Netting Wasps To Help Fight Emerald Ash Borer
Scientists in Minnesota believe they've found an insect that can do what they haven't been able to do very well -- get rid of the emerald ash borer.
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Scientists in Minnesota believe they've found an insect that can do what they haven't been able to do very well -- get rid of the emerald ash borer.
On a warm spring night, Anoka County homeowners are indoors, spending an evening learning about an insect that's invading their property.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has confirmed an emerald ash borer infestation in Anoka County. It says the destructive tree pest was found in an ash tree on private property in the city of Ham Lake.
Since she was a child, the giant ash tree that towered over Rebecca Robinson's small home offered a cool refuge during sultry Midwest summer days. It was the same down her tree-lined neighborhood's block and throughout much of Waterloo, a leafy Iowa city that's home to about 4,000 ashes.
Over the next eight years, the city of Minneapolis plans to remove about 40,000 ash trees from around the city in order to combat the Emerald Ash Borer, a tiny green bug that's responsible for taking down trees that have stood for decades.
Minnesota officials have confirmed trees in Olmsted County are infested with the destructive emerald ash borer. The state Department of Agriculture said Wednesday the county will join Hennepin, Houston, Ramsey and Winona counties in a state and federal quarantine to prevent the infestation from spreading.
Emily from St. Cloud wants to know what happens to all the sandbags after the flooding is over? If the sand isn't contaminated with floodwater, it can be used as fill for things like playgrounds and sidewalks. But in most cases, the sand is contaminated.
Over the next eight years, Minneapolis will remove 40,000 ash trees from parks and boulevards, part of a $9-million initiative that began in January to eliminate the emerald ash borer. The beetle has killed millions of trees in the U.S., and has invaded neighborhoods across the Twin Cities. Ralph Sievert, director of forestry for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, says the idea is to phase them out over a period of time.
Minnesota officials reported success Wednesday in the battle to slow the spread of emerald ash borers, saying stingless wasps released in Great River Bluffs State Park near Winona two years ago are reproducing, which is evidence they're attacking the destructive tree pests.
Before you head to the cabin this 4th of July, the Minneapolis Park Board has an important message. Do not bring any wood you may have chopped from downed trees. They say this is imperative in their fight to stop the spread of Emerald Ash Borer.
Gov. Mark Dayton has proclaimed this week Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week in Minnesota. The designation is part of a nationwide effort to raise awareness of the destructive nature of the tree pests, and to spread the word about the "three P's of EAB" -- Prepare, Protect, and Plant.
Minneapolis officials are warning homeowners against pruning their ash trees.
Three new emerald ash borer infestations have been confirmed – one in Minneapolis, and two in St. Paul, says the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
Jason DeRusha replies to your cold weather questions.
An infestation of Emerald Ash Borer looks to dramatically alter the look of Fort Snelling Golf Club. Crews with the city's Park and Recreations Board were scheduled to begin removing about 200 ash trees from the golf course on Monday.
The emerald ash borer has found its way into La Crescent, Minn.
Minnesota is plotting its next steps in the fight to stop the spread of emerald ash borers.
At the University of Minnesota they're studying small wasps to see if they'll survive a Minnesota winter.
Experts will be gathering in La Crosse this week to share the latest information on invasive species.
The winner of Thursday's Celebrity Butter Carving Contest at the Minnesota State Fair? WCCO's very own, Rachel Slavik of course. She effortlessly churned out a replica TV and WCCO 4 logo for the title.
The tree-killing pest – the emerald ash borer – has done serious damage to trees at a local golf course. A new case, the first in 2012, was discovered at Fort Snelling Golf Club near the airport in Hennepin County.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture hopes trained sniffer dogs can become a new line of defense against the invasive pests, which threaten ash trees across the state and across the country.
Minnesota agriculture officials are encouraged by the initial results of a new way to find emerald ash borers.
In Minnesota, emerald ash borers usually strike the first of May, but not this year. They're actually striking now. Our warm spring has brought the tree killing beetle earlier than usual.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is preparing to hang thousands of traps across Minnesota in the hunt for emerald ash borer.
An off-duty Washington County, Minnesota, deputy accused of crashing into a car full of children while under the influence of alcohol entered a Norgaard plea.
The former executive director of a faith-based addiction organization in the Twin Cities pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing child sexual abuse materials.
Vikings receiver Jordan Addison caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Carson Wentz with 25 seconds left to give Minnesota a 21-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
A 41-year-old man is accused of purposefully starting a fire at a northeast Minneapolis duplex that killed his friend late last month.
A Minnesota man accused of trying to join the Islamic State group pleaded guilty Monday to attempting to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization.
An off-duty Washington County, Minnesota, deputy accused of crashing into a car full of children while under the influence of alcohol entered a Norgaard plea.
The former executive director of a faith-based addiction organization in the Twin Cities pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing child sexual abuse materials.
A 41-year-old man is accused of purposefully starting a fire at a northeast Minneapolis duplex that killed his friend late last month.
Minneapolis police are investigating a shooting that severely injured a man early Sunday morning after a fight at a downtown strip club.
Runners will take off in less-than-ideal conditions, with rising temperatures expected to progress to potentially dangerous conditions.
Authorities say bystanders were able to pull a person out of a burning vehicle near Ely, Minnesota, on Friday.
Minnesota regulators have approved the takeover of Minnesota Power by an investment group, despite opposition from the state attorney general and consumer advocates.
Somali-American community activist Omar Jamal will speak on Friday about his time being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and held in a jail in Albert Lea, Minnesota.
The biggest marathon in Minnesota is hitting a major milestone next summer.
Authorities in Austin, Minnesota, are searching for a man who robbed a convenience store at gunpoint on Wednesday.
One person is dead after a shooting in western Wisconsin on Wednesday and two others are injured, including the suspected shooter.
Trollhaugen in Dresser, Wisconsin, piled up a bunch of the white stuff back in March in hopes of using it for their 20th anniversary Rail Jam this weekend.
A conservative Wisconsin appeals court judge announced Wednesday she is running for an open seat on the battleground state's Supreme Court, promising to stop the politicization of the courts after record-high spending in the last race fueled by billionaires Elon Musk and George Soros.
The International Crane Foundation announced Monday that Ducky, an endangered female whooping crane the foundation planned to release into the wilds of Wisconsin this fall, died on Thursday after becoming infected with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, a strain of avian flu.
Madison Bergmann resigned from her position as a fifth-grade teacher at River Crest Elementary School in Hudson, Wisconsin, in May last year after the 11-year-old victim's parents discovered concerning texts between the two.
When the news broke that Milton's would be closing, many longtime patrons were stunned.
Kelly Kunz began what she calls "Street Justice Ministry" months ago, buying a bus and using it to give essentials to those on the streets.
A 90-year-old former network producer is sharing her life lessons in a book, detailing her upbringing from a farm in Minnesota to Manhattan and back.
Love Your Melon began with beanies and a mission to fight childhood cancer. Now, one of its founders is bringing it all back with a bold new vision.
Donald Henson of Penn Hills is facing federal charges of forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating, or interfering with a governmental officer or employee and damaging government property.
There are 15 candidates running for mayor of Minneapolis. The four candidates that have raised the most money are Mayor Jacob Frey, State Sen. Omar Fateh, Rev. DeWayne Davis and Jazz Hampton. Hampton talks with Esme Murphy on WCCO Sunday Morning at 10:30 a.m.
There are five candidates who are running for Mayor of St. Paul. Of those, three have engaged in some serious fundraising. That includes the incumbent Mayor Melvin Carter, biophysicist Yan Chen and State Rep. Kaohly Her. Her joined Esme Murphy on WCCO Sunday Morning at 10:30 a.m.
Americans are concerned about effect of shutdown on economy, amid unease about jobs and inflation.
In the hours after the federal government shut down on Wednesday, the Trump administration announced it would cancel nearly $8 billion in climate projects in more than a dozen states, including Minnesota.
The Minnesota Senate has 33 Democrats, 32 Republicans and two vacancies, while the House is evenly split 67 to 67. Lawmakers say the number of lawmakers on each side of the aisle has forced them to rethink traditional partisan structures.
A beloved Minnesota brewery that closed its taproom in 2023 and ceased operations completely earlier this year is set to make a return.
Owamni, a decorated Indigenous restaurant that sits along the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, is relocating — but it's not going far.
It's common nowadays to wear something in or over your ears to listen to music, a podcast or talk on the phone. Some people use them for hours on end every single day.
A new initiative is letting people bring open alcoholic drinks onto the streets of Shakopee and inside participating businesses. But it's getting mixed reviews one month in.
Avian influenza has been found in flocks at four more turkey farms in Minnesota, according to animal health officials. This comes mere weeks after officials last reported the spread of the disease.
An off-duty Washington County, Minnesota, deputy accused of crashing into a car full of children while under the influence of alcohol entered a Norgaard plea.
The former executive director of a faith-based addiction organization in the Twin Cities pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing child sexual abuse materials.
A 41-year-old man is accused of purposefully starting a fire at a northeast Minneapolis duplex that killed his friend late last month.
A Minnesota man accused of trying to join the Islamic State group pleaded guilty Monday to attempting to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization.
Minneapolis police are investigating a shooting that severely injured a man early Sunday morning after a fight at a downtown strip club.
A baby boy from Lakeville, Minnesota needed specialized medical care at a hospital across the country. Thanks to some committed parents and a Midwest nonprofit staffed with volunteer pilots, he made the journey.
Abdirahman Warsame of Minneapolis once felt alone in his fentanyl addiction. He hopes his personal story resonates with those battling an addiction that has silenced them.
A man's life was saved at a Hastings, Minnesota, bar, thanks to an off-duty paramedic and an automatic external defibrillator.
Did you know that Minnesota is getting older, we are earning less money on average, we are dramatically more diverse, and we are having dramatically fewer babies. In this edition of Talking Points, Esme Murphy spoke with the state demographer.
Nearly a dozen new cases of measles have been reported this week to the Minnesota Department of Health, which includes one case involving a student at a Minneapolis school.
Staff at legendary Minneapolis music venues First Avenue and 7th St Entry are mourning the death of Conrad Sverkerson, the clubs' longtime stage manager.
Doctors are warning of a food trend inspired by the popular Netflix movie "KPop Demon Hunters" that is leading to serious burn injuries.
In a city filled with stages, two women saw a glaring absence and turned it into a powerful presence.
The NFL, Apple Music and Roc Nation announced Bad Bunny will lead the 2026 Super Bowl halftime festivities at Levi's Stadium on Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, California.
Selena Gomez married Benny Blanco, the music producer and songwriter to whom she'd been engaged since last year. Gomez shared photos from the ceremony on social media.
Vikings receiver Jordan Addison caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Carson Wentz with 25 seconds left to give Minnesota a 21-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Julian Sayin passed for 326 yards and three touchdowns as top-ranked Ohio State beats Minnesota 42-3 on Saturday night.
Minnesota forward Napheesa Collier canceled a meeting with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert expected to take place next week, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Saturday night.
The Minnesota Vikings placed center Ryan Kelly on injured reserve after he sustained his second concussion of the season in last week's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Minnesota Vikings take on the Cleveland Browns at London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in Week 5 of the 2025 NFL season on Sunday. There are a number of ways fans can watch and stream Sunday's game.
According to Minnesota’s state demographer, the state’s population is getting older. People are also earning less money and having fewer children.
Did you know that Minnesota is getting older, we are earning less money on average, we are dramatically more diverse, and we are having dramatically fewer babies. In this edition of Talking Points, Esme Murphy spoke with the state demographer.
Did you know that Minnesota is getting older, we are earning less money on average, we are dramatically more diverse, and we are having dramatically fewer babies. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy spoke with Susan Brower, the State Demographer, about what's contributing to our declining population.
Medicaid fraud allegations continue to spread in St Paul, Minnesota, as debate over a possible special session on gun control continues.
Esme Murphy looks at the role of a key player on gun control and fraud allegations: House Speaker Lisa Demuth.
In this edition of Finding Minnesota, John Lauritsen takes us to one of the last limestone kilns in the state.
Earlier this month, many students went back to school after summer vacation, but in the town of McGregor, Minnesota it's always the first day of school.
In the United States, there are 13 different towns named Long Beach. The one in Minnesota is the smallest, but it's found a colorful way to stand out.
The Aerial Lift Bridge has been granting safe passage for so long that it's become part of the city's skyline. It's evolved over the years, but many of its original parts are still intact.
There's a cabin that blends into its surroundings so well, you almost can't see it. In Finding Minnesota, John Lauritsen shares the story behind the "Mirror Cabin" near the town of Ironton.
It's common nowadays to wear something in or over your ears to listen to music, a podcast or talk on the phone. Some people use them for hours on end every single day.
Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield finds out if there is "ick" in the licks.
The Twin Cities each have a unique personality, pace, and history. But in the mid-1800s, both were still searching for what to call their communities.
Junk mail has a new meaning nowadays. Rather than filling an actual mailbox, people are getting bombarded with texts and emails they never asked for.
A key ingredient for the quintessential Minnesota hot dish recipe keeps going higher and higher in price, giving people sticker shock at butcher shops and grocery stores.
The Minnesota State Fair has unveiled its new food, drinks and vendors for 2025.
A suspect was taken into custody after an attack on Pearl Street Mall in Boulder on June 1 in which there were 15 people and a dog who were victims. The suspect threw Molotov cocktails that burned some of the victims, who were part of a march for Israeli hostages.
WCCO photojournalist Art Phillips shares some personal family photos taken by his father, Arthur Phillips Sr., in Vietnam during his time in service.
The new Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum is under construction just outside of Camp Ripley in Little Falls. Set to open in late 2026, the $40 million, first-of-its-kind project in the nation will be eight times the size of the existing museum. It will honor not only Minnesota's service members and their sacrifices, but the refugee experience as well. Watch and read more in Pauleen Le's series "Vietnam 50 Years Later: Reflections on a War that Changed Minnesota."
The National Weather Service has issued multiple tornado warnings and many more severe thunderstorm warnings throughout wide swaths of southern and central Minnesota Monday afternoon.
WCCO meteorologist Adam Del Rosso says temperatures will top out in the low-80s with wind gusts up to 40 mph possible.
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.
Minnesota is dealing with more warmth and strong winds ahead of a cold front set to pass through Sunday afternoon.
WCCO meteorologist Adam Del Rosso says big changes will be blowing in with a cold front set to pass later this afternoon.
With strong winds on Sunday, temps will make it up to the mid-80s, with possible storms midday.
WCCO meteorologist Adam Del Rosso says temperatures will top out in the low-80s with wind gusts up to 40 mph possible.
There are 15 candidates running for mayor of Minneapolis. The four candidates that have raised the most money are Mayor Jacob Frey, State Sen. Omar Fateh, Rev. DeWayne Davis and Jazz Hampton. Hampton talks with Esme Murphy on WCCO Sunday Morning at 10:30 a.m.
There are five candidates who are running for Mayor of St. Paul. Of those, three have engaged in some serious fundraising. That includes the incumbent Mayor Melvin Carter, biophysicist Yan Chen and State Rep. Kaohly Her. Her joined Esme Murphy on WCCO Sunday Morning at 10:30 a.m.
In partnership with the Reel Hope Project, WCCO is highlighting stories from kids who are in the foster system.
Esme Murphy has the latest headlines and updates from WCCO.com.