Franken Spends Limited Time With Obama
Re-election seeking Sen. Al Franken joined President Barack Obama for only a limited portion of a two-day Minnesota visit.
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Re-election seeking Sen. Al Franken joined President Barack Obama for only a limited portion of a two-day Minnesota visit.
Over two days, President Barack Obama took in two of Minnesota's most scenic parks all while he talked about how ugly Washington had become. Obama headed back to Washington on Friday after his stay in Minneapolis, where he spoke extensively about how gridlock has stymied economic progress.
Minnesota congressional members have introduced bills to honor the late U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar. The legislation would rename the Chisholm (CHIS'-uhm) Post Office and portions of Highways 35 and 61 in Oberstar's memory. U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken and U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan, who now holds Oberstar's seat, introduced the bipartisan bill. Minnesota Reps. Collin Peterson, Betty McCollum, Michele Bachmann, Keith Ellison and Tim Walz signed on as sponsors.
The Department of Natural Resources says a huge step forward was taken recently in the fight against Asian carp after President Barack Obama signed legislation to close the Upper St. Anthony Falls lock to boat traffic.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar is using Minnesota's sex trafficking laws as a way to improve safety across the country and the world. The state's "Safe Harbor" laws ensure children who are sold for sex are treated as victims, not prosecuted as criminals.
Senators from North Dakota and Minnesota say the Obama administration should retreat on a proposal to make significant changes to renewable fuel standards and show its support for the biodiesel industry. Democratic Sens. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota say that biodiesel production has led to thousands of jobs and remains a clean, safe form of energy.
Former U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar, who represented northeastern Minnesota for 36 years, died unexpectedly early Saturday morning. He was 79. A statement released by his family said Oberstar died in his sleep. A cause of death was not provided. His former chief of staff, Bill Richard, said Oberstar died at his home in Potomac, Maryland.
U.S. senators from North Dakota and Minnesota are making a friendly wager on the outcome of the NCAA Frozen Four semifinal hockey matchup involving the University of North Dakota and the University of Minnesota.
The Senate on Wednesday confirmed former federal prosecutor Andy Luger as the next U.S. attorney for Minnesota. Luger, an experienced litigator who is now in private practice, said he expects to join the U.S. Attorney's Office in the next couple of days.
Plans to relocate a federal government office in the Twin Cities have gone off track, and all because of a bus stop. Many people who need to go to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Bloomington wouldn't be able to get there easily without public transportation. The office's current location is just a block away from a bus stop, but the office is scheduled to move this fall. Even though the office is still in Bloomington, it is at least 3 miles away from a Metro Transit bus stop.
A man who broke color barriers and led Minnesota in the Civil Rights Movement was remembered Saturday. Matthew Little, long-time president of the Minneapolis NAACP, passed away last Sunday after complications from pneumonia. He was 92. Hundreds of people gathered for a memorial service at Shiloh Temple in north Minneapolis.
Tuesday marked an important milestone for hundreds of proud Minnesotans. It's the day they became U.S. citizens.
Former Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak is recovering in the hospital Saturday afternoon after suffering chest pains while cross-country skiing. According to officials at Abbot Northwestern Hospital, Rybak had completed 7.7 miles of skiing at Theodore Wirth Park with his wife before complaining of chest pains and shortness of breath. The former mayor was taken by ambulance to Abbot at 1 p.m., where he underwent an angioplasty and received two stents. Officials say he is currently resting. Rybak was upbeat when he tweeted two and a half hours after being admitted.
A Golden Valley veteran just received a military honor after a decades-long delay. Fred Jenness was a Navy Seabee who was wounded in Vietnam in 1969. On Monday afternoon, he finally received a Purple Heart medal. The award was delayed for decades because his mission was classified, which made access to records difficult. Senator Amy Klobuchar, whose office helped Jenness get the medal, spoke at his ceremony.
A local business is just getting over the red tape from the federal government shutdown earlier this year. And, they're celebrating with a toast. The new Freehouse Brewery celebrated their opening in Minneapolis Saturday. The business finally got their brewery permit from the Treasury Department after about a month delay. It's something they say couldn't have been done without the help of Sen. Amy Klobuchar.
A public memorial service for Nelson Mandela will be held Saturday in St. Paul. The memorial for the late South African leader and anti-apartheid fighter will begin at 1 p.m. in the Cathedral of St. Paul.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar has announced new legislation to combat sex trafficking. The announcement was made at the Breaking Free" breakfast at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Minneapolis. The breakfast was to benefit local sex trafficking victims.
With less than two hours to spare, Congress averted a crisis that could have sent the United States into default. On Wednesday night, the House passed the Senate's bill to end the government shutdown.
Reaction to the deal is not all over the map, surprisingly. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) is expressing optimism that lessons have been learned and this type of crisis will not happen again. Conservatives like Rep. Michele Bachmann say they are not done fighting.
A Minnesota senator is one of the key players hammering out a deal that could end the federal government shutdown. Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar is helping write a compromised version of a plan drafted by Republican Senator Susan Collins and credited GOP moderates. "We are friends," Klobuchar said. "Senate Republicans really came to the fore, more moderates, saying 'We want to work on a compromise,' and that's exactly what's happening today in the Senate."
Minnesota government officials say they've activated a special contingency team to assess the potential impact of the federal government's partial shutdown. Minnesota Management and Budget Commissioner Jim Schowalter took the step Tuesday.
Hundreds of thousands of federal workers won't be getting paid for the foreseeable future. That had many of you emailing, wanting to know: Do members of Congress get paid during a government shutdown?
Here's a look at where Minnesota politicians stand in regards to President Obama's plan to strike the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria.
Minnesota's congressional delegation appears deeply divided by pressure to take military action against Syria. Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen calls the President's request "too broad, too open-ended, too risky" -- so does Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar.
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar is making her way to Iowa as the keynote speaker at a local Democratic Party gathering. Friday night's appearance is the type that can signal interest in a national run. Iowa, after all, traditionally hosts the opening caucuses in presidential election years.
Maybe you've experienced the "Sunday scaries" which is when you worry about the looming work week or wish you could have accomplished more over the weekend. The "August blues" create similar feelings, one being regret.
People gathered at Downtown Park in Hopkins, Minnesota, on Monday night to mourn the deaths of 7-year-old Evie Brown, Kristen Brown and Alice Brown.
A 30-year-old man charged in a Medicaid fraud scheme is linked to several people accused of running a sex trafficking operation in Hennepin County, Minnesota, according to court documents.
Josh Bell's two-run double started the scoring in a four-run first inning, and the Minnesota Twins held on to beat the Atlanta Braves 4-2.
The Dakota County Sheriff's Office is looking for information about a 40-year-old man who was found dead in the Mississippi River near Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, on Friday.
People gathered at Downtown Park in Hopkins, Minnesota, on Monday night to mourn the deaths of 7-year-old Evie Brown, Kristen Brown and Alice Brown.
A 30-year-old man charged in a Medicaid fraud scheme is linked to several people accused of running a sex trafficking operation in Hennepin County, Minnesota, according to court documents.
The Dakota County Sheriff's Office is looking for information about a 40-year-old man who was found dead in the Mississippi River near Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, on Friday.
With the season opener around the corner at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, there's a big question: Which passer will pass the other?
An undercover video could land a handful of activists in legal trouble. They pretended to be Minnesota voters during the primary.
Williams and Hall Outfitters in Ely has been in business for 33 years.
More than six fire departments responded in the middle of the night to Kingsway Senior Living, and staff say it took a village to relocate everyone to Belle Plaine High School for temporary shelter.
An individual is dead after a police officer shot at them with their service weapon on the Red Lake Nation Thursday, according to a special agent with the FBI.
Families heading west to the Black Hills this summer might make a stop at the Crazy Horse Memorial near Mount Rushmore. The memorial has a Minnesota connection that tells the story of the site.
More Minnesota communities are parting ways with Flock Safety and dropping the automatic license plate-reading cameras. On Thursday, the Sherburne County Sheriff's Office joined the list and announced they will no longer use the cameras.
The crash happened at approximately 7:12 a.m. on westbound I-94 at milepost 13 in St. Croix County near Roberts, Wisconsin, according to the State Patrol.
Wisconsin residents headed to the polls Tuesday — or voted early — to have their say in the 2026 primary. Here are live results.
Progressive candidates for governor in Wisconsin and U.S. Senate in Minnesota are making their final pushes ahead of Tuesday's election.
Authorities have released the name of the Madison police officer who shot and killed a 38-year-old Black man last month in Wisconsin's capital city, Madison.
David Crowley, backed by Gov. Tony Evers, faces democratic socialist Francesca Hong in a Wisconsin primary that could signal how far left the Democratic Party is willing to go.
Crews in St. Paul, Minnesota, are clearing out the city's largest encampment on Wednesday.
After officials in Minnesota's capital city announced they would shut down encampments for those experiencing homelessness, the City Council approved more than $1 million to expand capacity at local shelters.
The city of St. Paul, Minnesota, is taking a stand and closing encampments amid growing concerns.
Baseball fans might remember the Metrodome's iconic blue seats, and now in Atwater, Minnesota, spectators can once again grab a blue seat and watch a game.
Tucked away in the Midway neighborhood in St. Paul is a community treasure many have come to love and respect.
An undercover video could land a handful of activists in legal trouble. They pretended to be Minnesota voters during the primary.
They donned disguises and secretly recorded inside Minnesota polling places during the primary. The activists also dropped the name of a real voter in the state. That voter says he was shocked. Esme Murphy spoke with him.
Zach Lahn won the Iowa Republican gubernatorial primary over Trump's endorsed candidate, but three months before Election Day, many in his own party say they still don't know who he is.
In the aftermath of the primary, Republicans in Minnesota are more optimistic about their November chances than they ever have been.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s closed-door research has yet to produce evidence linking vaccines and autism.
A Minnesota woman says she fainted, spiked a 102-degree fever, and was hospitalized with sepsis three days after eating a chicken burrito bowl at a Chipotle in Roseville, and genetic testing connected her case to a multistate outbreak, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday.
Parents will be digging deeper into their wallets this back-to-school season.
Get ready to watch movies and television with clarity like never before. That's how industry experts are describing the latest TV technology now on sale exclusively at Best Buy.
A lottery player in Minnesota won a jackpot of more than $34 million last week, a record for the Lotto America game in the state.
The lawsuit accuses Loon of using "kid-friendly characters" to promote its vapes in flavors such as Cotton Candy, Strawberry Popsicle, Banana Taffy and Blue Razz Slushy.
A 30-year-old man charged in a Medicaid fraud scheme is linked to several people accused of running a sex trafficking operation in Hennepin County, Minnesota, according to court documents.
Luigi Mangione's New York state trial on second-degree murder charges is being delayed.
The long-unsolved drive-by shooting gripped the hip-hop community, partly because no one was charged until Duane "Keffe D" Davis was indicted in 2023.
A Minneapolis man who ran a multi-year Medicaid fraud scheme pleaded guilty Monday.
Police are investigating after the owner of a St. Paul restaurant said thieves broke in and stole $1,300 Sunday morning.
Maybe you've experienced the "Sunday scaries" which is when you worry about the looming work week or wish you could have accomplished more over the weekend. The "August blues" create similar feelings, one being regret.
In a wide-ranging interview with the CBS News partner BBC News, Hunter Biden grew emotional as he discussed his father's condition, describing it as very sad to watch.
Back-to-back tainted food outbreaks have a lot of people asking what's safe to bring home from the grocery store.
A Minnesota woman says she fainted, spiked a 102-degree fever, and was hospitalized with sepsis three days after eating a chicken burrito bowl at a Chipotle in Roseville, and genetic testing connected her case to a multistate outbreak, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday.
The system uses light tracing and more than 1,500 data points to create a personalized treatment plan.
Co-stars and friends of Hayden Panettiere are remembering her for her friendship, intelligence and talent after her shocking death on Sunday.
Hayden Panettiere, who starred in "Remember the Titans" as a child actor and rose to fame in the series "Heroes," has died at the age of 36. The coroner's office says she was found in cardiac arrest.
WCCO is tracking everything you can go out and do 4 Your Weekend, including a slate of county fairs.
Rod Stewart, who is 81, is recovering from a "routine coronary stent procedure," according to his team. He had been scheduled to perform at the Grandstand on Sept. 1 alongside Richard Marx.
Singers at Eastview High School in Apple Valley, Minnesota, are warming up for their performance on stage with Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band Foreigner.
Josh Bell's two-run double started the scoring in a four-run first inning, and the Minnesota Twins held on to beat the Atlanta Braves 4-2.
With the season opener around the corner at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, there's a big question: Which passer will pass the other?
Flag football is exploding in popularity among girls in Minnesota. In 2025, when girls flag football started in high schools, there were 51 schools. In 2026, there are 104 teams.
Jamal Adams, the hybrid defender the Minnesota Vikings signed this offseason to bolster Brian Flores' unit, won't play this year after suffering a preseason injury, the NFL Network reports.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson has made the NFL Top 100 for the sixth straight year.
In the aftermath of the primary, Republicans in Minnesota are more optimistic about their November chances than they ever have been.
In the aftermath of the primary, Republicans in Minnesota are more optimistic about their November chances than they ever have been.
The candidates for the Minnesota general election are all set, and the campaigns are shifting into a higher gear.
The Minnesota primary is Tuesday, with the final barrage of political ads in overdrive and candidates making their final pitches.
The Minnesota primary is Tuesday, with the final barrage of political ads in overdrive and candidates making their final pitches.
Keith Richardson is a home brewer and beer memorabilia collector. His collection got so big that, two years ago, he moved everything into an old toy store near downtown Lanesboro and opened the Hammarama Museum and Gift Shop.
Passing trains and scenic bluffs are a big part of Buffalo County, Wisconsin, but in the middle of it all is a garden where creativity and flowers grow together, all courtesy of a man named Herman Rusch.
Thousands of pictures of Split Rock Lighthouse are taken each year. And oftentimes a little island appears in those photos. Ellingsen Island has developed a following of its own.
There's a scenic, nearly century-old spot in St. Cloud, Minnesota, where right now you'll find thousands of flowers in bloom.
Baseball fans might remember the Metrodome's iconic blue seats, and now in Atwater, Minnesota, spectators can once again grab a blue seat and watch a game.
Maybe you've experienced the "Sunday scaries" which is when you worry about the looming work week or wish you could have accomplished more over the weekend. The "August blues" create similar feelings, one being regret.
As if the constant barrage of political ads wasn't enough, some WCCO viewers are particularly bothered by the language candidates are using.
There's a certain elegance to the common loon. Its black and white plumage carries a gentle sheen of green as though dressed for a formal affair. Subtle colors that allow its piercing red eyes to steal your gaze.
Parents will be digging deeper into their wallets this back-to-school season.
Minnesotans have become quite familiar with drought in recent years. Not only how it affects the water supply, but also the rules that can come with it.
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.
There will be a few scattered storms across parts of central and southern Minnesota on Tuesday before a sunny Wednesday, NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer says.
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 line of showers and embedded thunderstorms will move through parts of northern and central Minnesota on Monday evening, according to NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says round 1 of scattered showers rolls through tonight.
We could see showers early tomorrow, mainly south, with another wave possible late afternoon, WCCO meteorologist Mike Augustyniak reports.
There will be a few scattered storms across parts of central and southern Minnesota on Tuesday before a sunny Wednesday, NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer says.
The calendar shows there is still more than a month left of summer. Yet, many feel like the season has already slipped away. In this Good Question, Jeff Wagner explains why August can get a bad rap and shares how to beat the late summer blues.
People gathered in Hopkins on Monday night to remember Kristen Brown, Evie Brown and Alice Brown. Police say Kristen Brown's husband attacked her and Evie Brown at their daycare on Wednesday before taking his own life. Officials say Alice Brown was found dead in Burnsville earlier in the day after an apparent stabbing. Ashley Grams was at the vigil.
The Chaska City Council has voted to temporarily adjust alcohol laws during some special events this fall and winter. Guests will be able to buy an alcoholic beverage and walk within an approved area of the city during the events.
A 30-year-old man charged in a Medicaid fraud scheme is linked to several people accused of running a sex trafficking operation in Hennepin County, according to court documents. WCCO's Adam Duxter details the alleged scheme.