke in the middle May come down into Minnesota," said the MPCA's Nick Witcraft.
Smoke from hundreds of wildfires in Canada continues to drift south, causing dangerous conditions. Visibility was so bad in the New York City area on Wednesday afternoon that there were ground stops and delays at LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport. CBS News correspondent Lilia Luciano has more.
As people fire up the grills and sit around campfires this Memorial Day weekend, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is urging people to be careful.
As people fire up the grills and sit around campfires this Memorial Day weekend, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is urging people to be careful.
An 81-year-old woman is dead after two motorcycles collided on westbound Highway 60 in Blue Earth County Tuesday morning, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.
A St. Paul, Minnesota, man tried to kill Eagan police officers by firing at them while they attempted to subdue him during a domestic disturbance call, charges filed Tuesday allege.
Target is reporting its second straight quarter of comparable sales gains, saying a merchandising overhaul under the discount retailer's new CEO was attracting more customers.
According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Highway 15 is closed in both directions between 170th and Main streets, about 5 miles south of New Ulm.
Elon Musk's company xAI will face off with the state of Minnesota in court Wednesday over a new state law banning AI "nudification."
A St. Paul, Minnesota, man tried to kill Eagan police officers by firing at them while they attempted to subdue him during a domestic disturbance call, charges filed Tuesday allege.
Target is reporting its second straight quarter of comparable sales gains, saying a merchandising overhaul under the discount retailer's new CEO was attracting more customers.
Kylese Perryman claims his rights were violated, saying investigators carelessly and incorrectly identified him as the man responsible for a violent felony. He spent five days in jail, 30 days on home monitoring and, after 52 days, charges were eventually dropped.
The bench is positioned so that the sunset is clearly visible in the evening, a daily event that Mollie Merkel says reminds her of Fletcher.
Abdinasir Mahamed Abshir is the 23rd defendant to be sentenced in the $250 million pandemic fraud scheme.
An 81-year-old woman is dead after two motorcycles collided on westbound Highway 60 in Blue Earth County Tuesday morning, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.
According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Highway 15 is closed in both directions between 170th and Main streets, about 5 miles south of New Ulm.
Advocates tout domestic production as critical, while critics say it's not worth the trade-off in this sensitive location.
Authorities believe the driver of the pickup truck did not see the motorcyclist due to "the upward slope of the roadway," the sheriff's office said.
A member of the Minnesota National Guard is accused of sexually assaulting a colleague at Fort Ripley during training in 2022, according to court documents filed earlier this month.
The crash happened at approximately 7:12 a.m. on westbound I-94 at milepost 13 in St. Croix County near Roberts, Wisconsin, according to the State Patrol.
Wisconsin residents headed to the polls Tuesday — or voted early — to have their say in the 2026 primary. Here are live results.
Progressive candidates for governor in Wisconsin and U.S. Senate in Minnesota are making their final pushes ahead of Tuesday's election.
Authorities have released the name of the Madison police officer who shot and killed a 38-year-old Black man last month in Wisconsin's capital city, Madison.
David Crowley, backed by Gov. Tony Evers, faces democratic socialist Francesca Hong in a Wisconsin primary that could signal how far left the Democratic Party is willing to go.
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.
Baseball fans might remember the Metrodome's iconic blue seats, and now in Atwater, Minnesota, spectators can once again grab a blue seat and watch a game.
Tucked away in the Midway neighborhood in St. Paul is a community treasure many have come to love and respect.
Elon Musk's company xAI will face off with the state of Minnesota in court Wednesday over a new state law banning AI "nudification."
Elon Musk's company will face off with Minnesota in court Wednesday over a new state law banning AI nudification.
President Trump said Tuesday that the U.S. and Canada have reached a last-minute agreement to pause the 50% tariffs.
Surveillance video shows the struggle before an ICE agent shot an immigrant through a door. The head of ICE said, that agent lied about what led to the gunfire. He's charged here in Minnesota, and in jail in Texas. This evening, it appears the Lone Star state's governor has no plans to hand him over. As Jason Rantala reports: Minnesota is now suing to try to get Christian Castro extradited.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Tuesday issued an executive order to ban nonferrous mining in the Boundary Waters area, according to his office. The order directs the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to stop issuing leases and permits in the Rainy River Headwaters Watershed.
Target is reporting its second straight quarter of comparable sales gains, saying a merchandising overhaul under the discount retailer's new CEO was attracting more customers.
For generations of Minnesotans, the Dayton's Santa Bear has been a holiday tradition.
A Minnesota woman says she fainted, spiked a 102-degree fever, and was hospitalized with sepsis three days after eating a chicken burrito bowl at a Chipotle in Roseville, and genetic testing connected her case to a multistate outbreak, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday.
Parents will be digging deeper into their wallets this back-to-school season.
Get ready to watch movies and television with clarity like never before. That's how industry experts are describing the latest TV technology now on sale exclusively at Best Buy.
A St. Paul, Minnesota, man tried to kill Eagan police officers by firing at them while they attempted to subdue him during a domestic disturbance call, charges filed Tuesday allege.
Abdinasir Mahamed Abshir is the 23rd defendant to be sentenced in the $250 million pandemic fraud scheme.
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is seeking to vacate his state murder conviction in the 2020 killing of George Floyd, according to court documents filed Tuesday.
Fifty-year-old Amanda Merriman pleaded guilty to one count of criminal vehicle homicide for the April 11 crash.
A member of the Minnesota National Guard is accused of sexually assaulting a colleague at Fort Ripley during training in 2022, according to court documents filed earlier this month.
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.
In a wide-ranging interview with the CBS News partner BBC News, Hunter Biden grew emotional as he discussed his father's condition, describing it as very sad to watch.
Back-to-back tainted food outbreaks have a lot of people asking what's safe to bring home from the grocery store.
A Minnesota woman says she fainted, spiked a 102-degree fever, and was hospitalized with sepsis three days after eating a chicken burrito bowl at a Chipotle in Roseville, and genetic testing connected her case to a multistate outbreak, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday.
The system uses light tracing and more than 1,500 data points to create a personalized treatment plan.
"Today, Elwood and I lost a great friend and collaborator, and the world lost one of the most naturally innovative drummers and a great and true son of Texas," ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons said in a statement.
Madonna leads all artists with 11 nominations at this year's MTV VMAs, and a full sweep would tie her with Beyoncé and Taylor Swift for the most VMA wins in history.
Co-stars and friends of Hayden Panettiere are remembering her for her friendship, intelligence and talent after her shocking death on Sunday.
Hayden Panettiere, who starred in "Remember the Titans" as a child actor and rose to fame in the series "Heroes," has died at the age of 36. The coroner's office says she was found in cardiac arrest.
WCCO is tracking everything you can go out and do 4 Your Weekend, including a slate of county fairs.
Josh Bell hit a two-run homer, Ryan Jeffers drove in Minnesota's other two runs, and the Twins beat the Atlanta Braves 4-1.
Drake Lindsey gives the Minnesota Gophers a reliable quarterback to center their offense around after a promising first season as the starter.
MLB's first game at the Field of Dreams movie site in four years in Dyersville, Iowa, averaged 1.66 million viewers on Netflix Thursday night according to Nielsen.
Josh Bell's two-run double started the scoring in a four-run first inning, and the Minnesota Twins held on to beat the Atlanta Braves 4-2.
With the season opener around the corner at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, there's a big question: Which passer will pass the other?
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.
The Minnesota primary is Tuesday, with the final barrage of political ads in overdrive and candidates making their final pitches.
The Minnesota primary is Tuesday, with the final barrage of political ads in overdrive and candidates making their final pitches.
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 scenic, nearly century-old spot in St. Cloud, Minnesota, where right now you'll find thousands of flowers in bloom.
Baseball fans might remember the Metrodome's iconic blue seats, and now in Atwater, Minnesota, spectators can once again grab a blue seat and watch a game.
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.
Parents will be digging deeper into their wallets this back-to-school season.
Minnesotans have become quite familiar with drought in recent years. Not only how it affects the water supply, but also the rules that can come with it.
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.
Storms return Thursday evening ahead of a cold front, with a few strong storms possible, WCCO meteorologist Joseph Dames reports.
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.
A dry, seasonable Wednesday is on tap for the Twin Cities.
Wednesday will be a quiet, comfortable day in the Twin Cities, with dry weather and seasonable temperatures.
Wednesday will be a quiet, comfortable day in the Twin Cities, with mostly dry weather and seasonable temperatures.
Relationship expert Dr. Michael Walker explains why friendships quietly fade over time and what beliefs may be stopping you from reaching back out.
Irritability, anxiety, and constant rushing can signal a child has too many activities, according to Children's Minnesota pediatrician Dr. Gigi Chawla.
CBS News Business Analyst Jill Schlesinger says financial preparation is a critical step families often overlook when sending students off to college.
Storms return Thursday evening ahead of a cold front, with a few strong storms possible, WCCO meteorologist Joseph Dames reports.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk will face off with Minnesota over a new state law, President Trump is placing a pause on the tariff he threatened to put on Canadian goods and more.