Best Roadside Attractions Near Minnesota
Monuments tell a story about our state and the people who live here.
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Monuments tell a story about our state and the people who live here.
A 59-year-old man died early Monday afternoon after he was found pinned underneath a tree in northwestern Minnesota, according to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.
It's that time of year again! We've examined the map and narrowed down the choices for this year's Goin' To The (Frozen) Lake trip! WCCO-TV will be hitting the frozen lakes again each Thursday and Friday in February and we want your suggestions on where we should go.
New Year's Day offers an opportunity to get out and do new things without the hassle of crowds.
A teenager is in custody after a high speed chase near Alexandria Friday night. Authorities say it started at around 5:20 p.m. when officers pulled the 18-year-old over near the intersection of 2nd Avenue and Maple Street in Alexandria.
A man is in custody after an alleged attempted robbery at a Swift County bar Tuesday and a high-speed chase the next day, according to a statement from police.
An Alexandria woman learned Friday she will spend more than seven years in prison for the murder of a man she loved. Jason Nyberg died in September inside the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Faribault after 34-year-old Melissa Guillette smuggled in methamphetamine and passed it to him.
Human remains that were found near Alexandria in October have been confirmed to belong to the missing Starbuck woman Laura Schwendemann. The Medical Examiner confirmed that the remains belonged to the 18-year-old woman.
Choosing the best cookie in Minnesota is no easy feat. With hundreds of bakeries across the state, there are no shortage recipes and favorites. But there can only be one Best of Minnesota, and your votes sent me to Alexandria for some fun at the Sugar Shack.
The state cross country meet was held Saturday at St. Olaf, with the biggest question mark surrounding the girls Double-A race. It was a showdown between two twin sisters from Alexandria, years in the making.
The Midwest Medical Examiner's Office confirmed Friday that the human remains found Monday in Douglas County belong to a missing Starbuck college student. Laura Ann Schwendemann, 18, was last seen alive on the night of Oct. 14 at an Alexandria gas station.
An autopsy is being done on human remains that were found in a farmer's field Monday afternoon. According to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, around 2:31 p.m. a farmer discovered what was believed to be human remains while harvesting a field in Orange Township.
Alexandria native and Oscar nominee John Hawkes is set to appear at the Twin Cities Film Fest. Hawkes will appear Monday night at a screening of his new movie, "Too Late." Hawkes plays a troubled private investigator hired to find a missing woman from his own past.
It's section championship weekend in high school football. Across the state Friday and Saturday, state tournament bids are on the line as teams battle to become one of the eight left battling for a championship among the seven classes in the state.
Officials from Douglas and Pope counties say an 18-year-old woman has been missing since Wednesday night. According to authorities, Laura Ann Schwendemann was last seen at the Holiday Gas Station on 50th Avenue in Alexandria at about 9:30 p.m.
The DNR is reporting that fall colors have begun to pop, mostly up north as of this writing. The gorgeous fall foliage season is all too short. Now is the time to plan a little getaway to enjoy them before winter sets in. Here are a few suggestions for lodgings that are open past the summer tourist season.
An Alexandria woman is accused of smuggling methamphetamine into a Faribault jail, leading to the overdose death of an inmate. Faribault police say an inmate at Minnesota Correctional Facility Faribault was found dead in their cell on Sept. 5. An autopsy found that they had died from a meth overdose.
One of Roadside America's top attractions is going to get some much needed repairs. Big Ole, the very large statue in Alexandria, has some structural problems. The 28-foot-tall Viking was built for the 1964 World's Fair in New York City, but now he has big holes and cracks that need filling.
Minnesota Highway Patrol is warning bicyclists about the dangers of riding where they are not supposed to after a freeway crash took one man's life over the weekend.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are set to get their annual caravan started across the state as they embark on a new era in the organization. The Timberwolves Caravan, headlined by Minnesota native Tyus Jones, takes off on Tuesday, Aug. 4 as it heads to Alexandria for an event from 9:30 to 11 a.m.
A Saturday fire that started in a garage left an Alexandria home destroyed and a dog dead. According to a report from the Douglas Count Sheriff's Office, the fire began in a garage on East Lake Mary Road while someone was transferring gasoline from one can to another.
A man was hospitalized after allegedly being stabbed by his girlfriend in Alexandria Friday night. Police say they were called to the St. Cloud Hospital's emergency room just after 11:30 p.m. because a stabbing victim wanted to talk to them.
A St. Paul police sergeant has been named Police Officer of the Year by a Minnesota law enforcement association for his work with East and West African immigrant communities.
Alexandria Police are asking for the public's help to find a missing teen. Joshua Adoni Otis, 15, was last seen Thursday after he left his home on foot.
The Alexandria Police Department is looking for two suspects after a man was the victim of an armed robbery on Tuesday. Authorities responded at about 1 p.m. to the area of 7th Avenue and Park Street in Alexandria after a 34-year-old man called police saying he had been the victim of an armed robbery at about 10:30 a.m.
Most people can't avoid paying for prescription drugs, and it's something President Trump is promising to make easier. WCCO looked into recent federal changes to prices.
Children under 18 would no longer be able to use chatbots if a bill at the Minnesota Legislature passes this session. It's one proposal among several targeting artificial intelligence with new regulations.
For the Minnesota Wild, every game matters as the season reaches the final stretch. Niceo Sturm knows it.
Minnesota farmers are facing a number of challenges before spring planting begins.
Beginning Monday, people facing deportation have less time to file an appeal if they disagree with an immigration judge's ruling. It went from 30 days down to 10. There will no longer be an automatic review. Advocates call it a rapid loss of due process.
Children under 18 would no longer be able to use chatbots if a bill at the Minnesota Legislature passes this session. It's one proposal among several targeting artificial intelligence with new regulations.
For the Minnesota Wild, every game matters as the season reaches the final stretch. Niceo Sturm knows it.
The three members of the police department in St. Paul, Minnesota, who shot at a gunman during a shooting spree in 2025 will not be charged in the incident by the Ramsey County Attorney's Office, the agency said on Monday.
A Minnesota soldier who was days away from returning home when she was killed in Kuwait has been posthumously promoted.
The United Nations says the day is recognized on March 8 due to how women responded and moved during the Russian Revolution in 1917.
Children under 18 would no longer be able to use chatbots if a bill at the Minnesota Legislature passes this session. It's one proposal among several targeting artificial intelligence with new regulations.
Minnesota farmers are facing a number of challenges before spring planting begins.
A police squad car was involved in a crash Monday night in Farmington, Minnesota, seriously injuring a local business owner.
Charges say Sujan Tamang and his codefendant, 21-year-old Dipak Phayal, forced a student into her St. Cloud State University dorm room on Nov. 1, 2024. The two then assaulted her.
Southern Minnesota's Lois Widmark, 104, played a key role in helping the Allies gain victory in World War II.
As the war in Iran evolves, National Guardsmen from Wisconsin are being recognized for what they are doing in the Middle East.
It's the season for booking those spring break getaways, and if you're looking to skip the airport this year, take a page out of the Condé Nast Traveler.
A judge has sentenced a Wisconsin man who forged threats against President Donald Trump as part of a deportation scheme to 16½ years in prison.
A fire at a hotel in Superior, Wisconsin, Monday night left one person hurt and forced guests to move to new lodgings.
Excitement is in the air in northern Wisconsin with the 52nd annual American Birkebeiner underway.
Minnesota native and World War II veteran Les Schrenk died earlier this week. He was 102 years old.
People from across the nation are traveling to the Twin Cities, but not as tourists. Many want to learn in person from Minnesota protestors to bring that knowledge back to their own cities.
The Edina wife and mother of three said she felt called to go and protest in south Minneapolis after learning that Alex Pretti had been shot and killed by two Border Patrol agents.
Tuesday afternoon, more than 20 people gathered on the Highway 62 bridge between Minneapolis and Richfield after a small protest sparked a confrontation there last week.
Karmel Mall has been mostly silent, with shops closed at the building on East Lake Street. Operation Metro Surge has caused many Somalis to stay home.
Children under 18 would no longer be able to use chatbots if a bill at the Minnesota Legislature passes this session. It's one proposal among several targeting artificial intelligence with new regulations.
A bill to honor former House Speaker Melissa Hortman is now on its way to the Minnesota Senate floor for a vote. WCCO's Caroline Cummings explains.
The TSA says it's short-staffed as the partial government shutdown drags on, and travel experts are expecting delays to increase just as spring break season gets underway.
At a time when politics feels polarizing, one issue still gets strong bipartisan support: putting guardrails around artificial intelligence. Caroline Cummings reports on several proposals at the Minnesota State Capitol aiming to do just that.
President Trump told CBS News the U.S. war with Iran is "very complete," and said the U.S. "could do a lot" about the Strait of Hormuz.
For families already feeling the financial squeeze, medical debt can pile up, even with insurance. But managing, negotiating or forgiving that debt is possible thanks to some nonprofits providing relief.
With severe weather season right around the corner, what homeowners need to know about the evolving coverage for your roof.
Gas prices in Minnesota are climbing, mirroring a national trend experts say is at least in part caused by the U.S. and Israel attacking Iran.
It's the season for booking those spring break getaways, and if you're looking to skip the airport this year, take a page out of the Condé Nast Traveler.
As the strikes from U.S. and Israel continue, and Iran strikes back, the violence and turmoil could have significant worldwide ramifications.
Two men from Pennsylvania are facing federal charges for the incident. Video captured someone yelling "Allahu Akbar" just as a protester threw an "ignited device" during an anti-Islam demonstration in New York City.
A Twin Cities day care worker who pleaded guilty to malicious punishment of a child was sentenced to 30 days in jail on Friday.
A Hennepin County deputy is accused of domestic assault in an incident that sent a hospital in Maple Grove, Minnesota, into lockdown in February.
Minneapolis police are investigating three shootings that happened in a span of just 20 minutes Thursday night.
Charges say Sujan Tamang and his codefendant, 21-year-old Dipak Phayal, forced a student into her St. Cloud State University dorm room on Nov. 1, 2024. The two then assaulted her.
For families already feeling the financial squeeze, medical debt can pile up, even with insurance. But managing, negotiating or forgiving that debt is possible thanks to some nonprofits providing relief.
One in six struggle to get pregnant or stay pregnant, according to analysis by infertility associations, and many cannot afford treatments due to high out-of-pocket costs.
HHS Secretary RFK Jr. wants the popular coffee chains to prove their surgery drinks are safe for teens and suggested the Trump administration could place limits on your cup of coffee.
Tests of dozens of baby formulas by Consumer Reports found that nearly half contained potentially dangerous chemicals.
Minnesota on Monday sued Trump administration officials Dr. Mehmet Oz and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in an attempt to stop them from withholding $243 million in Medicaid spending, warning it may have to cut health care for low-income families if the funding is held back.
A woman was arrested on Sunday for firing multiple shots at the Beverly Hills home of Rihanna, Los Angeles Police Department officials say.
Valleyfair in Shakopee, Minnesota, will soon come under new ownership.
A new art exhibition in Shoreview, Minnesota, is inviting visitors to see art — and maybe themselves — a little differently.
Actor and filmmaker Bruce Campbell told fans that he is in treatment for cancer and will cancel some upcoming public appearances.
The Minnesota Wild and St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her announced a $600 million plan on Tuesday to renovate the team's arena and connected venues.
The Minnesota Vikings have several positions that need attention after last season when the team went 9-8 and was third in the NFC North.
The Minnesota Vikings have agreed to terms with free agent cornerback James Pierre, according to NFL Network reporter Cameron Wolfe, in an effort to improve the team's secondary.
Nathan MacKinnon scored his NHL-leading 43rd goal and scored the winning goal in a shootout, lifting the Colorado Avalanche to a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Sunday in a matchup between two of the NHL's top four teams in points.
Greyson Uelmen had 28 points and George Natsvlishvili made a free throw with 0.1 seconds left as the No. 3 seed North Dakota Fightin' Hawks defeated the second-seeded Saint Thomas Tommies 67-66 in the semifinals of the Summit League Tournament.
Linebacker Eric Wilson and the Minnesota Vikings have reached a three-year, eight-figure contract deal.
Minnesota Democratic Rep. Angie Craig, who is running for U.S. Senate, says she now regrets her vote in favor of the Laken Riley Act last year.
With severe weather season right around the corner, what homeowners need to know about the evolving coverage for your roof.
With severe weather season right around the corner, what homeowners need to know about the evolving coverage for your roof. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy spoke with Grace Arnold, Department of Commerce commissioner about what's driving rising insurance premiums and what you should look from in home insurance coverage.
The month of March will be a pivotal one as Minnesota attempts to emerge from the shadow of massive fraud.
The month of March will be a pivotal one as Minnesota attempts to emerge from the shadow of massive fraud.
One of the oldest operating theaters in the Midwest is in danger of closing its doors for good.
In St. Louis Park, Minnesota, there's a place where you can find radio and television technology that's nearly a century old — and it still works.
One of the best views in Minnesota is at the top of a Bloomington hill. But 15-year-old Jacob Larson isn't here for the scenery. He's here for the jump.
Pine trees are a common sight up north. But on a Carlton, Minnesota, road, they're joined by giant lollipops. They serve as the welcoming committee for Sweetly Kismet, one of the largest candy stores in the state.
John Lauritsen shares the story behind a massive snow sculpture that's now become a winter destination.
A push for stricter gun laws in Minnesota is not new. However, this session comes on the heels of a devastating mass shooting last summer in which the target was students in prayer at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis.
The military strikes against Iran have sparked intense debate in Congress. U.S. lawmakers are not only split on whether to support the operation but also on whether President Trump should have sought congressional approval in advance. WCCO investigates how the Constitution defines declarations of war.
Traveling is already stressful, especially flying, but the deadly conflict south of the border might have some travelers second-guessing their upcoming trips.
Drivers beware. Cities are seeing an uptick in stolen cars this winter.
On the first day of the Minnesota Legislature, artificial intelligence is giving visitors and lawmakers at the State Capitol a new sense of security.
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.
NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer says a mix of rain and snow could create a messy commute in central Minnesota on Tuesday morning.
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.
A narrow band of snow could develop across central Minnesota and northern Wisconsin late Monday evening, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Mike Augustyniak.
Temperatures are set to cool off over the course of the coming week, though they'll start well above average for this time of year, WCCO meteorologist Mike Augustyniak reports.
It'll be mild and dry on Monday, with a chance for some snow in the overnight hours.
Alison Griffith, a supervisory attorney with Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, shares a message in Spanish about legal help available to people in need.
NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer says a mix of rain and snow could create a messy commute in central Minnesota on Tuesday morning.
There's a moderate drought in some parts of the state and everyone is getting hit with rising gas prices. John Lauritsen shows the challenges Minnesota farmers are facing before spring planting begins.
A bill to honor former House Speaker Melissa Hortman is now on its way to the Minnesota Senate floor for a vote. WCCO's Caroline Cummings explains.
Beginning today, people facing deportation have less time to file an appeal if they disagree with the ruling of an immigration judge. It went from 30 days to 10 days. Also, cases that are appealed will no longer get an automatic review. Advocates call it a rapid loss of due process. It's just one of the rules immigration court observers say are changing. Senior Investigative Reporter Jennifer Mayerle sat in immigration court for an afternoon.