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Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's re-election secures his reputation as a conservative hero and possible presidential contender and will make it more difficult for opponents to reverse his restrictions on public sector unions, tax cuts and other business-friendly policies.
Democratic state Rep. Steve Simon has been elected secretary of state, defeating Republican former state Rep. Dan Severson. Simon will take over as Minnesota's chief elections officer from Democrat Mark Ritchie, who chose not to run again.
Justices David Lillehaug and Wilhelmina Wright will stay on the Minnesota Supreme Court. Lillehaug, a former U.S. attorney for Minnesota, faced voters for the first time since Gov. Mark Dayton appointed him to the high court last year. Lillehaug defeated Michelle MacDonald, a West St. Paul attorney who won the GOP endorsement for the officially nonpartisan office but fell out with party leaders after it emerged that she faced criminal charges over a traffic stop.
Rep. Rick Nolan has fended off a strong GOP challenger to hold onto Minnesota's 8th District in what was among the most expensive congressional races in the country. He beat Fleet Farm scion and political newcomer Stewart Mills to win a second term of his second stint in Congress. The Democrat previously served in the 1970s.
Republicans have grabbed control of the Minnesota House and broken up the Democrats' short run of one-party rule at the Capitol. House Speaker Paul Thissen conceded early Wednesday that Democrats had lost control of the chamber.
Election Day arrived in Minnesota with Democrats feeling good about sweeping the biggest races in the state — for governor and U.S. Senate — and perhaps all of the statewide offices. But the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party was fighting a rear-guard action to hang on to the Minnesota House, with plenty of incumbents at risk and Republicans needing just seven seats to bring back divided government for the first time since 2012.
Sen. Al Franken's margin of victory in Tuesday's election was a landslide compared to his razor-thin win six years ago. In July of 2009, after a seven-month recount and a drawn-out legal challenge, Franken was finally declared the winner by just 312 votes. While the margin of Franken's victory this time was predicted by recent polls, as recently as a year ago he was not expected to do nearly as well.
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton is calling on his political opponents to join him in building a better state.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Jeff Johnson says he's wishing the victor, Democratic incumbent Mark Dayton, success because he wants Minnesota to succeed. Johnson lost his bid Tuesday to oust Dayton after a single term.
GOP U.S. Senate hopeful Mike McFadden says Minnesota's Republican party is in better shape than two years ago, despite his loss to Sen. Al Franken.
Minnesota's most senior member of Congress, Collin Peterson, has won his 13th term. Voters in western Minnesota's 7th District are sending Democrat Collin Peterson back to Washington after he withstood a vigorous challenge from GOP state Sen. Torrey Westrom.
Republicans have seized control of the Senate for the first time in eight years.
Democratic Rep. Tim Walz has won a fifth term in Congress in southern Minnesota's 1st District, defeating Blue Earth businessman Jim Hagedorn.
Democrat Rebecca Otto has won a third term as state auditor, beating Republican challenger Randy Gilbert. The state auditor serves mainly as a watchdog over local government finances. Last year as a member of Minnesota's Executive Council, Otto voted against approving some copper-nickel prospecting leases in the Iron Range. She said she wanted financial assurances that taxpayers wouldn't be stuck with the cleanup costs.
Minnesota voters have re-elected Lori Swanson to a third term as attorney general, extending the DFL Party's 43-year lock on the office. Swanson defeated GOP state Sen. Scott Newman of Hutchinson. Swanson campaigned on her record of consumer protection as the state's chief legal officer.
Chief Axel Henry says he reported Mayor Kaohly Her's conduct, then was cut out of decisions and had records withheld, according to his new lawsuit.
While investigations are ongoing, Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said that the evidence points to swatting.
Former Republican Minnesota state senator Justin Eichorn was sentenced Wednesday to 16 months in prison after pleading guilty to attempted possession of child pornography following a 2025 child sex sting arrest.
Some Twin Cities homeowners could soon see a big jump in their property taxes.
Taylor Swift announced her new single "Patient Zero" earlier this week, saying she has been "impatiently waiting" to announce that it will be out on Friday.
The Invisible Wounds Project, located in Forest Lake, Minnesota, is dedicated to supporting the mental health and wellness of military, veterans and first responders.
WCCO is tracking everything you can go out and do 4 Your Weekend, including local festivals and the start of some fall activities.
Expect some morning sun in the metro before rain rolls in around noon. Highs will be in the low-to-mid 60s.
A beaver dam near one of Scandia's most historic sites is raising concerns about what higher water levels could mean for buildings that have stood for more than 150 years.
WCCO is tracking everything you can go out and do 4 Your Weekend, including local festivals and the start of some fall activities.
Doctors Council SEIU and Allina Health have been working toward an agreement for three years.
Some Twin Cities homeowners could soon see a big jump in their property taxes.
At nearly 36 years old, Target Center in Minneapolis stands as the second-oldest arena to host an NBA team.
While investigations are ongoing, Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said that the evidence points to swatting.
WCCO is tracking everything you can go out and do 4 Your Weekend, including local festivals and the start of some fall activities.
The town of Lindstrom, Minnesota, is known for its unique water tower, but an unlikely discovery is bringing back memories of another landmark.
The 1,200 residents who call New Richland, Minnesota, home won't forget Saturday, when nine inches of pouring rain led to flooding in town.
The Invisible Wounds Project, located in Forest Lake, Minnesota, is dedicated to supporting the mental health and wellness of military, veterans and first responders.
Authorities are investigating after a 34-year-old man died was found unresponsive in his cell at the Stearns County Jail in St. Cloud, Minnesota earlier this month.
The Wisconsin State Patrol says a trooper is in the hospital with severe injuries after falling off a bridge while attempting to end a pursuit.
In downtown Hudson, Wisconsin, a small gallery is making room for a lot of creativity.
A $1.8 billion project to replace the Blatnik Bridge, which links Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin, is now underway.
An 18-year-old man has pleaded guilty to killing 10-year-old Lily Peters in Wisconsin four years ago. He was then given a life sentence with the possibility of extended supervision after 25 years.
A Wisconsin prosecutor says he will not file election bribery charges against billionaire Elon Musk even though the state's bipartisan elections commission said he likely broke state law.
Automotive collision and refinishing students at Dunwoody College in Minneapolis rebuilt a Hyundai Elantra and gave it to Robert Hanson, a U.S. Navy veteran, through the National Auto Body Council's Recycled Rides program.
For years, Keiona Cook has been weaving communities together, teaching kids from North Minneapolis and Edina to sew together. Now she's taking her work to New York for the city's iconic fashion week.
Natalie Flaherty started I Stand With Anne when she was 10. She's now one of this year's Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes winners, an award for people ages 8 to 18 who are making a positive difference.
In downtown Hudson, Wisconsin, a small gallery is making room for a lot of creativity.
The nonprofit opened its Twin Cities doors in 2010 and now runs a seven-woman operation out of a warehouse stocked entirely with what other Minnesotans gave away.
St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry is suing Mayor Kaohly Her and the city, alleging she sexually harassed him for months and that city officials retaliated against him after he reported it, plus more of the day’s top stories.
President Trump will host Chinese President Xi Jinping for meetings and a state dinner on Thursday, as the world's two most powerful countries try to extend a tariff truce and grapple with a rivalry on advanced AI.
Explosive sexual harassment allegations, a lawsuit and now changes in daily operations. The strained relationship between St. Paul's police chief and mayor is now heading to court. Ashley Grams has the allegations in a new lawsuit and a change in the mayor's security detail.
There have been eight suicide attempts across the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group since the beginning of its grueling monthslong deployment last year, Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao said.
An Iowa judge sided with pollster J. Ann Selzer and The Des Moines Register, saying that allowing the lawsuit and its "faulty" claims to proceed could "discourage others from reporting on and debating public affairs."
Tim Wertish and his son drove out to the lot every morning before school. This weekend, nearly 400 classic trucks, pickups and cars go to the highest bidder in Redwood Falls.
Every grain and ingredient that comes through the door is certified gluten-free, co-owner Kasey Pate says, a dedicated facility for a community that lost its taproom when Burning Brothers closed last year.
Sunset to sunrise. Any rain, snow, sleet or hail. And any time you can't clearly make out people and vehicles 500 feet ahead. Three triggers in one statute, and most drivers only know the first one.
The Minnesota Department of Human Services is working with a contractor to correct an autism treatment plan backlog that is frustrating both parents and providers.
You've probably seen THC drinks at Minnesota bars and liquor stores, but those made-in-Minnesota drinks could disappear this winter if new federal rules take effect.
The 81-page guide gives officers tools and best practices for handling these cases, including how officers interact with victim survivors, collect samples, and collect and handle evidence.
While investigations are ongoing, Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said that the evidence points to swatting.
Chief Axel Henry says he reported Mayor Kaohly Her's conduct, then was cut out of decisions and had records withheld, according to his new lawsuit.
Former Republican Minnesota state senator Justin Eichorn was sentenced Wednesday to 16 months in prison after pleading guilty to attempted possession of child pornography following a 2025 child sex sting arrest.
Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced movie mogul, was sentenced to 15 years in prison Wednesday morning for sexually assaulting Miriam Haley at his Manhattan apartment in 2006.
Doctors Council SEIU and Allina Health have been working toward an agreement for three years.
The headlines surrounding Artificial Intelligence's rapid advancement have been tough to digest recently. WCCO wanted to know how to manage anxiety caused by AI.
The virus has struck poultry producers in at least five counties in a single month. Nationally, nearly 23 million turkeys have been put down since 2022 — even as U.S. farmers raise 45 million fewer birds than they did a decade ago.
Officials say that anyone who touched the bat should call 911 and ask to be connected to Animal Care and Control and contact their healthcare provider.
Every grain and ingredient that comes through the door is certified gluten-free, co-owner Kasey Pate says, a dedicated facility for a community that lost its taproom when Burning Brothers closed last year.
Taylor Swift announced her new single "Patient Zero" earlier this week, saying she has been "impatiently waiting" to announce that it will be out on Friday.
A Tennessee judge granted Dolly Parton's estate a temporary restraining order Wednesday against the late singer's nephew Bryan Seaver and his private security company.
An autopsy by the Greenville County Coroner's Office determined Hayden Panettiere's death was due to an accidental overdose of several drugs, including fentanyl.
Nike-owned Converse acknowledged that an ad for its Chuck Taylor sneaker is "deeply upsetting."
Presley Gerber, the son of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, has died at 27, a family spokesperson has confirmed.
Pinch-hitter Walker Jenkins hit an RBI single in the seventh inning that put Minnesota ahead and the Twins won their second straight over the San Francisco Giants with a 4-2 victory.
Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin has signed a contract extension in another sign of the organization's all-in pursuit of a Stanley Cup title.
The productivity Aaron Jones gave the Minnesota Vikings last week has come with a price with a knee injury.
At nearly 36 years old, Target Center in Minneapolis stands as the second-oldest arena to host an NBA team.
Minnesota Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers is not only making a big impact on the defensive side of the ball, but his splash plays on special teams have earned him a Week 2 honor.
The constitutional amendment would raise the contribution to schools by $33 per pupil for each school. That would take the fund's current contribution of $68 per pupil to $101 per pupil.
In August, a law changing the age for criminal prosecutions in Minnesota went into effect. The law bars children under 13, no matter how serious the crime, from being prosecuted. It's unclear what will happen to kids now accused of these crimes.
Maryland and New Hampshire have similar laws but carve out exceptions for serious violent crimes like murder and rape; Minnesota's version, effective August 1, 2026, has none.
Demuth has been running ads focusing on a million-dollar funding proposal that Klobuchar supported that was stripped out of a funding bill.
She has won four races for U.S. Senate by double digits, and now Sen. Amy Klobuchar is campaigning to become Minnesota's next governor.
The town of Lindstrom, Minnesota, is known for its unique water tower, but an unlikely discovery is bringing back memories of another landmark.
From making the paper for Crayola crayons to getting a visit from Mr. Rogers. John Lauritsen shares the history behind a Little Falls paper mill, and how its ruins have become its future, in this week's Finding Minnesota.
Built in 1886, the Prospect House was once a resort hotel. The third floor is preserved to show what the hotel looked like back then, but for Jay Johnson, the real history is in the basement.
For nearly a half century, the Haunted Mansion at the Minnesota State Fair has been scaring people silly.
It is one of the most uniquely shaped buildings at the Minnesota State Fair, and it holds nearly 80 years of history.
The leaves have been changing, the temperature has been dropping, and the pumpkin flavored coffee drinks are flowing.
The headlines surrounding Artificial Intelligence's rapid advancement have been tough to digest recently. WCCO wanted to know how to manage anxiety caused by AI.
If you're buying ground beef at the grocery store, there's a good chance that part of it came from a country outside the United States.
It's the fifth time in six years that Minnesotans are approaching fall during a drought. The time of year is right when homeowners typically start repairing their yards. Is it worth fighting back now or simply waiting until spring?
The first days of school can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. New teachers, new classes, maybe even a new building. It can be a lot to manage without a plan.
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.
Expect some morning sun in the metro Thursday before rain rolls in, says meteorologist Joseph Dames.
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.
Expect some morning sun in the metro before rain rolls in around noon. Highs will be in the low-to-mid 60s.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says it will be cooler tomorrow with the shower chances.
Some rain is expected in western Minnesota Wednesday night into Thursday after a sunny, crisp fall day.
Fall is officially here this week, and festivals are kicking off this weekend throughout Minnesota.
St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry is suing Mayor Kaohly Her and the city, alleging she sexually harassed him for months and that city officials retaliated against him after he reported it, plus more of the day’s top stories.
Expect some morning sun in the metro Thursday before rain rolls in, says meteorologist Joseph Dames.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says it will be cooler tomorrow with the shower chances.
A Minnesota town is known for its unique water tower. In Finding Minnesota, John Lauritsen shows us how an unlikely discovery is bringing back memories of another Lindstrom landmark.