MPCA issues - another - statewide air quality alert
An Air Quality Alert will be in effect from 9 a.m. Sunday until 9 a.m. on Tuesday. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) says air quality index will reach the red level, meaning it is unhealthy for everyone, in all northern and central parts of the state on Sunday morning. Meanwhile, the agency says the rest of the state will be in the orange level, which is unhealthy for sensitive groups.
Residents in affected areas will have air that looks hazy, the sky may appear smoky, and you may smell smoke. In addition, you won't be able to see long distances. Health effects will include irritated eyes, nose and throat, chest tightness, coughing and shortness of breath. These could lead to other conditions such as asthma and heart attacks or strokes, and the worsening of current heart or lung diseases and conditions.
Precautions for those in sensitive groups or those with increased exposure include reducing the number of outdoor physical activities, taking more breaks and avoiding intense activities.
To help with pollution control, the agency says you should either reduce or eliminate outdoor burning and using residential wood burning devices, not idle vehicles, and take fewer trips.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Being Fat Is Not A Moral Failure. Here's How To Teach Your Kids That.
Growing up in the '90s, Jessica Sprengle could name all the big fad diets of the day: Weight Watchers, Atkins, the South Beach diet, SlimFast ― you name it, her parents and other family members had tried it. Offhand comments about bodies, both hers and their own, were often made in her house, and weight gain rarely went unnoticed. 'I can distinctly remember one of my grandmothers asking me, at maybe 9 or 10, if I could believe 'how fat [she'd] gotten,'' Sprengle told HuffPost. 'Though it was never explicitly stated that my body was a problem or that I should do something to change my body, I internalized the message that being OK with my body was not an option and that I should always be working toward losing weight or pushing toward thinness.' All of this left Sprengle with the distinct impression that there was a moral component to weight gain: Fat was bad, and thin was very, very good. She internalized the notion that the health consequences that came with excessive weight gain ― high blood pressure, diabetes and other health issues ― were a direct result of a fat person's moral failure to take care of themselves and stay thin. Given the fixation on dieting in her house ― and how pronounced and pervasive fat shaming is in our culture ― it was almost inevitable that Sprengle would fall into disordered eating. 'Though I don't believe my eating disorder developed exclusively because of my family's penchant for dieting, I know that it played a role, just as genetics, neurobiology and trauma did,' she said. Now, as a licensed professional therapist specializing in treating eating disorders, Sprengle is quick to correct the idea that being fat is a kind of moral failing. 'I tell my clients that our culture is intensely fatphobic and very invested in their prejudice against those in fat bodies,' she said. 'Negative characteristics are often incorrectly attributed to people in fat bodies ― slovenliness, uncleanliness, low intelligence ― due exclusively to their size versus based in any real, true evidence.' As Sprengle's own story shows, negative conceptions about bodies ― unhealthy body standards, endless yo-yo dieting ― are often passed down from one generation to another. As a parent, how do you effectively get across to your child that 'fat' isn't a bad word and that weight fluctuation throughout life is entirely normal? Here's what experts like Sprengle say. Stop using moralizing language around food. Vanquish the words 'good' and 'bad' from your vocabulary when it comes to discussing the contents of your fridge. Let food be food and take its relative moral value out of the equation. 'Children are concrete thinkers, so labeling foods or bodies as 'good' or 'bad' or even an offhand comment such as 'I've been so bad lately' can have a lasting, detrimental impact.' said Jenny Weinar, a therapist specializing in disordered eating and body image concerns. It's important to encourage neutrality when it comes to food. Teach your kids that all foods can fit in a healthy diet, and that includes sugary foods or cultural holiday foods that are only served at your table every so often. 'No food should be strictly off-limits,' Sprengle said. 'When we restrict a child from eating certain foods, they will typically overdo it at some other time when they have access.' Be equally mindful of the words you use to talk about other people's bodies and how you respond to your children's casual but critical remarks about how others look. 'If they describe someone as fat, rather than correcting them or discouraging them from using that word, which only reinforces that fatness is a bad thing, use this as an opportunity to teach them about body diversity and celebrate the fact that there are all different kinds of bodies in the world,' Weinar said. If you're looking for a helpful visual aid to explain body diversity and why it's wrong to equate weight with health, Weinar recommends the popular YouTube clip 'Poodle Science.' Model acceptance and appreciation of your own body ― no matter your size. Every biting, self-chastising remark you make about your body echos through your child's head. So do the disdained glances you make in the mirror when trying on something that's far back in your closet. But if you speak lovingly of your body, that leaves a mark, too. Your child learns how to relate to their bodies by watching how you relate to yours, so be mindful of your words, Weinar said. 'Imagine the impact it could have for your child to see you celebrating all the amazing things your body can do, nourishing your body in ways that are pleasurable and honor your culture, and engaging in movement that feels joyful and life-giving, rather than berating yourself and starting one punishing diet after another,' she said. Instead of hiding behind a cover-up at the beach, wear your swimsuit unapologetically, Weinar said. Order that side of chili cheese fries without saying things like, 'Ugh, diet starts tomorrow.' If you embrace your body exactly how it is in this moment, you'll lay the groundwork for your children to embrace their whole selves, too. 'Work on healing your own relationship to food and body, and your children will be better off for it,' Weinar said. Don't comment on your kids' weight, even if you're trying to compliment them. It probably doesn't need to be said that negative comments about your child's weight fluctuation are counterproductive and can aggravate weight and body issues. But interestingly, researchers have actually found that any comments ― even well-intentioned comments about slimming down ― are detrimental to young girls' well-being. The Cornell University researchers who conducted the study didn't make a distinction between positive and negative comments, but they found that any comment a girl remembered hearing about her weight led to lower satisfaction with her body as an adult, even if she wasn't overweight. That particular study was focused on girls and women, but other research shows that boys are not immune to body image worries. While girls strive to be thin or lose weight, teen boys typically become dissatisfied with their bodies if they're not tall and muscular, according to a 2015 study published in the journal Adolescent Health, Medicine and Therapeutics. So how should you talk about weight if you're concerned about your child's health? You can point them in the right direction without saying a word. Experts recommended serving nutritious foods at home, making fresh fruits and veggies easily accessible in your kitchen and integrating physical activity into family life. Remind them that weight gain and weight loss is often something we can't control. Without guidance, a child can easily default to thinking that 'thin = automatically healthy' and 'fat = unhealthy.' Explain to them that there's sometimes more to someone's health profile than meets the eye, said Michelle Elman, a body positivity speaker and the author of 'Am I Ugly? One Woman's Journey to Body Positivity.' 'That 'fat = unhealthy, thin = healthy' way of thinking negates the times people lose weight because they are depressed or coping with grief or when they take medication and that creates weight gain,' Elman said. Have kid-level conversations in which you work through ― and hopefully dismantle ― the stereotype that fat people are unsuccessful and lazy or lack willpower. Teach them that weight is something that fluctuates across your lifespan and that gaining weight isn't something to beat yourself up over. 'All of this revolves around the idea that weight is something that we can control, and while there are certainly some aspects that can be controlled, not all variables are within personal responsibility,' Elman said. Surround them with body diversity Lastly, talk positively about bodies of all shapes, sizes, races and abilities or disabilities. To belabor a point you've probably heard a million times by now, representation matters: Watch TV shows and movies that depict all types of people and all different kinds of bodies. Read picture books that are inclusive and diverse without necessarily being about the importance of diversity. If you have teens, encourage them to follow influencers and models who actually look like them so that their social media feed isn't an infinite scroll of rail-thin white women. 'The bottom line is, you want to make sure your child is watching media that accurately represents the world and talks positively of different kinds of people so that their perception of beauty is not so narrow,' Elman said. Related... You Really, Really Should Never Comment On Your Child's Weight What Kids Hear When You Criticize Your Body In Front Of Them Fatphobia Is Ruining My Female Friendships
%3Amax_bytes(150000)%3Astrip_icc()%2FTAL-lead-image-SICKPILOT0825-8bc4688e28e243a1911be2b27a58e22e.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Travel + Leisure
6 minutes ago
- Travel + Leisure
What Happens When a Pilot Gets Sick or Dies Mid-flight?
Commercial pilots may fly 900,000-pound jumbo jets with hundreds of passengers on board, but that doesn't make them superhuman. Like us, they have immune systems that sometimes falter. While it's uncommon for pilots to get sick or hurt on the job, it's not unheard of. And rarely, they pass away mid-flight. Just last year, a Turkish Airlines flight from Seattle to Istanbul was forced to make an emergency landing in New York when its 59-year-old pilot collapsed and died a few hours into the 12-hour flight. Thankfully, these unfortunate incidents seldom lead to accidents or even situations that affect passengers—here's what happens when a pilot gets sick mid-flight. It's important to note that most sick pilots never make it onto the flight in the first place. 'This is because we assess our 'Fitness to Fly' prior to each flight,' explains Adam Cohen, a captain at SkyWest Airlines. While it's not a comprehensive guide, the FAA's pre-flight health checklist for pilots is called the IMSAFE Checklist. The letters stand for illness, medication, stress, alcohol, fatigue, and emotion. If a pilot doesn't feel 100 percent in any category, or they've been impacted by medication or alcohol consumption, they should refrain from flying and notify their doctor. Furthermore, in order to fly commercial planes carrying more than six passengers, all pilots need a medical certificate, issued by an official Aviation Medical Examiner. This certificate ensures they're physically and mentally healthy, and it's only good for 6-12 months, depending on the pilot's age. Pilots must be seen by a doctor regularly, and they can't be morbidly obese or have substance abuse issues. Despite the FAA and airlines' best efforts to ensure commercial pilots are healthy—they even feed them different meals to prevent the entire flight deck from suffering from food poisoning—pilots occasionally fall ill during a flight they're working. However, this doesn't necessarily mean it's a mayday situation. 'If a pilot becomes sick or incapacitated in flight, the other pilot is fully qualified to take over and safely operate the aircraft,' explains Rock Saddy, a pilot and liaison for Cirrus Aviation Services. 'Commercial flights always have at least two trained pilots on the flight deck, and in some cases, particularly long-haul routes, a relief pilot may also be on board.' In addition to keeping passengers comfortable, flight attendants are trained to assist in medical emergencies. And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. aircrafts with one or more flight attendants on board are required to have a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved automated external defibrillator on board as well as a first aid kit, plus an emergency medical kit containing certain medications you wouldn't find in a first aid kit. Saddy tells Travel + Leisure that many airlines also have 24/7 access to services such as MedLink that connect flight crews with emergency room doctors via phone, satellite, or radio. If the pilot is seriously ill, the trained doctor will instruct the pilot taking over to divert to the nearest appropriate airport so the sick pilot can receive medical attention. Most frequent fliers can recall a time when they were on a flight and the crew asked passengers who were doctors or nurses to volunteer to assist in the event of a medical emergency. Because this happens rather frequently (although it's most often a fellow passenger, not the pilot, who needs help), the Aviation Medical Assistance Act, which passed in 1998, includes a section that protects medical personnel from being sued for providing 'good-faith' medical care in the event of an emergency. However, this only applies to domestic flights within the U.S. It may not cover you on an international flight. And if you've been consuming alcohol, you could be liable for misconduct or negligence. Ultimately, whether or not you step forward to assist is up to you, so read up on the regulations before you travel.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
New Mexico Chile Association: Crop looks good but there were challenges
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – With the chile season officially starting, New Mexicans may have already noticed that familiar aroma in the air. According to the New Mexico Chile Association, the crop is looking good, but this year also had its challenges. That telltale smell lets New Mexicans know the chile season has officially begun. 'These rains have helped us quite a bit, kind of accelerate it. We're probably about a week ahead of where we were at last year,' said Edward Ogaz, who farms chile in southern New Mexico. Story continues below News: New Mexico Chile Association: Crop looks good but there were challenges Trending: New Mexico Department of Game and Fish to sell nearly 500 leftover deer licenses New Mexico News Insiders: What Happens When The Rio Grande Runs Dry? Community: KRQE Cares Shoes for Kids is raising money to put new shoes on kids at selected Title 1 schools Ogaz is also the president of the New Mexico Chile Association. Although the association said the state's chile crop looks good, farmers ran into some extra challenges this year. Those include labor issues, a hit-or-miss monsoon season, and irrigation uncertainties. 'Water's an everyday problem because we've got small amounts coming down from Colorado in the Rio Grande,' said Ogaz. That's why farmers like Jimmy Wagner of Big Jim Farms in Albuquerque's North Valley are turning to drip systems, especially as the Rio Grande ran dry this summer with little to no water for irrigation. The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District told KRQE in July that it's due to below-average snowpack and the compact promising water to Texas. 'They turned off the water like a month ago, so it was like, what are we going to do? So, we have a drip system that waters it by itself,' said Wagner. Wagner said his farm is starting to harvest, and the chile is abundant and flavorful. 'When it's dry and hot like this, you get a lot of flavor, and it's hotter,' added Wagner. The New Mexico Chile Association said they don't expect a shortage of chile this year. 'I think we're probably going to have an average year as far as volume's concerned, maybe a little bit above average. I think our quality is good all the way through,' said Ogaz. However, with this year's challenges and rising supply costs, they expect chile could be more expensive. The association's message to consumers is that New Mexico-grown chile is worth it. 'Once we let chile creep in from Mexico, the price starts to cheapen. That's why we're so big in our chile association on this certified New Mexico chile because we have to protect what is ours,' said Ogaz. The chile season in New Mexico typically starts in late July or early August and could last through early October. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
