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.
"If you can't properly differentiate between a U.S. citizen and a foreign national, you need to be in a different position," Eric O'Denius said.
Young people in the Twin Cities continue to make their voices heard as federal agents increase their presence outside schools and near school bus stops.
The sound of whistles and shouting drew attention to a mall at Third Street and 33rd Avenue in St. Cloud, Minnesota, on Monday.
The UDA College Nationals, dubbed "the Super Bowl of dance," is this weekend in Orlando. And for the second year in a row, WCCO has exclusive coverage of the competition, which features the University of Minnesota's dance team.
A large crowd gathered outside the Richfield Target over the weekend, just days after ICE agents took two employees into custody, as community members implore the corporation to speak out about what's happening in the Twin Cities.
"If you can't properly differentiate between a U.S. citizen and a foreign national, you need to be in a different position," Eric O'Denius said.
The UDA College Nationals, dubbed "the Super Bowl of dance," is this weekend in Orlando. And for the second year in a row, WCCO has exclusive coverage of the competition, which features the University of Minnesota's dance team.
Plaintiffs' attorneys are asking a federal judge to intervene after three Democratic members of Congress were blocked from visiting an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Minnesota over the weekend.
The state of Minnesota, along with the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, are suing Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and other federal officials in an effort to stop the surge of federal law enforcement officials coming into the state.
The Department of Homeland Security has promised to send hundreds more federal agents into Minneapolis, days after one shot and killed a woman there.
The sound of whistles and shouting drew attention to a mall at Third Street and 33rd Avenue in St. Cloud, Minnesota, on Monday.
Best of the Best showcase brings together college and high school dance teams from Minnesota and neighboring states to celebrate the sport, but also debut routines ready for UDA College Nationals in Orlando, Florida.
Minnesota's relatively mild run of weather will be briefly interrupted by some snow showers, gusty winds and frigid wind chills over the weekend.
Police in Moorhead, Minnesota, are asking for the public's help to find 17-year-old Neeshka Lafromboise, who has been missing since Monday.
Brian Pippitt, who had his sentence commuted after two and a half decades in prison, has been released from prison.
A Wisconsin man accused of sending the state Supreme Court's chief justice intimidating emails has been sentenced to probation.
Some schools in Minnesota and Wisconsin are delayed or closed on Tuesday as early morning rain makes the roads slick.
A western Wisconsin town is reveling in the national spotlight.
When he's not playing zone or man, Hall is carving it up at local hills. He has qualified for multiple professional snowboard competitions.
Two people were killed and another hurt in a crash in western Wisconsin Tuesday afternoon.
Many people who serve in the U.S. military find it hard to ask for assistance when they've been trained to help and serve others.
Food Bank Eatery in North Minneapolis provides free meals for children, who may have little to eat after the pause of SNAP benefits for many in the community.
Firefighters are continuing a 44-year tradition that happens every year north of the Twin Cities.
It was a scary moment in the Twin Cities over the weekend, as a trailer hauling sled dogs turned over on Interstate 494 in Minnetonka.
On Sunday, members of Minnesota's Somali community spoke out against President Trump's social media post calling for an end to temporary protected status.
"If you can't properly differentiate between a U.S. citizen and a foreign national, you need to be in a different position," Eric O'Denius said.
As ICE agents' numbers increase, videos of ICE activities have been circulating across social media. Jason Rantala sat down with a longtime federal officer from Minnesota to hear what he had to say.
The head of the U.S. Border Patrol says hundreds more federal agents are on the way to add to the more than 2,000 already in Minnesota. The state is fighting back with a lawsuit. Esme Murphy has the details.
The sound of whistles and shouting drew attention to a mall at Third Street and 33rd Avenue in St. Cloud, Minnesota, on Monday.
Young people in the Twin Cities continue to make their voices heard as federal agents increase their presence outside schools and near school bus stops.
It's a business model picking up steam across the Twin Cities. For instance, all the major sports venues in town, like Target Field and U.S. Bank Stadium, no longer accept cash.
WCCO gathered data on core staple items from Aldi in Apple Valley, Target in Fridley and Cub Foods in north Minneapolis.
Minnesota drivers have something to celebrate this holiday — a price drop at the pump.
With costs still high and budgets stretched, getting smarter with money matters more than ever.
There were 584 vehicles towed during this week's snow emergency in Minneapolis. That number stands at 352 and counting in St. Paul, where parking restrictions are in place until 9 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 2.
A large crowd gathered outside the Richfield Target over the weekend, just days after ICE agents took two employees into custody, as community members implore the corporation to speak out about what's happening in the Twin Cities.
The St. Anthony Police Department says officers were called to Equinox Apartments just after 5 a.m. for a reported stabbing.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the creation of a new IRS task force and other measures to combat fraud, underscoring the Trump administration's focus on Minnesota amidst the immigration crackdown.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz implored the federal authorities to allow state investigators to work alongside them as they launch a probe into the shooting death of a 37-year-old woman by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer on Wednesday.
CBS News watched bystander video of the deadly ICE shooting in Minneapolis frame-by-frame with retired ICE agent Eric Balliet to discuss the tactics used. He raised a few key points that dispute the DHS narrative of what happened.
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development says it began distributing payments on Friday to over 2,600 Minnesotans.
Just one day after dropping his bid for reelection, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said the state's paid family leave program is one of the most transformational bills the state has ever passed.
Roughly 12,000 Minnesotans have already applied for the state's new paid family leave program, according to an update by the Department of Employment and Economic Development.
It's a beauty technique that's exploding. Depending on your age, you might not have heard of it. It's called micro-needling.
The clock is ticking to snag a few more gifts and prepare for that holiday trip to visit family. As the pressure builds, so does the stress.
Here is everything you need to know about how to watch and stream the 2026 Golden Globes.
Bob Weir wrote or co-wrote and sang lead vocals on Grateful Dead classics including "Sugar Magnolia," "One More Saturday Night" and "Mexicali Blues."
Here are the significant books, films and characters joining the list of works in the public domain on Jan. 1, 2026.
Isiah Whitlock Jr. is perhaps best known for his role as state Sen. R. Clayton "Clay" Davis on HBO's "The Wire."
The band announced Perry Bamonte's death on their official website on Friday.
The UDA College Nationals, dubbed "the Super Bowl of dance," is this weekend in Orlando. And for the second year in a row, WCCO has exclusive coverage of the competition, which features the University of Minnesota's dance team.
Best of the Best showcase brings together college and high school dance teams from Minnesota and neighboring states to celebrate the sport, but also debut routines ready for UDA College Nationals in Orlando, Florida.
Anthony Edwards banked in a go-ahead, 3-foot runner with 16.8 seconds and the Minnesota Timberwolves overcame a 19-point deficit to beat the San Antonio Spurs 104-103 on Sunday night.
Katy Knoll and Grace Zumwinkle scored two goals apiece and the Minnesota Frost handed the Seattle Torrent their worst loss, 6-2.
Grace Grocholski scored 25 points and Minnesota made just enough free throws in the fourth quarter to hold off No. 21 Southern California 63-62, the third-straight loss for the Trojans and first win over a ranked team since 2019 for the Golden Gophers.
The shooting death of Renee Good by an ICE agent has raised several legal questions.
The fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent has raised many legal questions. Constitutional law professor David Schultz, who has taught a class on police, criminal and civil procedure, has some answers.
The DFL race pits two prominent party leaders, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Rep. Angie Craig, against each other.
Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is calling for answers about the immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities. She is also denouncing the president's attacks on the Somali community and herself. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy shows us how, for Omar, this is a familiar position to be in.
Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is calling for clarity about the immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities.
On Dec. 9, 1965, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" debuted on CBS, and it became an instant classic. Lee Jenkins' home is proof that the show is still a hit six decades later.
Holiday lights are on full display across the state right now, and just south of the Twin Cities you'll find a Christmas light show that's been around for more than half a century.
The story begins years ago when the city acquired one of the T-38 Talon Thunderbird jets from the Air Force.
The holidays are upon us, and in the town of Kellogg, Minnesota, you'll find a toy store unlike any other.
With the holidays fast approaching, and lutefisk on the menu for many families, one Minnesota town has the distinction of being called the "Lutefisk Capital of the Country."
It's a business model picking up steam across the Twin Cities. For instance, all the major sports venues in town, like Target Field and U.S. Bank Stadium, no longer accept cash.
From the frozen ponds and lakes to the packed indoor rinks serving as community hubs, hockey is uniquely celebrated and cherished in Minnesota like no other state in the country.
Have you ever wondered how the actors memorize so many lines? A neurologist says everyone could strengthen their memories by taking cues from actors.
It's a beauty technique that's exploding. Depending on your age, you might not have heard of it. It's called micro-needling.
According to the Smithsonian Magazine and Britannica, eggnog has British roots.
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.
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.
A light band of rain showers will pass over the Twin Cities overnight Tuesday, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer.
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.
We get one more warm day tomorrow with highs near 40. The wind will pick up ushering in much colder air going forward, WCCO meteorologist Mike Augustyniak reports.
A weak system could bring in a wintry mix or some rain to parts of Minnesota on Monday, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Lisa Meadows.
Tuesday will have early morning drizzle and rain, which ends before the morning commute and tops out at low 40s, WCCO meteorologist Joseph Dames reports.
As ICE agents' numbers increase, videos of ICE activities have been circulating across social media. Jason Rantala sat down with a longtime federal officer from Minnesota to hear what he had to say.
ICE agents have been taking people into custody, often with family nearby who say they feel helpless. With all the ICE activity happening in Minnesota, people are asking where agents are taking the people they detain. WCCO Investigates is digging in to share who's working with ICE and what we've learned.
Protesters and agents are once again clashing at the Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis. Ashley Grams was there Monday evening.
The head of the U.S. Border Patrol says hundreds more federal agents are on the way to add to the more than 2,000 already in Minnesota. The state is fighting back with a lawsuit. Esme Murphy has the details.
Reza Pahlavi, Iran's exiled crown prince, called on President Trump to take action against the Iranian regime sooner rather than later, as protesters in his homeland take to the streets despite a deadly crackdown.