
Minn. Woman Sits With First Lady At State Of The Union
A Twin Cities woman was President Obama's guest at the State of the Union address Tuesday night. Rebekah Erler wrote the president last year about how tough the economy has been on her family.
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A Twin Cities woman was President Obama's guest at the State of the Union address Tuesday night. Rebekah Erler wrote the president last year about how tough the economy has been on her family.
Since 1960, it's been an unstoppable population shift, and a new study from the Center for Rural Policy and Development shows a 50-year migration from rural Minnesota to the urban corridor stretching from St. Cloud through the Twin Cities and Rochester.
Minnesota lawmakers opened hearings Thursday on a bill to regulate how long police can keep computer images of your car and license plate. Police store tens of thousands of those images -- even if you haven't committed a crime.
Minnesota lawmakers are caught in a dust-up over office space at the State Capitol, and it's threatening to delay the massive Capitol restoration now underway. The three-year, $272 million project is on time and on budget. But the tenants in the new building -- including the governor, the Senate, the House and the attorney general -- cannot come to agreement over how much space they will control.
When Minnesota lawmakers returned to the State Capitol after the bruising 2014 election campaign, Tina Smith was outside their offices to greet them.
Minnesota lawmakers are moving quickly to overhaul the state's child protection system.
Minnesota lawmakers kicked off the new session Thursday with a sweeping package of unusual legislative priorities.
An interesting new idea from some Minnesota lawmakers this year: Cancel next year's legislative session. The "No Session 2016" movement began the first hour of the first day of the 2015 legislature, when top leaders revealed that they're talking about it.
Members of the newly-elected Minnesota House took the oath of office in a major construction zone Tuesday. The Capitol is shrouded in scaffolding. Lawmakers and their families navigated closed-off hallways and long elevator lines to open the session. The new Republican majority selected Rep. Kurt Daudt as the powerful house speaker.
The U.S. Government said Tuesday the nation's economy grew at a whopping 5 percent annual rate last summer. That's the fastest growth since 2003, including jobs coming back to the Midwest.
The widow of "American Sniper" Chris Kyle says she'll have to pay lawsuit damages to former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura out of her own pocket. Ventura won the lawsuit in July after he claimed he was defamed by Kyle's book. Taya Kyle says she's on the hook for most of the $1.8 million in damages awarded to the former Minnesota governor.
The Minnesota State Capitol restoration makes the building look the way it did more than 100 years ago, when Minnesota's best craftsmen built its most visible public landmark. But this project is repairing a century of cover-ups and patch-overs. Project Manager Jason McMillan showed us skylights hidden for decades above false ceilings.
The new Vikings stadium has 200,000 square feet of glass as part of its iconic design. Glass fabrication is well under way, with installation beginning in February. But officials overseeing construction of the billion-dollar facility met last week with bird advocates and the Vikings at 3M headquarters in Maplewood, telling lawmakers they asked the company if it could develop a new 3M adhesive film to cover the glass.
Minnesota joins 32 other states with policies for transgender athletes on high school sports teams. But that doesn't make it any less controversial. Minnesota transgender students can choose a sports team if parents and health care professionals can prove their gender-related identity. Students don't need proof of sex-change surgery or hormone therapy.
Talk of tax cuts has followed word that Minnesota's budget will run up a $1 billion surplus. Top Democrats and Republicans separately raised the prospect Thursday of giving tax breaks with a portion of the surplus. The first dose could come soon in the next session as lawmakers weigh whether to match up Minnesota's deductions and credits more closely with those at the federal level.
AAA is forecasting more travelers will hit the road this Thanksgiving than at any time since 2007.
The final election results are in: Minnesota had its lowest voter turnout since 1986. The state canvassing board officially certified the 2014 voter turnout at 50.5 percent. It's one of the last official acts for Secretary of State Mark Ritchie.
Shashi Chopra sat at her kitchen table, surrounded by her husband, and two children, and cried a little as she recalled that accident in March of 2013.
The Minnesota Vikings are putting more money into the new stadium under construction in downtown Minneapolis. The Vikes are adding another $647,000 for stadium extras, from sideline seating to food concessions. The latest upgrades include upgrading the team's locker room, expanding cooking and concession areas and adding end-zone seating areas it calls "Red Zone Mini-Suites."
The executive director of Minnesota's health insurance exchange says a mostly problem-free weekend rollout netted more than 500 enrollees.
Connie Grover has been in the bar-and-restaurant business for more than 30 years. So she's accustomed to sudden change. But she was stunned to get a letter from PreferredOne saying her monthly insurance rates are going up 160 percent. "I couldn't believe how high the rate went," Grover said. "I just couldn't believe it."
An audit of MNsure found Minnesota's Human Services Department made multiple mistakes verifying who's eligible for which public health program. Legislative Auditor James Nobles said human services got it wrong at least 17 percent of the time. "We spent a lot of money, taken quite a bit of time now and we ought to be at a point where they can get it right -- all the time, on every case," Nobles said.
Minnesota honored its veterans with a special state program Tuesday in Inver Grove Heights. State military leaders honored Minnesota's 370,000 veterans, including 26,000 who were deployed for extended periods of time after 9/11.
Six months after winning a bid to host the 2018 Super Bowl, Minnesota is making a bid for the NCAA Final four. Minnesota is one of eight locations competing for a Final Four between 2017 and 2020.
Minnesota lawmakers next year are preparing again to take up the issue of Sunday liquor sales. Minnesota is one of only 12 states that require liquor stores to be closed on Sundays. And many Minnesota consumers cross the border to Wisconsin, where Sunday sales are legal.
The typical excitement surrounding the start of the season at Minnesota was tempered this week, the heaviness of a too-close-to-home tragedy making it harder to fully escape from the outside world at a football game.
The traditional NFL "chain gang" is taking a back seat to technology this season.
A salmonella outbreak linked to eggs has sickened nearly 100 people in 14 states, including four cases in Minnesota, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Minneapolis Fire Department said a house fire spread to a neighboring home on Thursday afternoon east of Bde Maka Ska.
A 27-year-old man from Coon Rapids, Minnesota, was killed in a motorcycle crash on Thursday night just a few blocks north of the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.
The typical excitement surrounding the start of the season at Minnesota was tempered this week, the heaviness of a too-close-to-home tragedy making it harder to fully escape from the outside world at a football game.
The Minneapolis Fire Department said a house fire spread to a neighboring home on Thursday afternoon east of Bde Maka Ska.
A 27-year-old man from Coon Rapids, Minnesota, was killed in a motorcycle crash on Thursday night just a few blocks north of the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.
Community support and healing continue throughout Minneapolis after a shooting took the lives of two children and injured many more.
An hours-long standoff in West St. Paul on Thursday ended with law enforcement shooting and killing a man who allegedly fired at officers multiple times.
According to Gov. Tim Walz's office, 14 troopers and six DNR enforcement officers will coordinate with police to help with patrol coverage and visibility.
Minnesotans are looking to answer the call for help following Wednesday's mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis. Events and efforts are underway to help victims, their families and healthcare workers.
President Trump has issued a proclamation ordering the U.S. flag be flown at half-staff following a shooting in Minneapolis early Wednesday during a school Mass that left two students dead and 17 other people hurt.
Two people, including a Beltrami County Sheriff's Office deputy, are recovering from injuries related to a head-on crash involving a stolen vehicle outside of Bemidji, Minnesota.
Health leaders are urging Minnesotans to get proactive in preventing the West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne illnesses as summer winds down.
The Wisconsin Historical Society says the Frank D. Barker was sailing for Escanaba, Michigan in 1887 when it hit bad weather and ran off course.
A restraining order filed by a western Wisconsin teacher against her former school district's superintendent has been lifted, court documents show.
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.
Minnesotans are looking to answer the call for help following Wednesday's mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis. Events and efforts are underway to help victims, their families and healthcare workers.
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.
The mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis is again sparking a push for something to change.
The tragedy at a Minneapolis church is again sparking a push for something to change.
Susan Monarez, the director of the CDC, has been removed from her job, a source told CBS News — but her attorneys called her firing "legally deficient."
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and President Trump shared a rare moment of unity in the aftermath of the deadly shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic church on Wednesday that claimed the lives of two young children and injured 17 others.
Minnesota leaders including Gov. Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Police Chief Brian O'Hara and Archbishop Bernard Hebda gather to discuss the deadly shooting Wednesday at Minneapolis' Annunciation Catholic School. Two children were killed and 17 others were hurt.
A salmonella outbreak linked to eggs has sickened nearly 100 people in 14 states, including four cases in Minnesota, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A walk down a grocery aisle can be a bit unpredictable these days after years of rising prices.
In a ruling earlier this month, the judge dismissed the suit by the Cookware Sustainability Alliance, which was filed days after the ban took effect in January.
For some Minnesota State Fairgoers, it's the deals that drive where they eat, shop, and have fun. At least 100 of those discounts can be found in a little-but-mighty booklet, usually procured at one of the first stops visitors make just beyond the gates.
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.
The typical excitement surrounding the start of the season at Minnesota was tempered this week, the heaviness of a too-close-to-home tragedy making it harder to fully escape from the outside world at a football game.
An hours-long standoff in West St. Paul on Thursday ended with law enforcement shooting and killing a man who allegedly fired at officers multiple times.
A youth minister was inside the pews during Mass at Annunciation Church in Minneapolis on Wednesday morning when a shooter opened fire.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara says he is proud of the way officers reacted when faced with a dangerous situation.
The archbishop who leads the archdiocese to which Annunciation Catholic Church belongs said the community will need to "work hard to be able to put love in ahead of hatred" after a shooter killed two children and injured many more during a school Mass.
A salmonella outbreak linked to eggs has sickened nearly 100 people in 14 states, including four cases in Minnesota, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Health leaders are urging Minnesotans to get proactive in preventing the West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne illnesses as summer winds down.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education at the University of Minnesota is looking elsewhere for financial help after new federal spending cuts.
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.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce announced the news of their engagement with photos on Instagram.
The Minnesota State Fair is a chance for artists and athletes to connect with the community and show off all their hard work.
Jerry Adler's acting credits include "The Sopranos" and "The Good Wife." He also had 53 Broadway productions to his name, all behind the scenes.
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.
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 typical excitement surrounding the start of the season at Minnesota was tempered this week, the heaviness of a too-close-to-home tragedy making it harder to fully escape from the outside world at a football game.
Drake Lindsey passed for 290 yards and two touchdowns in his debut, helping Minnesota beat Buffalo 23-10 in their season opener.
St. Thomas combined for 447 yards of total offense and five touchdowns as the Tommies beat Lindenwood 35-13 on Thursday night.
Skylar Diggins scored 19 of her 23 points in the second half, Nneka Ogwumike had 12 points and nine rebounds, and the Seattle Storm rallied from a 21-point deficit to beat the Minnesota Lynx 93-79.
Gov. Tim Walz was out at the Minnesota State Fair talking to voters about issues and their concerns. It's as if he were running for office, but he insists he has not decided to run for a third term and his decision will come soon.
Gov. Walz's approval rating in the latest Minnesota poll sits at 49%.
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.
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.
Dominated by foot traffic, it's easy to forget the Minnesota State Fairgrounds is paved to handle vehicle traffic, complete with street names.
For some Minnesota State Fairgoers, it's the deals that drive where they eat, shop, and have fun. At least 100 of those discounts can be found in a little-but-mighty booklet, usually procured at one of the first stops visitors make just beyond the gates.
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.
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.
WCCO meteorologist Joseph Dames says an early fall cold front moves through Tuesday night into Wednesday.
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.
Labor Day weekend should stay mostly dry, with a low chance for isolated showers on Friday on Saturday, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Joseph Dames.
Labor Day weekend should stay mostly dry, with a low chance for isolated showers on Friday and Saturday, mainly in far western Minnesota.
Labor Day weekend should stay mostly dry, with a low chance for isolated showers on Friday on Saturday, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Joseph Dames.
WCCO meteorologist Joseph Dames says an early fall cold front moves through Tuesday night into Wednesday.
After the Gophers beat Buffalo 23-10 at Huntington Bank Stadium on Thursday night, coach P.J. Fleck used the first three minutes of his postgame news conference to express his sadness and outrage on behalf of the team one day after two children at Annunciation Catholic School were shot to death in church.
Phil Finanger spent 28 seasons getting the best view of Vikings home games as a member of the "chain gang" from 1995 - 2022.
Phil Finanger spent 28 seasons getting the best view of Vikings home games as a member of the "chain gang" from 1995 - 2022.
Officials say a Minnesota hiker who went missing earlier this month in Wyoming's Bighorn Mountains has been found dead, plus more of the day’s top stories.