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President Barack Obama's final State of the Union address struck an optimistic tone, combining an ambitious agenda with hope for the future. But he was less positive about the current state of things in Washington. A number of Minnesota politicians also offered their take on Obama's address.
Minority Democrats in the state Assembly are enraged after a Republican representative made an obscene gesture toward their leader on the chamber floor. Senate Minority Leader Peter Barca, a Kenosha Democrat, rose on Tuesday to argue with Rep. Bob Gannon over a news release Gannon issued last week.
No decision has been reached on a possible special session for Minnesota state lawmakers. Gov. Mark Dayton held a meeting with Republican leaders Friday morning. House Speaker Kurt Daudt spoke afterward and says he felt it was a very productive meeting.
Gov. Scott Walker is asking Wisconsin's attorney general to challenge President Barack Obama's gun control plan. Walker said in a statement Wednesday that he believes Obama overstepped his authority when he announced an executive action to expand mandatory background checks to gun shows, flea markets and online sales.
One of two top Democrats running for Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District is pulling out of the race. Dr. Mary Lawrence announced her exit from the race to replace retiring GOP Rep. John Kline on Tuesday. She says she didn't think she could win the party endorsement and didn't want to divide Democrats by running in a primary.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is proposing a new initiative directed at boosting autism screening, treatment and research. Her plan, which will be unveiled Tuesday as part of her two-day campaign tour through Iowa, was previewed in a statement.
Gov. Mark Dayton has asked legislative leaders to make a final call by the end of next week on whether to hold a special session, he told The Associated Press in a Thursday interview.
Minnesota House Republicans are proposing to eliminate the statewide property tax on cabins. Currently, cabins are taxed at a higher rate than normal homes and have generated about $44 million each year for the state.
Tens of millions of people watched Tuesday night's Republican presidential debate. The latest numbers show that 18 million people watched the debate on CNN.
A panel of top Minnesota lawmakers has opposed a $200,000 settlement with an ex-state employee who accused her boss of defamation and discrimination while he forced her out.
Minnesota's Senate majority leader says he's worried a Republican push to make a special session contingent on a PolyMet project pledge could do more harm than good.
Minnesota should prepare for thousands of "driverless" cars on state roads in the very near future. That's the prediction of a top state lawmaker, who says self-driving cars will one day outnumber traditional vehicles, and make other forms of transportation obsolete.
A power player at Minnesota's Capitol is resigning her House seat to take a job at a lobbying firm, where she'll keep a focus on tax and local government policy.
A senior adviser to presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton says the Democratic frontrunner will be back in Minnesota before year's end. Clinton communications adviser Karen Finney said Monday that the former secretary of state is beginning to build her campaign infrastructure in states beyond the pivotal first four.
With the November 2016 elections just one year away, Republicans, Democrats and outside groups are preparing for expensive battles over state legislative seats. Increasing activity by independent groups could push next year's campaign fundraising totals past those of previous election cycles.
Rep. Keith Ellison has endorsed Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders for the 2016 election. In recent polls, 33 percent of Democrats said would throw their support behind Hillary Clinton, compared to Vice President Joe Biden's 25 percent and Sanders' 24 percent.
The controversial new Minnesota Senate Office Building at the State Capitol is nearing completion. Republicans made the $90 million project an example of wasteful spending in the 2014 campaign.
With his run for the White House behind him, Gov. Scott Walker says he will now be free to campaign aggressively to help fellow Republican Ron Johnson win re-election to the U.S. Senate in a rematch against Democrat Russ Feingold.
Another squabble is shaping up over offices for Minnesota politicians. The 83-year-old State Office Building that is the main workspace for 134 House members and their staffs is in need of more than $100 million in repairs, according to the agency that manages government properties.
Minneapolis was center stage Friday for the Democrats in the 2016 presidential race. The Democratic National Committee is holding its summer meeting downtown, where Hillary Clinton was mobbed by supporters.
The Democratic National Committee barely has more cash than it does IOUs, and it is being outraised month after month by its Republican competitor. Its $24 million debt from the 2012 presidential election, only recently paid down, has squeezed investments in the next White House race.
Some democratic presidential hopefuls will be in Minnesota Friday. The Democratic National Committee will bring Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Martin O'Malley, Lincoln Chafee and Jim Webb to Minneapolis for the weekend conference.
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders is packing 'em in: 10,000 people in Madison, Wisconsin. More than 2,500 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Another 7,500 this week in Portland, Maine.
Gov. Mark Dayton was preparing to announce pay raises for his state agency commissioners as Republicans were warning exorbitant increases would become a campaign issue next year.
The front-runner for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination is visiting Minneapolis Monday. Hillary Rodham Clinton is holding a fundraiser at the home of Ellen Goldberg Luger, wife of Andy Luger, the U.S. Attorney for Minnesota.
The Minnesota Twins placed Byron Buxton on the 10-day injured list Tuesday after the center fielder aggravated a hip injury that has lingered through much of the season.
Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams has been named a reserve for the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game, the league announced Tuesday.
Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher says he has sent his investigators into the Somali community to talk to parents, many of whom don't know their child is even in a gang.
Preservationists made a dramatic discovery while restoring the breathtaking ceiling of the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis.
New body camera video shows the chaotic moments that police officers came under fire last month in St. Peter, Minnesota. A standoff triggered a shelter-in-place order for a neighborhood in the small college town.
Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher says he has sent his investigators into the Somali community to talk to parents, many of whom don't know their child is even in a gang.
Preservationists made a dramatic discovery while restoring the breathtaking ceiling of the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis.
Despite having the best record in the league, the Aurora says its bid to host the national semifinals at TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota, was denied.
A man died from injuries suffered when a large firework exploded in his hand over the Fourth of July weekend in the Twin Cities.
A Minnesota woman running for U.S. Senate has been sentenced for an incident in which she threw a live tarantula onto a staircase leading to her then-tenant's living space in 2024.
New body camera video shows the chaotic moments that police officers came under fire last month in St. Peter, Minnesota. A standoff triggered a shelter-in-place order for a neighborhood in the small college town.
A woman is dead after being pulled from a lake near Bemidji, Minnesota, on Monday, authorities said.
Several people were injured after an EF-2 tornado ripped through the Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, area Monday evening, authorities say.
A man drowned during a boating excursion on a northern Minnesota lake Friday evening, authorities said.
After 115 years, a small-town meat market in Minnesota is calling it quits.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled 5-2 that guardianship records sought by the Wisconsin Voter Alliance to identify ineligible voters are not public records under state law.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has transferred $1 million from his former congressional account to a super PAC supporting Michael Alfonso, his 26-year-old son-in-law, who is running for Duffy's old Wisconsin seat in an Aug. 11 primary.
For many Minnesotans, the road to the Fourth of July starts with a short drive across the St. Croix River to Wisconsin to stock up on fireworks. The kinds of pyrotechnics that can be legally ignited in Minnesota might be surprising.
Three children died on Geneva Lake in Wisconsin after a boat capsized during a severe storm Friday, Lake Geneva police said.
Seven people are without a permanent home and multiple pets are dead after a fire in Ashland, Wisconsin, on Friday morning, according to the city's fire department.
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.
What started as a small fundraiser following one of Joe's surgeries at Gillette Children's has grown into a community tradition that has raised nearly $100,000 for the hospital.
A trip to the video store was once a weekly ritual, and now one Minnesota movie lover is trying to bring that experience back.
Betty and Kermit Eastman, both 99, celebrated their 80th wedding anniversary on June 6 — a milestone so rare that on average only one couple in the U.S. reaches it each year.
More than 75,000 Minnesotans have been approved for the state's paid family and medical leave program, which launched at the beginning of the year.
Six months into the program, the state is calling it a success.
A Minnesota woman running for U.S. Senate has been sentenced for an incident in which she threw a live tarantula onto a staircase leading to her then-tenant's living space in 2024.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled 5-2 that guardianship records sought by the Wisconsin Voter Alliance to identify ineligible voters are not public records under state law.
As the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's summit in Turkey begins Tuesday, President Trump will continue to push NATO countries to spend 5% of their gross domestic product on defense.
For many Minnesotans, the road to the Fourth of July starts with a short drive across the St. Croix River to Wisconsin to stock up on fireworks. The kinds of pyrotechnics that can be legally ignited in Minnesota might be surprising.
Insurance experts say hail damage claims that once averaged $10,000–$15,000 now routinely reach $40,000–$60,000, even as many policies have shifted away from full replacement coverage.
Hundreds of workers, employed by Delaware North Company to serve food and drinks, say they are fighting for livable wages and healthcare benefits.
Target is tapping designer and TV personality Isaac Mizrahi for a newly created role as creative director at large as the discounter aims to reclaim its reputation for stylish clothing on a budget.
Target is voluntarily recalling two types of baby wipes due to concerns that the products may be contaminated with bacteria that may cause "serious and life-threatening infections," the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Friday.
Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher says he has sent his investigators into the Somali community to talk to parents, many of whom don't know their child is even in a gang.
New body camera video shows the chaotic moments that police officers came under fire last month in St. Peter, Minnesota. A standoff triggered a shelter-in-place order for a neighborhood in the small college town.
A Minnesota woman running for U.S. Senate has been sentenced for an incident in which she threw a live tarantula onto a staircase leading to her then-tenant's living space in 2024.
A 43-year-old woman accused of leaving threatening voicemails for Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth has pleaded guilty to threats of violence, according to court documents filed on Monday.
The Minneapolis Police Department is investigating after a 17-year-old boy and three men were injured in a shooting on the city's northeast side early Monday.
More than 75,000 Minnesotans have been approved for the state's paid family and medical leave program, which launched at the beginning of the year.
Skip the latest fad diet. The best way to manage your weight might already be sitting on your plate.
Dozens of Twin Cities hospice workers are walking the picket line Monday in a one-day strike after nearly a year of negotiations for an inaugural union contract.
As Mayor Jacob Frey pledges a crackdown at open-air drug markets in Minneapolis, WCCO found brutal honesty about the situation from people who say they actively participate in the illicit trade.
Noah Walden says he didn't notice anything unusual while eating. About three days later, he began experiencing stomach pain that continued to worsen over the next several days.
AI-generated actor Tilly Norwood is set to star in her first feature film, with her creator saying that "art will be imitating life."
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce were married as they celebrated their wedding with hundreds of guests Friday at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
We have an action-packed weekend, with lots of celebrations in store across the state for the Fourth of July.
Tucked away in the Midway neighborhood in St. Paul is a community treasure many have come to love and respect.
Legendary musician Lionel Richie is postponing two upcoming concerts after he cut his performance short in St. Paul, Minnesota, earlier this week.
The Minnesota Twins placed Byron Buxton on the 10-day injured list Tuesday after the center fielder aggravated a hip injury that has lingered through much of the season.
Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams has been named a reserve for the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game, the league announced Tuesday.
Despite having the best record in the league, the Aurora says its bid to host the national semifinals at TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota, was denied.
The Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon weekend will be pushed back to mid-October in 2027 after several years of hot temperatures and unfavorable conditions for runners.
The Minnesota Lynx fell to the Connecticut Sun 90-89 on Monday night. Brittney Griner scored a season-high 29 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, and Kennedy Burke added 16 points off the bench, including two 3-pointers in the final three minutes for the Sun.
Mike Lindell, who leads the Minnesota Republican gubernatorial primary at 27%, is proposing conditional non-resident visas for undocumented immigrants with no criminal record — a position that differs from the Trump administration's approach.
Mike Lindell says he called President Trump before entering the Minnesota governor's race and asked for an endorsement, but Trump has not given one — though he said in December that Lindell deserves to be governor.
One of the most-watched primary match-ups pits Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan against U.S. Congresswoman Angie Craig in the race for the DFL nomination for U.S. Senate.
With six weeks before the primary, the stakes are building in the U.S. Senate contest contest between two of Minnesota's brightest DFL stars: Congresswoman Angie Craig and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan.
Fifteen people, most of them Minnesotans, were arrested and charged last week, accused of impeding Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.
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.
It's a lake cruise in the middle of town, and there's more than pelicans on the Pelican Breeze tour in Albert Lea, Minnesota.
Currie, Minnesota, is truly small-town America. The population hovers at just over 200. But on the northern outskirts, you'll happen upon a place with plenty of bells and whistles: End-O-Line Railroad Park and Museum
School's out, summer's here, and if you're heading to the lake on Highway 10, you may just stumble upon hidden treasure.
Nearly 40 years ago, a building was sent over piece by piece from Norway to a farm in Chippewa County, Minnesota. It's one of the only stabburs in the United States.
Skip the latest fad diet. The best way to manage your weight might already be sitting on your plate.
There's no doubt your air conditioning unit is working overtime this week as oppressive heat blankets Minnesota.
In every corner of the metro, and across Minnesota, you'll find construction crews ripping up roads and rebuilding bridges. WCCO looks into whether the piles of rubble they create can get a second life.
Water beckons Minnesotans this time of year, especially our lakes. But something in it can turn us away, even if other animals and organisms need it.
The latest data shows it's at 331.2 million barrels of oil.
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.
The Minnesota State Fair has unveiled its new food, drinks and vendors for 2025.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms are possible into the night.
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.
Several people were injured after a tornado ripped through the Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, area Monday evening, authorities say.
Storms are set to arrive in the Twin Cities Tuesday evening, says meteorologist Chris Shaffer.
Some scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms are possible into the night on Tuesday, says meteorologist Mike Augustyniak.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms are possible into the night.
It's been three months since construction started at the oldest Basilica in the country. The $50 million renovation is a total refresh to the Minneapolis church that was built in 1914. They are touching every square inch with a hard deadline of Easter 2027. Much to the surprise of the parish, they unearthed a treasure along the way. Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield and Photojournalist Drew Schingen go to great heights to show you what they discovered. It's a story you'll see only on WCCO.
The Ramsey County sheriff says a small number of kids in Somali gangs are creating big problems in our community. Sheriff Bob Fletcher made that the focus of his "Live on Patrol" Facebook post. Esme Murphy spoke with two investigators who respond to gang incidents every day.
The Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon weekend will be pushed back to mid-October in 2027 after several years of hot temperatures and unfavorable conditions for runners.
More than 75,000 Minnesotans have been approved for the state's paid family and medical leave program, which launched at the beginning of the year.