Pre-Kindergarten Program Helping Close Achievement Gap
In most school districts, children start school at age 5 when they go to kindergarten.
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In most school districts, children start school at age 5 when they go to kindergarten.
Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman released a video called "Case Closed: Clean Elections in Hennepin County," which touts clean elections and criticizes the voter ID amendment.
Always the bridesmaid, never the bride. An election year with some disappointments turned out well in the end for former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty.
So just what are the hottest races in Minnesota this election season? WCCO's Laura Oakes goes Behind the Ballot.
The state Department of Transportation has a nonpartisan reminder for anyone placing campaign signs along public roads: Keep them off the right of way.
The biggest election contest in Minnesota isn't the U.S. Senate race or the Presidential race. It's the campaigns to pass -- or defeat -- the constitutional amendment to define marriage as between one man and one woman.
Democrat Rick Nolan has won the backing of the steelworkers union on the Iron Range as he tries to unseat Republican Rep. Chip Cravaack in northeastern Minnesota.
Hamline University's faculty has voted Wednesday to oppose the marriage amendment, which would change Minnesota's constitution to define marriage as between a man and woman.
In one TV ad, a husband and wife talk fondly of a lesbian couple who moved into their neighborhood. In another, a married couple speaks of wanting fair treatment for their lesbian daughter. A third features a pastor talking supportively about gay unions.
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar has put down money for the first TV commercial of what's been an unusually quiet U.S. Senate campaign.
Police say a sixth church in Buffalo was apparently another target in a string of vandalism currently being investigated as a possible bias crime. The Buffalo Police chief says damage was discovered at Buffalo United Methodist Church late yesterday afternoon.
People on both sides of the marriage amendment debate are stepping up efforts to get more votes as we get closer to the November ballot.
The Midwest Governors Association will meet in Des Moines and mark the organization's 50th anniversary.
The parents of a gay Minnesota soldier killed in Afghanistan are leading an effort to defeat the proposed marriage amendment.
This year's annual governor's deer-hunting opener will be in Winona.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Thursday touted an end-of-session deal created with leaders in the state Legislature, saying the agreement proffers "historic budget reserves, long-term financial stability, surpluses on the bottom line and investments and protections of those programs that matter."
A former Minnesota state senator accused of attempting to pay a teenager for sex is set to appear Thursday morning in a change-of-plea hearing.
The owners of Dirty Blonde Bar and Grill in Bock say they now face thousands in lost revenue, a repair bill approaching $100,000 and what they describe as a lack of answers.
DFL Gov. Tim Walz and legislative leaders in a politically divided Capitol reached a deal Wednesday night.
Fifty beagles rescued from animal testing in Wisconsin are set to arrive in Minnesota Thursday.
With just days left in Minnesota's legislative session, one controversial topic has lawmakers at odds: gun reform. And now, Minnesota House Democrats are threatening a sit-in if Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth doesn't let them vote on a gun control bill that already passed the Senate.
Bauhaus Brew Labs announced Thursday it will close this summer after more than a decade as a staple of the northeast Minneapolis beer scene.
In Minnesota, you'll be able to try one at St. Paul's CHS Field.
There's a place in Wabasha County, Minnesota, where people go wild for wildflowers.
Bauhaus Brew Labs announced Thursday it will close this summer after more than a decade as a staple of the northeast Minneapolis beer scene.
A Twin Cities school district's plans to include spaces for prayer and washing of feet in new construction and building upgrades has drawn national attention and outrage.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Thursday touted an end-of-session deal created with leaders in the state Legislature, saying the agreement proffers "historic budget reserves, long-term financial stability, surpluses on the bottom line and investments and protections of those programs that matter."
Justin Eichorn, the former Republican Minnesota state senator charged last year with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, appeared in a St. Paul federal court Thursday where he instead pleaded guilty to attempted possession of child pornography.
Fifty beagles rescued from animal testing in Wisconsin are set to arrive in Minnesota Thursday.
In Minnesota, you'll be able to try one at St. Paul's CHS Field.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Thursday touted an end-of-session deal created with leaders in the state Legislature, saying the agreement proffers "historic budget reserves, long-term financial stability, surpluses on the bottom line and investments and protections of those programs that matter."
Justin Eichorn, the former Republican Minnesota state senator charged last year with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, appeared in a St. Paul federal court Thursday where he instead pleaded guilty to attempted possession of child pornography.
With just days left in Minnesota's legislative session, one controversial topic has lawmakers at odds: gun reform. And now, Minnesota House Democrats are threatening a sit-in if Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth doesn't let them vote on a gun control bill that already passed the Senate.
There's a place in Wabasha County, Minnesota, where people go wild for wildflowers.
Fifty beagles rescued from animal testing in Wisconsin are set to arrive in Minnesota Thursday.
A 100-mile stretch of Mississippi River towns is hosting its annual 100 Mile Garage Sale this weekend, drawing shoppers and sellers from across the region and beyond.
Minnesota animal rescues are stepping up to take in dogs from a Wisconsin research facility accused of animal abuse.
You may have heard of Give to the Max Day, where people donate millions of dollars to hundreds of nonprofits and organizations across Minnesota on a single day. That idea has spread to western Wisconsin, called Give Big Valleys.
Federal prosecutors say a small-town Wisconsin police chief tried to help California gun dealers import illegal armor-piercing rounds from Europe.
Somali and Muslim leaders in Minnesota played a threatening voicemail at a public gathering Friday, saying businesses in their community are being targeted with messages warning of death.
The Black homeownership rate in the Twin Cities dropped to 29% in 2024, and the region had the largest gap between Black and White homeownership rates of any comparable metro in the country.
Bobby Rogers once came to the Minneapolis Institute of Art to sketch and study; now he leads its design and editorial work, shaping what visitors see and experience.
Moses Cooper, who has cerebral palsy, met running partner Mark Hulsey through My Team Triumph Minnesota two years ago and the pair qualified for the Boston Marathon at Grandma's Marathon last summer.
Mackenzie Reed, head custodian at Shakopee East Middle School, has painted large-scale murals throughout the building she once attended as a student, creating a more welcoming space for current students.
U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks, who was appointed to the role last year, told staff on Thursday that he is stepping down.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Thursday touted an end-of-session deal created with leaders in the state Legislature, saying the agreement proffers "historic budget reserves, long-term financial stability, surpluses on the bottom line and investments and protections of those programs that matter."
Justin Eichorn, the former Republican Minnesota state senator charged last year with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, appeared in a St. Paul federal court Thursday where he instead pleaded guilty to attempted possession of child pornography.
With just days left in Minnesota's legislative session, one controversial topic has lawmakers at odds: gun reform. And now, Minnesota House Democrats are threatening a sit-in if Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth doesn't let them vote on a gun control bill that already passed the Senate.
Some Minnesota House Democrats are threatening a sit-in if Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth doesn't let them vote on a gun control bill that already passed the Senate.
In Minnesota, you'll be able to try one at St. Paul's CHS Field.
With more Americans opting to drive rather than fly amid higher costs, South Dakota tourism officials say the state is well-positioned as a regional road trip destination.
President Trump's idea to save drivers a few dollars at the pump could cost them in the long run.
A 100-mile stretch of Mississippi River towns is hosting its annual 100 Mile Garage Sale this weekend, drawing shoppers and sellers from across the region and beyond.
The Black homeownership rate in the Twin Cities dropped to 29% in 2024, and the region had the largest gap between Black and White homeownership rates of any comparable metro in the country.
Justin Eichorn, the former Republican Minnesota state senator charged last year with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, appeared in a St. Paul federal court Thursday where he instead pleaded guilty to attempted possession of child pornography.
Federal investigators say four men from South America burglarized homes in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Florida, and walked away with more than a million dollars worth of cash, jewelry, firearms, precious metals and rare coins.
Charges say survelliance cameras caught the stabbing on video.
A St. Paul, Minnesota, man is facing charges after a toddler in his care pulled a gun from a diaper bag during a traffic stop Monday afternoon, court documents show.
Minnesotans will soon face tougher consequences if they disguise themselves as law enforcement to deceive the public in response to the lawmaker shooting attacks last summer.
A Twin Cities teenager is facing an unimaginable battle: terminal cancer. She's fortunate enough to have family by her side through her fearless fight as they all hope for a miracle.
Dr. Gianrico Farrugia has led Mayo Clinic since 2019, and the organization said it was his decision to "complete his tenure at the end of this year."
Twin Cities emergency room physicians, nurses and technicians made an emotional plea Tuesday for lawmakers to do something about Minnesota's gun laws.
The Minnesota Department of Health said Tuesday afternoon that it is monitoring a person who was potentially exposed to someone who tested positive for hantavirus aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship.
Hundreds of nurses at North Memorial Health's Maple Grove Hospital have voted to approve an unfair labor practice strike, their union announced Tuesday.
The Library of Congress revealed this year's list of 25 recordings to be preserved for future generations on the National Recording Registry.
Dave Ryan announced Wednesday that May 22 will be his last day at KDWB, ending a 33-year run at the Twin Cities station.
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis are calling their Aug. 29 show "Homecoming: A Celebration of the Minneapolis Sound."
A trial in the lawsuit between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni was set to begin later in May.
The Minnesota Star Tribune was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for breaking news for its coverage of a mass shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic school that killed two children and injured more than a dozen others.
Rafael Navarro scored a goal, Nico Hansen had his first shutout this season, and the Colorado Rapids beat Minnesota United 1-0 to snap a three-game losing streak.
Leo Jiménez had three hits and Xavier Edwards doubled, tripled and scored three runs as the Miami Marlins beat the Minnesota Twins 9-5 on Wednesday night.
The tennis court is where Jaime Gaard Chapman belongs.
The Colorado Avalanche are headed to the Western Conference finals for the first time in four years.
The San Francisco 49ers will host the Minnesota Vikings for a game in Mexico City this fall, National Football League officials confirmed Wednesday.
Amy Klobuchar is putting her gubernatorial campaign into high gear. She faces no significant opposition in the race for the DFL endorsement and her existing record of statewide wins is formidable.
The legislation establishes a list of requirements aimed at improving transparency and reducing conflicts within HOAs. Minnesota estimates that 25% of its residents live in an HOA, and 82% of new homes are built within one.
The Minnesota Senate passed a bill with mandatory requirements for homeowners associations aimed at improving transparency and preventing disputes, after two years of legislative work driven by public complaints.
The Minnesota Senate passed a bill with mandatory requirements for homeowners associations aimed at improving transparency and preventing disputes, after two years of legislative work driven by public complaints. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy spoke with Dana Ohman, an attorney who handles HOA disputes, about some of the most common questions homeowners have.
Sen. Tina Smith is using her last months in office to vocally campaign for progressive and environmental causes. She hopes that a progressive will succeed her when Minnesotans go to the polls next November.
There's a place in Wabasha County, Minnesota, where people go wild for wildflowers.
For nearly 50 years, Farmamerica has been sowing agricultural knowledge near Waseca, Minnesota.
The carillon has 56 bells, and the Mayo Clinic said that makes it one of the largest instruments in the world and the largest instrument in Minnesota.
When you think of masterful, memorable works of art, grain elevators don't typically come to mind. But in towns across the country, including in Minnesota, they're becoming an unlikely canvas for creativity.
At Arnie Lillo's Creations in Blue Earth County, you can visit a metal-scaled version of the Eiffel Tower and the Golden Gate Bridge. The works of art have taken on a shape of their own.
President Trump's idea to save drivers a few dollars at the pump could cost them in the long run.
More people than the entire population of Minneapolis, or half a million, were estimated to go fishing in Minnesota this past weekend. WCCO looks at how the tradition stacks up with other outdoor events that keep the state's economy running.
A deadly virus that's killed cruise ship passengers can be traced to small critters found hiding in homes.
So far this decade, the Twin Cities metro has, on average, added about 17,000 housing units per year, according to data from the Metropolitan Council.
A symbolic change is bothering some Minnesotans. Now their local leaders are listening; several cities are voting to fly the old state flag instead of the new one. While it was a drastic redesign, it wasn't the first.
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.
The Minnesota State Fair has unveiled its new food, drinks and vendors for 2025.
Sunny the next few days and warm, WCCO meteorologist Mike Augustyniak reports.
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.
The weekend looks to bring plenty of sun and warmth before some storm possibilities early next week, WCCO meteorologist Adam Del Rosso reports.
Gusts will reach up to 35 mph in the metro, leading to an elevated brushfire threat, WCCO meteorologist Joseph Dames reports.
Wind, fire danger and a few storms before a wetter weekend, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Joseph Dames.
As many as 1,700 passengers are being held on board a cruise ship in southwest France.
President Trump said Thursday that Chinese President Xi Jinping would like to see a deal with Iran made, and a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and has offered to help.
WCCO's Amelia Santaniello and Erin Hassanzadeh share the latest news headlines and updates from Thursday afternoon.
Sunny the next few days and warm, WCCO meteorologist Mike Augustyniak reports.
The weekend looks to bring plenty of sun and warmth before some storm possibilities early next week, WCCO meteorologist Adam Del Rosso reports.