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Stories from July 16, 2026

Catholic Charities distributes nearly 2,000 masks amid Twin Cities wildfire smoke

Catholic Charities distributes nearly 2,000 masks amid Twin Cities wildfire smoke

Catholic Charities Twin Cities distributed nearly 2,000 masks, along with water, food and showers, to people experiencing homelessness as wildfire smoke and extreme heat worsened conditions across Minneapolis and St. Paul.
by Ahmed Hassan

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Boundary Waters permits canceled through Sunday; Tribal nations prepare for evacuation

Permits for entry into the Boundary Waters are canceled through Sunday as fires in the area continue to grow. The U.S. Forest Service told outfitters permit holders will automatically get refunds. If conditions continue to worsen, Tribal nations in northern Minnesota are preparing for evacuation.
by Elena See

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Minneapolis spending $2.5 million to help relocate hundreds of residents from housing development

Minneapolis spending $2.5 million to help relocate hundreds of residents from housing development

The Minneapolis City Council allocated $2.5 million Thursday to help move 685 residents out of a north-side housing development riddled with mold, rats and leaky roofs. The council’s unanimous vote followed a proposal brought forth Tuesday by city staff, Mayor Jacob Frey and Council Member Pearll Warren, who represents the neighborhood where Heritage Park is located.
by Cari Spencer

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With air so smoky you 'taste it,' Ely residents seek relief

With air so smoky you 'taste it,' Ely residents seek relief

With a thick blanket of smoke over much of northern Minnesota right now as fires rage along the Canadian border, Ely set a record for its worst air quality reading ever on Thursday. Residents are on the hunt for masks and air purifiers, and some are having trouble finding them.
by Estelle Timar-Wilcox

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Wildfire smoke disrupts outdoor parties, concerts across Twin Cities

Wildfire smoke disrupts outdoor parties, concerts across Twin Cities

Some Minnesotans are calling off planned outdoor outings, from birthday parties to music shows, because of the poor air quality from wildfire smoke. But others, like the Minnesota Yacht Club Festival, are keeping plans for now.
by Nicole Ki

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BWCA entry permits canceled through Sunday

BWCA entry permits canceled through Sunday

Refunds will go out automatically for anyone who has an entry permit through Sunday.
by Catharine Richert

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St. Paul neighborhood begins process to rename César Chavez Street

St. Paul neighborhood begins process to rename César Chavez Street

Leaders on St. Paul’s West Side, a vibrant Mexican American neighborhood, will host community listening sessions to discuss renaming the street after allegations surfaced four months ago that Chavez had sexually assaulted young girls.
by Nina Moini and Aleesa Kuznetsov

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'Feels like summer:' Minnesota Orchestra opens genre-crossing festival this weekend

'Feels like summer:' Minnesota Orchestra opens genre-crossing festival this weekend

"Summer at Orchestra Hall" opens Thursday night with a lineup stretching far beyond the classical canon — from Grammy winning bluegrass musician Chris Thile to jazz singer John Holiday to movie scores from Star Wars and E.T.
by Nina Moini and Ellen Finn

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Trump is taking longer to approve disaster aid and denying Democratic states more frequently

Trump is taking longer to approve disaster aid and denying Democratic states more frequently

Americans are waiting longer for disaster aid under President Donald Trump, with delays often lasting weeks or months. An Associated Press analysis shows Trump is taking longer to approve major disaster declarations than any other president since 1989.
by The Associated Press

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Duluth doctor explains how to stay healthy in hazardously smoky air

Duluth doctor explains how to stay healthy in hazardously smoky air

To cope with wildfire smoke blanketing the state, some Minnesotans are wearing N-95 masks or breaking out air filters to circulate fresh air. Dr. Dylan Wyatt of Duluth explained smoke’s effects on the body and how to handle it.
by Nina Moini and Aron Woldeslassie

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New coalition forms to unite Minnesota's African diaspora

New coalition forms to unite Minnesota's African diaspora

The Pan-African Leadership Coalition aims to bring together members of Minnesota’s African diaspora to address challenges impacting their communities.
by Nina Moini and Aleesa Kuznetsov

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MPR News team shares wildfire, smoke outlook and the view from Ely

MPR News team shares wildfire, smoke outlook and the view from Ely

Wildfire smoke is nearly inescapable across most of Minnesota today and the wider Great Lakes region today, especially in Ely, a town near the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.
by Nina Moini, Aleesa Kuznetsov, Alanna Elder and Ellen Finn

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3 things to know about helping pets when the air turns bad

3 things to know about helping pets when the air turns bad

MPR News health reporter Erica Zurek talked to a Twin Cities veterinarian last year when skies were hazy. With conditions worse this year, she revisited her story to help pets and pet owners make the best of a tough summer 2026.
by Erica Zurek

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After 6 years, Trump brings his election obsession to primetime at the White House

After 6 years, Trump brings his election obsession to primetime at the White House

President Donald Trump is making a primetime address to the nation that's expected to include discussion of election issues. The Republican president has long insisted he won the 2020 election, even though the very people he appointed to oversee it said the count was accurate and he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.
by The Associated Press

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Morning Announcements for July 15 and 16

Morning Announcements for July 15 and 16

These are the Morning Announcements for Tuesday, July 15 and Wednesday, July 16. Tell us what you’re celebrating!
by MPR News Staff

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The use of force has become a 'default tool' for ICE officers, a new report finds

The use of force has become a 'default tool' for ICE officers, a new report finds

An ACLU report looks at the widespread use of force in immigration enforcement in the first year of President Trump's return to office. Recent fatal shootings in Texas and Maine have brought renewed scrutiny to the agency's tactics.
by Meg Anderson

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How wildfire smoke affects air quality and your health

How wildfire smoke affects air quality and your health

MPR News guest host Kelly Gordon talks about how air quality is monitored and forecast and the health risks of breathing wildfire smoke.
by Kelly Gordon and Cari Dwyer

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As fires burn, Boundary Waters businesses confront lost peak season

As fires burn, Boundary Waters businesses confront lost peak season

After days spent evacuating campers from the Boundary Waters as wildfires spread, outfitters and tourism businesses are beginning to consider the financial fallout. With the wilderness closed during the height of the summer season, many are facing mounting cancellations and an uncertain future.
by Dan Kraker

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USA Cup suspends all Thursday games

USA Cup suspends all Thursday games

Due to record poor air quality that has reached hazardous levels for much of eastern Minnesota, including the Twin Cities metro, the Target USA Cup youth soccer tournament suspended all games for the remainder of Thursday.
by MPR News Staff

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LeBron James scheduled to speak Thursday at Fanatics Fest in NYC, as NBA waits to hear his plans

LeBron James scheduled to speak Thursday at Fanatics Fest in NYC, as NBA waits to hear his plans

LeBron James is set to speak publicly Thursday, sparking speculation about his future plans. The NBA's career scoring leader and free agent will record an episode of his “Mind the Game” podcast in New York.
by The Associated Press

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500 firefighters battling 17 fires in northern Minnesota. And they're expected to burn for weeks

Two YMCA summer camps are closing and sending campers home because of wildfires raging in and around the Boundary Waters area. Meanwhile, state officials will keep new Medicaid provider enrollment paused in a dozen high-risk service programs for at least another six months.
by Phineas Pope

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Hazardous air quality forecast for much of Minnesota Thursday

Hazardous air quality forecast for much of Minnesota Thursday

Air quality has reached the maroon category for much of eastern Minnesota, including the Twin Cities metro, meaning it is hazardous for everyone.
by Anna Haecherl

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Smoky air and heat continue

Smoky air and heat continue

We still have a few more days of heat to get through in central and southern Minnesota. There are only some spotty rain chances ahead. Smoke will likely move north a bit again Thursday.
by Sven Sundgaard

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Minnesota Haitians worry about what comes next as TPS protections come to an end

Minnesota Haitians worry about what comes next as TPS protections come to an end

The Supreme Court’s June 25 ruling does not end TPS as a program, but it allows the administration to continue moving forward with ending protections for Haitians and Syrians while legal challenges continue.
by Sarah Thamer

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Hazardous air quality alert expands into Twin Cities, southern Minnesota

Hazardous air quality alert expands into Twin Cities, southern Minnesota

Much of eastern and central Minnesota from the tip of the Arrowhead to Red Wing is expected to see air quality through Friday considered “hazardous,” meaning everyone should avoid outdoor activity and stay indoors, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says.
by MPR News Staff

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