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Friday night, Eden Prairie will try to win its fourth-straight state title in football. There are a lot of reasons why the Eagles have had so much success. One of them is a man you've likely never heard of -- but his impact can be seen in every game. You probably know Coach Mike Grant, son of Vikings legend Bud Grant. He's the winner of the last three state titles.
It's state championship week in high school football, what every kid who ever puts on pads and a helmet dreams about. It's also a bittersweet time for coaches and players because now there's a certainty: This is the last football game of the year.
The semifinals of the Minnesota State High School League's State Football Tournament were played in the cold Friday evening, and WCCO was on hand to capture the action.
It's a huge week for the four teams that are left in each class. You're playing for something that might have only seemed like a dream in August: A chance to play for a state championship. The teams that advance this week head to TCF Bank Stadium to play in the Prep Bowl, while the others wonder what might have been after getting so close.
Old man winter threw a big wrench in not only state playoffs, but also Saturday's Gopher game at TCF Bank Stadium. While the playing surface is heated, seating areas are not, so all that snow has to be removed one row at a time.
Inside the Vadnais Sports Dome, the Totino-Grace Eagles football team practices in relative comfort. It's just one of 28 boy's high school football teams striving to get to the Prep Bowl. But there's one big hurdle ahead that few expected.
It's state tournament time in Minnesota, and it will cost more for some schools to make the trip this year. The Minnesota State High School League has warned schools to expect smaller reimbursement checks at the end of the school year. Mayer Lutheran may only be home to 180 students, but on Friday nearly all of them made the 45-mile trip to St. Paul to see their team compete on the volleyball court.
On a beautiful night for football, they played the first round of the state playoffs outdoors. The goal is a date at TCF Bank Stadium and the Prep Bowl. David McCoy reported on the featured game -- Eden Prairie Vs. East Ridge -- while Mike Max and Frank Vascellaro highlighted the best plays from other big games.
Every high school football player that steps on the field in August has the goal of playing football in November. That means you're in the state tournament, where anything is possible.
Two Minnesota high school runners have been disqualified in the state girls cross country meet for helping an opponent who fell. Kailee Kiminski, a senior from Esko, and Tierney Winter, a junior in Janesville, forfeited the race this weekend to help Jackson County Central freshman Jessica Christoffer over the finish line.
It's a spooky night for kids around the metro, in particular some football players as the second week of playoffs takes place.
Eagan at Prior Lake highlights a big night of high school football across Minnesota Friday as state tournament bids are up for grabs. Every athlete that ever puts on football pads dreams of the chance to play for a trip to state. For 112 teams across seven total classes, the opportunity is there this week to celebrate a section championship when the clock hits zero.
The first round of playoff games for high school football took place Friday evening, and WCCO was there to catch all the action. If you weren't able to make it any of the great high school games, take a look at the videos below.
It's playoff time in high school football in Minnesota. That means we're in the heart of the fall, and every time a team takes the field the season is on the line. Athletes and teams hit the practice field in August and do the two-a-day practices for what starts now. It's a chance to have an opportunity to play for a spot in the state tournament.
The Hopkins Royals (4-4) host the Edina Hornets (2-6). The Royals lost their first conference game last week to Eden Prairie, which means Hopkins' defensive co-captains Zach Haley and Harry Momoh are looking to use the loss to the Eden Prairie as motivation.
Steven Stamkos scored 53 seconds into overtime to give the Nashville Predators a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild.
Anthony Edwards scored 38 points to help the Minnesota Timberwolves beat former teammate Karl-Anthony Towns for the first time and hold off the New York Knicks 115-104.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy has a hairline fracture in his hand and will not play on Christmas Day against the Detroit Lions, head coach Kevin O'Connell said Tuesday.
In many ways, this year in Minnesota sports mirrored the most spectacular games. There were triumphs and trials, feats and foibles, delights and disasters.
For the first time in more than a decade, the Pro Bowl roster lacks a single Minnesota Viking.
A professional hockey player was ready for retirement, but she's now stepping into a new role to grow the next generation of Minnesota players.
Mickey Watkins, ever curious and never shy, grabbed a nearby tote bin lid and showed them his style of urban snowboarding. Mike Yoshida happily snapped a photo of the 11-year-old sliding down the hill.
Nathan MacKinnon scored twice, Cale Makar and Brock Nelson each had a goal and two assists, and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Minnesota Wild 5-1 on Sunday night.
Anthony Edwards scored 24 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves rode timely 3-pointers from Donte DiVincenzo and Terrence Shannon Jr. to a 103-100 victory over Milwaukee on Sunday.
Minneapolis police are investigating a shooting that left one man dead early Tuesday morning on the city's north side.
It was just after Jim Bzoskie's act of kindness last Friday that he died, likely from a heart attack, his daughter said.
A 32-year-old man is facing multiple assault charges after he allegedly pointed a handgun at two St. Paul police officers, resulting in him being shot on Sunday.
Minnesota state Rep. Samakab Hussein says an attempted break-in occurred at his family's home in St. Paul on Friday.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called the federal immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities "political theater" by President Trump in a news conference with city and community leaders on Tuesday.
From a cat that accidentally made an 8,000-mile journey in a shipping container to a tunnel made just for turtles, all kinds of animals made the headlines in Minnesota this year.
There is no denying 2025 was a difficult year in Minnesota. A list of the biggest news stories is fraught with tragedy, attacks on the vulnerable and political division and dysfunction.
Several schools in Minnesota and Wisconsin are reporting delayed starts on Monday amid a messy morning commute.
A 19-year-old man is dead and four people are in custody in a shooting overnight Saturday in northwestern Minnesota.
President Trump voiced support for Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Mike Lindell, founder and CEO of MyPillow, at a rally Friday in North Carolina.
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.
The nationwide ban on a toxic cancer-causing chemical, once on hold, has moved forward to protect people around the country.
The Minnesota Sheriffs' Association submitted a vote of no confidence on Dec. 8, with 72 of Minnesota's 87 sheriffs voting in favor.
Minnesota's governor says the state could see a surge in ICE raids over the holidays. The Trump administration launched an immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities earlier this month. The Homeland Security Department says it's targeting criminals with outstanding deportation orders. But as WCCO's John Lauritsen reports, top Democrats say it's nothing but political theater.
Minnesota state Rep. Samakab Hussein says an attempted break-in occurred at his family's home in St. Paul on Friday.
The Education Department signaled earlier this year that it would move to resume wage garnishment, among other forms of involuntary collection, for those in default.
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.
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.
Minneapolis police are investigating a shooting that left one man dead early Tuesday morning on the city's north side.
A 32-year-old man is facing multiple assault charges after he allegedly pointed a handgun at two St. Paul police officers, resulting in him being shot on Sunday.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called the federal immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities "political theater" by President Trump in a news conference with city and community leaders on Tuesday.
Earl Bennett was found guilty on three counts of second-degree intentional murder for the Oct. 27, 2024, shooting at a small encampment next to railroad tracks near Snelling Avenue and East 44th Street.
Lyndon Wiggins, the man twice convicted for orchestrating the kidnapping and killing of Minneapolis realtor Monique Baugh, received a life sentence without the possibility of parole on Monday afternoon.
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.
A Twin Cities metro area school shifted to e-learning after a flu outbreak impacted nearly a quarter of its students. A senior epidemiologist with the Minnesota Department of Health said flu season is "definitely picking up."
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.
The Oscars ceremony is moving to YouTube starting in 2029, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Wednesday.
The nearly 100-year-old cinema will close briefly after New Year's Day and reopen on Jan. 9 with a showing of Jim Jarmusch's "Father Mother Sister Brother."
Steven Stamkos scored 53 seconds into overtime to give the Nashville Predators a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild.
Anthony Edwards scored 38 points to help the Minnesota Timberwolves beat former teammate Karl-Anthony Towns for the first time and hold off the New York Knicks 115-104.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy has a hairline fracture in his hand and will not play on Christmas Day against the Detroit Lions, head coach Kevin O'Connell said Tuesday.
In many ways, this year in Minnesota sports mirrored the most spectacular games. There were triumphs and trials, feats and foibles, delights and disasters.
For the first time in more than a decade, the Pro Bowl roster lacks a single Minnesota Viking.
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.
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."
How would you like to own a former Cold War missile site? In Dakota County, Minnesota, there's a one-of-a-kind property that could be yours for the right price.
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.
It's the time of year when we accumulate the most stuff. When we do, people often throw around the word "hoarding." But it turns out it's a frequently misunderstood term.
Why do we have oily or dry skin? A dermatologist explains the root cause and how it can change over time.
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.
Christmas Eve will be mild with mostly cloudy skies, with afternoon temperatures reaching the upper 30s.
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 Adam Del Rosso says the next several days will feature highs well above average before temperatures plummet this weekend.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says the next several days will feature highs well above average before temperatures plummet this weekend.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says it'll be warm for the next few days, but we should still technically have a White Christmas.
Christmas Eve will be mild with mostly cloudy skies. Our next chance for precipitation comes Christmas night into Friday, with a low chance of light rain or freezing rain.
DOJ releases huge new set of Epstein files with many mentions of President Donald Trump, plus more of the day’s top stories.
WCCO meteorologist Adam Del Rosso says the next several days will feature highs well above average before temperatures plummet this weekend.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says the next several days will feature highs well above average before temperatures plummet this weekend.
Some love it, some don't. There's a good chance you'll be offered some eggnog this season. How did eggnog become the drink of the season? Good Question. Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield explains the history behind the cup of cheer.