Minnesota could have another smoke-filled summer
Warming temperatures are expected to spark more wildfires and more smoky skies. Will this summer be just as bad as last summer? Allen Henry shows us what state leaders are forecasting.
Watch CBS News
Warming temperatures are expected to spark more wildfires and more smoky skies. Will this summer be just as bad as last summer? Allen Henry shows us what state leaders are forecasting.
Canadian wildfires in 2023 caused multiple days of smoke and poor air quality in Minnesota.
This 2024 "State of the Air" report warns efforts to reduce emissions are undermined by extreme heat, drought and wildfires caused by climate change.
The Brown County Sheriff's Office says fire crews responded to 16 wildfires between March 1 and April 22. Over the same period of time last year, there was just one fire call. The year before that, there were two.
People who have experienced extreme weather are especially likely to say climate change needs to be addressed right away.
Canadian officials say the country's upcoming wildfire season could be more explosive than last year's historic season.
Authorities say a wildfire in central Minnesota is under control after it burned over 200 acres Tuesday.
Authorities say crews are working to extinguish a wildfire in central Minnesota Tuesday evening.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced on Friday that burn restrictions will go into place on Monday in over 30 counties due to unusually warm temperatures and dry conditions.
Roughly $22 trillion worth of homes are now at risk of damage from flooding, wildfire and other effects linked to climate change.
The DNR has responded to more than 80 wildfires in just the past two and a half weeks.
The DNR says fire danger is high for most of the state right now, that's the areas shown here in yellow. With 90% of wildfires in the state caused by people, WCCO's Kirsten Mitchell has what you need to know if you're planning to get outdoors this spring.
After drought and Texas' largest-ever wildfire, many farmers are facing a "total wipeout" that could force many to leave generations-old land behind.
A map shows the Texas fires located throughout the Lone Star State's rural Panhandle area with some blazes crossing into western Oklahoma.
Xcel Energy said that "its facilities appear to have been involved in an ignition of the Smokehouse Creek Fire," the largest-ever wildfire in Texas that's burned nearly 1.1 million acres.
The risk of wildfires in Minnesota is one people across the state, including the Twin Cities, need to take seriously.
A new lawsuit claims a falling utility pole caused the tragic Smokehouse Creek fire in the Texas Panhandle.
A massive wildfire over the weekend left behind hundreds of acres of charred land in southern Minnesota. Two firefighters and a resident were hurt near Waseca. Our Beret Leone spoke with one neighbor who feels grateful it wasn't worse.
Officials say a wildfire in Waseca County burned just under 2,000 acres over eight hours on Sunday.
State fire officials say several agencies around Waseca worked for much of the day yesterday to get the fire under control. Investigators say no buildings were lost in the fire.
State fire officials say a fire in Waseca County has spread to about 1,000 acres and is zero percent contained Sunday night. One person has been injured. Our David Schuman was in Waseca and has the latest.
Abnormally warm and dry weather is creating dangerous fire conditions in central and southern Minnesota.
Officials say a wildfire is burning north of Waseca Sunday afternoon. WCCO's David Schuman captured video of smoke pouring from the blaze.
The state is battling its "largest and most destructive fire in Texas history," and the blaze is only 15% contained, officials said.
Investigators from several insurance companies notified Minneapolis-based Xcel Energy on Thursday that one of its downed utility poles may be a possible cause.
One of the earliest surprises in parenthood can be learning the sex of your baby. There are tests to determine gender, but can your belly reveal the sex of your baby?
See the latest Minnesota election results as they come in.
Mild weather continues in the Twin Cities on Tuesday, with a pleasant fall day on tap.
Former Vice President Dick Cheney, one of the most powerful people to hold the office, has died, his family says. He was 84.
Obed Vargas scored early in the first half and late in the second to help the Seattle Sounders beat Minnesota United 4-2, forcing a deciding match in the best-of-three first-round series for the MLS Cup.
A house and garage in Inver Grove Heights collapsed after it caught on fire Sunday night, according to the city's fire department.
Minnesota's health insurance marketplace, known as MNsure, is now open for 2026 enrollment, officials said on Monday.
The Bloomington Ice Garden in Bloomington, Minnesota, has reopened after roughly 200 days of construction, unveiling a $37 million renovation that city leaders say modernizes the arena while preserving its history.
It's a milestone season for the Minnesota Wild as they celebrate 25 years. But behind the professional men's hockey team are several women in charge, who help make game day possible.
Lyndon Wiggins was found guilty Monday of the 2019 kidnapping and killing of realtor Monique Baugh after a weekslong retrial.
Minnesota's health insurance marketplace, known as MNsure, is now open for 2026 enrollment, officials said on Monday.
A Minnesota man whom authorities arrested in Iowa after naming him as a suspect in a double homicide is charged with murder.
A western Minnesota woman was killed in a head-on crash with a semi truck Saturday morning, authorities said.
Police said the shooting was "an isolated incident and the public is not in danger."
A southern Minnesota man wanted in connection to a double homicide overnight Sunday was taken into custody in Iowa after an hourslong manhunt.
At 108, he was the oldest living Merchant Marine in the world.
A woman was found dead after a mobile home fire in western Wisconsin last week.
Minnesota was one of 25 states that sued the Trump administration in the fight for food assistance, as more than 440,000 residents rely on the program.
Some people were treated to an astral spectacle late Wednesday night, as a "fireball meteor" flashed across the night sky in parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' sweeping plan for overhauling the state's aging prison system is moving forward with bipartisan support despite complaints from Republican lawmakers that their concerns were not being addressed.
When you think of college roommates, you likely think of a couple of young adults making their way through school and fun. But there's a Twin Cities residence that's completely rethinking the concept of co-ed living, and it's turned into a life-giving project.
Activists joined the families of Mariah Samuels and Allison Lussier in front of the Hennepin County Government Center Thursday afternoon. They say Minneapolis police and others didn't do enough to keep their loved ones safe.
A Lakeville family has turned their driveway into a small, free food pantry. It's a place where anyone can stop by and grab fresh produce and staples with no questions asked.
At Lock and Dam Eatery, the restaurant will soon be serving a different kind of meal, meant to ease the burden of hunger.
"We're keeping it alive. We're speaking it with each other, and we're encouraging more families to come together," said Dakota language teacher Nichole Subola.
See the latest Minnesota election results as they come in.
Former Vice President Dick Cheney, one of the most powerful people to hold the second-highest office in the U.S., has died, his family says.
Former Vice President Dick Cheney, one of the most powerful people to hold the office, has died, his family says. He was 84.
Many voters, and candidates, are eagerly waiting for the polls to open, but thousands in Minneapolis didn't wait for election day. More than 23,000 took advantage of early voting, the second-highest total ever for a municipal election, according to city officials. Ubah Ali hit the early voting sites to see what's driving people in Minnesota's largest cities.
While some in the Trump administration say food benefits could restart as soon as this Wednesday, the uncertainty is stressful for Minnesotans who rely on them and food shelves in the state.
Hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans are facing sticker shock as the enrollment period for health insurance on the state marketplace opened Nov 1.
Minnesota was one of 25 states that sued the Trump administration in the fight for food assistance, as more than 440,000 residents rely on the program.
Minnesota manufactured home park residents and lawmakers are speaking out against what they say are skyrocketing rents and unsafe living conditions.
More than 800 Minnesota-based Target employees will lose their jobs amid a massive restructuring effort by the mega retailer, according to documents filed to the state's employment department.
Minnesota's food shelves are set to get a funding boost amid surging demand stemming from the ongoing government shutdown.
Lyndon Wiggins was found guilty Monday of the 2019 kidnapping and killing of realtor Monique Baugh after a weekslong retrial.
A Minnesota man whom authorities arrested in Iowa after naming him as a suspect in a double homicide is charged with murder.
Two men are facing federal charges in what the Federal Bureau of Investigation has called a "potential terrorist attack" that was allegedly targeting Halloween weekend.
Police said the shooting was "an isolated incident and the public is not in danger."
An investigation is underway into what exactly led up to his death.
One of the earliest surprises in parenthood can be learning the sex of your baby. There are tests to determine gender, but can your belly reveal the sex of your baby?
Minnesota's health insurance marketplace, known as MNsure, is now open for 2026 enrollment, officials said on Monday.
While some in the Trump administration say food benefits could restart as soon as this Wednesday, the uncertainty is stressful for Minnesotans who rely on them and food shelves in the state.
Hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans are facing sticker shock as the enrollment period for health insurance on the state marketplace opened Nov 1.
The vision of a content creator from Minnesota has been gradually deteriorating since she was 6 years old. At 27, she's learning to live differently and independently.
Diane Ladd, the actor known for her Oscar-nominated roles in "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore," "Wild at Heart," and "Rambling Rose" has died.
Morgan Wallen, the country music megastar who in 2021 was caught on video using a racial slur, will open his next tour at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
There were some major celebrity sightings in Minneapolis this week. The A-list stars aren't here to further their careers, they're here to help.
Paramount announced layoffs as the company restructures after completing its $8 billion merger with Skydance earlier this year.
June Lockhart, the actor best known for her role as the matriarch in the TV series "Lassie", has died, her family spokesperson said Saturday.
Obed Vargas scored early in the first half and late in the second to help the Seattle Sounders beat Minnesota United 4-2, forcing a deciding match in the best-of-three first-round series for the MLS Cup.
Newcomers Cade Tyson scored 30 points and Jaylen Crocker-Johnson had a double-double, giving new coach Niko Medved a victory in his Minnesota debut, 87-60 over Gardner-Webb.
Cam Thomas had 25 points and Nic Claxton chipped in 19 in the 125-109 loss on Monday as Brooklyn fell to 0-7.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards has been cleared for contact activities on the court.
A full-circle moment is unfolding on the basketball court this pre-season in Minnesota. During a fall league happening at St. Michael-Albertville High School on Sunday, three generations of women are growing the game.
Hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans are facing sticker shock as the enrollment period for health insurance on the state marketplace opened Nov 1.
Starting January 1, 2026, Minnesota employers will expand paid family leave to nearly every employee.
Currently, 24% of Minnesotans have access to paid family and medical leave. On Jan. 1, a new Minnesota law mandates that employers provide paid family leave to nearly every employee. This would include full-time, part-time and seasonal workers.
Forty-two million people will lose benefits nationwide, including more than 440,000 Minnesotans, on Saturday.
Forty-two million people will lose benefits nationwide, including more than 440,000 Minnesotans, on Nov. 1.
At one time, country schools were common in Minnesota. Over the decades, many were torn down as bigger schools were built — not in Otter Tail County.
Ramsey Park is so large some people call it "The Little Yellowstone of Minnesota." And it was actually a state park at one point. But in 1957, Redwood Falls acquired the land for $1 and then made a few changes.
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.
One of the earliest surprises in parenthood can be learning the sex of your baby. There are tests to determine gender, but can your belly reveal the sex of your baby?
It's a holiday enjoyed by many, but understood by few.
Anyone who has taken a walk lately may have noticed people wearing weighted vests.
Fall is known for its hues, but this season isn't typical; seeing marigolds and petunias is peculiar.
From eating lutefisk to cheering for the Vikings, Nordic culture is embedded in Minnesota.
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.
WCCO photojournalist Art Phillips shares some personal family photos taken by his father, Arthur Phillips Sr., in Vietnam during his time in service.
Mild weather continues in the Twin Cities on Tuesday, with a pleasant fall day on tap.
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.
Mild weather continues in the Twin Cities on Tuesday, with a pleasant fall day on tap.
Our mild stretch continues on Tuesday, but a weekend cooldown is coming.
The Twin Cities will reach a high temperature of 60 degrees on Tuesday, according to Next Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer, with mild conditions through Thursday.
Mild weather continues in the Twin Cities on Tuesday, with a pleasant fall day on tap.
Former Vice President Dick Cheney has died, it’s Election Day and more.
Three Rivers Park District is offering some Free Family Fun Days at the Richardson Nature Center.
Former Vice President Dick Cheney, one of the most powerful people to hold the second-highest office in the U.S., has died, his family says.
There are key races happening in Minnesota and across the country, plus more of the day’s top stories.