");vwo_$('head').append(_vwo_sel);return vwo_$('head')[0] && vwo_$('head')[0].lastChild;})("HEAD")}}, R_940895_48_1_2_0:{ fn:function(log,nonce=''){return (function(x) { if(!vwo_$.fn.vwoRevertHtml){ return; }; var ctx=vwo_$(x),el; /*vwo_debug log("Revert","content",""); vwo_debug*/; el=vwo_$('[vwo-element-id="1742919897117"]'); el.revertContentOp().remove();})("HEAD")}}, C_940895_48_1_2_1:{ fn:function(log,nonce=''){return (function(x) {var el,ctx=vwo_$(x); /*vwo_debug log("editElement",".stylingblock-content-margin-cell > table:nth-of-type(1) > tbody:nth-of-type(1) > tr:nth-of-type(1) > td:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > h2:nth-of-type(1) > span:nth-of-type(1)"); vwo_debug*/(el=vwo_$(".stylingblock-content-margin-cell > table:nth-of-type(1) > tbody:nth-of-type(1) > tr:nth-of-type(1) > td:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > h2:nth-of-type(1) > span:nth-of-type(1)")).html("Hello! David Brancaccio here. Do you want instant access to the free online course - “Economics 101” - to understand basic economic concepts?");})(".stylingblock-content-margin-cell > table:nth-of-type(1) > tbody:nth-of-type(1) > tr:nth-of-type(1) > td:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > h2:nth-of-type(1) > span:nth-of-type(1)")}}, R_940895_48_1_2_1:{ fn:function(log,nonce=''){return (function(x) { if(!vwo_$.fn.vwoRevertHtml){ return; }; var el,ctx=vwo_$(x); /*vwo_debug log("Revert","editElement",".stylingblock-content-margin-cell > table:nth-of-type(1) > tbody:nth-of-type(1) > tr:nth-of-type(1) > td:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > h2:nth-of-type(1) > span:nth-of-type(1)"); vwo_debug*/(el=vwo_$(".stylingblock-content-margin-cell > table:nth-of-type(1) > tbody:nth-of-type(1) > tr:nth-of-type(1) > td:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > h2:nth-of-type(1) > span:nth-of-type(1)")).vwoRevertHtml();})(".stylingblock-content-margin-cell > table:nth-of-type(1) > tbody:nth-of-type(1) > tr:nth-of-type(1) > td:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > h2:nth-of-type(1) > span:nth-of-type(1)")}}, C_940895_48_1_2_2:{ fn:function(log,nonce=''){return (function(x) {var el,ctx=vwo_$(x); /*vwo_debug log("content","[vwo-element-id='1742482566780']"); vwo_debug*/(el=vwo_$("[vwo-element-id='1742482566780']")).replaceWith2("You'll gain real-world insights into how economics impacts your daily life with this easy-to-follow online course. This crash course is based on the acclaimed textbook Economy, Society, and Public Policy by CORE Econ, tailored to help you grasp key concepts without feeling overwhelmed.

Whether you're new to economics or just want to deepen your understanding, this course covers the basics and connects them to today’s pressing issues—from inequality to public policy decisions.

Each week, you'll receive a reading guide that distills core principles, offers actionable takeaways, and explains how they affect the current world. While the full ebook enriches the experience, the guides alone provide a comprehensive understanding of fundamental economic ideas.

You’ll find this course especially useful and unique because…"),el=vwo_$("[vwo-element-id='1742482566780']");})("[vwo-element-id='1742482566780']")}}},rules:[{"triggers":["12639747"],"tags":[{"id":"metric","metricId":0,"data":{"type":"g","campaigns":[{"c":16,"g":5}]}}]},{"triggers":["12454062"],"tags":[{"id":"metric","metricId":0,"data":{"type":"g","campaigns":[{"c":39,"g":7}]}}]},{"triggers":["12454053"],"tags":[{"priority":4,"id":"runCampaign","data":"campaigns.39"}]},{"triggers":["10589191"],"tags":[{"priority":4,"id":"runCampaign","data":"campaigns.63"},{"priority":4,"id":"runCampaign","data":"campaigns.54"},{"priority":4,"id":"runCampaign","data":"campaigns.55"},{"priority":4,"id":"runCampaign","data":"campaigns.16"},{"priority":4,"id":"runCampaign","data":"campaigns.64"},{"priority":4,"id":"runCampaign","data":"campaigns.48"},{"priority":4,"id":"runCampaign","data":"campaigns.61"},{"priority":4,"id":"runCampaign","data":"campaigns.62"}]},{"triggers":["8459768"],"tags":[{"id":"metric","metricId":951905,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":63,"g":5}]}},{"id":"metric","metricId":951905,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":54,"g":1}]}},{"id":"metric","metricId":951905,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":55,"g":1}]}},{"id":"metric","metricId":951905,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":16,"g":2}]}},{"id":"metric","metricId":951905,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":64,"g":5}]}},{"id":"metric","metricId":951905,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":39,"g":4}]}},{"id":"metric","metricId":951905,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":48,"g":2}]}},{"id":"metric","metricId":951905,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":61,"g":5}]}},{"id":"metric","metricId":951905,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":62,"g":5}]}}]},{"triggers":["8536415"],"tags":[{"id":"metric","metricId":959033,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":63,"g":2}]}},{"id":"metric","metricId":959033,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":54,"g":3}]}},{"id":"metric","metricId":959033,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":55,"g":2}]}},{"id":"metric","metricId":959033,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":16,"g":3}]}},{"id":"metric","metricId":959033,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":64,"g":2}]}},{"id":"metric","metricId":959033,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":39,"g":2}]}},{"id":"metric","metricId":959033,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":48,"g":3}]}},{"id":"metric","metricId":959033,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":61,"g":2}]}},{"id":"metric","metricId":959033,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":62,"g":1}]}}]},{"triggers":["12454059"],"tags":[{"id":"metric","metricId":0,"data":{"type":"g","campaigns":[{"c":39,"g":6}]}}]},{"triggers":["8639604"],"tags":[{"id":"metric","metricId":951908,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":63,"g":1}]}},{"id":"metric","metricId":951908,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":54,"g":5}]}},{"id":"metric","metricId":951908,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":55,"g":5}]}},{"id":"metric","metricId":951908,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":16,"g":6}]}},{"id":"metric","metricId":951908,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":64,"g":1}]}},{"id":"metric","metricId":951908,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":48,"g":1}]}},{"id":"metric","metricId":951908,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":61,"g":1}]}},{"id":"metric","metricId":951908,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":62,"g":4}]}}]},{"triggers":["12454056"],"tags":[{"id":"metric","metricId":0,"data":{"type":"g","campaigns":[{"c":39,"g":5}]}}]},{"triggers":["8536412"],"tags":[{"id":"metric","metricId":959030,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":63,"g":3}]}},{"id":"metric","metricId":959030,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":54,"g":2}]}},{"id":"metric","metricId":959030,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":55,"g":3}]}},{"id":"metric","metricId":959030,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":16,"g":4}]}},{"id":"metric","metricId":959030,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":64,"g":3}]}},{"id":"metric","metricId":959030,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":39,"g":1}]}},{"id":"metric","metricId":959030,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":48,"g":4}]}},{"id":"metric","metricId":959030,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":61,"g":3}]}},{"id":"metric","metricId":959030,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":62,"g":2}]}}]},{"triggers":["8536409"],"tags":[{"id":"metric","metricId":959027,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":63,"g":4}]}},{"id":"metric","metricId":959027,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":54,"g":4}]}},{"id":"metric","metricId":959027,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":55,"g":4}]}},{"id":"metric","metricId":959027,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":16,"g":1}]}},{"id":"metric","metricId":959027,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":64,"g":4}]}},{"id":"metric","metricId":959027,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":39,"g":3}]}},{"id":"metric","metricId":959027,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":48,"g":5}]}},{"id":"metric","metricId":959027,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":61,"g":4}]}},{"id":"metric","metricId":959027,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":62,"g":3}]}}]},{"triggers":["9"],"tags":[{"priority":2,"id":"visibilityService"}]},{"triggers":["2"],"tags":[{"id":"runTestCampaign"}]},{"triggers":["75"],"tags":[{"id":"urlChange"}]},{"triggers":["5"],"tags":[{"id":"checkEnvironment"}]},{"triggers":["8"],"tags":[{"priority":3,"id":"prePostMutation"},{"id":"groupCampaigns","priority":2}]}],pages:{"ec":[{"1625289":{"inc":["o",["url","urlReg","(?i).*"]]}},{"2121531":{"inc":["o",["pg","eq","141375"]]}}],"pc":[{"141375":{"inc":["o",["url","urlReg","(?i)^https?\\:\\\/\\\/(w{3}\\.)?mprnews\\.org\\\/story.*"],["url","urlReg","(?i)^https?\\:\\\/\\\/(w{3}\\.)?mprnews\\.org\\\/episode.*"]]}}]},pagesEval:{"ec":[1625289,2121531],"pc":[141375]},stags:{}}})(); ;;var commonWrapper=function(argument){if(!argument){argument={valuesGetter:function(){return{}},valuesSetter:function(){},verifyData:function(){return{}}}}const getVisitorUuid=function(){if(window._vwo_acc_id>=1037725){return window.VWO&&window.VWO.get("visitor.id")}else{return window.VWO._&&window.VWO._.cookies&&window.VWO._.cookies.get("_vwo_uuid")}};var pollInterval=100;var timeout=6e4;return function(){var accountIntegrationSettings={};var _interval=null;function waitForAnalyticsVariables(){try{accountIntegrationSettings=argument.valuesGetter();accountIntegrationSettings.visitorUuid=getVisitorUuid()}catch(error){accountIntegrationSettings=undefined}if(accountIntegrationSettings&&argument.verifyData(accountIntegrationSettings)){argument.valuesSetter(accountIntegrationSettings);return 1}return 0}var currentTime=0;_interval=setInterval((function(){currentTime=currentTime||performance.now();var result=waitForAnalyticsVariables();if(result||performance.now()-currentTime>=timeout){clearInterval(_interval)}}),pollInterval)}}; var pushBasedCommonWrapper=function(argument){var firedCamp={};if(!argument){argument={integrationName:"",getExperimentList:function(){},accountSettings:function(){},pushData:function(){}}}return function(){window.VWO=window.VWO||[];const getVisitorUuid=function(){if(window._vwo_acc_id>=1037725){return window.VWO&&window.VWO.get("visitor.id")}else{return window.VWO._&&window.VWO._.cookies&&window.VWO._.cookies.get("_vwo_uuid")}};var sendDebugLogsOld=function(expId,variationId,errorType,user_type,data){try{var errorPayload={f:argument["integrationName"]||"",a:window._vwo_acc_id,url:window.location.href,exp:expId,v:variationId,vwo_uuid:getVisitorUuid(),user_type:user_type};if(errorType=="initIntegrationCallback"){errorPayload["log_type"]="initIntegrationCallback";errorPayload["data"]=JSON.stringify(data||"")}else if(errorType=="timeout"){errorPayload["timeout"]=true}if(window.VWO._.customError){window.VWO._.customError({msg:"integration debug",url:window.location.href,lineno:"",colno:"",source:JSON.stringify(errorPayload)})}}catch(e){window.VWO._.customError&&window.VWO._.customError({msg:"integration debug failed",url:"",lineno:"",colno:"",source:""})}};var sendDebugLogs=function(expId,variationId,errorType,user_type){var eventName="vwo_debugLogs";var eventPayload={};try{eventPayload={intName:argument["integrationName"]||"",varId:variationId,expId:expId,type:errorType,vwo_uuid:getVisitorUuid(),user_type:user_type};if(window.VWO._.event){window.VWO._.event(eventName,eventPayload,{enableLogs:1})}}catch(e){eventPayload={msg:"integration event log failed",url:window.location.href};window.VWO._.event&&window.VWO._.event(eventName,eventPayload)}};const callbackFn=function(data){if(!data)return;var expId=data[1],variationId=data[2],repeated=data[0],singleCall=0,debug=0;var experimentList=argument.getExperimentList();var integrationName=argument["integrationName"]||"vwo";if(typeof argument.accountSettings==="function"){var accountSettings=argument.accountSettings();if(accountSettings){singleCall=accountSettings["singleCall"];debug=accountSettings["debug"]}}if(debug){sendDebugLogs(expId,variationId,"intCallTriggered",repeated)}if(singleCall&&(repeated==="vS"||repeated==="vSS")||firedCamp[expId]){return}window.expList=window.expList||{};var expList=window.expList[integrationName]=window.expList[integrationName]||[];if(expId&&variationId&&["VISUAL_AB","VISUAL","SPLIT_URL"].indexOf(_vwo_exp[expId].type)>-1){if(experimentList.indexOf(+expId)!==-1){firedCamp[expId]=variationId;var visitorUuid=getVisitorUuid();var pollInterval=100;var currentTime=0;var timeout=6e4;var user_type=_vwo_exp[expId].exec?"vwo-retry":"vwo-new";var interval=setInterval((function(){if(expList.indexOf(expId)!==-1){clearInterval(interval);return}currentTime=currentTime||performance.now();var toClearInterval=argument.pushData(expId,variationId,visitorUuid);if(debug&&toClearInterval){sendDebugLogsOld(expId,variationId,"",user_type);sendDebugLogs(expId,variationId,"intDataPushed",user_type)}var isTimeout=performance.now()-currentTime>=timeout;if(isTimeout&&debug){sendDebugLogsOld(expId,variationId,"timeout",user_type);sendDebugLogs(expId,variationId,"intTimeout",user_type)}if(toClearInterval||isTimeout){clearInterval(interval)}if(toClearInterval){window.expList[integrationName].push(expId)}}),pollInterval||100)}}};window.VWO.push(["onVariationApplied",callbackFn]);window.VWO.push(["onVariationShownSent",callbackFn])}}; var surveyDataCommonWrapper=function(argument){if(!argument){argument={getCampaignList:function(){return[]},surveyStatusChange:function(){},answerSubmitted:function(){}}}return function(){window.VWO=window.VWO||[];function getValuesFromAnswers(answers){var values=[];for(var i=0;i=timeout;if(toClearInterval||isTimeout){clearInterval(interval)}}),pollInterval)}}window.VWO.push(["onSurveyShown",function(data){commonSurveyCallback(data,argument.surveyStatusChange,"surveyShown")}]);window.VWO.push(["onSurveyCompleted",function(data){commonSurveyCallback(data,argument.surveyStatusChange,"surveyCompleted")}]);window.VWO.push(["onSurveyAnswerSubmitted",function(data){commonSurveyCallback(data,argument.answerSubmitted,"surveySubmitted")}])}}; (function(){var VWOOmniTemp={};window.VWOOmni=window.VWOOmni||{};for(var key in VWOOmniTemp)Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(VWOOmniTemp,key)&&(window.VWOOmni[key]=VWOOmniTemp[key]);;})();(function(){window.VWO=window.VWO||[];var pollInterval=100;var _vis_data={};var intervalObj={};var analyticsTimerObj={};var experimentListObj={};window.VWO.push(["onVariationApplied",function(data){if(!data){return}var expId=data[1],variationId=data[2];if(expId&&variationId&&["VISUAL_AB","VISUAL","SPLIT_URL"].indexOf(window._vwo_exp[expId].type)>-1){}}])})();; ;var vD=VWO.data||{};VWO.data={content:{"fns":{"list":{"args":{"1":{}},"vn":1}}},as:"r6.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com",dacdnUrl:"https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com",accountJSInfo:{"noSS":false,"pc":{"t":0,"a":0},"ts":1743500821,"rp":30}};for(var k in vD){VWO.data[k]=vD[k]};;var gcpfb=function(a,loadFunc,status,err,success){function vwoErr() {_vwo_err({message:"Google_Cdn failing for " + a + ". Trying Fallback..",code:"cloudcdnerr",status:status});} if(a.indexOf("/cdn/")!==-1){loadFunc(a.replace("cdn/",""),err,success); vwoErr(); return true;} else if(a.indexOf("/dcdn/")!==-1&&a.indexOf("evad.js") !== -1){loadFunc(a.replace("dcdn/",""),err,success); vwoErr(); return true;}};window.VWO=window.VWO || [];window.VWO._= window.VWO._ || {};window.VWO._.gcpfb=gcpfb;;var d={cookie:document.cookie,URL:document.URL,referrer:document.referrer};var w={VWO:{_:{}},location:{href:window.location.href,search:window.location.search},_vwoCc:window._vwoCc};;window._vwo_cdn="https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/cdn/";window._vwo_apm_debug_cdn="https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/cdn/";window.VWO._.useCdn=true;window.vwo_eT="br";window._VWO=window._VWO||{};window._VWO.fSeg={};window._VWO.dcdnUrl="/dcdn/settings.js";window.VWO.sTs=1743432722;window._VWO._vis_nc_lib=window._vwo_cdn+"edrv/nc-027330777ece73059cc92c6141e45cb3br.js";var loadWorker=function(url){_vwo_code.load(url, { dSC: true, onloadCb: function(xhr,a){window._vwo_wt_l=true;if(xhr.status===200 ||xhr.status===304){var code="var window="+JSON.stringify(w)+",document="+JSON.stringify(d)+";window.document=document;"+xhr.responseText;var blob=new Blob([code||"throw new Error('code not found!');"],{type:"application/javascript"}),url=URL.createObjectURL(blob);window.mainThread={webWorker:new Worker(url)};window.vwoChannelFW=new MessageChannel();window.vwoChannelToW=new MessageChannel();window.mainThread.webWorker.postMessage({vwoChannelToW:vwoChannelToW.port1,vwoChannelFW:vwoChannelFW.port2},[vwoChannelToW.port1, vwoChannelFW.port2]);if(!window._vwo_mt_f)return window._vwo_wt_f=true;_vwo_code.addScript({text:window._vwo_mt_f});delete window._vwo_mt_f}else{if(gcpfb(a,loadWorker,xhr.status)){return;}_vwo_code.finish("&e=loading_failure:"+a)}}, onerrorCb: function(a){if(gcpfb(a,loadWorker)){return;}window._vwo_wt_l=true;_vwo_code.finish("&e=loading_failure:"+a);}})};loadWorker("https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/cdn/edrv/worker-1135852b6bc11a94eb64017a8d120ad8br.js");;var _vis_opt_file;var _vis_opt_lib;if(window.VWO._.allSettings.dataStore.previewExtraSettings!=undefined&&window.VWO._.allSettings.dataStore.previewExtraSettings.isSurveyPreviewMode){var surveyHash=window.VWO._.allSettings.dataStore.plugins.LIBINFO.SURVEY_DEBUG_EVENTS.HASH;var param1="evad.js?va=";var param2="&d=debugger_new";var param3="&sp=1&a=940895&sh="+surveyHash;_vis_opt_file=vwoCode.use_existing_jquery&&typeof vwoCode.use_existing_jquery()!=="undefined"?vwoCode.use_existing_jquery()?param1+"vanj"+param2:param1+"va_gq"+param2:param1+"edrv/va_gq-3adf809ea7b0629d1cfde6b0f4969635br.js"+param2;_vis_opt_file=_vis_opt_file+param3;_vis_opt_lib="https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/dcdn/"+_vis_opt_file}else if(window.VWO._.allSettings.dataStore.mode!=undefined&&window.VWO._.allSettings.dataStore.mode=="PREVIEW"){ var path1 = 'edrv/pd_'; var path2 = window.VWO._.allSettings.dataStore.plugins.LIBINFO.EVAD.HASH + ".js"; ;_vis_opt_file=vwoCode.use_existing_jquery&&typeof vwoCode.use_existing_jquery()!=="undefined"?vwoCode.use_existing_jquery()?path1+"vanj"+path2:path1+"va_gq"+path2:path1+"edrv/va_gq-3adf809ea7b0629d1cfde6b0f4969635br.js"+path2;_vis_opt_lib="https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/cdn/"+_vis_opt_file}else{_vis_opt_file=vwoCode.use_existing_jquery&&typeof vwoCode.use_existing_jquery()!=="undefined"?vwoCode.use_existing_jquery()?"edrv/vanj-7340efabe014aa7ac36a54293558de41br.js":"edrv/va_gq-3adf809ea7b0629d1cfde6b0f4969635br.js":"edrv/va_gq-3adf809ea7b0629d1cfde6b0f4969635br.js"}window._vwo_library_timer=setTimeout((function(){vwoCode.removeLoaderAndOverlay&&vwoCode.removeLoaderAndOverlay();vwoCode.finish()}),vwoCode.library_tolerance&&typeof vwoCode.library_tolerance()!=="undefined"?vwoCode.library_tolerance():2500),_vis_opt_lib=typeof _vis_opt_lib=="undefined"?window._vwo_cdn+_vis_opt_file:_vis_opt_lib;var loadLib=function(url){_vwo_code.load(url, { dSC: true, onloadCb:function(xhr,a){window._vwo_mt_l=true;if(xhr.status===200 || xhr.status===304){if(!window._vwo_wt_f)return window._vwo_mt_f=xhr.responseText;_vwo_code.addScript({text:xhr.responseText});delete window._vwo_wt_f;}else{if(gcpfb(a,loadLib,xhr.status)){return;}_vwo_code.finish("&e=loading_failure:"+a);}}, onerrorCb: function(a){if(gcpfb(a,loadLib)){return;}window._vwo_mt_l=true;_vwo_code.finish("&e=loading_failure:"+a);}})};loadLib(_vis_opt_lib);VWO.load_co=function(u,opts){return window._vwo_code.load(u,opts);};;;}}catch(e){_vwo_code.finish();_vwo_code.removeLoaderAndOverlay&&_vwo_code.removeLoaderAndOverlay();_vwo_err(e);window.VWO.caE=1}})();

Skip to Main Content
Skip to audio player to listen live

Create a Free MPR

news profile

for you

Sign up

Already have an account?

By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.

Welcome back

to news for you

Sign in to your profile

New to MPR News?

Welcome back

to news

for you

Reset Password

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?

Welcome back

to news

for you

Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?

St. Paul, Minn.

May 20, 2009 2:27 PM

Red flag warning issued as wildfires break out around state

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log in Create a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Dust blowing — Dust was blowing in a farmfield near Windom in southwest Minnesota Wednesday as winds gusted to over 50 miles an hour.
MPR Photo/Mark Steil

Grass and ground fires have been breaking out around the Twin Cities today in the wake of recent hot dry weather.

Wind gusts as high as 50 mph have been reported in southern Minnesota, and blowing dust has reduced visibility to as low as a half-mile in some places.

State officials have issued a red flag fire warning for east central parts of the state, including much of the Twin Cities and north as far as Aitkin.

"There's been a long dry spell for the metro area in particular, that's where we're looking at right now as far as fire danger," said Doug Miedtke with the state's Fire Information Center in Grand Rapids. "You know, a fairly dry winter, coming into spring and missing out on a lot of rainstorms down there. And even though the vegetation is greening up, there's still a lot of dead fuel mixed in with all that green that will carry a fire just fine when the conditions are dry enough."

Officials say Minnesotans should take extra precautions to keep fires from starting because of the potential for flames to spread very quickly.

---

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Gallery

1 of 1

Dust blowing — Dust was blowing in a farmfield near Windom in southwest Minnesota Wednesday as winds gusted to over 50 miles an hour.
MPR Photo/Mark Steil

Turn Up Your Support

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.

Dear reader,

The trustworthy and factual news you find here at MPR News relies on the generosity of readers like you.

Your donation ensures that our journalism remains available to all, connecting communities and facilitating better conversations for everyone.

Will you make a gift today to help keep this trusted new source accessible to all?