State of Emergency: Is Minnesota ready for the next pandemic?
Exploring the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and how ready we are for the next one that comes our way.
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Exploring the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and how ready we are for the next one that comes our way.
We've seen natural disasters across the country change communities from wildfires in Hawaii to hurricanes along the Gulf Coast. Minnesota has its own threats like blizzards and tornados, but we've learned our greatest is flooding.
Agencies in Hennepin County train together with dispatch, EMS, police and fire to help prepare them to better respond when there's the potential for people being hurt.
We've heard it too many times around the country. A person has opened fire, hurting people and killing others. There were more mass shootings than days in 2023. WCCO wanted to know how ready Minnesota is to respond.
Those worst-case scenarios threaten all kinds of critical infrastructure, from highways to hospitals to communications to finance. State lawmakers recently earmarked an extra $32 million to MNIT's budget specifically to bolster cyber defenses.
Is Minnesota ready to respond when an emergency strikes? The WCCO Investigates team is digging in and getting answers from top officials tapped with keeping us safe from all kinds of threats.
Is Minnesota ready to respond when an emergency strikes? That's a question WCCO is investigating all week long. The WCCO Investigates team is digging in and getting answers from top officials tapped with keeping us safe from all kinds of threats.
Minnesota's "red flag" gun laws went into effect on Jan. 1, and a WCCO Investigation uncovered four cases moving through the courts seeking to remove guns from people who could be a risk to themselves or others.
WCCO Investigates uncovered new information about the abrupt circumstances leading to the school's closure, which was voted on by the school board on Jan. 5.
A manufacturing plant at the center of a years-long WCCO investigation is filing for bankruptcy. It comes as Water Gremlin faces more than 95 civil lawsuits.
The president admits when they took over, there were problems with record keeping and some equipment not working properly, and points to a misinterpretation of their reports.
The EPA says that Smith Foundry in south Minneapolis violated the Clean Air Act, but the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency questions its methods.
The proposed ban on TCE would take effect in one year, being phased out in some limited cases.
Someone is killed by gunfire in Minnesota roughly every three days. Those left behind are often left with the unexpected financial burden of burials and other costs just as they are stricken with grief.
Patnode was 23 when she was last seen leaving a bar in South St. Paul in October of 1982. Remains found 80 miles away along Highway 61 in Wabasha County seven years later wouldn't be identified until 2009.
Nearly two months after a Minnesota lawmaker was assassinated, a special primary election is being held to choose the DFL candidate for her seat.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty says she is filing a petition to vacate the murder conviction of Brian Hooper Sr., who in 1998 was found guilty of killing 77-year-old Ann Prazniak in her Minneapolis apartment.
Nearly two months after a Minnesota lawmaker was assassinated, a special primary election is being held to choose the DFL candidate for her seat.
Nina's Coffee Cafe has stood in St. Paul for two decades, but inside its doors, a community fixture has worked a bit more behind the scenes lately.
A man has been charged in the fatal Brooklyn Park shooting of a 17-year-old girl that happened on July 1.
A man whom police shot inside a northern Minnesota dollar store on Friday made repeated threats before rushing the officer who fired at him, charges say.
The city of Albert Lea has now approved two cannabis businesses, but the first person to apply for a city license was denied once again.
The Moorhead Police Department said two people were injured in a "critical incident" involving its officers Monday night, though the agency declined to say how the injuries occurred.
The wife of a Nobles County, Minnesota, deputy says his journey back from a traumatic brain injury is progressing slowly.
Officials are working to restore a lake northeast of the Twin Cities after a "mechanical issue" caused nearly all the water to drain.
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.
Niche released its list of best high schools in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Did your child's high school make the list?
The Chequamegon Humane Association in Ashland, Wisconsin, said the bear had the jar on its head for more than a week.
Wisconsin's Department of Health Services confirmed nine cases of measles in Oconto County on Saturday, the first cases the state has seen this year.
Sometimes there are milestones so rare that they turn a care center into the most joyful place in town.
After a successful food giveaway earlier this summer, a local organization is making its services more permanent.
Friday morning, a line with dozens of hungry customers stretched out to the intersection. The Heights Bakery has been serving sweets to the Columbia Heights community for 72 years.
The Minnesota Fringe festival brings over 100 performing arts performances to over a dozen metro venues, and one of this year's shows is produced entirely by kids.
The roughly 21-mile swim across the English Channel took Seth Baetzold 11 hours and 23 minutes.
Nearly two months after a Minnesota lawmaker was assassinated, a special primary election is being held to choose the DFL candidate for her seat.
Voters in Brooklyn Park are choosing which DFL candidate they’d like on the ballot in next month’s special election.
Nearly two months after a Minnesota lawmaker was assassinated, a special primary election is being held to choose the DFL candidate for her seat.
Voters in the north metro will pick which DFL candidate will be on the ballot in next month’s special election, while St. Paul voters will fill a vacant council seat.
D.C. leaders are reacting to President Donald Trump's deployment of federal law enforcement and National Guard members to the city.
One Minnesota woman left the corporate world to run her own bakery in Saint Paul's Lowertown.
Some recent, big-name restaurant closures in Minneapolis have fueled concerns about the health of the Twin Cities dining scene.
A popular northeast Minneapolis bar and restaurant is no longer under threat of closure due to construction in the area.
WCCO tests if in-store and online prices are different at Target, Walmart and Best Buy.
Around 176 people will be permanently laid off as a result of the closure, according to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.
A man whom police shot inside a northern Minnesota dollar store on Friday made repeated threats before rushing the officer who fired at him, charges say.
Aimee Betro covered her face in a niqab as she climbed out of a car in 2019 and tried to shoot a man at point-blank range, prosecutors said.
A man has been charged in the fatal Brooklyn Park shooting of a 17-year-old girl that happened on July 1.
Court documents show the 18-year-old St. Paul man was charged with criminal vehicular homicide in Hennepin County on Monday.
The 29-year-old man is charged with two counts of second-degree murder, according to court documents filed Friday in Ramsey County.
A Victoria, Minnesota, family is channeling their heartbreak into hope.
Minnesotans will once again experience hazy conditions and poor air quality this weekend, as wildfires continue to burn across Canada, sending smoke south with the change in wind direction.
The Minnesota Department of Health issued a health advisory last week warning of an increase in overdose cases involving sedatives.
Changes could be coming at the area's largest trauma hospital. At a packed meeting Tuesday, Hennepin County commissioners said they have to take extreme measures to make sure it stays open.
A participant in the 2025 Twin Cities Marathon is a mom of three from Minnetrista who is taking extra steps to make sure she's running her best and in the safest way.
UFC CEO Dana White confirmed plans for a July 4, 2026 fight at the White House to mark America's 250th birthday.
Paramount will become the new home to all UFC events in the U.S., while UFC's CEO says the White House may host a July 4 event broadcast on CBS.
Brandon Blackstock battled cancer for more than three years, his family said.
On his five-acre property in Blaine, Minnesota, Erik Lund has plenty of space to fine-tune his golf game and his guitar game.
Football season is here and WCCO is bringing you a new show to get you ready for gameday.
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.
UFC CEO Dana White confirmed plans for a July 4, 2026 fight at the White House to mark America's 250th birthday.
The Minnesota Twins reinstated center fielder Byron Buxton from the 10-day injured list before Monday's game against the New York Yankees.
Will Warren gave up three hits and two runs in 6 2/3 innings and the Yankees went on to a 6-2 win over the Twins on Monday night.
They're off at Running Aces in Columbus, Minnesota, though one 4-year-old mare is better than the rest.
Half of all pancreatic cancers are first diagnosed when a patient is already at stage four and the five-year survival rate is just 13%. But with AI at the Mayo Clinic, it's a new ballgame.
Doctors at the Mayo Clinic are using artificial intelligence to achieve a breakthrough in diagnosing pancreatic cancer. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy explains the remarkable development and the potential impact on other cancers.
Doctors at the Mayo Clinic are using artificial intelligence to achieve a breakthrough in diagnosing pancreatic cancer. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy explains the remarkable development and the potential impact on other cancers.
While the summer months traditionally bring a rise in crime, this year, both Minneapolis and St Paul are continuing to see significant drops in violent crime.
For the first time in 15 years, there are now federal regulations for cryptocurrency. So what will that mean for the notoriously unstable market -- and who's cashing in? In Talking Points, Esme Murphy spoke with investment expert Pete Najarian about the risks, rewards, and a refresher on what cryptocurrency is.
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.
The town of Sedan, Minnesota, has gone out of its way to celebrate an every-day household item.
It might be the only beach of its kind in the entire country. Black Beach in Silver Bay has become a popular summertime destination, and that might have something to do with its striking look.
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.
Tears come for many reasons: a joyful reunion, a surprising win, a frustrating loss and a forever loss, too. And sometimes, tears come for reasons we can hardly explain.
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.
Minnesota could see above-average temperatures and below-average rainfall for the autumn months, according to an outlook released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Prediction Center.
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.
WCCO meteorologist Katie Steiner says the air quality alert in Minnesota expires late Tuesday afternoon, but another round of smoke could be possible in parts of the state Wednesday.
As air quality begins to improve, expect a pleasant day Tuesday, with low humidity and highs right around average.
After an air quality alert expires Tuesday afternoon, the Twin Cities will be in for a nice couple of days.
Voters in Brooklyn Park are choosing which DFL candidate they’d like on the ballot in next month’s special election.
Dr. Liz Placzek, with Children's Minnesota, shares some best practices for how to gear-shift kids out of summer mode.
Wyatt Evans shares a sample of what's available on the menu at the new Excelsior eatery and cocktail venue.
Wynfred Russell shares the story behind the bicycling event and what it intends to accomplish.
The CPI, a basket of goods and services typically bought by consumers, tracks the change in prices on everyday items such as food and apparel over time. So far this year, inflation has stayed at 3% or lower.