The thick wildfire smoke that choked much of Minnesota earlier in the week has largely dissipated. But while measurements of particulates in the air have receded from record-high levels, the air quality still isn't great across Minnesota.

Minnesota elected officials are gathering Friday afternoon to honor victims of a 2019 fire and mark new legislation that aims to prevent similar fires from happening again.

COVID-19 case counts have been trending upward for the past three weeks. It's cause for concern — but at the same time, far more Minnesotans are vaccinated now, compared to the previous wave in April.

Hosts Kai Ryssdal and Molly Wood use their expertise to connect the dots on the topics they know best, and get help from listeners and experts about the ones they want to know better.

A traffic stop has led to waves of allegations against the DFL representative from St. Paul. Activists see a double standard in the media coverage and the calls for John Thompson’s resignation. Approached by Sahan Journal, all 21 legislators in the POCI caucus — progressive legislators of color — offered no comment.

Cities across the state enacted watering restrictions that limit lawn and garden water use. Here are some additional ways you can save water on your own.

Workers discovered three bodies early Friday at the entrance to a quarry in western Wisconsin, and authorities said they are investigating the deaths as a triple homicide.

More than 20 athletes attending the Tokyo Summer Olympics have a connection to Minnesota. Get to know the athletes, and follow this page for updates on when athletes are set to compete.

According to authorities, a man operating a forklift in the lumberyard of Menards in Golden Valley died when a large pallet of wood tumbled onto his machine Thursday.

Going to the lake is a time-honored summer tradition in Minnesota. But this summer, low water on some Minnesota lakes makes launching watercraft more of a challenge than usual.

The luxuries of remote work were temporary for many. As workplaces reopen offices and resume in-person operations, pet owners are scrambling to adjust to a new routine.

Firefighters officially ended their search for bodies in the debris of the collapsed Surfside condo building on Friday, even as police and forensic specialists continue working to identify human remains.

Dozens of cities and counties and the state of California are experimenting with giving some low-income residents a guaranteed income of $500 to $1,000 each month to do with as they please, and tracking what happens.

Known as the Indians since 1915, Cleveland's Major League Baseball team will be called Guardians. The ballclub announced the name change on Twitter, ending months of internal discussions triggered by a national reckoning by institutions and teams to permanently drop logos and names considered racist.

The Tokyo Games have arrived at last, after a yearlong delay. They're a multinational showcase of the finest athletes of a world fragmented by disease. They're also steeped in the political and medical baggage of the relentless pandemic.

Eastbound Minnesota Highway 62 will close between Interstate 35W and Minnesota Highway 77 late Friday through early Monday. Northbound I-35W will close between the I-35/35E/35W split and County Road 42 from 9 p.m. Sunday until 5 a.m. Monday.

Cases of the variant have popped up in several states. But neither the World Health Organization nor the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers it a variant of concern, and the fast-spreading delta variant continues to dominate U.S. cases.

Marathon talks produced the agreements, which would raise base pay by 2.5 percent each year for thousands of workers and add a new paid holiday for Juneteenth. The deals are subject to ratification by union members and state lawmakers.