Laura Oakes

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an updated air quality alert showing conditions worsening in the Twin Cities and especially across northern Minnesota. Several counties in the metro are now in the very unhealthy, or "purple" category. That is in effect until late Friday morning.

Drought, heat, and wildfires caused havoc this week. There are many in the U.S. who don't want to hear it, but the data is telling a clear story: rising global temperatures from climate change means more fire. ​"Weather is becoming more wild and more severe as the Earth warms," says St. Thomas climate scientist Dr. John Abraham.

Another blow to northeastern Minnesota and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Officials with the Superior National Forest announcing the BWCA will remain closed through October 1 to protect public and firefighter health and safety. But, they also say conditions will be monitored daily, and they'll review areas that could reopen sooner.

Iran may have been behind this week's cyberattack on dozens of municipal water systems in Minnesota. U.S. officials say the tradecraft used and the absence of a ransom demand led analysts to tentatively conclude it was the work of Iranian hackers, and the FBI confirms several clues point towards Tehran's involvement.

Though several city councilmembers expressed reservations over a 2022 harassment lawsuit against members of his previous department in Hartford, the Minneapolis City Council ultimately voted to confirm Dr. Reginald Freeman as the city's next fire chief on Thursday: "I do not take this responsibility lightly,” said Chief Freeman.

According to a filing with the state of Minnesota, Pearson's Candy Company is closing the St. Paul Factory, and ending a nearly 120-year run. The company will be forced to terminate 80 employees, with an effective date of September 28, leaving in doubt the future of Salted Nut Rolls, Nut Goodies, and other classic candies.

Earlier this week cyberattacks targeted at least 30 municipal water systems across Minnesota. Now President Donald Trump is putting the blame on the state itself, and Gov. Tim Walz: "They blame it on Iran. I don't think so.​ I think I blame it on Minnesota because they're grossly incompetent."

A community roundtable discussion in Ely Friday focused on helping to identify how best to help northeastern Minnesota businesses impacted by the wildfires in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area: "It's really hard to listen to your friends say I have four employees. Do I let them go now?"

An 18-year-old is hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after falling down a decommissioned grain elevator in Minneapolis. Minneapolis Police say a group of teenagers were trespassing the Checkerboard Grain Elevator property in the Longfellow neighborhood when one teen fell 20 stories onto a platform.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins kicked-off FarmFest in Redwood Falls Tuesday, saying the growing number of farm bankruptcies are "over-inflated" and are "clickbait." The Secretary also said she's more concerned about the loss of farms to renewable energies, and farmers who aren't passing it along to a new generation.