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A county south of the Twin Cities begins collecting DNA samples from people arrested and charged with violent crimes. Previously an individual had to be convicted before a DNA sample could be collected. But a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2013 changed that.
The Dakota County Sheriff Office will be the first in the state to begin collecting DNA swabs from those suspected of a violent crime.
Law enforcement agencies across Minnesota could soon be required to provide a tally of their untested rape kits, a move advocates and legislators say would help determine whether more action is needed to tackle potential backlogs.
Two men have been arrested and now face charges in connection to a Coon Rapids armed bank robbery, according to police.
A 38-year-old Minneapolis man has pleaded guilty to the 1996 rape of an 82-year-old woman after advances in DNA technology linked him to the crime, the Hennepin County Attorney's Office announced.
A man accused of conspiring with his ex-wife to kill her current husband has been found not guilty on all counts against him by a jury in Carlton County. Prosecutors alleged John Edwin Bemis III planned with his former wife, Marie Margaret Majerle, to fatally shooting her estranged husband, Richard Majerle, in January 2013. He survived the gunshot wounds that his wife admitted inflicting.
It's a murder mystery that's been unsolved for more than 30 years. Hundreds of interviews and hundreds of leads couldn't crack the case. But new technological advances allowed investigators to identify a suspected killer.
Starting Monday, millions of people who have avoided colon cancer screening can get a new home test that's noninvasive and doesn't require the icky preparation most other methods do.
If it takes you several cups of coffee to get going in the morning, it could be genetic. A Harvard researcher polled 120,00 people on their coffee drinking habits, then scanned their DNA.
When 18-year-old Carrie Richter and 20-year-old Dustin Baity didn't show up for a gathering on Christmas Day 1998, their families grew suspicious. The couple was later found strangled and stabbed in the northeast Minneapolis apartment they shared. "Homicides are never over and DNA is the great tool of investigators and prosecutors," said Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman.
Investigators trying to solve the case of a Maple Grove girl who went missing in 1989 have spent about a week searching the home where she once lived. Police say they plan to update reporters on their investigation into Amy Pagnac's disappearance on Saturday morning.
A Brooklyn Center man is pleading guilty to first-degree criminal sexual conduct after he impersonated a police detective, abducted a woman and sexually assaulted her, according to the criminal complaint. Gideon Charles Arrington, 36, posed as a detective on the afternoon of Nov. 23 and approached a woman on the street near the 6400 block of 5th Street NE in Fridley, according to the Anoka County Attorney's office.
Minnesota health officials have regained the ability to indefinitely retain blood samples from newborn babies unless a parent refuses permission. Gov. Mark Dayton on Tuesday signed the bill lawmakers approved last week.
The Minnesota Senate has passed a bill allowing the state to retain blood samples from newborn babies indefinitely. Senators voted 36 to 20 to send the proposal to Gov. Mark Dayton.
Investigators say that they have tied a stolen handgun to the man who was shot and killed by Minneapolis Police in Uptown last year. Terrance Franklin, 22, was shot and killed on May 10, 2013 after struggling with officers.
Sky, a 5-year-old Wire Fox Terrier, won Best in Show at Tuesday night's Westminster Kennel Club's Dog Show. She beat out 2,800 other dogs to take home the title, which comes with a trophy, ribbon and steak lunch. More than 180 different breeds of dogs took part in the annual event, so that got us wondering: How did we get to many different types of dogs?
Staff at Rasmussen College in Eagan hope their new 8,000 square-foot location will give students the right skills before entering Minnesota's law enforcement. The new facility includes several scenario training rooms where students can practice how to deal with a bank robbery, a bar fight, a hold-up at a convenience store and even a domestic situation in a mock apartment. Law Enforcement Skills Coordinator Michael Ardolf says the facility will enhance the learning experiences of those in the program.
For the first time, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension's lab matched unidentified remains to reopen a cold case. And the family of Pearline Walton finally has some answers to the questions they've been asking since she went missing from Minneapolis 20 years ago.
On Friday, prosecutors concluded their case against Jeffrey Trevino, accused of killing his wife, Kira Steger, in February. Steger's body was found in the Mississippi River three months later. Prosecutors took two hours questioning retired St. Paul Police Sgt. John Wright for the second time in the trial. He discussed his interviews with Trevino, and provided details about the couple's deteriorating relationship in the months leading up to her disappearance. He told the jurors that Jeffrey and Kira planned to have a date night on the night she was last seen. Wright said the Trevinos were trying to save their relationship, which he said had been suffering for months.
The DNA of a man shot and killed by police has been found on the trigger of the gun they used to shoot him.
New science and a lot of hard work helped the Hennepin County Attorney's office close a 17-year-old cold case. In 1996, an 82-year-old woman was raped near her north Minneapolis home on the 3300 block of Aldridge Avenue North; a crime that was hard for investigators to forget.
Granite gravestones mark the lives once lived -- people remembered, cherished and loved. But this simple and traditional final dignity is not afforded to Minnesota's missing persons.
It's been almost two weeks since an officer-involved shooting left one man dead and two police officers with gunshot wounds in a basement in south Minneapolis. Recently, Chief Janee Harteau has faced criticism for releasing few details about the case at this point.
Eden Prairie police say a missing woman's DNA was in a blood sample from a jacket found in the SUV of her ex-boyfriend.
The skeletal remains of a woman found near the Vermillion River in Hastings has been identified by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner on Thursday.
Minnesotans love to get outside no matter the season. Something about being in nature always seems to leave us feeling better. So why does it feel good to get outdoors? Good Question.
Xcel's Sherco solar facility is the largest solar project in the state of Minnesota, and by the time it's done in 2026, it'll be the fifth-largest solar facility in the country.
It's been a tough road to recovery for Jon Seas after losing a friend, Cole Thompson, in a horrific crash in Minneapolis.
The Chicago White Sox dropped to 3-22, wasting a two-run lead and stretching their losing streak to a season-high seven with a 6-3 defeat to Minnesota as Edouard Julien hit two of the Twins' five solo home runs.
The Minnesota Vikings have chosen JJ McCarthy to be their franchise quarterback of the future.
It's been a tough road to recovery for Jon Seas after losing a friend, Cole Thompson, in a horrific crash in Minneapolis.
A group of parents and students from Richfield Middle School say they were shocked to learn the school would cut ties with its theater course after a student survey.
For the third day, students at the University of Minnesota joined other colleges across the country lifting their voices, asking for an end to the bloodshed in Gaza.
A coyote is on the prowl in the east metro. City leaders warn it's already attacked at least one dog.
After the Twins got their win over the White Sox on Thursday afternoon, high school teams took to the field for a rare treat they won't forget.
A transcript from a 911 call is providing more details surrounding the arrest of Minnesota State Sen. Nicole Mitchell, who stands accused of burglary.
A Minnesota man who kidnapped his 2-year-old son last year, triggering an AMBER Alert and a standoff, will be sentenced on Thursday.
It's one of the few covered bridges remaining in the Midwest, and it's seen a lot of traffic over the years.
The Metropolitan Council has made headlines for its mismanagement of the Southwest Light Rail project. In Talking Points, community members and Minnesota legislators on both sides of the aisle are pushing for major reforms.
A community tour Wednesday highlighted a massive investment to one of Minnesota's 15 fish hatcheries – a $20 million makeover, nearly 70 years in the making.
Six middle school students and two adults were injured in a school bus crash near Hudson on Thursday morning.
The 59th annual Flood Run motorcycle ride is this Saturday, and the Minnesota State Patrol is asking bikers and motorists alike to be extra careful while cruising beside the St. Croix River.
A partial building collapse in Superior, Wisconsin prompted evacuations Thursday, including at a nearby daycare.
Republican lawmakers have filed a new lawsuit alleging partial vetoes Gov. Tony Evers made to a bill designed to bolster students' reading performance were unconstitutional.
Nicolae Miu, the man convicted of reckless homicide and other crimes after stabbing five people on Wisconsin's Apple River in 2022, will be sentenced this summer.
The nation's third-largest food bank is using a 24-hour fundraiser to fight food insecurity.
An Eden Prairie family is keeping their son's legacy alive, one year after his sudden death.
Fifteen-year-old Bennett Fisk loves baseball and has been playing youth league his whole life. Unfortunately, last season, he had to sit out because even the largest adult-size baseball helmet didn't fit his head and it was too unsafe to play without a helmet.
For the first time in Minnesota cannabis usage on 420 is legal.
A new restaurant is hoping to serve the community for years to come.
Smoking in Minneapolis is set to get more expensive thanks to a new ordinance passed by the City Council.
A transcript from a 911 call is providing more details surrounding the arrest of Minnesota State Sen. Nicole Mitchell, who stands accused of burglary.
Some love it, while others hate it. But in 15 days the new Minnesota state flag will be raised across the state.
Coal-fired power plants would have to capture smokestack emissions or shut down under a new EPA rule the industry says would make the grid less reliable. It's likely to face court challenges.
The Supreme Court convened to consider whether former President Donald Trump is entitled to broad immunity from criminal charges in the 2020 election case.
Smoking in Minneapolis is set to get more expensive thanks to a new ordinance passed by the City Council.
The owner of a Twin Cities-based car dealership is accused of scamming Minnesotans out of thousands of dollars.
Saturday marks, for some, a holiday.
There's a state recovery fund for families who are out of money for a loss due to a contractor, but there's a gap in the law — a contractor with one specialty is exempt from paying into the fund.
The Minnesota Department of Health says state inspectors have seized and destroyed about $500,000 worth of illegal cannabis products from retailers.
The Minneapolis City Council approved Thursday a $150,000 settlement for a man who witnessed the murder of George Floyd and testified against the former officer who killed him.
A transcript from a 911 call is providing more details surrounding the arrest of Minnesota State Sen. Nicole Mitchell, who stands accused of burglary.
Police in Brooklyn Park say a woman was sexually assaulted Wednesday, and they're still looking for the suspect.
A Minnesota man who kidnapped his 2-year-old son last year, triggering an AMBER Alert and a standoff, will be sentenced on Thursday.
Harvey Weinstein's 2020 conviction on felony sex crime charges has been overturned by the State of New York Court of Appeals.
Minnesotans love to get outside no matter the season. Something about being in nature always seems to leave us feeling better. So why does it feel good to get outdoors? Good Question.
The DEA took about 2.5 million lethal doses of fentanyl off Minnesota streets last year alone. Despite that eye-popping number, it's not enough.
Federal officials say they're double checking whether pasteurization has eradicated the danger from possible bird virus particles in milk.
UnitedHealth said it paid the criminals behind attack that crippled hospitals and pharmacies to protect sensitive patient data.
Cancer cases are on the rise in younger adults, and early onset cancer is up in patients under 50, many of them without typical risk factors.
Italy's Culture Ministry has banned loans of works to the Minneapolis Institute of Art, following a dispute with the U.S. museum over an ancient marble statue believed to have been looted from Italy almost a half-century ago.
Harvey Weinstein's 2020 conviction on felony sex crime charges has been overturned by the State of New York Court of Appeals.
The Vali-Hi Drive-In in Lake Elmo has been closed for almost two years now — but a filmmaker raised in Woodbury is keeping memories of the iconic theatre alive.
Eight years ago this week, music icon Prince died of an accidental painkiller overdose at his Paisley Park estate.
La Raza's mission is to bring music, news and community to more than 200,000 Latinos in the Twin Cities.
The Chicago White Sox dropped to 3-22, wasting a two-run lead and stretching their losing streak to a season-high seven with a 6-3 defeat to Minnesota as Edouard Julien hit two of the Twins' five solo home runs.
The Minnesota Vikings have chosen JJ McCarthy to be their franchise quarterback of the future.
An unprecedented six of the first 12 picks were quarterbacks, an NFL Draft record.
The NFL draft is almost here, and Minnesota Vikings fans will soon know whether or not the team has a new franchise quarterback.
It's the day Minnesota Vikings fans have been waiting for: The NFL draft is set to begin in Detroit Thursday evening, but there's also a celebration right here at home.
The Metropolitan Council has made headlines for its mismanagement of the Southwest Light Rail project. In Talking Points, community members and Minnesota legislators on both sides of the aisle are pushing for major reforms.
The Metropolitan Council has made headlines for its mismanagement of the Southwest Light Rail project. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy spoke with DFL Sen. Scott Dibble and Republican Sen. Eric Pratt about the legislation push major reforms.
The Metropolitan Council has made headlines for its mismanagement of the Southwest Light Rail project. In Talking Points, community members and Minnesota legislators on both sides of the aisle are pushing for major reforms. Esme Murphy spoke with Abou Amara, a Democratic analyst, and Mary Pattock, a long-time critic of the Met Council.
The Metropolitan Council has made headlines for its mismanagement of the Southwest Light Rail project. In Talking Points, lawmakers pushing for reform. But Republican analyst Amy Koch says its going to take a bi-partisan public outcry from the politically diverse seven-county area.
It may have been more than 25 years ago, but Jesse Ventura's 1998 win for governor stands out as one of he most successful third-party runs in U.S. history.
It's one of the few covered bridges remaining in the Midwest, and it's seen a lot of traffic over the years.
Decades ago, at an 88-acre pasture near Annandale, cars replaced cows and French Lake Auto Parts was born.
There's an attraction in Fergus Falls that's centered around a man-made disaster.
In this week's Finding Minnesota, John Lauritsen goes to New Ulm where the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame is celebrating 35 years.
It cost $85,000 to build St. Stan's — equivalent to about $100 million today. As the basilica approaches its 130th birthday, its biggest fans say they wouldn't change a thing.
Minnesotans love to get outside no matter the season. Something about being in nature always seems to leave us feeling better. So why does it feel good to get outdoors? Good Question.
What do Lebron James, David Bowie and Bill Gates all have in common? They're left-handed. While they're a minority of the population, they're not alone. So why are we right- or left-handed? Good Question.
April is Earth Month and we're less than a week from Earth Day. That timing matches up with an email we received from Mary in Minneapolis. She wants to know: What can the average person do to help reduce global warming? Good Question.
The gorgeous weekend we had was more than just a great time to get outside. For many, it was a chance to get their hands dirty whether they wanted to or not. We wanted to know How can we efficiently clean our homes? Good Question.
If you have a drawer packed with old cellphones, cameras and laptops, you're not alone. Global electronic waste has hit record highs and it's growing five times faster than recycling rates. So how should you dispose of e-waste?
Many Minnesotans were treated to a stunning double rainbow on Thursday.
Nicolae Miu, a 54-year-old man from Prior, Lake, Minnesota was found guilty of six criminal charges, including first-degree reckless homicide. Miu's trial lasted eight days in a Hudson, Wisconsin courtroom.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed early Tuesday, March 26 after a column was struck by a container ship that reportedly lost power, sending vehicles and people into the Patapsco River.
An early spring snowstorm made for many beautiful sights across the state of Minnesota over the weekend.
State fire officials say a grass fire near Waseca is contained Monday morning after burning more than 1,000 acres.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says rain moves in tomorrow and we have a few soaking rounds on the way through the weekend.
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.
WCCO meteorologist Charis Shaffer says rain will move in tomorrow and there's a chance for severe weather in parts of the state.
This week's drought update shows improvement for central and southern Minnesota as well as central Wisconsin. However, there are a few pockets where it's still abnormally dry.
Rain will move in on Thursday, and more rounds will follow.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says rain moves in tomorrow and we have a few soaking rounds on the way through the weekend.
Minnesotans love to get outside no matter the season. Something about being in nature always seems to leave us feeling better. So why does it feel good to get outdoors? Good Question. WCCO's Kirsten Mitchell found the benefits are both mental and physical.
In a new rule, the EPA says coal plants need to start capturing their smokestack emissions or shut down. It's a move to curb planet-warming emissions — something Minnesota wants to do by going carbon-free with our electricity by 2040.
Police say two thieves shoved a woman to the pavement and ran away with her pet.
New video tonight shows state troopers wrangling a wanted driver.