Watch CBS News
Gov. Tim Walz released on Monday a slate of his education priorities that he believes will help ensure high-quality education is available to all Minnesota students no matter their race or socio-economic status.
The state was allotted 68,000 doses to give out this week. Of that, 6,000 doses were set aside for educators and child care center workers.
The plan will be for students in second grade and younger to return to classrooms Feb. 8, to be followed by students in third, fourth and fifth grade to return two weeks later -- on Feb. 22.
The decision will make $14 million to $28 million available to teens across the state. A local group of students brought forward this issue to make a change.
The state has seen explosive growth in cases and hospitalizations in recent weeks, surpassing 7,000 cases in a single day on Thursday for the first time since the pandemic began.
The new report that came out this morning shows that Minnesota schools from Nov. 1 to Nov. 7 had over 750 COVID-19 cases reported. That number was between 100 and just over 300 in September.
Rising COVID cases means several Minnesota school districts are considering big changes.
Four kindergarteners in the Kenny neighborhood are doing distance learning together during the week, rotating houses each day. Parents of the children take turns facilitating and hosting class.
WCCO is documenting the distance learning journey of two Twin Cities families: a single mom balancing her job as a hair stylist while her kids log on to learn at home, and a family of five with a daughter who has disabilities, keeping them all at home so she remains safe.
Health officials are also concerned about the growing number of COVID-19 cases in students.
So the Y went all in with support of businesses like Xcel, Securian Financial and US Bank, which are all helping to fund technology pods at 19 Twin Cities locations.
College campuses have seen the most concerning increases as people ages 18 to 24 have a case rate that's five times higher than any age group in Wisconsin.
The Minnesota Department of Health is urging parents to really think about when to keep their kids home from school.
The collaboration between a teacher and a parent in Northfield helped an entire school go back to learning in person this fall.
Wednesday marked the second day of school for many students in what is a very different type of school year.
On Dec. 16, 2025, security footage shows various people throughout the day dropping off young children at the state-licensed ABC Learning Center in Minneapolis. That same day, YouTuber Nick Shirley arrived and claimed that the day care was among many in Minnesota that were empty.
Every day, millions of people use AI applications like ChatGPT that require power from data centers where chips and servers run the digital world. The process generates massive amounts of heat.
Twin Cities police say they believe there could be more victims of a 37-year-old man charged earlier this month with child sex crimes.
Crews were called to the residence on the 3900 block of Upton Avenue South around 3:30 p.m., according to the fire department.
The need for assistance has increased as families continue to face higher prices and fewer benefits from some state programs related to housing and hunger.
After spending Christmas in the hospital, a high school wrestler who was shot will get to ring in the new year at home.
A grocery store worker on Minnesota's North Shore is charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing a customer in the neck on Saturday afternoon while in the midst of a mental health crisis.
Two Minnesota lawmakers and their loved ones attacked in their homes, federal immigration enforcement operations targeting Somali immigrants and fraud investigations were some of Minnesota's top political stories in 2025.
Tim Bertz worked for the Harris and Lino Lakes fire departments, and on Dec. 17, he graduated from the St. Paul Fire Academy. He died just five days later.
A man is accused of fatally shooting a Castle Rock Township, Minnesota, woman on Christmas Eve, which, according to court documents filed Monday, was her birthday.
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.
On Dec. 16, 2025, security footage shows various people throughout the day dropping off young children at the state-licensed ABC Learning Center in Minneapolis. That same day, YouTuber Nick Shirley arrived and claimed that the day care was among many in Minnesota that were empty.
Emmer's post comes after a viral video alleging nearly a dozen day care centers in Minnesota of fraud.
Minnesota Congressman Tom Emmer is calling for the deportation of Somali U.S. citizens tied to fraud. But could that happen legally? Jason Rantala has the answer.
The Department of Health and Human Services said Tuesday it has frozen federal child care funding for the state of Minnesota, citing viral fraud allegations.
Some Iowans are ringing in 2026 with a special election on the final Tuesday of the year, casting ballots for a state senator in a race that offers Republicans an opportunity to reclaim two-thirds control of the chamber.
While no illness has been reported so far, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says 54 stores in the state were affected by Gold Star Distribution's recall.
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.
Twin Cities police say they believe there could be more victims of a 37-year-old man charged earlier this month with child sex crimes.
Broken Clock Brewing Cooperative is a tap room, a brewery, coffee shop and an event center on Marshall Street in northeast Minneapolis. During Christmas, it was unfortunately a community for thieves.
A grocery store worker on Minnesota's North Shore is charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing a customer in the neck on Saturday afternoon while in the midst of a mental health crisis.
A teenage boy is accused of injuring three people in a shooting on a bus in north Minneapolis earlier this month.
Stefon Diggs, a star wide receiver with the New England Patriots, is facing criminal charges after an incident in Massachusetts earlier this month.
It's a beauty technique that's exploding. Depending on your age, you might not have heard of it. It's called micro-needling.
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.
The band announced Perry Bamonte's death on their official website on Friday.
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.
Kendall Coyne Schofield scored her league-leading sixth and seventh goals, Nicole Hensley shined with a 31-save outing, and the Minnesota Frost topped the Toronto Sceptres 5-1 on Tuesday night.
Quarterback Drew Brees and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald headline the list of modern era finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Marcus Johansson had a goal and three assists and the surging Minnesota Wild beat the Vegas Golden Knights 5-2 on Monday night.
Nikola Vucevic led Chicago with 23 points, but the depleted Bulls couldn't keep pace and lost a second straight following a five-game winning streak that had lifted them back to .500.
Bria Hartley's professional career rerouted her to Minnesota when she tore her ACL in 2020, when hospital space was limited and she found an opening for surgery at TCO.
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."
Have you ever wondered how the actors memorize so many lines? A neurologist says everyone could strengthen their memories by taking cues from actors.
It's a beauty technique that's exploding. Depending on your age, you might not have heard of it. It's called micro-needling.
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.
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.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says another Alberta Clipper brings snow for the morning commute and continues until lunch.
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 Chris Shaffer says it will be another quiet and mild night before an Alberta Clipper brings snow in the morning.
The DNR reminds us that no ice is 100% safe. The agency recommends at least 4 inches of ice for fishing or walking, and at least 7 inches for a snowmobile or small ATV.
Minnesota will see a couple of rounds of light snow midweek before temperatures turn colder in time for the new year, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says another Alberta Clipper brings snow for the morning commute and continues until lunch.
"A Christmas Carol" at the Guthrie, "The Grinch" at Children's Theatre Company, and "White Christmas" at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres. Whether a play with pros or a school production, it's peak time for performances. But have you ever wondered: How do actors memorize so many lines? Good Question. Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield got the answer from a neurologist who says we could strengthen our own memories by taking cues from performers.
One of Minnesota's younger public companies is in the right place at the right time. It plays a key role keeping things cool in the red-hot world of AI and data centers. Frank Vascellaro introduces us to nVent and the woman who runs it.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says it's freezing child care funds for Minnesota after a YouTuber claimed to uncover fraudulent centers in a viral video. Some of the featured child care centers are firing back.
As the clock counts down to the new year, one organization is counting on last-second generosity to help make its goal to help fund programs in the coming year. Photojournalist Nick Lunemann and Jeff Wagner have more on how you can help.