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Attention, would-be music stars. "American Idol" is opening auditions for its new season in Minneapolis. The FOX singing contest show is holding nationwide auditions for its 14th season. Auditions will be held Wednesday at Mariucci Arena at the University of Minnesota. Host Ryan Seacrest is schedule to attend.
The University of Minnesota is getting about $103,000 in federal money to help educate farmers and ranchers about the new farm bill.
The federal health overhaul has helped cut the ranks of uninsured people in Minnesota by about 40 percent, University of Minnesota researchers reported Wednesday in the first major assessment of the law's effect in the state. The study estimated that the number of uninsured Minnesotans fell by 180,500 from Sept. 30 to May 1 — from about 445,000 people to about 264,500.
Minnesotans know the sand and salt used to clear the roads in the winter is helpful to drivers. For University of Minnesota biologist Emilie Snell-Rood, who didn't grow up here, the MnDOT trucks made her curious.
A University of Minnesota food scientist has died, nine days after he was pulled from a private pool during a Memorial Day gathering in St. Louis Park. The Hennepin County medical examiner's office said Friday that 48-year-old Koushik Seetharaman died Tuesday at Hennepin County Medical Center. The cause of death was a lack of oxygen to the brain. Doctors believe he suffered a cardiac arrest in the pool.
The University of Minnesota is looking for 300 people who may have been exposed to infectious diseases owing to misuse of blood monitoring equipment at screening events. School officials said the people they're seeking either live or lived in the Skyline high-rise in St. Paul.
Experts said Monarch butterfly numbers are dropping dangerously low, but there's an easy way you can help. The St. Paul campus of the University of Minnesota has a garden specifically catered to pollenating and helping the Monarch butterfly.
Students in Minneapolis celebrated the legacy of one of our community's Civil Rights leaders. Mayor Betsy Hodges was at Emerson Spanish Immersion Learning Center to declare Friday "Dr. Josie R. Johnson Day."
Coming off its second Frozen Four appearance in three years and a trip to the national championship game, the University of Minnesota men's hockey program announced its schedule Thursday for the 2014-15 season.
The University of Minnesota has named Brian Buhr as dean of its College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences and director of the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station. Provost Karen Hansen announced the promotion Monday. Buhr had been interim dean and director since August. His appointment is effective June 16, pending approval by the Board of Regents.
Former President Bill Clinton will speak at the University of Minnesota next month. Clinton will speak about the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Civil Rights Act.
The University of Minnesota women's softball team had a big weekend, winning the Minneapolis Regional of the NCAA Tournament to advance to the Super Regional. The Gophers beat North Dakota State Saturday 4-1 in 10 innings, then got a come-from-behind 8-6 win over Auburn to win the regional.
Sunday's beautiful weather is a relief to most of us, but one particular group is really grateful. Farms are finally buzzing with activity after a long cold winter and wet spring, which was a terrible combination for farmers. So, planting is way behind in many parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin.
State tournament time always brings out the best in high school competition. However, on Saturday robots rather than athletes created the edge-of-your-seat drama. The third annual state robotics competition took place at Williams Arena on the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus.
University of Minnesota football coach Jerry Kill announced on Thursday -- national Rise Above Seizures Day -- he will be making a $100,000 donation to help children dealing with epilepsy.
We've been following the recovery of a Minneapolis police officer who desperately needed a kidney donor, and found one after a two-year search. The donor was 20-year-old Sebastian Rivera, University of Minnesota student who he'd never met.
A 30-year-old man is in custody after police say he was caught cooking meth in a storage facility in St. Paul. According to the criminal complaint, Matthew Lee Krause was in the middle of cooking methamphetamine on May 9 in a storage locker at the Minikahda Storage facility at 1441 Hunting Valley Road when he opened the door and saw police officers.
Former University of Minnesota quarterback Philip Nelson was out of jail Monday afternoon after posting $20,000 bail. He allegedly assaulted another man, leaving him in critical condition. But Neal Zumberge is still behind bars a week after he was charged with the murder of his neighbor. The New Brighton man WAS not able to make his $1.5 million bail.
This month, high school students in southern Minnesota will have a kangaroo, a fox and an armadillo in their classroom. In June, a nursing home will get a visit from a tortoise, a parrot and a dingo. It sounds strange, but it's possible because of one guy who's believed to be one of the youngest zookeepers in the country.
Earlier this week Target's CEO Gregg Steinhafel stepped down after the massive data breach that occurred last fall. Target named an interim CEO, John Mulligan, a Wisconsin native and University of Minnesota alumnus. Mulligan graduated from Regis High School in Eau Claire in 1983.
From the moment the University of Minnesota Children's Hospital's nurses and patients unveiled their version of Sara Bareilles' song "Brave," it was sure to go viral. But Brittany Bloemke and Natalie Snyder never knew it would be this big.
The University of Minnesota Children's Hospital is truly unique in how it delivers care to kids, including building private, customized rooms that help kids heal by using research, input from families and smart room technology.
A study led by a University of Minnesota researcher has found that one in four veterans who served in Afghanistan and Iraq is going hungry, as they don't have consistent access to food.
We've already heard that sports and energy drinks aren't exactly healthy choices, but a new study from the University of Minnesota has now linked them to other vices. Researchers said teenagers who have one of those drinks at least once a week are more likely to smoke cigarettes.
When you send your child to a hospital that specializes in children's care, you expect to have the best doctors and nurses working on the case. You may not expect teams of researchers to be working on more than 200 different grants and contracts.
Former University of Minnesota Gopher kicker and punter Rob Gray is adjusting to life with a new kidney donated by his pickleball partner.
Players and coaches alike were flowing in and out of the InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront hotel on Thursday, making final preparations ahead of the 2026 World Junior Championship. The tournament begins on Friday.
A stretch of a road in Minneapolis' Seward neighborhood was flooded with water on Thursday night.
Jordan Addison took a jet sweep handoff 65 yards for the game-sealing touchdown with 3:43 left after the Minnesota Vikings forced six turnovers and eliminated the Detroit Lions from contention for the playoffs with a 23-10 victory.
In an era of bowl opt outs, Minnesota still finds plenty of reasons to embrace the postseason experience, even when the chase for a national championship ended long ago.
Former University of Minnesota Gopher kicker and punter Rob Gray is adjusting to life with a new kidney donated by his pickleball partner.
Players and coaches alike were flowing in and out of the InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront hotel on Thursday, making final preparations ahead of the 2026 World Junior Championship. The tournament begins on Friday.
A stretch of a road in Minneapolis' Seward neighborhood was flooded with water on Thursday night.
Christmas gives many a much needed break-including social services and shelters, but people who need those services don't get a break for the holidays.
A 63-year-old West St. Paul, Minnesota, man accused of pointing a gun at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent says the agent also pointed a gun at him, according to court documents filed on Thursday.
Two women are dead after a semitruck collided with a Chrysler minivan in Elmer Township, Minnesota, on Christmas Eve, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.
On Dec. 9, 1965, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" debuted on CBS, and it became an instant classic. Lee Jenkins' home is proof that the show is still a hit six decades later.
Sabrina Schnoor, 25, was found dead under an Interstate 35 overpass bridge in May 2023.
From a cat that accidentally made an 8,000-mile journey in a shipping container to a tunnel made just for turtles, all kinds of animals made the headlines in Minnesota this year.
There is no denying 2025 was a difficult year in Minnesota. A list of the biggest news stories is fraught with tragedy, attacks on the vulnerable and political division and dysfunction.
A Wisconsin woman who almost killed her sixth-grade classmate to please the fictional Slender Man has been ordered back to a state psychiatric hospital after she escaped from her group home last month.
Several schools in Minnesota and Wisconsin are reporting delayed starts on Monday amid a messy morning commute.
The U.S. Justice Department has sued three states, including Illinois and Wisconsin, and D.C. for not turning over requested voter information to the Trump administration.
Defenders of a Wisconsin judge found guilty of felony obstruction for helping a Mexican immigrant evade federal officers are raising alarms about judicial independence and say they hope the conviction will be overturned on appeal.
The Minnesota Attorney General's Office says Menards, the Wisconsin-based home improvement retailer, has reached a $4.25 million settlement with several states to "resolve claims" of deceptive marketing practices in its popular "11% Rebate Program," and pandemic-era price gouging.
Many people who serve in the U.S. military find it hard to ask for assistance when they've been trained to help and serve others.
Food Bank Eatery in North Minneapolis provides free meals for children, who may have little to eat after the pause of SNAP benefits for many in the community.
Firefighters are continuing a 44-year tradition that happens every year north of the Twin Cities.
It was a scary moment in the Twin Cities over the weekend, as a trailer hauling sled dogs turned over on Interstate 494 in Minnetonka.
On Sunday, members of Minnesota's Somali community spoke out against President Trump's social media post calling for an end to temporary protected status.
The strikes come after President Trump spent weeks accusing the West African country's government of failing to rein in the persecution of Christians.
The message, aired on Channel 4 on Christmas Day, reflected on the impact of President Trump's second term in office thus far.
Gama, originally from Mexico, has been operating the Pastaleria Gama bakery on Lake Street in Minneapolis for 10 years now. Her store was empty for long stretches of time on Christmas Eve, which she said has never been the case in the past.
President Trump spent part of Christmas Eve bantering with kids, updating families on NORAD's Santa tracker and reminding one child that the big guy has a "serious appetite."
President Trump said TV broadcast licenses should be revoked if newscasts and late-night shows are almost entirely negative about him and the GOP.
This season of giving can really do a number on our recycling systems. But we can all be part of the solution.
With the time-honored tradition of gift giving comes gift concealing.
Twin Cities shoppers were out and about on Super Saturday, the second-busiest shopping day of the year. The day lands on the final Saturday before Christmas annually.
Buy now, pay later plans are becoming more popular for shoppers this holiday season.
The Minnesota Attorney General's Office says Menards, the Wisconsin-based home improvement retailer, has reached a $4.25 million settlement with several states to "resolve claims" of deceptive marketing practices in its popular "11% Rebate Program," and pandemic-era price gouging.
A 63-year-old West St. Paul, Minnesota, man accused of pointing a gun at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent says the agent also pointed a gun at him, according to court documents filed on Thursday.
Minneapolis police are investigating after they say a man suffered "potentially life-threatening injuries" in a stabbing on Thursday morning.
In five years, Clinton Ward allegedly made millions by importing fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine to the Twin Cities via "an expansive net of distributors" in what officials call the most prolific drug operation in Minnesota history.
Court records say Eh Tha Blay, 26, pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting third-degree property damage.
Sabrina Schnoor, 25, was found dead under an Interstate 35 overpass bridge in May 2023.
The clock is ticking to snag a few more gifts and prepare for that holiday trip to visit family. As the pressure builds, so does the stress.
The Minnesota Athletic Trainers Association says of the middle and high schools they know of, only 49% have an athletic trainer providing some level of service.
From 2021 to 2025, Smart Therapy Center submitted claims totaling $31.8 million across all Minnesota Department of Human Services programs, according to that data. But the provider was only approved for a fraction of those payments.
The family of a Minnesota Vikings player who died at training camp from heat exhaustion in 2001 is still fighting to protect others.
A Twin Cities metro area school shifted to e-learning after a flu outbreak impacted nearly a quarter of its students. A senior epidemiologist with the Minnesota Department of Health said flu season is "definitely picking up."
The message, aired on Channel 4 on Christmas Day, reflected on the impact of President Trump's second term in office thus far.
Feeding America's CEO said the organization is "incredibly grateful" for Taylor Swift's large donation.
The singer said an MRI showed a cancerous spot on one of his lungs after he recovered from a lengthy bout of bronchitis.
The special features interviews with Kathy Bates, Annette Bening, Albert Brooks, Michael Douglas, Kiefer Sutherland, Jerry O'Connell and Mandy Patinkin.
The Oscars ceremony is moving to YouTube starting in 2029, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Wednesday.
Former University of Minnesota Gopher kicker and punter Rob Gray is adjusting to life with a new kidney donated by his pickleball partner.
Players and coaches alike were flowing in and out of the InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront hotel on Thursday, making final preparations ahead of the 2026 World Junior Championship. The tournament begins on Friday.
Jordan Addison took a jet sweep handoff 65 yards for the game-sealing touchdown with 3:43 left after the Minnesota Vikings forced six turnovers and eliminated the Detroit Lions from contention for the playoffs with a 23-10 victory.
The junior cornerback transferred to Minnesota from Iowa this spring. He was a depth defensive back and special teamer for the Hawkeyes. But this year, with a larger role, he's had a breakout season.
The Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings have gone from 29 combined wins last season to just 15 this season entering their Week 17 matchup on Christmas Day.
Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is calling for answers about the immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities. She is also denouncing the president's attacks on the Somali community and herself. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy shows us how, for Omar, this is a familiar position to be in.
Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is calling for clarity about the immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities.
Fear and uncertainty continue in Minnesota's Somali communities as ICE continues its intensified focus on the Twin Cities.
Opposition to ICE actions is widespread among Democratic elected officials throughout the state, though nowhere more than in Minneapolis, home to the state's largest Somali population.
Minnesotans who welcomed a child this year were able to start applying this week to the state's new paid family and medical leave program to take time off in 2026.
On Dec. 9, 1965, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" debuted on CBS, and it became an instant classic. Lee Jenkins' home is proof that the show is still a hit six decades later.
Holiday lights are on full display across the state right now, and just south of the Twin Cities you'll find a Christmas light show that's been around for more than half a century.
The story begins years ago when the city acquired one of the T-38 Talon Thunderbird jets from the Air Force.
The holidays are upon us, and in the town of Kellogg, Minnesota, you'll find a toy store unlike any other.
With the holidays fast approaching, and lutefisk on the menu for many families, one Minnesota town has the distinction of being called the "Lutefisk Capital of the Country."
According to the Smithsonian Magazine and Britannica, eggnog has British roots.
With the time-honored tradition of gift giving comes gift concealing.
The story of "The Wizard of Oz " is 125 years old, yet still reinventing itself in all kinds of forms.
It's the time of year when we accumulate the most stuff. When we do, people often throw around the word "hoarding." But it turns out it's a frequently misunderstood term.
Why do we have oily or dry skin? A dermatologist explains the root cause and how it can change over time.
Minnesotans got a great view of the northern lights Tuesday night.
A look at the newest addition to the polar bear population at St. Paul, Minnesota's Como Zoo.
From food shelves to school programs, our team is proud to serve where it matters most.
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.
A mix of fog and icy conditions are possible early on Friday, according to NEXT Weather meteorologist Lisa Meadows.
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 Adam Del Rosso said there's a potential for freezing drizzle and icy roads in northern and central Minnesota from Thursday afternoon to Friday morning.
A NEXT Drive Alert is in effect due to the potential for icy roads with possible freezing drizzle in northern and central Minnesota.
WCCO meteorologist Adam Del Rosso says it could drizzle in the evening on Christmas.
A former University of Minnesota Gopher football player found a new way to feed his competitive itch in his older years. But he had no idea this sport would lead to a life-saving gift for him. WCCO’s Marielle Mohs explains.
Thursday was a perfect December day for tailgating outside U.S. Bank Stadium ahead of the matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions. Mike Max caught up with fans from both teams.
Anyone who goes to the pickleball courts at Life Time Bloomington North may run into Minnesota Vikings season ticket holder Dan Muraski. Mike Max explains how he uses this passion for the sport to cope with the loss of his wife of 47 years.
A mix of fog and icy conditions are possible early on Friday, according to NEXT Weather meteorologist Lisa Meadows.
Christmas gives many a much-needed break, including social service and shelter workers. But people who need those services don't get a break for the holidays. Our Frankie McLister shows how Catholic Charities Twin Cities is filling the gap.