Morning Edition

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Morning Edition, with Cathy Wurzer in St. Paul and NPR hosts in Washington and Los Angeles, brings you all the news from overnight and the information you need to start your day. Listen from 4 to 9 a.m. every weekday.

Morning Announcements | Weather chats with Mark Seeley | Parting Thoughts

Wildfire smoke: How to inhale less of it
An air quality alert remains in effect until Tuesday for most of Minnesota as smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to make its way through the state and the surrounding region this week. MPR News host Cathy Wurzer spoke with an allergist at Midwest Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialists about what people can do to minimize inhaling harmful particles. 
Mark Seeley: Hot, dry summer weather isn’t letting up
MPR News host Cathy Wurzer talked about this summer’s worsening drought, frequent heat advisories, and poor air quality due to wildfire smoke with retired University of Minnesota climatologist Mark Seeley.
COVID-19 in MN: CDC recommends indoor masking for many Minnesota counties
With the rise of the delta variant, the CDC recommends even vaccinated people wear a mask indoors in areas where community transmission is substantial or high. In Minnesota that includes more than 30 counties — including nearly all of the Twin Cities metro area.
Olympic champ Sunisa Lee still focused on college, not fame
Newly minted Olympic gymnastics champion Sunisa Lee says she's still committed to going to college at Auburn. Lee says while she knows she'll have some endorsement opportunities ahead for her, she's eager to embrace college life and step away from the intensity of elite gymnastics.
Finding climate history in the river bottom
The current drought is helping researchers who are studying the history of flooding in the Red River Valley. They’re collecting samples of old trees buried in the muddy river bottom to help build a regional climate picture going back hundreds of years.
From exhaustion to asphalt burns, Minnesota’s birds feel the heat
While birds in some parts of the country likely have it worse, the University of Minnesota’s Raptor Center has seen plenty of heat problems, including a pair of American kestrels with burns from asphalt.
Sunisa Lee became the fifth straight American woman to claim the Olympic title in the women’s all-around. She edged Rebeca Andrade of Brazil in a hotly contested final.
Art Hounds sing praises of musical options live and via QR code
Take your family on an interactive scavenger hunt to hear songs about Northfield landmarks. DJ Ariesfirebomb creates a welcoming dance party for queer black music lovers this Friday. Jazz vocalist Katia Cardenas of St Paul performs new songs and standards after three years away.
Adding climate impacts to Minnesota's environmental review may be delayed
Climate activists say the changes are overdue. But there's been some pushback from business groups, farmers and local governments, who say the requirements would be burdensome and would raise the cost of building projects.
Minn. front-line workers appeal for share of pandemic pay
As a legislative panel began considering how to divide $250 million in premium pay for those who had to work in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, some suggested the pot of money isn’t big enough.