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Verna Wendinger was on her farmhouse porch on Sunday, pounding out a dust mop. That's when she caught something near the backyard garden out the corner of her eye. Whatever it was seemed strangely out of place. "All of a sudden it turned around and, oh my!" Verna said. "My first thought was it was a horse, and oh, it's got antlers."
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.
For Minnesota's 500,000 firearms deer hunters the Friday before opening day is much like the day after Thanksgiving. The day has become such a popular shopping day for hunters that one major sporting goods retailer trademarked the name, "Orange Friday."
Five-hundred Minnesota hunters will head into the woods on Nov. 8 for the annual firearms deer hunting opener. But the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is already predicting one of the poorest success rates in recent decades. That's because Minnesota's whitetail deer numbers are down in many parts of the state, particularly in the heavily-forested northeastern region.
The boating season has pretty much ended on Lake Minnetonka, but to one group of anglers what they did Friday will pay off next summer. They're with the Westonka Walleye Program, a private effort to improve walleye fishing close to home.
The fight to change offensive sports team nicknames has been waging for decades. In fact, protests took place during the Twins' 1991 World Series against the Atlanta Braves, as well as Washington's appearance when Minnesota hosted the 1992 Super Bowl.
We know what's coming. But with any luck, it won't be nearly as severe as last winter. Still, our drop in temperatures should be a sign of action we can take now to help save heating dollars in the months ahead. Never before have homeowners had more tools and technology to check their homes for heating problems and poor insulation. Both deficiencies will contribute to costly heating bills and the formation of ice dams.
Minnesota's building contractors should be busy this time of year finishing up projects before winter sets in. But for many of them, it's not a lack of work, but a shortage of concrete that's slowing them down. Disruptions in the main ingredient - cement - means the vital building material is being allocated across the state.
Police are investigating after a child who was walking to school was struck by a car in St. Paul Monday morning. The incident happened before 7 a.m. near the intersection of Hoyt Avenue and Rice Street in St. Paul.
Less than a year after the state struggled through a severe propane shortage, another vital commodity is in short supply.
Two months after Christopher Rossing disappeared after leaving a Howard Lake bar, the man charged in his case faced a courtroom packed with Rossing's friends and family.
Election Day is just two weeks away, and Minnesota Democrats are getting support from some of the most popular national campaigners. First Lady Michelle Obama was the main attraction at an energetic get-out-the-vote rally at Patrick Henry High School in Minneapolis. This was the first of three high-profile Democrats to be stumping the state for Minnesota Democratic candidates this week.
Investigators in Willmar say they may never know what caused a mass illness inside a Jennie-O turkey plant.
Outdoor lovers have a new way to spend the night at three of Minnesota's state parks. The new shelters have the feel of a tent only with comfort of a cabin. They are known as "yurts."
Valley Lettering in North St. Paul is always looking for more business. So as convenience to customers, owner Don Buckentin takes credit or debit cards. But for each transaction, he pays a fee. "This was far more than pennies," Buckentin said. "This was hundreds of dollars."
A new effort is being launched to find Jacob Wetterling as the 25-year anniversary of his abduction approaches. Authorities said six new billboards have been put up in locations near the area where he went missing.
There's a man in Elk River that goes by the name Tarz Peterson. It's a nickname that's been around so long nobody knows him by his real name. But for anyone who goes to the Elks' high school football game, they know him as the man who moves the yardage chains.
A Minneapolis man was scratched by a cougar at the Como Zoo Conservatory after he climbed on top of the cougar's mesh fence, witnesses told zoo staff.
Minneapolis Police are asking for the public's help in catching the man who attacked two women in a downtown Minneapolis parking ramp. The separate attacks happened Tuesday afternoon on the seventh floor of Ramp C, on the corner of 4th Street and 2nd Avenue North. Police say the attacks in broad daylight are cause for heightened public concern.
Local and federal law enforcement credit a cooperative effort for busting a Chicago-based drug gang that made ordering a bag of heroin as simple as placing a phone call. "This was a 24-hour-a-day, retail-sales heroin operation," said United States Attorney Andy Luger. "The way this would work is you would call one of two different phone numbers that were known as dispatch phone numbers -- almost like you were calling a cab or you were ordering food."
Lyle "Ty" Hoffman, the man accused of killing his ex-boyfriend at an Arden Hills gas station, is set to be in court around 1 p.m. Friday.
A 23-year-old man was charged Thursday in a case where two teenage girls went missing from their homes in Andover and were found a day later at a home in Burnsville.
Minnesota lawmakers are turning up the heat on the state's major railroads to do something to alleviate congestion that's costing the state millions of dollars.
Air traffic in and out of Chicago and other regional airports is slowly returning to normal after Friday's catastrophic fire in an FAA control center.
Saturday will see temperatures in the 40s before a major drop off comes on Sunday.
Hill-Murray is again one of the best girls hockey teams in Minnesota. This season, at any given time, there could be five Pohls on the Pioneers bench.
Many Minnesotans would describe the past few days as fairly warm, given the time of year. That didn't stop the Ice Castles from making its earliest start to the season ever in Minnesota, officially opening on Friday.
A man and a woman are dead, and two others, including a 1-year-old boy, are injured after a crash in Thompson Township, Minnesota, on Friday morning.
Jalen Smith scored his second touchdown a diving 12-yard catch in the first overtime and Minnesota extended its postseason winning streak to nine straight games with a 20-17 win over New Mexico in Rate Bowl.
Saturday will see temperatures in the 40s before a major drop off comes on Sunday.
Many Minnesotans would describe the past few days as fairly warm, given the time of year. That didn't stop the Ice Castles from making its earliest start to the season ever in Minnesota, officially opening on Friday.
The weeklong festival of Kwanzaa began on Friday with much fanfare at Lake Street's Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis.
Gov. Tim Walz has ordered U.S. and Minnesota flags at all state buildings to fly at half-staff on Monday to honor and remember St. Paul firefighter Timothy Bertz, who officials said died after suffering a "serious medical event."
Minneapolis officials have banned government officials, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, from using city lots and ramps as a staging area to enforce federal immigration laws, according to an updated city ordinance.
Saturday will see temperatures in the 40s before a major drop off comes on Sunday.
A man and a woman are dead, and two others, including a 1-year-old boy, are injured after a crash in Thompson Township, Minnesota, on Friday morning.
As Christmas trees across the nation come down, a farm in Elk River, Minnesota, is finding a new purpose for the pines.
Gov. Tim Walz has ordered U.S. and Minnesota flags at all state buildings to fly at half-staff on Monday to honor and remember St. Paul firefighter Timothy Bertz, who officials said died after suffering a "serious medical event."
An ER patient is accused of attacking a security guard inside a Wyoming, Minnesota, hospital on Christmas evening, leading to a confrontation with a police officer outside the facility.
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.
Minneapolis officials have banned government officials, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, from using city lots and ramps as a staging area to enforce federal immigration laws, according to an updated city ordinance.
The Veterans Affairs Department is reimposing a near total ban on abortions for veterans and their families that was modified in 2022.
President Trump says the U.S. launched powerful and deadly strikes against Islamic state forces in Nigeria, plus more of the day’s top stories.
Strikes against ISIS targets in Nigeria come after President Trump spent weeks accusing the West African country's government of failing to rein in the persecution of Christians.
The message, aired on Channel 4 on Christmas Day, reflected on the impact of President Trump's second term in office thus far.
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.
Police in Roseville, Minnesota, are investigating after they said officers found a man injured at the scene of a reported shooting on Friday morning.
Minneapolis police say they're investigating a "suspicious death" after a woman's body was discovered inside a vehicle Tuesday morning.
An ER patient is accused of attacking a security guard inside a Wyoming, Minnesota, hospital on Christmas evening, leading to a confrontation with a police officer outside the facility.
A 63-year-old West St. Paul, Minnesota, man accused of pointing a gun at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent says the agent also pointed a gun at him, according to court documents filed on Thursday.
Minneapolis police are investigating after they say a man suffered "potentially life-threatening injuries" in a stabbing on Thursday morning.
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."
The band announced Perry Bamonte's death on their official website on Friday.
The message, aired on Channel 4 on Christmas Day, reflected on the impact of President Trump's second term in office thus far.
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.
Hill-Murray is again one of the best girls hockey teams in Minnesota. This season, at any given time, there could be five Pohls on the Pioneers bench.
Jalen Smith scored his second touchdown a diving 12-yard catch in the first overtime and Minnesota extended its postseason winning streak to nine straight games with a 20-17 win over New Mexico in Rate Bowl.
The World Junior Championship tournament kicked off in Minnesota on Friday. For those eager to check it out, there's a free fan experience called the Bold North Breakaway.
The Minnesota Vikings are trying to practice the process of winning in December despite being eliminated from contention for the playoffs.
Hockey moms are a community, one that Jacqueline Nowakowski had no idea she'd need as much as she does.
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.
On Dec. 9, 1965, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" debuted on CBS, and it became an instant classic. Lee Jenkins' home is proof that the show is still a hit six decades later.
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."
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.
We will have a dense fog advisory starting at 8 p.m. Saturday night. Sunday morning a winter storm watch goes into effect, lasting until Monday morning. The worst conditions are expected Sunday night with strong winds and potentially heavy snow. Lisa Meadows breaks down the important information you need to know to stay safe.
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.
Saturday will see temperatures in the 40s before a major drop off comes on Sunday.
Saturday will be gloomy but mild temperatures before a major change comes Sunday.
A large area of northern Minnesota is under a winter weather advisory until 5 a.m. on Saturday due to the potential for freezing rain, NEXT Weather meteorologist Lisa Meadows says. Temperatures in the Twin Cities that day will reach the low 40s.
We will have a dense fog advisory starting at 8 p.m. Saturday night. Sunday morning a winter storm watch goes into effect, lasting until Monday morning. The worst conditions are expected Sunday night with strong winds and potentially heavy snow. Lisa Meadows breaks down the important information you need to know to stay safe.
A Wyoming, Minnesota, hospital security guard who was involved in a confrontation on Christmas has passed away from her injuries.
Saturday will be gloomy but mild temperatures before a major change comes Sunday.
Jonah Kaplan shares headlines for Dec. 27, 2025
Emily Pohl, one of the top girls hockey players in Minnesota, is chasing another state title. She comes from a pair of iconic Minnesota hockey names and is breaking with tradition. Ren Clayton explains.