
Minnesota braces for threat of feral pigs from Canada: "They leave a mess"
WCCO's John Lauritsen talked with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and a Canadian professor about the threat feral pigs pose to our state.
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John Lauritsen is an Emmy award-winning reporter from Montevideo, Minn. He joined WCCO-TV in late-July of 2007. Two days after he started, the Interstate 35W bridge collapsed.
Before his television career, John grew up on a farm near Milan, Minnesota and graduated from Montevideo Senior High School. He received a Master's Degree in mass communications from St. Cloud State University, and has also taught a class there as well. He credits growing up on a farm and going to school in a small town with helping him become the reporter he is today.
He began his career at KSAX-TV in Alexandria, Minn., before moving to Waterloo, Iowa, where he worked for KWWL-TV. John also worked at Channel 12 in Brooklyn Park, Minn., before coming to WCCO-TV. He has been a reporter, anchor, sports reporter, sports anchor, editor, producer, and photographer during his television career.
During his time at WCCO-TV, John has covered a variety of stories. He has reported on everything from floods to tornadoes to blizzards that have dumped nearly two feet of snow on Minnesota. You can also find John covering a crime story, a fire, a human interest story, or a sporting event.
John's favorite stories are those that highlight a special moment in someone's life. In 2008, he reported on a soldier who came home from Iraq and surprised his daughter at her volleyball game.
And though he isn't a fan of snakes, John reported on Minnesota's only poisonous snake population in southeastern Minnesota and he managed not to get bit in the process.
When he's not reporting, John can be found at the gym or playing in one of three volleyball leagues that keep him busy year-round. He also plays in a football league in the fall and is an active tennis player.
In 2009, he ran the Twin Cities Marathon for the first time. He has also tried surfing, skydiving and rock climbing, and is an avid reader whenever he can find time to sit down.
John lives in Maple Grove with his wife, Jessica, and children, Harlow and Bo.
WCCO's John Lauritsen talked with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and a Canadian professor about the threat feral pigs pose to our state.
As temperatures drop, ice conditions are constantly changing across lakes and ponds in Minnesota and western Wisconsin.
An Uptown Minneapolis woman is dealing with a real-life grinch.
We've all been through the coffee and fast-food drive-thrus, but they have nothing on this Evansville business. In this week's Finding Minnesota, John Lauritsen takes us to a drive-through that's as Nordic as it gets.
Growing up near the town of Windom, Travis Muller always knew the life he wanted was in his own backyard. The countryside gave him the space to become a professional Snocross racer. When he retired from that, he focused on farming.
Baby Murphy was born with a rare condition that caused him to choke when he was eating. But a complicated surgery saved Murphy, and gave him a new lease on life.
In this week's Finding Minnesota, John Lauritsen shows us how an iconic show from the 70s put Minneapolis on the map, and why this year marks a special anniversary in the show's history.
A western Wisconsin woman is on a mission to find the owner of a nearly 90-year-old class ring. Danette Brink says the ring appears to belong to a woman who graduated from Edison High School in Minneapolis.
Friday is the opening day first at Hansen Tree Farm in Anoka. There are lots of beautiful trees on the 40-acre farm, but three years of drought has had an impact.
For nearly 40 years, Dennis Foy has been on the receiving end of footballs from the Vikings. They send him dozens each season along with emails about whose name they want on the game ball, and what they want it to say.
Cold winters and dry summers can have different impacts on animals in our state. Despite challenging weather patterns, pheasant numbers have taken off in southwestern Minnesota.
Hyundai & Kia vehicles have been the target of car thieves in recent years, but representatives from both companies believe software upgrades are key to making a difference.
On New Year's Day, David Jergenson will turn 106. His home now is an assisted living facility in Morris. But 80 years ago, he was an American soldier, sleeping on the ground in Europe.
In 1999, Terry Rodman built a windmill for his wife, from scratch. Then, to balance things out, he put up a farm windmill — and people around Jasper, took notice.
Tuesday marks seven years since a Little Falls man was shot and killed while hunting. Forty-three-year-old Terry Brisk was shot to death with his own rifle on his family's property and his body was later discovered by his son.