COVID In Minnesota: Positivity Rate Spikes To 19.1%, Average Daily Cases Hit New Record
Minnesota's average positivity rate has now hit 19.1%, shattering records as the state grapples with the spreading Omicron variant.
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Minnesota's average positivity rate has now hit 19.1%, shattering records as the state grapples with the spreading Omicron variant.
Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman is calling for compliance with OSHA's COVID-19 vaccination and testing rules among House employees and interns.
Another Twin Cities school district is switching to distance learning, citing rising COVID-19 cases and staffing shortages.
"When 1,500 people a day are dying, when our healthcare systems are literally breaking, no longer just bending, nothing can be fast enough," Dr. Michael Osterholm said. "Nothing."
The Omicron surge means at least one show won't go on at Minnesota's most renowned theater.
Doctors in central Minnesota say they have seen COVID-19 cases spike 250% in recent weeks. Now, the health care workers are making a desperate plea to policy-makers.
Parents, teachers and districts are facing myriad challenges as the omicron variant continues to surge. It's become a perfect storm of COVID, cold weather, and bus driver shortages, all leaving a cloud of uncertainty over the state's largest school districts.
"You know, I'm used to emergencies. It's different when it's your own child," ICU nurse Katrina Hull said.
The latest figures from the Minnesota Department of Health place the total case count at 1,075,028, which includes 19,390 reinfections. Since the start of the pandemic, 10,810 Minnesotans have died from the virus.
Minneapolis Public Schools will move to online learning Monday and close all of its building, citing cold weather and COVID-19 as reasons for the shift.
As many kids have been home more than usual this winter from daycare or school exposures, parents are trying to keep their kids busy and healthy this winter.
Experts say the worst of the entire pandemic is still to come.
Students in Fridley will go back to online learning starting Monday.
The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis has announced that nearly two dozen Twin Cities priests have tested positive for COVID-19 and will not be able to hold Mass Sunday.
As omicron cases spike in Minnesota and across the country, the U.S. Supreme Court takes up the mandate requiring millions of workers to be vaccinated.
As more Minnesotans seek to get COVID-19 tests following the holidays and the rise of the omicron variant, the state's health department reports the highest average rolling positivity rate the state has seen since the start of the pandemic, at 15.6%.
Mel Reeves, a longtime activist in the Twin Cities, died Thursday due to complications from COVID-19. He was 64 years old.
The clinic will be at Inwood Oaks in Oakdale, on the 400 block of Inwood Avenue North, and it will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays, and from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays.
It's been seven months since mask mandates were lifted in Minnesota, but now they are back in the state's two biggest cities.
Nearly 20% of all job vacancies in Minnesota are in health care. From hospitals to long-term care, 40,000 positions are open right now.
In the next few days the state is opening new testing sites in Anoka, Cottage Grove and North Branch and increasing the capacity at St Paul's Roy Wilkins Auditorium by 50%.
There have been 13 deaths since the start of the 2021-22 flu season, one of which was considered a pediatric case (among those below 18 years of age).
Health officials on Thursday reported a seven-day average positivity rate of 14.6% as of the end of December, a figure not seen since the thick of the fall 2020 wave of COVID-19.
The Premier Hockey Federation announced the team's games on Saturday and Sunday against the Toronto Six will be rescheduled for a future date.
Two Minnesota colleges are taking new steps to try and keep COVID-19 infection rates low on campus.
Anthony Edwards scored 42 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves held off the injury-plagued Golden State Warriors for a 127-117 win.
TSA officers faced their first full missed paycheck Friday.
Minneapolis police are searching for the suspect or suspects in a fatal shooting in a parking lot overnight.
There have been no big changes to the forecast overnight. Everything is still on track for Minnesota's significant winter storm with major impacts Saturday evening through Sunday.
A man is in the hospital after police said he was hit by a stray bullet in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Friday night.
Minneapolis police are searching for the suspect or suspects in a fatal shooting in a parking lot overnight.
A man is in the hospital after police said he was hit by a stray bullet in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Friday night.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has again set up a livestream of a peregrine falcon nest in downtown St. Paul in an effort to monitor and protect the species.
Despite the potential for a winter storm, people across the Twin Cities are getting ready for St. Patrick's Day celebrations this weekend, and into next week.
A 29-year-old woman is dead after police in Bloomington, Minnesota, found her unresponsive in a cell at the city's jail early Friday, officials said.
A man and a woman are in custody after a shootout between the man and Swift County deputies in Appleton, Minnesota, on Friday, according to police.
The hit HBO Max series "The Pitt" is getting buzz for how real it feels, and there's a Minnesota doctor making sure it stays that way.
Gas prices are up for the 12th straight day as the war with Iran pushes up crude oil prices. In Minnesota, the average went up 4 cents overnight. It's now $3.29 a gallon. That's 18-cents higher than just a week ago.
According to Rochester Police, officers were dispatched around 9:30 p.m. to the 1900 block of Ashland Drive Northwest. The call was domestic-related, police say.
Rain is falling Thursday night in the Twin Cities, while snow is falling up north.
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.
The Minnesota Department of Corrections says 95% of all incarcerated individuals will eventually be released from prison. The DOC says it does all it can to help people transition back into the community as productive citizens.
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.
TSA officers faced their first full missed paycheck Friday.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine briefed on Operation Epic Fury in Iran Friday.
President Trump's comments came shortly after he said that the U.S. military had conducted "one of the most power bombing raids" on a vital Iranian oil hub.
More than half-a-million taxpayer dollars meant to help Minnesotans was stolen, according to state investigators, who say a home health care provider took the money to buy flights, order food and take rides instead of helping the needy.
Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were murdered in their home in June 2025. On top of grieving the sudden, tragic loss of his parents, Colin Hortman says the cleanup of his childhood home was a headache.
Delta is canceling flights at Midwest airports, including its Minneapolis-St. Paul hub, ahead of expected significant snow and winds starting Saturday evening through Sunday, the airline said Friday.
Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were murdered in their home in June 2025. On top of grieving the sudden, tragic loss of his parents, Colin Hortman says the cleanup of his childhood home was a headache.
Data show that catalytic converter thefts are on the rise again in the Twin Cities.
The war in Iran is not only blocking oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, it is also holding up much of the world's fertilizer supply, a development that is drawing close attention from farmers preparing for spring planting.
Renters' rights advocates and tenants gathered outside Hennepin County courtrooms Thursday to protest Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey's recent veto of an eviction notice extension ordinance.
Minneapolis police are searching for the suspect or suspects in a fatal shooting in a parking lot overnight.
Ayman Mohamad Ghazali made two purchases at a Phantom Fireworks store in Livonia, Michigan. He told the store staff the fireworks were for the end of Ramadan.
Police in St. Paul, Minnesota are investigating after a student at Macalester College accused a former professor of urinating on her belongings.
More than half-a-million taxpayer dollars meant to help Minnesotans was stolen, according to state investigators, who say a home health care provider took the money to buy flights, order food and take rides instead of helping the needy.
Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were murdered in their home in June 2025. On top of grieving the sudden, tragic loss of his parents, Colin Hortman says the cleanup of his childhood home was a headache.
The hit HBO Max series "The Pitt" is getting buzz for how real it feels, and there's a Minnesota doctor making sure it stays that way.
More than half-a-million taxpayer dollars meant to help Minnesotans was stolen, according to state investigators, who say a home health care provider took the money to buy flights, order food and take rides instead of helping the needy.
Can a quick workout and your phone reveal something about your heart health? Researchers at the University of Minnesota Medical School say yes, and they've built an app to prove it.
A new Iowa law bans local nondiscrimination protections on the basis of gender identity after the state became the first in the U.S. to roll back its civil rights code last year.
At a Minnesota State Capitol hearing Wednesday morning, the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs unveiled its "Veteran Suicide Prevention Plan."
The hit HBO Max series "The Pitt" is getting buzz for how real it feels, and there's a Minnesota doctor making sure it stays that way.
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.
Anthony Edwards scored 42 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves held off the injury-plagued Golden State Warriors for a 127-117 win.
Rookie Peyton Anderson scored her first career goal to spark the Minnesota Frost to a 4-1 victory over the Seattle Torrent in the PWHL.
Minnesota siblings Jamison and Amaya Battle are both basketball stars, with the brother playing forward for the Toronto Raptors and sister playing point guard for the Gopher women's team.
Travis Konecny scored the lone goal in a shootout to give the Philadelphia Flyers a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night.
The Minnesota Vikings have signed quarterback Kyler Murray to compete with J.J. McCarthy for the starting job next season, the team announced Thursday.
Talking Points is tracking a partisan push to end surveillance pricing this legislative session.
This session, a bipartisan bill to end surveillance pricing is moving forward at the Minnesota Capitol. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy spoke with Minnesota DFL Rep. Erin Koegel about the push and how the ban could protection your personal data.
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.
Denis Doyle was born in Kilkenny, Ireland. He emigrated to the U.S. and in 1856, Doyle traveled to Le Sueur County. Other Irish immigrants joined Doyle and the town was born.
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.
Minnesota lakes remain frozen. The people walking on trails around them remain bundled up. After a warm start to March, the seasonal shift is sputtering as it often tends to do.
Drivers are bracing themselves for higher prices when they pull up to gas stations. But the pump isn't the only place you can expect to pay more in the weeks ahead.
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.
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.
There have been no big changes to the forecast overnight. Everything is still on track for Minnesota's significant winter storm with major impacts Saturday evening through Sunday.
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.
No big changes to the forecast overnight. Everything is still on track for our significant winter storm with major impacts tonight through Sunday. We're dry for most of today, but snow picks up in coverage and intensity, mainly after 7pm, with the heaviest after midnight with 1-3" per hour snowfall rates
Adam Del Rosso and Adam Duxter have the latest weather headlines with a major winter storm expected to arrive Saturday evening.
People across Minnesota are making their final preparations ahead of a winter storm that's expected to move into the state on Saturday evening. Ubah Ali reports from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport where several airlines are making changes and travelers are trying to escape the snow.
Hot Hands Pie has a Pi day special. Go treat yourself to a delicious treat.
It's almost the start of spring which means maple syrup season is also almost here. For the next two weekends you can celebrate all things maple syrup at the Lowry Nature Center.
Minneapolis police are searching for the suspect or suspects in a fatal shooting in a parking lot overnight.
No big changes to the forecast overnight. Everything is still on track for our significant winter storm with major impacts tonight through Sunday. We're dry for most of today, but snow picks up in coverage and intensity, mainly after 7pm, with the heaviest after midnight with 1-3" per hour snowfall rates
Adam Del Rosso and Adam Duxter have the latest weather headlines with a major winter storm expected to arrive Saturday evening.