Hundreds of Thousands Told To Stay Inside in 4 States
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Hundreds of thousands of residents in four states have been advised to remain indoors as air quality alerts continue to blanket the Midwest.
The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) AirNow map, which offers a real-time snapshot of air quality, shows that air pollution levels across Minnesota and parts of Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa are deemed to be "unhealthy" on Wednesday.
The EPA and the National Weather Service (NWS) urged people to reduce exposure to outdoor air after wildfires and current weather conditions have deteriorated air quality, pushing pollution levels into hazardous territory in several communities.
Why It Matters
The ongoing alerts show the health risks posed by smoke and air pollutants carried over vast areas, especially for sensitive groups including children, seniors, and people with respiratory or heart conditions.
Minnesota has been impacted by wildfires this week, adding to the devastation already caused by a string of blazes last month that consumed more than 35,000 acres of land.
The state, as well as Iowa and Wisconsin have been experiencing poor air quality for the last few days.
File photo: a thick haze hangs over Manhattan in New York.
File photo: a thick haze hangs over Manhattan in New York.
Julie Jacobson/AP
What To Know
The Wisconsin cities facing a red warning with Air Quality Index (AQI) scores of between 151-200 (see below) include Eau Claire, La Crosse and Green Bay.
The red warning means that "some members of the general public may experience "health effects," while members of sensitive groups "may experience more serious health effects."
In Minnesota, the red warning covers Rochester and parts of Minneapolis; in Iowa, Mason City; and in Michigan, Menominee and Iron Mountain.
Meanwhile, the NWS has published Air Quality Advisories for millions of people on Tuesday across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Maine.
Various alerts in different states advised that individuals "consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects."
It added that if you experience "symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing, throat irritation or an uncomfortable sensation in your chest, please consider limiting the intensity and duration of your outdoor activities."
In some states, Americans were advised to drive less, work from home, wait to mow the lawn and refill vehicles tanks after sunset.
Smoke from ongoing wildfires, aggravated by stagnant atmospheric conditions, has driven particulate pollution to hazardous levels.
People most at risk include those with chronic heart or lung diseases, older adults, children, pregnant women, and outdoor workers.
Even healthy individuals may experience symptoms such as eye irritation, coughing, or difficulty breathing when air quality levels are particularly poor.
What People Are Saying
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), wrote on its website about air quality alerts: "The color red represents an index value of 151 to 200. This means the air quality is unhealthy. Everyone needs to be concerned. Sensitive groups should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion. Move activities indoors or reschedule to a time when the air quality is better. Everyone else should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion. Take more breaks during all outdoor activities."
The EPA said: "When air quality is in this range, any individual who is active outdoors may experience the respiratory effects described above. Members of sensitive groups are likely to experience more severe effects. EPA's risk assessment indicates that at this level for healthy individuals (adults and children) at moderate exertion."
It added: "Approximately 30 percent are estimated to experience moderate or greater lung function impairment, approximately 15 percent are estimated to experience large or greater lung function impairments, and approximately 5 percent are estimated to experience moderate to severe respiratory symptoms (i.e., chest pain with deep inspiration and aggravated cough)."
What Happens Next
Officials will continue to monitor air quality and update guidance as conditions evolve. Residents are urged to stay informed via EPA's AirNow portal and local weather channels for the latest alerts and health recommendations.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
33 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Veterans remain central to D-Day anniversary ceremonies
The Brief D-Day marks the day allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy in Nazi-occupied France on June 6, 1944. D-Day was the largest amphibious invasion in military history. June 6 marks the anniversary of D-Day, the day allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy and changed the course of World War II. The invasion was unprecedented in scale and audacity and implemented the largest-ever armada of ships, troops, planes and vehicles to punch a hole in Adolf Hitler's defenses in Western Europe. Today, though the D-Day generation of veterans are smaller, they remain a crucial reminder of what June 6 means as they continue to spread the message that they fought so hard for 81 years ago: Freedom is worth defending. About 66,143 of the 16.4 million Americans who served in World War II were alive as of 2024, according to statistics from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Dig deeper At the Normandy American Cemetery that overlooks Omaha, the resting place for nearly 9,400 American war dead, workers and visitors rubbed sand from the beach onto the white gravestones, so the engraved names stand out. Wally King, a sprightly 101-year-old, shared a few words at the grave of Henry Shurlds Jr. Shurlds who flew P-47 Thunderbolt fighters like King and was shot down and killed on Aug. 19, 1944. What they're saying When "most veterans from World War II came home, they didn't want to talk about the war. So they didn't pass those experiences on to their children and grandchildren," King said. "In a way, that's good because there's enough unpleasantness, bloodshed, agony in war, and perhaps we don't need to emphasize it," he added. "But the sacrifice needs to be emphasized and celebrated." Jack Stowe, a 98-year-old who served in the Navy, shared that he still receives "the sweetest letters" from kids he has met on previous trips. "The French people here, they're so good to us … they want to talk to us, they want to sit down and they want their kids around us," he said. Jake Larson, 102, survived machine gunfire while storming Omaha beach on D-Day. "We are the lucky ones … They had no family. We are their family. We have the responsibility to honor these guys who gave us a chance to be alive," Larson said. What does "D" stand for in D-Day? It depends on who you ask. The backstory Some say it stands for designated day, decision day, doomsday or even death day, according to the U.S. military. Others also said it merely stands for "Day," as in Day-Day. There have been other instances in history which utilized D-Day as a coded designation for the day of any important invasion or military operation, the U.S. military said. Referencing Stephen Ambrose's book, "D-Day, June 6, 1944: The Climactic Battle of World War II," the U.S. Army's first use of D-Day was in 1918. "For military planners (and later historians), the days before and after a D-Day were indicated using plus and minus signs: D-4 meant four days before a D-Day, while D+7 meant seven days after a D-Day," according to the U.S. Army website. An unknown person allegedly wrote to General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Allied supreme commander for Operation Overlord, and asked what the "D" meant. His executive assistant at the time, Brigadier Gen. Robert Schultz answered: "General Eisenhower asked me to respond to your letter. Be advised that any amphibious operation has a 'departed date'; therefore the shortened term 'D-Day' is used," the Army's website reads. The sea landings started at 6:30 a.m., just after dawn, targeting five code-named beaches: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, Sword. The operation also included actions inland, including overnight parachute landings on strategic German sites and U.S. Army Rangers scaling cliffs to take out German gun positions. By the numbers Around 11,000 Allied aircraft, 7,000 ships and boats, and thousands of other vehicles were involved. A total of 4,414 Allied troops were killed on D-Day itself, including 2,501 Americans. More than 5,000 were wounded. In the ensuing Battle of Normandy, 73,000 Allied forces were killed and 153,000 wounded. The battle — and especially Allied bombings of French villages and cities — killed around 20,000 French civilians. The exact German casualties aren't known, but historians estimate between 4,000 and 9,000 men were killed, wounded or missing during the D-Day invasion alone. About 22,000 German soldiers are among the many buried around Normandy. The Source Information for this article was taken from previous reporting by The Associated Press, FOX News and previous reporting by FOX Local. This story was reported from Los Angeles.
The Hill
2 hours ago
- The Hill
The US Postal Service has an animal welfare problem
Many Americans have a frustrating relationship with the United States Postal Service. Lines are often long, mail gets lost and packages can be delayed. But the government institution's biggest blemish has nothing to do with late birthday cards. The current USPS standards for shipping live animals are dangerously inadequate and in desperate need of reform. In May, thousands of chicks were found abandoned in a USPS truck in Delaware. With the baby birds trapped without food or water in high temperatures for three days, thousands sadly perished, with less than half of the total 12,000 birds surviving. USPS said it is investigating the 'process breakdown,' but the incident requires more than bureaucratic proceedings. This particular event is part of a larger pattern of animal mistreatment at the government agency. Earlier this year, USPS delays in Indiana left dozens of chicks dead. Thousands more were killed in New England following mail delivery disruptions in 2020. The country's flagship mail carrier transports millions of animals every year, but puzzlingly does not employ a single veterinarian to oversee its animal shipment operations and practices. With weak expert supervision, the shipments happen under conditions that most Americans would find unacceptable for domestic pets like dogs or cats. Animals ranging from birds to reptiles and bees to fish are shipped cross-country with limited standards that only mandate basic ventilation and box labeling. The conditions at airports are particularly heartbreaking. Animals transported through USPS via plane can be left on the tarmac for extended periods before being loaded into the cargo hold. That leaves the living, breathing creatures exposed to extreme heat, bitter cold or other harsh weather conditions. When traveling on vacation through the Phoenix airport in July, would you leave your family dog baking in a crate on the hot runway? Absolutely not. Stronger federal rules are needed to ensure that animals shipped through the postal service are treated humanely. The status quo around animal welfare is abhorrent, but the government does not need to reinvent the wheel to rectify the situation. Other companies that transport live animals already have robust rules in place that can, and should, be duplicated at USPS. For example, when being transported through the sky, animals should be last on and first off the plane. When not actively being loaded, species should be held in climate-controlled hangers, rather than left out in the elements. Flying routes should also be adjusted to cut down on transport time and to reflect weather forecasts that could become hazardous for the animals. When on the road, USPS regulations should limit the maximum transit time, create temperature standards and mandate special training for employees to learn best practices around facilitating the transport of live animals. After all, moving a container of baby chicks or insects should be approached differently than delivering an Amazon package. Most importantly, the agency should explore mechanisms that ensure workers adhere to these new protocols. That includes monitoring employees for compliance as well as holding those accountable who break the rules. The tragic episode that recently unfolded in Delaware should be a wake-up call for the United States Postal Service. President Trump should sign an executive order directing the Postmaster General to swiftly craft and implement changes. It is well past time for the mail carrier to revamp its processes to reflect modern standards of animal welfare. Animal lives hang in the balance. Robin Ganzert, Ph.D., is the president and CEO of the American Humane Society.
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
Alert Urging People To Monitor Themselves for Coughs Spreads to 3 States
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Air quality alerts advising people to monitor themselves for symptoms such as coughing are in place for three states, with other warnings about poor air quality extending further as Canadian wildfire smoke descends into the U.S. In addition to respiratory symptoms such as coughing, exposure to wildfire smoke could cause an uptick in heart attacks and strokes, Dr. Scott Budinger, the chief of pulmonary and critical care in the Department of Medicine at Northwestern University, told Newsweek. Why It Matters Smoke from the Canadian wildfires has degraded air quality in the Upper Midwest for the past week. In some instances, smoke has impacted sunsets as far south as the Gulf Coast, with people warned of physical impact as far south as the Plains states. As of Friday, air quality alerts advising people to move indoors if they begin to cough are in place for Maine, Michigan and Wisconsin. Other air quality alerts are in place in Nebraska, the Great Lakes and parts of the Northeast. A stock image shows a man coughing. A stock image shows a man coughing. Liubomyr Vorona/Getty What To Know Most air quality alerts warning of symptoms like coughing were set to expire by noon on Friday, although they could be reissued. The alert in Maine included the cities of Allagash, Clayton Lake, Lincoln, Howland and Springfield, among others. "People who may be especially sensitive to the effects of elevated levels of pollutants include the very young, the elderly, those with pre-existing respiratory problems such as asthma, those with heart disease and anyone who is working hard outdoors," an alert from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection said. "But if you experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing, throat irritation or an uncomfortable sensation in your chest please consider limiting the intensity and duration of your outdoor activities." In Michigan, the alert was in place for cities such as Benton Harbor, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Ludington and others. "Smoke associated with Canada wildfires persists over the state today," the Michigan alert said. "Levels of PM2.5 into the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) range are expected and reading could reach the Unhealthy (Red AQI) range for a short period of time." In Wisconsin, the alert was in place for areas along the Lake Michigan shoreline. What People Are Saying NWS Weather Prediction Center meteorologist Marc Chenard told Newsweek: "To some extent, there's going to be some smoke that's lingering in the Midwest, Great Lakes and into the Northeast through the weekend. "It generally looks like the concentration will be on a downward trend, so that might mean some of the air quality won't be quite as impacted but there will likely still be periods of smoke." An air quality alert in Wisconsin: "Make outdoor activities shorter and less intense. It is OK to be active outdoors but take more breaks. Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath. People with asthma: Follow your asthma action plan and keep quick relief medicine handy. People with heart disease: Symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, or unusual fatigue may indicate a serious problem. If you have any of these, contact your health care provider." What Happens Next If someone's cough lasts for seven days or is associated with breathlessness, they should see a doctor. Most of the air quality alerts will expire on Friday.
