Elk River farm using Christmas trees to feed goats, shelter animals
As Christmas trees across the nation come down, a farm in Elk River, Minnesota, is finding a new purpose for the pines.
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As Christmas trees across the nation come down, a farm in Elk River, Minnesota, is finding a new purpose for the pines.
While peatlands occupy just 3% of Earth's land surface, scientists say they store about 30% of the planet's land-based carbon. That's more than double held by the world's forests, according to the Nature Conservancy.
In Minnesota, scientists say we are sitting on a climate change superhero. Peatlands, a type of wetland, cover more than 10% of the state — that's the most of any in the lower 48. But over time, peatlands have been misunderstood and mistreated. Now, some are trying to change that.
A mining company wants to dig for materials beneath the Mississippi River in Cottage Grove, Minnesota. The proposal is getting plenty of pushback from neighbors and government agencies.
We know forever chemicals, known as PFAS, are a growing concern. That's why the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency wants to get a better idea of just how pervasive they are in our environment. Adam Del Rosso got to learn more this week about their newest way to track them.
Following the accidental draining of a lake at William O'Brien State Park, environmentalists say they have a rare opportunity to rid the lake of invasive greens.
Plastic pollution is a "grave, growing and under-recognized danger" to health that is costing the world at least $1.5 trillion a year, a report in the Lancet medical journals warns
The International Wolf Center in Ely, Minnesota has introduced its two newest ambassador wolves to the exhibit pack.
$2.5 million is going towards trees in the Twin Cities. That money will not only plant new trees but also help to remove hazardous ones.
The incident occurred at Grand Prismatic Spring near Old Faithful as tourists were enjoying a close-up view of the famous and popular hot spring.
We first met Minneapolis grandmother Donna Minter back in April when she started a cross-country bike ride. Thousands of miles later, she's crossed the finish line. Adam Del Rosso explains why she hopes the trip has an impact on everyone.
Every time we take flight, there's an environmental cost. Now, scientists are trying to grow a solution that could also be big business for Minnesota farmers.
Every time we take flight, there's an environmental cost. As WCCO's Erin Hassanzadeh explains, scientists are trying to grow a solution that could also be big business for Minnesota farmers.
A group of high schoolers from diverse backgrounds gathered at YMCA Camp Ihduhapi in Loretto, Minnesota for the SPARKS (Student Peer Adventure and Recreation Knowledge Specialists) Spring Leadership Retreat, where they honed their wilderness skills and developed leadership qualities.
It's that time of year when cottonwood seeds begin floating through the air like summer snow, and HVAC professionals say they're more than just a seasonal nuisance.
State and federal lawmakers are unveiling a mobile unit designed to destroy PFAS and other dangerous chemicals in Lake Elmo, Minnesota.
34 million people live in one of these major U.S. cities that's sinking, new research shows. See if your area is on the list — and how quickly the land is moving.
Forty thousand tulips are blooming right now at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska.
A few years ago, Minnesota set a lofty goal when it comes to protecting the environment. Gov. Tim Walz signed a law requiring utility companies to provide 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040. We wanted to know: Is Minnesota on pace to reach that goal? Good Question. Jeff Wagner explains the innovation keeping the state on track and how you can help
Research shows 1% of the world's rivers are responsible for 80% of all plastic flowing into the ocean.
Topping the list of this year's most endangered rivers in America is our very own Mississippi River. It's driven by flooding and concerns around how prepared we are to deal with a disaster. In Climate Watch, Erin Hassanzadeh tells us how University of Minnesota researchers are looking at a way to target and remove plastics.
For more than 50 years, we've been celebrating Earth Day to protect our planet. As Caroline Cummings reports, dozens of Minnesotans who gathered at the state capitol today worry we're not doing enough.
Earth Day has roots in the Badger State. The founder was a politician and conservationist who grew up in the town of Clear Lake, Wisconsin. Derek James traveled to St. Croix Falls to learn about his vision for a better planet.
In hundreds of U-S. cities, sewage spills into creeks and rivers each time there’s heavy rainfall. The water contamination is a growing concern for environmental advocates as climate change intensifies storms. National Environmental Correspondent David Schechter explains.
In 1993, Don Shelby and a crew from WCCO embarked on a journey to Churchill, Manitoba in Canada. The trip was sparked by this curiosity: How do people and polar bears live side by side in the same town? Thirty years later, WCCO returned to Churchill, enamored by the same thing. Erin Hassanzadeh shows us what's putting the town and its famous bears at risk.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said on Friday that she is suspending payments on all active and future awards from the USDA to Minnesota amid the long-running fraud scandal in which the White House has alleged a misuse of federal funds.
Cellphone video taken by the ICE agent involved in Wednesday's fatal shooting in Minneapolis of Renee Good shows a different view of the incident and the moments leading up to it. WCCO spoke with a use-of-force expert and a defense attorney, who both analyzed the video.
Prosecutors in the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division were told they will not play a role in the investigation into a fatal shooting of a Minnesota woman by an ICE officer, two sources said.
A federal judge has temporarily blocked HHS from halting $10 billion in social services funding to five states, a move the agency argued was necessary to crack down on fraud — but the states called unconstitutional.
Educators from across Minnesota on Friday demanded that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents stay away from school property.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said on Friday that she is suspending payments on all active and future awards from the USDA to Minnesota amid the long-running fraud scandal in which the White House has alleged a misuse of federal funds.
Cellphone video taken by the ICE agent involved in Wednesday's fatal shooting in Minneapolis of Renee Good shows a different view of the incident and the moments leading up to it. WCCO spoke with a use-of-force expert and a defense attorney, who both analyzed the video.
Educators from across Minnesota on Friday demanded that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents stay away from school property.
The president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe said Thursday that he's been "made aware" that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained four of its members in Minneapolis.
The Minnesota Attorney General and Hennepin County Attorney's offices announced a joint effort on Friday to gather their own evidence related to the fatal shooting of Renee Good, after state authorities said they were blocked from participating in the investigation.
Police in Moorhead, Minnesota, are asking for the public's help to find 17-year-old Neeshka Lafromboise, who has been missing since Monday.
Brian Pippitt, who had his sentence commuted after two and a half decades in prison, has been released from prison.
Some schools in Minnesota and Wisconsin are delayed or closed on Tuesday as early morning rain makes the roads slick.
Leaders in Minnesota are reacting Monday morning to Gov. Tim Walz's announcement that he is dropping his reelection bid.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Monday reversed course by dropping out of the 2026 gubernatorial race amid intense scrutiny of his handling of the state's fraud scandal.
A Wisconsin man accused of sending the state Supreme Court's chief justice intimidating emails has been sentenced to probation.
Some schools in Minnesota and Wisconsin are delayed or closed on Tuesday as early morning rain makes the roads slick.
A western Wisconsin town is reveling in the national spotlight.
When he's not playing zone or man, Hall is carving it up at local hills. He has qualified for multiple professional snowboard competitions.
Two people were killed and another hurt in a crash in western Wisconsin Tuesday afternoon.
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.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said on Friday that she is suspending payments on all active and future awards from the USDA to Minnesota amid the long-running fraud scandal in which the White House has alleged a misuse of federal funds.
Prosecutors in the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division were told they will not play a role in the investigation into a fatal shooting of a Minnesota woman by an ICE officer, two sources said.
A federal judge has temporarily blocked HHS from halting $10 billion in social services funding to five states, a move the agency argued was necessary to crack down on fraud — but the states called unconstitutional.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the creation of a new IRS task force and other measures to combat fraud, underscoring the Trump administration's focus on Minnesota amidst the immigration crackdown.
Attorney General Keith Ellison and Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced Minnesota was going solo and holding its own probe.
It's a business model picking up steam across the Twin Cities. For instance, all the major sports venues in town, like Target Field and U.S. Bank Stadium, no longer accept cash.
WCCO gathered data on core staple items from Aldi in Apple Valley, Target in Fridley and Cub Foods in north Minneapolis.
Minnesota drivers have something to celebrate this holiday — a price drop at the pump.
With costs still high and budgets stretched, getting smarter with money matters more than ever.
There were 584 vehicles towed during this week's snow emergency in Minneapolis. That number stands at 352 and counting in St. Paul, where parking restrictions are in place until 9 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 2.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the creation of a new IRS task force and other measures to combat fraud, underscoring the Trump administration's focus on Minnesota amidst the immigration crackdown.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz implored the federal authorities to allow state investigators to work alongside them as they launch a probe into the shooting death of a 37-year-old woman by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer on Wednesday.
CBS News watched bystander video of the deadly ICE shooting in Minneapolis frame-by-frame with retired ICE agent Eric Balliet to discuss the tactics used. He raised a few key points that dispute the DHS narrative of what happened.
As conflicting accounts about what happened in Minneapolis swirl, state and federal investigators are now taking a closer look at Wednesday's ICE-involved shooting. WCCO looked at the Department of Homeland Security policy on the use of force.
Officials in Burnsville, Minnesota, say a 23-year-old man is in custody and faces criminal charges in connection to a New Year's Day assault against a 74-year-old woman.
Just one day after dropping his bid for reelection, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said the state's paid family leave program is one of the most transformational bills the state has ever passed.
Roughly 12,000 Minnesotans have already applied for the state's new paid family leave program, according to an update by the Department of Employment and Economic Development.
It's a beauty technique that's exploding. Depending on your age, you might not have heard of it. It's called micro-needling.
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.
Here are the significant books, films and characters joining the list of works in the public domain on Jan. 1, 2026.
Isiah Whitlock Jr. is perhaps best known for his role as state Sen. R. Clayton "Clay" Davis on HBO's "The Wire."
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.
Anthony Edwards became the third-youngest player in NBA history to reach 10,000 career points when the Minnesota Timberwolves star swished a 13-foot fadeaway jumper from the baseline in the fourth quarter against Cleveland.
Mats Zuccarello scored off a feed from Kirill Kaprizov on a rush at 2:09 of overtime, and the Minnesota Wild beat the Seattle Kraken 3-2 on Thursday night to finish a two-week, seven-game trip.
Julius Randle had 28 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists to help the Minnesota Timberwolves hang on to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 131-122 for their fourth consecutive victory.
Anthony Edwards scored 26 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Miami Heat for the second time in four days, 122-94.
Langston Reynolds scored 22 points and Cade Tyson added 16 and Minnesota held off a rally to defeat No. 19 Iowa 70-67.
The DFL race pits two prominent party leaders, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Rep. Angie Craig, against each other.
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.
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."
It's a business model picking up steam across the Twin Cities. For instance, all the major sports venues in town, like Target Field and U.S. Bank Stadium, no longer accept cash.
From the frozen ponds and lakes to the packed indoor rinks serving as community hubs, hockey is uniquely celebrated and cherished in Minnesota like no other state in the country.
Have you ever wondered how the actors memorize so many lines? A neurologist says everyone could strengthen their memories by taking cues from actors.
It's a beauty technique that's exploding. Depending on your age, you might not have heard of it. It's called micro-needling.
According to the Smithsonian Magazine and Britannica, eggnog has British roots.
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's a low chance that the Twin Cities will see an inch or more of snow by the end of Saturday, according to NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer.
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.
NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer said there will be patchy snow showers on Saturday, with high temperatures in the teens and 20s across Minnesota.
Some incoming winterlike temperatures will halt the recent melting.
A band of snow will move across Minnesota on Friday night, according to NEXT Weather meteorologist Adam Del Rosso.
Jim Berbee spent a great deal of his life in an office as an accountant. He enjoyed it. But along the way, he started coaching his daughters in softball, and fell in love with the process of teaching it. Mike Max speaks with Berbee. Plus, see who prevailed in a boys basketball matchup featuring a father who coached against his son in the Jan. 9, 2026, edition of High School Sports Rally.
There's a low chance that the Twin Cities will see an inch or more of snow by the end of Saturday, according to NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer.
State and local law enforcement in Minneapolis gathered at a demonstration against U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement at a downtown hotel late Friday night, ordering protesters to disperse.
There are signs the surge in federal agents in the Twin Cities is having an economic impact on the Twin Cities. A Richfield restaurant says its sales have been cut in half and employees are working fewer hours. Ubah Ali reports.
Protesters in downtown Minneapolis on Friday night aimed to make lots of noise at a hotel they believed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were staying at. The demonstration comes after an earlier protest at the State Capitol and new cellphone video obtained by CBS News of the fatal shooting of Renee Good in south Minneapolis. Conor Wight reports.