From the starting line to the Minnesota Capitol, everything is set for Sunday’s big race. Organizers for the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon say they’re prepared for the heat with misting stations and medical teams.
Though it’ll be hot on Sunday, the conditions will be much different than what they were in 2023 when the marathon was canceled the morning of due to the scorching heat. This year, organizers expect 20,000 people to cross the finish line.
“We think that’s something we can handle, that we’ve prepared for” said Charlie Mahler, communications manager with Twin Cities in Motion.
Runners will take off in less-than-ideal conditions, with rising temperatures expected to progress to potentially dangerous conditions.
“Probably not a day to run your fastest time because of the conditions,” said Mahler. “Still can be a day to have fun.”
Mahler says help is never far away, with more than 300 medical volunteers and a bike team equipped with automatic external defibrillators. There are also more than a dozen fluid stations along the course.
“We will do everything we can for them on the course if they do everything they can for their safety tomorrow,” said Mahler. “When runners most feel the heat, we will be there for them.”
The course will be open for an extra half hour to allow more people to make it to the finish line.
Tens of thousands of runners will hit the streets this weekend for the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon.
With several races scheduled between the two cities, plus other events throughout the weekend, there’s plenty you need to know whether you’re a runner or just a resident.
Here’s the rundown on the entire Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon weekend.
When and where are the races?
The first race of the weekend is the 10K, kicking off at 7:15 a.m. Saturday. It starts and ends at the State Capitol in St. Paul, taking racers along Summit Avenue in between.
The 5K starts at 8:45 a.m. Saturday and follows a similar path.
The 10-mile race begins at 7 a.m. Sunday. The starting line is in downtown Minneapolis, and runners will take a riverside path to Summit Avenue before ending at the Capitol.
The full marathon is scheduled for 8 a.m. on Sunday. It starts in downtown Minneapolis and takes runners on a tour of the city’s lakes before winding toward the river. Then, they’ll hit Summit Avenue until they get to the finish line at the State Capitol.
The Twin Cities could see record warmth on Saturday as highs approach 90, though the early start for the races should keep runners cooler than that. Sunday won’t be quite as hot, but temperatures are still likely to hit the mid-80s in the afternoon.
Marathon organizers say races will likely begin under the yellow Event Alert System category, meaning less than ideal conditions. It’s possible the weather could progress to the red category, under which it’s recommended runners take a slower pace, drink extra fluids or consider not participating.
Will there be road closures?
Organizers say roads will be closed for one block around the course. Here are some recommended detours for busy spots, courtesy of the organizers:
Use Interstate 94, Interstate 35W and Interstate 35E to move widely across the metro on Sunday.
To cross Minnehaha Parkway, utilize Nicollet Avenue, I-35W or Highway 55/Hiawatha Avenue.
To cross the river, utilize I-94, Lake Street/Marshall Avenue bridge or Ford Parkway bridge.
To get north or south of Summit, utilize Ayd Mill Road.
Expect street closures near the State Capitol in St. Paul starting Thursday and throughout the weekend.
Expect street closure on Summit Avenue east of Snelling on Saturday morning.
Marion Street exit from eastbound I-94 will be closed both Saturday morning and Sunday. Use Dale Street exit instead.
Expect street closures in downtown Minneapolis in the early morning on Sunday.
Where can I watch the marathon?
Spectators can line the course to cheer runners on. Organizers recommend a few spots for optimal viewing: In Minneapolis, Douglas Avenue, Bde Maka Ska Parkway, Minnehaha Parkway and Lake Nokomis Parkway. On the other side of the river, the best spots are Summit Avenue and Cathedral Hill.
Are there other events besides races?
There will be plenty of family-friendly events and activities on the State Capitol grounds, including live music, food trucks and more. There will also be two kid-focused races: the Diaper Dash and Toddler Trot. For more information on additional events, visit the marathon website.
Offensive lineman be on alert and be aware. No, you’re not blocking the same guy twice.
“If they don’t see our jersey number, like somehow they don’t see it, they say they’re seeing double,” Isaiah Wray said. “Yeah, there’s two of us. We just keep rotating in and out.”
Yes, Elijah and Isaiah Wray are identical twins. Both play football for Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota. And it’s not just the opposition getting confused. Try their head coach, Shannon Currier.
“Isaiah seems to be more smiley, Elijah maybe a little more serious,” Currier said. “But it did take me a full season before I could recognize the differences of them off the field.”
Sometimes football brothers play quarterback and center, or linebacker and running back. Not this pair. They’re entrenched on the defensive line.
Isaiah and Elijah Wray
WCCO
“Just build the competition between us,” said Isaiah Wray. “‘Who’s the better brother’ stuff. Play on the same team and see that.”
Isaiah Wray is six minutes younger than his brother. Both are almost the same exact size, which is big: 6 feet 6 inches tall and 260 pounds.
“They came here without scholarship money and now they’ve earned a bunch and they’re only going to continue to get more scholarships,” said Currier. “But I think they’re just really good role models for so many young players.”
“It’s just always having someone around to push you,” said Isaiah Wray. “You could just say that he has a better game than me, I’m gonna come back the next game and have a better game than him. It’s just always competition, head-to-head with each other.”
The pair are sophomores at CSP. Their rivalry has been going since birth.
“We got pictures of us when we’re playing as little kids. Big helmets, big shoulder pads, running around,” said Isaiah Wray. “Tackling each other. Not tackling opponents.”
Isaiah and Elijah Wray as kids
Wray Family
On the field, and off it.
“Growing up, when we were younger, we’d always do little things here and there. We’d always get in trouble together basically,” said Elijah Wray. “Our relationship was very good when we were young.”
How were they getting in trouble?
“Most of the time it was basically fighting each other,” said Elijah Wray. “We would get in trouble a lot for that.”
“We used to go to school together and always get notes sent home with us, ‘fighting each other,’” said Isaiah Wray. “My mom showed me them a couple days ago. I was like, ‘Oh.’ It’s like, ‘one kid bit another kid,’ the other report would say, ‘a kid got bitten by somebody,’ they would know who it is.”
Now, they’re roommates and teammates in college, pursuing their dreams together.
“We both wanted to play for the same team,” said Elijah. “We always grew up playing together so going to the next level playing with each other is pretty cool.”
The United States Department of Justice is suing Minnesota, and both Twin Cities, over so-called “sanctuary city” policies.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on Monday that “Minnesota officials are jeopardizing the safety of their own citizens by allowing illegal aliens to circumvent the legal process.”
In the 34-page lawsuit, the department is asking a judge to invalidate sections of the state constitution, city codes in St. Paul and Minneapolis, and Hennepin County administrative orders.
Federal prosecutors claim the collective policies that prevent local cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement are unconstitutional.
Both Minneapolis and St. Paul have city ordinances that prohibit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
The state of Minnesota has no law making it a “sanctuary state” for undocumented immigrants.
Riley Moser is a digital producer who covers breaking news and feature stories for CBS Minnesota. Riley started her career at CBS Minnesota in June 2022 and earned an honorable mention for sports writing from the Iowa College Media Association the same year.
Thursday evening, many gathered to celebrate the grand opening of Minnesota’s first-ever child care business incubator, designed specifically to launch four Latina-owned family childcare businesses.
The bold new plan is led by CLUES, the state’s largest Latino-led nonprofit. The nonprofit began designing the childcare incubator pilot three years ago after extensive research found the community wanted help maneuvering through the licensing process.
“This new model provides an opportunity to have four microbusinesses under one roof so they can start their journey,” said CLUES CEO Ruby Lee.
Lee emphasized that this model will increase access to culturally specific childcare options for folks in the Twin Cities metro.
The program provides a three-year coaching program to help the four women gain skills and get connected to resources with the goal of eventually expanding into their own space and making way for another cohort.
Raquel Mosquera is among the women stepping into this new chapter. She immigrated from Ecuador about two years ago. Looking for opportunities to provide for her family, she found this program.
“The program was a blessing, open door for me,” Mosquera said. “Child care business more than just business, but a legacy for me.”
In her classroom, infants to elementary-aged children will learn culture and Spanish.
“We want to preserve the language and heritage that comes with Spanish language,” Mosquera said. “We want children to know and love their language and culture.”
While she’s teaching the youngest, she too will receive personalized coaching, setting her up for success.
Lee says the model is a win-win for everyone and an investment in our children who are the professionals of tomorrow.
The program officially opens mid-October with a capacity of serving up to 54 children.
As bridge repair work continues in St. Paul, the Minnesota Department of Transportation says sections of two interstates will be closed again this weekend.
According to MnDOT, all westbound lanes of I-94 will be closed between I-35E and John Ireland Boulevard.
In addition, southbound traffic on I-35E will be detoured because that interstate will be closed between University Avenue and 10th Street.
Both closures will last until 5 a.m. Monday.
Detours are as follows:
I-94: Drivers will be sent to northbound I-35E to westbound Highway 36 and then back south on Highway 280
I-35E: Traffic will be directed to eastbound I-94 to southbound Highway 52 and I-494
The ramp from 5th St. to the westbound lanes of I-94
Next month, construction crews are expected to begin working on the John Ireland Boulevard bridge. MnDOT says the bridge, which is nearly 60 years old, will be disassembled and rebuilt.
Once rebuilt, the agency says it will include safety and appearance changes but will have the same footprint as the current bridge. Some of the changes include updates to the current bike and pedestrian facilities, railing replacements, repairs to sidewalks and more.
NOTE: The above video first aired on Aug. 15, 2025.
An overnight crash involving a pedestrian in St. Paul, Minnesota’s Greater East Side neighborhood, has left a man dead.
According to St. Paul police, officers were called to the intersection of Maryland Avenue and Clarence Street around 12:45 a.m.
The driver, identified as a man, told police he was headed west on Maryland Avenue and crossing Clarence Street when he hit a man.
Police say the victim was brought to Regions Hospital after medics began life-saving measures. However, the man died at the hospital. While his name hasn’t been provided, police tell WCCO he was 32 years old.
The driver, who said he didn’t see the victim crossing, is being cooperative, according to police. They add that he didn’t show any signs of impairment.
Currently, the driver hasn’t been arrested, and the crash is still under investigation.
This is the second fatal pedestrian-involved crash in as many days along Maryland Avenue.
Although the driver in that crash left the scene, a neighbor’s surveillance camera recorded the crash. Police were able to track the vehicle and arrested a 46-year-old man in the town of Sleepy Eye a few hours after the crash happened. He is being held at the Ramsey County Jail and is suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol.
A preliminary injunction has been issued to block new conditions for federal grants that threatened to withhold money from the City of St. Paul, Minnesota.
The conditions, created by the Trump Administration, were made in what the city says was “an attempt to punish local governments that didn’t follow vague federal directives in several executive orders.”
The injunction was made on Wednesday by a federal judge in California, about a month after St. Paul, as well as other cities and counties across the country, challenged the conditions. The judge’s decision blocks the administration from enforcing the funding threats as the case advances through the court system. It also means the federal funds already allocated to cities can’t be revoked or restricted.
“The court’s decision affirms what we have always stood for: local control, the rule of the law, and the constitutional separation of powers. St. Paul depends on federal resources to support housing, transit, public safety, and community health. Our responsibility to fight to protect our residents will not cease no matter the president’s politically motivated interference,” said St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter.
Among the funds threatened to be withheld are money for transportation, housing support and Community Development Block Grants. The conditions were created after the grants were approved by Congress, according to city leaders.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a directive earlier this year to punish sanctuary jurisdictions by ending funding to any that “unlawfully interfere with federal law enforcement operations” or otherwise do not comply with the federal government’s immigration policies.
The White House has previously called out St. Paul, saying officials in sanctuary cities like it are “sick politicians who want killers, rapists roaming our streets.”
On the banks of the Mighty Mississippi River roughly 180 years ago, two burgeoning towns in Minnesota, then just a territory in the U.S., were searching for an identity. The Twin Cities each have a unique personality, pace, and history. But in the mid-1800s, both were still searching for what to call their communities.
“The history of Minneapolis is more complicated than we would expect, and just about everything we know about the history of the name St. Paul is wrong,” said Bill Convery, Director of Research for the Minnesota Historical Society.
What other names were suggested besides Minneapolis?
“There was no consensus on what to call it,” Convery said. One idea was All Saints, an effort to sound better than St. Paul or St. Anthony. Technically, a name was officially picked before Minneapolis.
“The Hennepin County commissioners officially named the community Albion,” said Convery.
Albion is the old name for England, and Convery said the idea was to honor settlers who moved to the area from New England.
According to Convery, credit for the creation of the name Minneapolis goes to a schoolteacher named Charles Hoag and a newspaper editor named George Bowman. He says “they jointly share credit for coming up with this hybrid name.” The first part of the name comes from Minnehaha, the Dakota word for waterfall. The second part — the “polis” part — comes from the Greek word for city. Hoag wrote a letter to Bowman suggesting the name. Bowman’s influence with the newspaper was key.
“(Bowman) really ran with it and promoted it heavily and as a result people ignored the name of Albion and really drifted toward this new name of Minneapolis,” said Convery.
St. Paul’s name origin is more straightforward, outside of the myth attached to it. Convery said it begins with a “decrepit old fur trader” named Pierre Parrant. His nickname was Pig’s Eye because he was blind in one eye. Legend has it that Parrant opened a pub bearing his nickname, then lent his nickname to the area as people settled nearby. Convery said people used the name of Parrant’s pub as part of their address to send and receive mail.
“The truth is Pig’s Eye and St. Paul were two entirely different communities,” he said.
In the early 1840s, a Catholic Priest named Luicien Galtier built the area’s first chapel and established its parish, naming it St. Paul. The name earned the respect of settlers.
“It was a name that was very compelling for the French and the Irish catholic immigrants who very quickly populated St. Paul the 1850s, so they embraced that name,” said Convery.
St. Paul’s name became official in 1841, while Minneapolis was made official in 1852 — two communities put on the map and forever connected.
“I think what’s true for both Minneapolis and Saint Paul is that these were popular choices. These were choices of the people,” said Convery.
Although Pig’s Eye didn’t become the official city name, there’s still a park, a lake and many businesses honoring the unique moniker in St. Paul.
U.S. lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are trying to make a bill to exempt coffee from tariffs, as prices are up 21% compared to last year.
That’s because the U.S. gets most of its coffee from Brazil, and as of last month, the South American country is facing 50% tariffs.
The effect is trickling down to even local coffee shops like Roots Roasting in St. Paul. Owner Peter Poire-Odegard opened the cafe seven years ago.
“The margins used to be significantly higher,” he said.
After streamlining as much as he could he reluctantly made two price increases this year. A regular cup of coffee went from $3 to $3.80.
“We spent half again as much on green coffee since the beginning of the year that we did the same period last year. So went up 50%,” he said.
He credits a bad growing season and the tariffs.
“Now that prices are changed, we’re in a wait-and-see. Do people start drinking less? Do people start going out less? What happens to traffic counts? Does this still financially work? It’s a big unknown,” he said.
So far he’s seen a cutback in the specialty drink orders. More people are ordering less expensive drip coffee but they’re still showing up.
Poire-Odegard acknowledges that coffee is one of the last things people give up. Roughly two thirds of Americans have coffee every day, and most have three cups, according to the National Coffee Association.
He’s hoping that his shop will adapt. Even though the cost of supply is going up, the cost of demand isn’t drying up either.
The proposed bill by Congress to lower prices is called the “No Coffee Tax Act.” It would have to be signed by President Trump.
As for tariffs in general, the White House said in a statement that “President Trump is strengthening the international economic position of the United States and protecting American workers.”
Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield loves sharing the good news. She hosts a show on Sunday mornings based on local “positivity and empowerment,” leading right into CBS Sunday Morning.
Riley Moser is a digital producer who covers breaking news and feature stories for CBS Minnesota. Riley started her career at CBS Minnesota in June 2022 and earned an honorable mention for sports writing from the Iowa College Media Association the same year.
As early voting kicks off in St. Paul, Minnesota, Mayor Melvin Carter is speaking out in support of voting “yes” to a ballot measure regarding administrative citations, also known as civil penalties.
Unlike most cities in Minnesota, St. Paul can only use criminal penalties to enforce ordinances.
However, Carter — alongside community groups and some state legislators — believe the approach is too heavy-handed. They are advocating for minor infractions to be met with an alternative to criminal court.
Supporters say criminal penalties are too harsh for small infractions and often let wealthier offenders delay the criminal process. They argue that administrative citations are a fairer way to hold people accountable, while also ensuring the city can enforce ordinances that protect tenants and workers.
“This is something that will have no impact on folks who are going to work and mowing their lawn and obeying the city’s requirements and connecting with their neighbors. And this is something that will help to ensure those members of our community — those property owners, those landlords, different folks in our community — are stepping to the table, are coming to the table to address problems in community on the front end before we get to the point where something has gone kind of all the way to the extreme level,” said Carter.
The last day to vote early in person is Monday, Nov. 3. The 2025 general election is on Nov. 4.
The slow-moving storm system that has been over the region the past few days will continue to provide clouds and fog Saturday morning.
Later in the day, spotty showers and thunderstorms could pop up. However, we shouldn’t see as much rain today as we did on Friday. Temperatures will be seasonable, with highs in the low 70s.
While pop-up showers are expected on Sunday afternoon, anyone planning to tailgate for the Vikings game should stay dry.
Monday and the rest of the work week should be sunnier due to high pressure moving our way. The first week of fall will have temperatures in the 70s.
Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, weather has been a passion for Adam for as long as he can remember! Whether it was thunderstorms or winter storms, Adam has always been geeking out. After earning his meteorology degree from Penn State, he made his way to the Ohio Valley to forecast for WTOV.
Macalester College football broke through the rain clouds after a 0-10 season last year and got its first win on Sept. 6 against Grinnell College.
Sophomore wide receiver Paxton Boyd had two touchdowns to help secure the win.
“First win for me since senior year of high school, so I kind of forgot how that felt,” Boyd said.
Boyd connected twice with his roommate and quarterback, Jack Scully. The two battled through a winless rookie season together.
“It feels really great to finally get a win, especially after not getting one last year. Definitely a little bit of eudaimonia,” Scully said.
Eudaimonia is a word derived from ancient Greek meaning “human flourishing and deep fulfillment.”
It’s a big word to describe a big win. You would expect nothing less from high scholar student athletes, which is something the Scots pride themselves on. It’s also rooted in the history of a rivalry they have coming up next, on Saturday.
“We’re playing Carleton [College], who we haven’t played in three years, and we’re playing for the ‘Book of Knowledge,’” Boyd said.
Macalester last won the “Book of Knowledge” trophy in 2018. Carleton, another high academic liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, has held bragging rights since then.
Head coach Phil Nicolaides says they have more than just the talent to keep winning.
“All the adversity we hit last year felt like it kept bringing us closer and closer together, and so culturally, I feel like we’re the strongest we’ve ever been,” Nicolaides said.
For the first time in five years, the Commodore Bar and Restaurant is reopening its doors to the public, starting Thursday night with a soft opening.
“This hasn’t changed since the ’30s and I’d be surprised if it’s changed very much, if at all, if you go forward a number of years. This is irreplaceable,” said owner John Rupp. “I’m very excited to reopen. We’ll have a full bar menu, but we’ll have a snack menu until the final lounge and dining room menu will be introduced in November.”
The Commodore has a rich history. Once a hotel, it housed a speakeasy in the basement during Prohibition. Author F. Scott Fitzgerald was among its many notable guests. After Prohibition ended, the bar was built. That history, Rupp said, is what sets the place apart.
“There’s a different quality and feeling about this than you find in places attempting to recreate this feeling,” he said.
Patrons agree.
“This is one of a kind. Nineteen-twenty themes, Gatsby themes, you don’t see that very often around the Twin Cities,” said Thanh Hoang, who helps operate the bar.
For many, the reopening has been long-awaited.
“A lot of our guests have been asking when it’s going to open,” Hoang said. “Finally, we are making it happen.”
Hoang said about 300 people were on a waitlist for Thursday’s event.
The Commodore building was eventually converted from a hotel to condominiums, with residents like Joel Pace living above the bar. He said the reopening will once again make the space a gathering place.
“It’s a great place to meet and greet, not just Commodore residents, but people from all over who are coming here on pilgrimage just to soak in the history and vibes,” Pace said.
To him, and all who attend, the bar is a gateway to the past.
“You’re going through this portal, you’re transferred back in time,” Pace said. “This room is just as it was in the thirties when it was created,” he said.
The Commodore will be open from Thursday to Sunday from 4 to 10 p.m.
The sweet taste of summer keeps people satisfied at Conny’s Creamy Cone in St. Paul.
“It helps you cool off,” said loyal customer Brian Lulek, as he enjoyed his soft-serve treat.
Cones and shakes are bringing relief as an end-of-season heatwave brings a boost in business.
“Definitely brings the crowds out,” said owner Jeff Audette. “Like last weekend, we had lots of people come down.”
A welcomed sight after a surly start to the month. From Sept. 3 to 7, the temperatures ranged from 11 to 15 degrees below average, with highs barely creeping into the 60s followed by nights in the mid-40s. That had people thinking summer skipped town.
“Another way of looking at it is it might just be kind of the opening act of fall,” said Kenneth Blumenfeld, a climatologist with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
What defines a “false fall”? There isn’t a specific definition, Blumenfeld said, but loosely it can be described as fall-like weather during the last month of summer. The temperature then heats up to at least average for the time of year.
Conny’s Creamy Cone ice cream shop in St. Paul.
WCCO
This September, people were battling rain drops and brisk air for nearly a week, followed closely by a steamy stretch worthy of ice-cold dessert.
So, how common is “false fall”?
“We usually have a period of cold weather that occurs one to three weeks either ahead of schedule or just ahead of the bulk of that cool weather arriving,” Blumenfeld said. “It’s not every year, but it does happen often.”
Just don’t confuse the current hot stretch as a “second summer.” For that title, there needs to be a stretch of above-average temperatures coming after the first frost of the season.
Only far northeastern Minnesota has woken up to frost so far.
What causes the temperature volatility in September? Blumenfeld said it’s a mix of warm and cold air coming in from opposite directions.
“On one hand, it’s very much the end of summer, which means it’s still very summer-like in regions especially to our south,” he said.
That warm air from the south keeps Minnesota steamy as frigid cold air from up north in Canada cools us down. The temperature clash creates weather whiplash, and storms, having people ready to embrace fall as summer tries to keep from melting away.
“Sometimes when [summer’s] gone, it’s gone,” Lulek said. “And then you don’t get to do this again for, what, six to eight months sometimes. So yeah, you gotta grab [ice cream] while you can.”
Conny’s Creamy Cone — located a few blocks east of Como Lake at the intersection of Maryland Avenue West and Dale Street North — closes for the season on Oct. 18, but Audette said they’ll keep the ice cream churning an extra week if it stays warm next month.
Thousands of Minnesotans gathered in St. Paul on Saturday to celebrate the efforts of those in recovery.
Now in its 15th year, the Walk for Recovery event serves as the main, annual fundraiser for Minnesota Recovery Connections. Music, food, dancing, art and other activities were available for those who had either been affected by substance abuse or wanted to show support as a recovery ally.
“Today is a celebration of celebrations,” said Cynthia Munguia, the organization’s Executive Director. “We’re celebrating recovery. We’re sending a message, a positive message, that hopefully overshadows all the negative and hard stuff that we’re seeing right now.”
Organizers say a main portion of their efforts is working to reduce stigma about recovery and addiction.
“Every penny that we get, we put towards people. Yes, there’s costs we have, so we need as much money just like any other non-profit organization. But it goes into the community,” said Caddy Frink, the Director of Programs.
“The opioid crisis is real, and it’s still very much alive,” said Munguia. “You might have someone in your circle that is needing support or is traveling this hard journey. We’re here. Not only are we here, there (are) many of us here today.”
Thanks to a stalled storm system to our west and southerly winds, high temperatures will be in the mid-80s on Saturday afternoon across the Twin Cities, but it will feel closer to 90 due to humidity.
Expect a mix of sun and clouds throughout the weekend, and temperatures will increase on Sunday afternoon. Heat index values will be in the mid-90s, so make sure you have a place to keep cool.
Some storms are expected to fire up later on Sunday across the western part of Minnesota, but at this time, it’s unclear if they’ll make it to the metro area. The chances for severe weather are low at this time, but not completely out of the question.
Looking ahead to the work week, an unsettled weather pattern will be in play, with a chance for storms nearly every day. Temperatures will also feel no-so-summerlike, with highs returning to the 70s by the end of next week and potentially the 60s by next weekend.
Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, weather has been a passion for Adam for as long as he can remember! Whether it was thunderstorms or winter storms, Adam has always been geeking out. After earning his meteorology degree from Penn State, he made his way to the Ohio Valley to forecast for WTOV.
A bipartisan bill that’s cleared a key hurdle in the U.S. Senate would boost federal support for families of firefighters who died from cancer linked to their jobs.
The Public Safety Officers’ Benefit Program provides death and education benefits to survivors of people who died from a heart attack, stroke or PTSD in the line of duty, and provides disability benefits to those who are seriously injured.
First responders who face illnesses due to exposure to toxins while responding to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack are also included.
The Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act would expand eligibility to include disabled firefighters due to cancer linked to their service and families who lost their loved ones to the disease.
More than 70% of line-of-duty deaths in fire service in 2023 are attributed to cancer, according to the International Association of Firefighters, a union.
Julie Paidar knows the risks that come with the job all too well. In 2020, she lost her husband, Mike, a captain with the St. Paul Fire Department, to an aggressive form of leukemia linked to his years of service as a firefighter and EMT.
Paidar joined Sen. Amy Klobuchar, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, and firefighters in St. Paul on Friday to push for the bill’s passage.
“Families that have stood by their firefighter — whether it was a career [firefighter] that answered their tones or they were volunteers and they were pulled out of their house during the middle of the night — the families love and support what their spouse does,” Paidar said. “And so if we can get anything passed to help those families, that’s why it’s important to me.”
The legislation has broad bipartisan support with 58 coauthors, and it advanced out of a key committee earlier this year. Klobuchar said it’s on the table to be part of a larger national defense package that Congress is working on.
“The Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act is about recognizing that not all on-the-job injuries are immediately apparent,” she said. “But it’s also about honoring Mike’s memory and every firefighter and their family should take solace knowing the hard job that they’ve taken on, that they’re people that are going to be there for them.”
Klobuchar said the bill would cover firefighters who have retired and ensure that they aren’t excluded from getting assistance due to their illness, which she noted is a common problem.
“Those were some of the issues that a lot of people around the country have been dealing with, where they actually get cancer, but then they say, ‘well, we don’t know what it’s from,’” she explained. “And we’re able to make this a very broad definition because of what we’ve seen out in the field.”
Caroline Cummings is an Emmy-winning reporter with a passion for covering politics, public policy and government. She is thrilled to join the WCCO team.
