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Old Country Buffet was in bad shape. Stores were closing, and the company was filing for bankruptcy. Then came new CEO Anthony Wedo. "We haven't done a facelift even for 30 years in this business," Wedo said. "If you wore the same clothes you wore 30 years ago, you'd be in trouble, right? I mean, you'd stand out in the wrong way."
Father's Day is this Sunday. But unlike moms, dads shouldn't expect to be showered with gifts. The National Retail Federation finds Americans are expected to spend $7.4 billion less on dads this Father's Day than they spent on moms for Mother's Day.
For some business owners along University Avenue, the opening of the METRO Green Line this weekend brings a sigh of relief. While some celebrate, however, others are packing up.
Minnesota corn is three months away from harvest, but the Minnesota Corn Growers Association is encouraging farmers to plan ahead for their propane needs. A propane shortage last winter hit Minnesota farmers and rural homeowners hard. The association has been meeting with industry and government officials to try to prevent a repeat this winter.
If you're looking for a break from your summer routine, you might think about zip lining. Several zip lines have popped up across Minnesota over the last few years, and we wanted to find the best. Your votes sent me an hour southwest of the Twin Cities to Henderson for the Kerfoot Canopy Tour.
Ten years ago, it seemed everyone was drinking vodka. Now, whiskey is all the rage. But the popularity comes with a price. From scotch to bourbon, whiskey has become a hip drink again and people want the good stuff.
More than 500,000 Minnesotans rely on food stamps today, which is more than double the number 10 years ago. Michelle Ness is executive director of PRISM, a Golden Valley food shelf, and she sees the problem first hand, particularly when it comes to having low income kids out of school.
Restaurant patios are getting crowded now, and it's more common than ever to see dogs at some of the outdoor tables. Since 2008, Minneapolis has given restaurants the option of allowing dogs in designated outdoor areas.
If you're looking for a unique shopping experience, head about 35 miles west of the Twin Cities to Buffalo, Minn. On the first weekend of every month, stores open their doors for what's called an "Occasional Sale."
Several environmental groups are asking Xcel Energy to rethink the way they charge people for electricity.
Minneapolis voters will now have a say on a controversial liquor law in the city. In November, voters will decide on whether or not to repeal the 70/30 law. The 1997 city charter amendment was originally put in place to try to prevent restaurants that sold liquor from becoming neighborhood trouble spots.
Minneapolis voters will get the final say on the proposed changes to the city's liquor laws. Currently, restaurants in residential neighborhoods have to follow the 70-30 rule, which means their sales have to be made up of at least 70 percent food and no more than 30 percent alcohol.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture says consumers should avoid eating certain cheese and salsa produced by Coon Rapids-based Parkers Farm Acquisition because of possible listeria contamination.
The summer road trip continues this week with a stop up north. Amelia Santaniello and Mark Rosen hit the road in the Mobile Weather Watcher and headed to the Iron Range town of Biwabik. The Biwabik area is dotted with lakes that used to be old open-pit iron mines.
Looking for the best way to find all the Minnesota state parks that offer boat access, swimming beaches and drive-in campsites? Then look no further. The Department of Natural Resources has a new tool designed to do just that.
A St. Paul, Minnesota, neighborhood that has struggled to keep businesses might be turning a corner.
A pattern of vandalism targeting young trees along the riverfront in St. Paul, Minnesota, has cost the city upward of $100,000 in damages.
Police in Minneapolis are citing a May incident involving a missing man found by a drone as a positive example of how the technology can be used to keep the public safe. City officials are considering trying out a drones-as-first-responders program that neighbors are concerned could really mean public surveillance.
Two Burnsville, Minnesota, parents are facing charges after medical officials found their child had "extensive bruising" following a welfare check at their home, according to court documents filed on Friday.
The crash happened around 2 p.m. at the intersection of Candlewood Drive and Brunswick Avenue North, according to officials.
A 62-year-old woman is dead after driving underneath a semitruck on a highway in Evergreen Township, Minnesota, on Thursday night, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating after a small plane crashed in Winona County, Minnesota, Thursday evening.
Twenty-four months after Nikki Anderson disappeared without a trace in Dakota County, Minnesota, her sister says her family is left with no answers and plenty of questions.
A Twin Cities animal rescue saved 71 cats after getting a call from a concerned neighbor in Sibley County, Minnesota.
Some southern Minnesota residents were trapped in their homes after severe storms caused flooding in the area on Wednesday, authorities said.
A Wisconsin family lost their ten-month-old daughter after she swallowed a water bead. They blame Target and the water bead manufacturer for her death.
Francesca Hong has not backed away from calls to defund and abolish the police, raise taxes on the wealthy, and create a state-owned bank — positions now facing voters in a state Trump has carried twice.
A former Wisconsin judge will soon learn her sentence for felony obstruction for helping an immigrant evade federal officers.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled 5-2 that guardianship records sought by the Wisconsin Voter Alliance to identify ineligible voters are not public records under state law.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has transferred $1 million from his former congressional account to a super PAC supporting Michael Alfonso, his 26-year-old son-in-law, who is running for Duffy's old Wisconsin seat in an Aug. 11 primary.
The city of St. Paul, Minnesota, is taking a stand and closing encampments amid growing concerns.
Baseball fans might remember the Metrodome's iconic blue seats, and now in Atwater, Minnesota, spectators can once again grab a blue seat and watch a game.
Tucked away in the Midway neighborhood in St. Paul is a community treasure many have come to love and respect.
What started as a small fundraiser following one of Joe's surgeries at Gillette Children's has grown into a community tradition that has raised nearly $100,000 for the hospital.
A trip to the video store was once a weekly ritual, and now one Minnesota movie lover is trying to bring that experience back.
Graham Platner had until 5 p.m. on Monday to formally suspend his campaign or he would remain on the ballot in November.
In the plan under discussion, the Secret Service and the White House would be able to open and close sections of the fencing, sources said.
Eight months ago, Hegseth told top military leaders there would be "no more beardos" and "fat troops."
President Trump said Friday he won't sign the law, but a U.S. official said he isn't expected to veto it either.
The U.S. military released a new batch of files related to UFOs, including one report from a Navy pilot who said a mysterious object was "unlike anything I had seen" in 28 years of service.
A Wisconsin family lost their ten-month-old daughter after she swallowed a water bead. They blame Target and the water bead manufacturer for her death.
For many Minnesotans, the road to the Fourth of July starts with a short drive across the St. Croix River to Wisconsin to stock up on fireworks. The kinds of pyrotechnics that can be legally ignited in Minnesota might be surprising.
Insurance experts say hail damage claims that once averaged $10,000–$15,000 now routinely reach $40,000–$60,000, even as many policies have shifted away from full replacement coverage.
Hundreds of workers, employed by Delaware North Company to serve food and drinks, say they are fighting for livable wages and healthcare benefits.
Target is tapping designer and TV personality Isaac Mizrahi for a newly created role as creative director at large as the discounter aims to reclaim its reputation for stylish clothing on a budget.
Two Burnsville, Minnesota, parents are facing charges after medical officials found their child had "extensive bruising" following a welfare check at their home, according to court documents filed on Friday.
A Twin Cities fire chief is accused of sexually assaulting and grooming a teen girl enrolled in the Fire Explorers job-shadowing program, charges filed in Anoka County reveal.
A 17-year-old boy faces a weapon charge in connection with the fatal shooting of another teen at a Twin Cities park on Sunday.
An employee at a St. Paul, Minnesota, daycare who was fired after allegedly hitting a 4-year-old in the face multiple times now faces a gross misdemeanor charge.
Two people were hospitalized after a domestic stabbing in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, early Friday, according to police, and one of them will be jailed after release.
More than 75,000 Minnesotans have been approved for the state's paid family and medical leave program, which launched at the beginning of the year.
Skip the latest fad diet. The best way to manage your weight might already be sitting on your plate.
Dozens of Twin Cities hospice workers are walking the picket line Monday in a one-day strike after nearly a year of negotiations for an inaugural union contract.
As Mayor Jacob Frey pledges a crackdown at open-air drug markets in Minneapolis, WCCO found brutal honesty about the situation from people who say they actively participate in the illicit trade.
Noah Walden says he didn't notice anything unusual while eating. About three days later, he began experiencing stomach pain that continued to worsen over the next several days.
A St. Paul, Minnesota, neighborhood that has struggled to keep businesses might be turning a corner.
It's another action-packed weekend here in Minnesota, featuring hot dogs, book fairs, community celebrations and more.
Bonnie Tyler, the Welsh pop star best known for singing the chart-topping power ballad "Total Eclipse of the Heart" in 1983, has died. She was 75.
AI-generated actor Tilly Norwood is set to star in her first feature film, with her creator saying that "art will be imitating life."
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce were married as they celebrated their wedding with hundreds of guests Friday at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Gavin Williams pitched seven dominant innings, Gabriel Arias, Chase DeLauter and Patrick Bailey hit home runs and the Cleveland Guardians beat the Minnesota Twins 5-2 to avoid a three-game sweep.
Alan Roden's RBI single in the ninth inning helped the Minnesota Twins beat Cleveland 6-5 for their fourth straight win over the Guardians.
Kayla McBride scored 23 points, and Minnesota beat the Connecticut Sun 86-80 to give Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve the WNBA record for career wins.
Taj Bradley allowed one run and struck out 10 in seven innings, Kody Clemens had two hits and an RBI, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Cleveland Guardians 3-1.
The Minnesota Twins placed Byron Buxton on the 10-day injured list Tuesday after the center fielder aggravated a hip injury that has lingered through much of the season.
Minnesota Republicans head into an August primary shaped by a president who has lost the state three times but still commands outsized loyalty from its conservative base.
Minnesota Republicans head into an August primary shaped by a president who has lost the state three times but still commands outsized loyalty from its conservative base.
Mike Lindell, who leads the Minnesota Republican gubernatorial primary at 27%, is proposing conditional non-resident visas for undocumented immigrants with no criminal record — a position that differs from the Trump administration's approach.
Mike Lindell says he called President Trump before entering the Minnesota governor's race and asked for an endorsement, but Trump has not given one — though he said in December that Lindell deserves to be governor.
One of the most-watched primary match-ups pits Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan against U.S. Congresswoman Angie Craig in the race for the DFL nomination for U.S. Senate.
There's a scenic, nearly century-old spot in St. Cloud, Minnesota, where right now you'll find thousands of flowers in bloom.
Baseball fans might remember the Metrodome's iconic blue seats, and now in Atwater, Minnesota, spectators can once again grab a blue seat and watch a game.
It's a lake cruise in the middle of town, and there's more than pelicans on the Pelican Breeze tour in Albert Lea, Minnesota.
Currie, Minnesota, is truly small-town America. The population hovers at just over 200. But on the northern outskirts, you'll happen upon a place with plenty of bells and whistles: End-O-Line Railroad Park and Museum
School's out, summer's here, and if you're heading to the lake on Highway 10, you may just stumble upon hidden treasure.
Catching a flight with just a carry-on can make travel feel easy. No need to check a bag and all your belongings stay with you. But quite often, that suddenly changes before boarding.
Skip the latest fad diet. The best way to manage your weight might already be sitting on your plate.
There's no doubt your air conditioning unit is working overtime this week as oppressive heat blankets Minnesota.
In every corner of the metro, and across Minnesota, you'll find construction crews ripping up roads and rebuilding bridges. WCCO looks into whether the piles of rubble they create can get a second life.
Water beckons Minnesotans this time of year, especially our lakes. But something in it can turn us away, even if other animals and organisms need it.
The Minnesota State Fair has unveiled its new foods for 2026.
A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.
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.
High temperatures across the majority of Minnesota will be in the 80s or 90s on Saturday, 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.
WCCO meteorologist Lisa Meadows says we are heading into a long, hot stretch of weather.
As we crank up the heat, you can bet beaches and pools will be popular places for some relief. Reg Chapman has some tips to keep you and your kids safe while in the water.
WCCO meteorologist Mike Augustyniak says today will be partly cloudy with just a touch of mugginess.
Minnesota resident Kevin Baker works with basketball tournaments and is a former coach. Mike Max explains why he never won a game during his coaching tenure.
High temperatures across the majority of Minnesota will be in the 80s or 90s on Saturday, according to NEXT Weather meteorologist Lisa Meadows.
A St. Paul neighborhood that has struggled to keep businesses might be turning a corner. Our Jeff Wagner shares why some families are excited about LuLu Adventure Park, the newest addition in the Midway.
The fire chief of Maple Grove is on leave after being accused of sexually assaulting a teenager he supervised.
Three years in a row and totaling nearly $100,000 in damage. Now St. Paul officials are asking whether they should keep replacing trees that someone keeps destroying. Photojournalist Ray Campos and Reg Chapman show the latest damage.