The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has expanded the current air quality alert to include the western half of Minnesota. The alert now runs until 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 6.
The affected area includes Brainerd, Alexandria, Albert Lea, Marshall, Worthington, Ortonville, Mankato, Bemidji, East Grand Forks, Moorhead, International Falls, Hibbing, Ely, Roseau, and the tribal nations of Upper Sioux, Mille Lacs, Leech Lake, and Red Lake. The alert has also been upgraded to Red AQI for western Minnesota.