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Gov. Tim Walz's move to ban mining near the Boundary Waters highlights a long-standing debate: Can a copper-nickel mine operate in a northern Minnesota watershed without tarnishing the world-class Boundary Waters? The answer depends on who you ask.
Twin Metals says a copper-nickel mine near the Boundary Waters would bring hundreds of union jobs and 1,400 additional positions. Still, opponents say the environmental risks to the watershed are not worth the trade-offs.
Advocates tout domestic production as critical, while critics say it's not worth the trade-off in this sensitive location.
Throughout Operation Metro Surge, tear gas was used at several standoffs across the metro. A team of researchers says that substance could have left heavy metals in our soil. Frankie McLister spoke with those working to find out as part of a project at the University of Minnesota.
The U.S. Forest Service says parts of Cook and Lake County will reopen for overnight permits on July 30.
Lake Minnetonka was cleaned up on Monday as Minnesota's busiest lake wrapped up its busiest weekend of the year. Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield was on the water for the trash and treasure hunt.
Scattered across Dakota County, Minnesota, especially its rural landscape, are more than 8,000 private drinking wells. Since 2018, the county's Environmental Resources Department has been testing a portion of them for PFAS, commonly known as "forever chemicals" that are linked to numerous health issues.
The data center debate is leading to legal battles for some Minnesota cities. Ashley Grams explains how Faribault is one of three cities dealing with data center decisions.
Shoppers can stock up on laundry detergent, body wash and most anything else you would find at a regular store. They also sell sustainable wooden toys and other household and personal care items.
Minnesota is celebrating 150 years of Arbor Day with communities across the state planting trees. Photojournalist Ray Campos checks out the tradition in Hastings.
Kate Setley, the vice president and general manager at St. Paul RiverCentre shares how the facility works to lessen its environmental impact.
People near the Mississippi River in Minneapolis on Thursday may have noticed an oily sheen on the water. Adam Del Rosso shows what it could be and looks at the health of the water.
Minnesota and nearly two dozen other states sued the EPA Thursday, challenging the repeal of a 2009 finding that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases threaten public health.
Environmental advocates are sounding the alarm as a proposal to overturn a mining ban near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota steps closer to reality.
Last month, congressional Republicans moved closer to lifting a 20-year ban on mining near Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, pushing a resolution to end the moratorium through the House.
The U.S. House of Representatives is voting Wednesday on a bill that would reverse a 20-year ban on mining in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
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.
Hospice nurses who work for Allina Health are set to begin a seven-day strike on Friday.
Built in 1886, the Prospect House was once a resort hotel. The third floor is preserved to show what the hotel looked like back then, but for Jay Johnson, the real history is in the basement.
Heather Hoffman says she was inside the Grandstand on Saturday when her fiancé, Sammy, was roaming around the fair with two friends. Those friends say Sammy bumped into a teen and it escalated.
Officers were called to the intersection of East Lake Street and Fourth Avenue South at approximately 9:45 a.m. for a crash involving multiple vehicles and a building, according to the Minneapolis Police Department.
The 17-foot-tall artwork was designed by Italian Renaissance painter Francesco Salviati and was woven in Florence, Italy, in the 1540s.
Hospice nurses who work for Allina Health are set to begin a seven-day strike on Friday.
Heather Hoffman says she was inside the Grandstand on Saturday when her fiancé, Sammy, was roaming around the fair with two friends. Those friends say Sammy bumped into a teen and it escalated.
Officers were called to the intersection of East Lake Street and Fourth Avenue South at approximately 9:45 a.m. for a crash involving multiple vehicles and a building, according to the Minneapolis Police Department.
The 17-foot-tall artwork was designed by Italian Renaissance painter Francesco Salviati and was woven in Florence, Italy, in the 1540s.
A woman who witnessed Border Patrol officers shooting and killing Alex Pretti in Minneapolis was interviewed by federal investigators, a possible indication that the federal government is still evaluating whether the shooting was justified in their eyes.
Built in 1886, the Prospect House was once a resort hotel. The third floor is preserved to show what the hotel looked like back then, but for Jay Johnson, the real history is in the basement.
The state's forest health consultant says severe drought can mute some colors and push trees to drop leaves early — or hold them later, depending on the species. Peak is still expected from late September through mid-October.
Wednesday is expected to be breezy, with scattered clouds and comfortable temperatures in the upper 70s and low 80s.
An Annandale, Minnesota, boy who survived overwhelming odds as a baby is once again facing a serious heart battle.
According to the Stearns County Sheriff's Office, the crash happened just before noon near the intersection of County Road 50 and Glenwood Road in Wakefield Township, about a mile and a half north of Cold Spring.
A $1.8 billion project to replace the Blatnik Bridge, which links Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin, is now underway.
An 18-year-old man has pleaded guilty to killing 10-year-old Lily Peters in Wisconsin four years ago. He was then given a life sentence with the possibility of extended supervision after 25 years.
A Wisconsin prosecutor says he will not file election bribery charges against billionaire Elon Musk even though the state's bipartisan elections commission said he likely broke state law.
A Wisconsin high school football player has died from injuries sustained during a game on Thursday night.
Dozens of cases of E. coli and salmonella in multiple states are linked to an alfalfa grower in Minnesota, health officials say.
The nonprofit opened its Twin Cities doors in 2010 and now runs a seven-woman operation out of a warehouse stocked entirely with what other Minnesotans gave away.
An Annandale, Minnesota, boy who survived overwhelming odds as a baby is once again facing a serious heart battle.
Zy'ire was diagnosed with bone cancer in his tibia, and throughout treatment, his love of the game helped keep his spirits up. Make-A-Wish Minnesota granted his wish by putting him on the sideline in Vikings gear.
Lt. Ryan Kelly, the first Minneapolis officer to arrive at Church of the Annunciation on Aug. 27, 2025, described walking in to find dozens of children hiding in the pews — and locating 2 who had already died.
After the Annunciation Catholic Church mass shooting in Minneapolis, there were loud calls for action on guns.
Minnesota's neighbor to the north is striking back in President Trump's widening trade war. Canada just imposed new tariffs ranging from 15% to 50% on everything from milk to fishing rods to hockey gear.
The Transportation Security Administration has launched a new program at 13 airports, allowing eligible TSA PreCheck members without plane tickets to pass through security and enter the gates.
If you're driving near a school bus with its lights flashing in Minnesota, you must stop — even if the arm isn't out. This change is part of a new state law aiming to improve student safety.
If you're driving near a school bus with its lights flashing in Minnesota, you must stop — even if the arm isn't out. This change is part of a new state law aiming to improve student safety.
The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to intervene in a lawsuit over the use of a controversial data system to review state voter rolls.
The Minnesota Department of Human Services is working with a contractor to correct an autism treatment plan backlog that is frustrating both parents and providers.
You've probably seen THC drinks at Minnesota bars and liquor stores, but those made-in-Minnesota drinks could disappear this winter if new federal rules take effect.
The 2026 Minnesota State Fair is rolling out more than three dozen new food items this year, on top of all the returning favorites — which makes putting together a game plan for your visit no small task.
President Trump said Friday that the U.S. will waive higher tariffs on ground beef imports, which he says will reduce beef prices by 25%. Some cattle ranchers, including those in Minnesota and Wisconsin, worry the plan will hurt them financially.
An outbreak of E. coli and salmonella is linked to an alfalfa grower in Minnesota, health officials say. WCCO speaks with a food safety expert about the risks associated with alfalfa sprouts.
Heather Hoffman says she was inside the Grandstand on Saturday when her fiancé, Sammy, was roaming around the fair with two friends. Those friends say Sammy bumped into a teen and it escalated.
Police in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, arrested 23 people during a raid that centered around two hotels Wednesday morning.
Two people were sentenced to life in prison in connection with the murder of a transgender man from Minnesota who authorities say was tortured for more than a month before being killed in upstate New York.
A former Minnesota State Patrol trooper has been sentenced to nearly three decades in prison for producing and distributing child sexual abuse material.
Law enforcement have a suspect in custody in connection to a killing that happened last week in a Monticello, Minnesota, mobile home community.
Hospice nurses who work for Allina Health are set to begin a seven-day strike on Friday.
A school night usually means earlier bedtimes and setting multiple alarms. WCCO spoke with a sleep medicine physician about how many alarms you should set to wake up.
A group of over 150 Allina Health doctors in the Twin Cities has filed a 10-day unfair labor practice strike notice, their union said on Friday.
Sanford Health and North Memorial Health announced Tuesday that they completed the merger.
This year, your kid may be more likely to catch a back-to-school bug, as fewer students are getting their shots than at any time in the past decade.
WCCO is tracking everything you can go out and do 4 Your Weekend, including at the Minnesota State Fair.
While performing in St. Louis on Saturday night, Lionel Richie appeared at one point to lean on a piano for support, according to video from the show.
Louis Lee came to Minnesota decades ago from Hong Kong to become a student at the University of Minnesota. He says listening to comedy helped him learn English.
The vault is open. Recordings no one's ever heard, spanning 40 years of Prince's musical career, are now available on a new album called "Timeless."
The community is mourning the loss of Charles Dillon, also known as Chaz Millionaire, a longtime voice on the Twin Cities airwaves.
Quinn Hughes appears to be in no rush to get a contract extension done with the Minnesota Wild.
Colt Keith homered and the Detroit Tigers ended a seven-series losing streak with a 7-2 win over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday afternoon.
The Minnesota Vikings have officially named Carson Wentz the backup quarterback for Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers.
Minnesota's leading scorer Cade Tyson has rejoined the team with the intent to play this season.
Kody Clemens hit a two-run homer against his former team, helping the Minnesota Twins beat the Detroit Tigers 3-2.
Demuth has been running ads focusing on a million-dollar funding proposal that Klobuchar supported that was stripped out of a funding bill.
She has won four races for U.S. Senate by double digits, and now Sen. Amy Klobuchar is campaigning to become Minnesota's next governor.
The DFL primary in Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District was supposed to be close, but it wasn't. Former Lakeville Mayor and state Sen. Matt Little beat two well-known opponents by double digits.
Democrat Jake Johnson, a high school math teacher, is running a competitive race against Republican Rep. Brad Finstad, prompting analysts to downgrade Finstad's reelection outlook.
In the aftermath of the primary, Republicans in Minnesota are more optimistic about their November chances than they ever have been.
Built in 1886, the Prospect House was once a resort hotel. The third floor is preserved to show what the hotel looked like back then, but for Jay Johnson, the real history is in the basement.
For nearly a half century, the Haunted Mansion at the Minnesota State Fair has been scaring people silly.
It is one of the most uniquely shaped buildings at the Minnesota State Fair, and it holds nearly 80 years of history.
For five generations, one family has run the Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours along the St. Croix River.
Keith Richardson is a home brewer and beer memorabilia collector. His collection got so big that, two years ago, he moved everything into an old toy store near downtown Lanesboro and opened the Hammarama Museum and Gift Shop.
The first days of school can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. New teachers, new classes, maybe even a new building. It can be a lot to manage without a plan.
A school night usually means earlier bedtimes and setting multiple alarms. WCCO spoke with a sleep medicine physician about how many alarms you should set to wake up.
Behind the fried foods and thrilling rides, farming remains at the heart of the Minnesota State Fair, where farm families work around the clock to get their animals ribbon-ready.
Visitors are spending tens of millions of dollars to experience all there is at the Minnesota State Fair. It's a 12-day production that costs tens of millions of dollars to put on.
There's more than 300 vendors keeping people fed at the Minnesota State Fair. That's a lot of competition for your cash and the limited space in your stomach.
The Minnesota State Fair has unveiled its new foods for 2026.
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.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says tomorrow will be sunny with highs in the lower 80s.
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 Chris Shaffer says tomorrow will be quiet and comfortable.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer has the latest forecast.
The state's forest health consultant says severe drought can mute some colors and push trees to drop leaves early — or hold them later, depending on the species. Peak is still expected from late September through mid-October.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says tomorrow will be sunny with highs in the lower 80s.
A Civil War museum has quite a backstory. In this week’s Finding Minnesota, John Lauritsen shows us how a Battle Lake man turned his great-grandfather’s war mementos into a history lesson.
A 45-year-old man is critically injured after a fight at the state fair Saturday night. Frankie McLister has his fiance's push for answers and a source of support in St. Paul.
Police say the rescue of a 5-year-old boy struggling to stay afloat proves how valuable drones can be when every second counts. Jason Rantala spoke to the officer who says the eye in the sky helped guide this rescue caught on camera.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says tomorrow will be quiet and comfortable.