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The Minnesota House on Thursday approved legislation making changes to the state's new law legalizing cannabis for recreational use, including a pre-approval process for businesses to get a head start as regulators plan for market launch next year and contentious revisions to how those licenses will be issued.
Emergency medical services providers say they need a lifeline from the state legislature this session to the tune of $120 million to keep answering calls for help, especially in rural parts of Minnesota.
Ambulance services say they need a lifeline from lawmakers this session to shore up services, especially for people who need their help in rural parts of Minnesota.
A key lawmaker backing legislation mandating new regulations for rideshare operations in Minnesota said Tuesday that stakeholders are "very close" to an agreement on wages for drivers — a sticking point in negotiations.
![BRUCE BISPING • bbisping@startribune.com Shakopee, MN., Friday, 5/15/2009] The first live race at Canterbury Park bolted from the starting line as the Minnesota horse racing season started.](https://assets3.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2024/04/09/e569af12-fac0-4179-a37d-62d114d46853/thumbnail/640x360/2fff975d8924c6a113040428bacfbce3/gettyimages-1155665212.jpg#)
Minnesota's two horse racing tracks say they got a lifeline when state regulators authorized a new game — historic horse racing — last week. But Democrats moved quickly Monday to advance legislation blocking the games right out of the gate.
State regulators recently approved a new game for play at horse racing tracks. And it's stirring up controversy at the state capitol. As Caroline Cummings reports, a bill would give them a run for their money.
According to St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, the city spent more than $1 million on repairing and restoring gutted lamps and traffic signals in the last year. It's part of the reason lawmakers are pushing to make it illegal to sell copper without a state-issued license.
State lawmakers say dark streets are shining a spotlight on a growing issue. St. Paul says the sharp rise in copper wire theft cost more than a million dollars last year, and the city says it not alone. As our Beret Leone explains, legislators believe they've come up with a solution to stop would-be thieves.
Monday is a big day for St. Paul's city leaders. They're heading to the capitol to support a new bill to stop a public safety issue costing the city millions of dollars: copper wire theft.
At the state capitol, Democrats are backing a bill that would set rideshare rules, including minimum pay of $1.39 per mile and $0.49 per minute, according to the Senate DFL plan.
Minnesota Democrats are considering launching a basic income pilot program that would send $500 monthly payments to low-income families — no strings attached.
Marijuana is legal for recreational use in Minnesota, but just how the state will roll out the new legal market by next year's target date is up for debate.
At the capitol today, a slate of bills designed to boost access to health care services, like physical therapy and speech-language pathology, by authorizing compacts with other states.
Disability advocates are calling on Minnesota lawmakers to act as they push for what they say is equality for all. Hundreds of advocates rallied at the State Capitol rotunda calling for legislation, but also celebrating a day of unity. WCCO's Adam Duxter shares what they are asking from lawmakers.
People living with disabilities and advocates alike are gathering at the state capitol to ask for concrete policy changes during this legislative session.
Gov. Tim Walz traded in the typical State House Chamber for a High School Auditorium to tout his party's big wins for this year's State of the State address. Caroline Cummings has the highlights from Owatonna.
Minnesota medical cannabis patients would be able to grow up to 16 plants at home under a bill in the state legislature — double the amount allowed for adults under the new law legalizing marijuana for recreational use.
Minnesota is going green with legal recreational marijuana sales on track for next year. But in the meantime, lawmakers are pitching tweaks to the medical cannabis program. Caroline Cummings reports.
It's illegal to purchase a gun for someone else who is not allowed to have one, known as a straw purchase. But state lawmakers say Minnesota's laws aren't strong enough to enforce, and penalties should increase.
It's a crime that can have killer consequences, but some lawmakers say current laws aren't tough enough to stop it.
Republicans want Democrats, who hold the majority, to do more.
Minnesota's minimum wage statewide would bump to $15 an hour starting this summer and increase each year until it reaches $20 under a plan that advanced in the state Senate on Tuesday.
A new bill that would increase Minnesota's minimum wage is making its way through the state legislature.
Rep. Elliott Engen of White Bear Lake is introducing a bill that would essentially override Minneapolis' ordinance and prevent any city or municipality from setting their own rules for rideshare driver pay.
Minnesota House Republicans plan to introduce a bill to help keep Uber and Lyft operating in the Twin Cities.
The Minnesota Wild have signed center Marco Rossi to a three-year, $15 million contract.
Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick, helped the Tennessee Titans wrap up the preseason by beating the Minnesota Vikings 23-13 Friday night.
Royce Lewis hit a grand slam, Byron Buxton, Luke Keaschall, and Edouard Julien each had two hits, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Chicago White Sox 9-7.
Kayla McBride scored 29 points, Jessica Shepard got the second triple-double in franchise history, and the Minnesota Lynx beat the Indiana Fever 95-90.
A federal judge on Friday blocked the Trump administration from cutting off federal funding from dozens of "sanctuary" cities and counties — covering several of the largest cities in the U.S.
Two men are recovering after they were shot in south Minneapolis on Friday afternoon.
Minnesota health officials say the state's blood supply is critically low and are calling for action to address the problem.
The Minnesota DFL's move to revoke the endorsement of Minnesota state Sen. Omar Fateh by the local Minneapolis party unit for the city's mayoral race has sparked backlash.
A man and a woman are expected to be in court on Friday for charges related to a Minneapolis drive-by shooting that left a 79-year-old woman who was inside her home at the time seriously hurt.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is asking for your help in finding a missing 35-year-old Maple Grove, Minnesota man.
A Northstar Commuter Rail train hit a truck "stopped on the tracks" Friday morning in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, according to Metro Transit police, halting service in both directions.
Charges say when he was asked why he touches the children, the man said "he hasn't had sex in a long time," and he did it because he had "access."
Nineteen-year-old Owen Thurnau is being credited with saving a man's life after the Owatonna, Minnesota, Hy-Vee employee successfully gave the Heimlich maneuver to a choking man last month.
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simons says Minnesota will join the fight if President Trump attempts to halt mail-in voting.
The Le Sueur Police Department on Monday announced the passing of Karl Haugen, 41, who the department said served the Le Sueur-Henderson community since 2008.
Officials say a traveler from out of state who visited two Wisconsin gas stations may have exposed others to measles.
A deer hunter has discovered a rare subtropical wood stork in the wilds of Wisconsin.
Wolfdogs in northern Wisconsin are helping war veterans deal with their post-traumatic stress disorder.
A motorcyclist from Minnesota was killed in a crash with a truck pulling a trailer in western Wisconsin on Sunday.
Flash flooding canceled the final day of the Wisconsin State Fair on Sunday as continued heavy rainfall in half a dozen Midwest states has led to water rescues, power outages and road closures.
A grandma's quiet craft shop in Holdingford, Minnesota, got a big surprise thanks to her loving grandson and a viral Facebook post.
The second annual Guns and Hoses event is being held to raise money for police officers, firefighters and paramedics across the state, including those who responded to the shootings that wounded Minnesota Sen. John Hoffman and his wife.
After a monthslong push for more transparency, a community exposed to elevated lead emissions earlier this year was able to get some answers from investigators.
Dozens of students will be looking their best when heading back to school, thanks to the annual Youth Appreciation Day in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Sometimes there are milestones so rare that they turn a care center into the most joyful place in town.
A federal judge on Friday blocked the Trump administration from cutting off federal funding from dozens of "sanctuary" cities and counties — covering several of the largest cities in the U.S.
Minnesota DFL officials have revoked their endorsement for Minneapolis mayor. State Sen. Omar Fateh, a Democratic Socialist, had secured the support of delegates over incumbent Mayor Jacob Frey in July, but the party said it found flaws in the voting system, prompting a decision that’s sparking backlash. Caroline Cummings explains.
The Justice Dept. released transcripts of Deputy AG Todd Blanche's two-day interview with convicted sex trafficker and Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
Caroline Cummings has the latest on the growing controversy in the Minneapolis mayoral race between incumbent Democrat Jacob Frey and state Sen. Omar Fateh, a democratic socialist.
The Minnesota DFL's move to revoke the endorsement of Minnesota state Sen. Omar Fateh by the local Minneapolis party unit for the city's mayoral race has sparked backlash.
While the first day of the Great Minnesota Get-Together brought in big bucks for vendors, some families say the price of participation is expensive.
With almost three dozen new foods to try at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair, it can be difficult to plan the menu for your visit. WCCO is here to help.
Visitors to this year's Minnesota State Fair might get sticker shock when buying some of their favorite foods.
Local organizations are stepping up to help families in need have a successful school year, from end-of-summer celebrations to free haircuts and full backpacks of essentials.
One Minnesota woman left the corporate world to run her own bakery in Saint Paul's Lowertown.
Federal prosecutors seek a 41-month sentence for the woman who pleaded guilty to illegally buying weapons for her children's father, who then used them in the killing of three Burnsville first responders in 2024, according to court records.
Two men are recovering after they were shot in south Minneapolis on Friday afternoon.
A man and a woman are expected to be in court on Friday for charges related to a Minneapolis drive-by shooting that left a 79-year-old woman who was inside her home at the time seriously hurt.
A hit-and-run driver plowed into a 27-year-old woman pulling children in a wagon in a crosswalk on Thursday night in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, leaving one child in critical condition.
Charges say when he was asked why he touches the children, the man said "he hasn't had sex in a long time," and he did it because he had "access."
Minnesota health officials say the state's blood supply is critically low and are calling for action to address the problem.
Officials say a traveler from out of state who visited two Wisconsin gas stations may have exposed others to measles.
Today, the program has nine helicopters, 45 pilots and it airlifts about 2,600 patients a year.
The southern Minnesota city of Waseca has closed several beaches, boat ramps and bodies of water due to possible water contamination.
One in every seven police officers worldwide suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder or depression, and one in every 10 struggles with other mental illnesses. Officers in Bloomington, Minnesota, are making sure to check in and take care of their fellow officers.
The sights and sounds of country band Old Dominion lit up the Grandstand at the Minnesota State Fair on Thursday ahead of the release of their latest album, "Barbara."
Around 5:50 a.m., LAPD officers responded to Ventura Boulevard and Vineland Avenue for a man walking in the street.
As the curtain prepares to rise for the stage adaptation of Prince's iconic film "Purple Rain", producers have released the names of those whose talents will be on display later this year at the State Theatre in Minneapolis.
Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota's senior U.S. senator, says someone used AI to simulate her voice, making a "vulgar and absurd" critique of the controversial American Eagle jeans ad featuring actress Sydney Sweeney.
A Maryland ticket broker is accused of illegally purchasing and reselling hundreds of thousands of tickets for profit, including thousands to Taylor Swift's highly-sought Eras Tour.
Julia Rodrigue attended Hudson High School in Wisconsin and was active in three sports. In college, she stumbled into a sport she had never tried. Three years later, she's a national champion and climbing.
The Minnesota Wild have signed center Marco Rossi to a three-year, $15 million contract.
Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick, helped the Tennessee Titans wrap up the preseason by beating the Minnesota Vikings 23-13 Friday night.
Royce Lewis hit a grand slam, Byron Buxton, Luke Keaschall, and Edouard Julien each had two hits, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Chicago White Sox 9-7.
Kayla McBride scored 29 points, Jessica Shepard got the second triple-double in franchise history, and the Minnesota Lynx beat the Indiana Fever 95-90.
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simons says Minnesota will join the fight if President Trump attempts to halt mail-in voting.
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simons says Minnesota will join the fight if President Trump follows through with his call to end mail-in voting by the 2026 Midterm Elections. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy examines whether Trump has the authority to do so, as well as other election issues, including who should have access to voter information.
Fateh is a Democratic Socialist, part of a surging progressive wing of the Democratic Party both in Minnesota and nationwide.
Tuesday will mark one month until early voting begins in local municipal and school board elections around the state. That includes the Mayor's race in Minneapolis. In tonight's Talking Points, Esme Murphy looks at the candidacy of State Sen. Omar Fateh.
A new Minnesota law requires governments and public entities to report cyberattacks within 72 hours to the state and notify victims whose data has been breached. Starting next year, the law will require the state to issue an annual report on cyberattacks.
It's been 50 years since WCCO has been at its current location at the "Great Minnesota Get-Together."
Caves that were once used for making beer in the 1800s are now used for making cheese. In this week's Finding Minnesota, John Lauritsen looks into the history of the cheese caves in Faribault.
On his five-acre property in Blaine, Minnesota, Erik Lund has plenty of space to fine-tune his golf game and his guitar game.
This Friday, the town of Braham will reach a milestone as it celebrates its 35th "Pie Day." It's always the first Friday in August.
In the mid-90s, a group of Alexandria, Minnesota, residents wanted to highlight wooden boats and their craftsmanship, believing they were essentially works of art. So, they converted an old city garage into the Legacy of Lakes Museum.
Jeff Wagner looks at the winding road it took for the Minnesota State Fair to find its permanent home 140 years ago.
The first Tuesday of August is a unique night meant for nothing more than connection with those living on your street and the people tasked to protect it: National Night Out, which is now in its 42nd year.
Homeowners know the saying, "water finds a way." Add wildfire smoke to that distinction, another savvy invader harming indoor quality, where people should feel protected from it.
Be sure to turn your eyes to the night sky, as brief flashes of light will streak through outer space on Tuesday night.
From farmland to store shelves and, soon, your kitchen, produce is a healthy choice that sometimes needs a healthy rinse.
The Minnesota State Fair has unveiled its new food, drinks and vendors for 2025.
A suspect was taken into custody after an attack on Pearl Street Mall in Boulder on June 1 in which there were 15 people and a dog who were victims. The suspect threw Molotov cocktails that burned some of the victims, who were part of a march for Israeli hostages.
WCCO photojournalist Art Phillips shares some personal family photos taken by his father, Arthur Phillips Sr., in Vietnam during his time in service.
The new Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum is under construction just outside of Camp Ripley in Little Falls. Set to open in late 2026, the $40 million, first-of-its-kind project in the nation will be eight times the size of the existing museum. It will honor not only Minnesota's service members and their sacrifices, but the refugee experience as well. Watch and read more in Pauleen Le's series "Vietnam 50 Years Later: Reflections on a War that Changed Minnesota."
The National Weather Service has issued multiple tornado warnings and many more severe thunderstorm warnings throughout wide swaths of southern and central Minnesota Monday afternoon.
The humidity level in expected to drop over the weekend, making for comfortable conditions outside, according to meteorologist Chris Shaffer.
In Minnesota, weather can be all over the place. Here at WCCO, we want to give you what you need to prepare for what's happening next.
Meteorologist Chris Shaffer says Sunday could be one of the coldest days of the State Fair in years, with temperatures forecasted in the high 60s.
High temperatures will be in the high 60s and low 70s across central Minnesota on Saturday, according to Next Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer.
WCCO meteorologist Mike Augustyniak says things are looking rather cool for this time of year for much of the Minnesota State Fair.
The humidity level in expected to drop over the weekend, making for comfortable conditions outside, according to meteorologist Chris Shaffer.
In what's become a yearly tradition at the Minnesota State Fair, WCCO's Amelia Santaniello, Frank Vascellaro, Mike Max and Chris Shaffer square off to see who can make it down the Giant Slide first.
No one understands the importance of a strong team like athletes. Bill Walsh's family has helped him take care of Walsh Field in Gaylord for decades. But this summer, life threw him a curveball. He lost his wife. Mike Max shares a story of love, loss and legacy.
The purple pride was on full display on Friday at the Minnesota State Fair. Ubah Ali asks Minnesota Vikings fans about their expectations for the season.
The Minnesota Vikings expect big things from former San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Javon Hargrave. Mike Max goes one-on-one with the two-time Pro-Bowler.