Minn. agricultural programs in question amid Trump's funding freeze
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture says it's trying to get clarity on the cuts.
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The Minnesota Department of Agriculture says it's trying to get clarity on the cuts.
The Western Hudson Bay polar bears are the most famous, and most photographed, polar bears in the world. Their home is the Arctic, where the last nine years were the warmest on record. Erin Hassanzadeh takes us to Churchill, Canada where experts say what's changing up-north should serve as a warning to us all.
Minnesota farmers say they are in a valley of uncertainty amid the layoffs and cost-cutting measures of the first few weeks of President Trump's second term.
Winter is more than halfway over, and we've definitely had our share of cold weather, but so far this season, the Twin Cities have only seen 16 inches of snow.
Winter is more than halfway over and we've definitely had our share of cold weather. But so far this season, the Twin Cities has only seen 16 inches of snow. That's well below the three feet that has typically piled up on the ground by now. So what happens if we don't get enough snow? Good Question. Jeff Wagner talked with a trio of environmental experts.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) says it's working to improve air quality monitoring following a state review stemming from a dispute over reported violations at a Minneapolis metal foundry.
Chocolate is by far the most popular Valentine's Day treat, but it's getting more difficult though to find sweet deals for your sweetheart. Prices are up nearly 20% because the cost of cocoa has more than doubled in the past year. Some say it's time to find a "chocolate alternative." As Erin Hassanzadeh reports in this special "Climate Watch" story, the search has ties to a Minnesota business.
Advocates say mining would create jobs and help the economy; opponents say mining will pollute the precious boundary waters.
Supporters of expanding mining and drilling near the Boundary Waters are cheering another Trump executive order.
Among the tsunami of signed orders Monday night in the Oval Office is one that's expected to cause controversy here at home. Kirsten Mitchell has the details.
In his inaugural address, President Trump said he'll be ushering in a new era and ending a period of American decline. Those executive orders cover a wide range of policies from immigration to energy, trade and inflation.
Glaciers around the world are melting. The United Nations has declared 2025 to be the "Year of Glacier Preservation." The Canadian Rockies is one place where the problem is clear - especially since the region is a vital freshwater source for millions of people. CBS News Climate Correspondent Dave Malkoff recently visited the area.
One type of reindeer isn’t having the best holiday right now. They don’t have enough mothers for the next generation, and a big fire almost wiped out their breeding facility in Canada. Bringing them back is crucial for maintaining a healthy ecosystem.
Water Gremlin and its parent company, Okabe, agreed to a settlement. Nearly a hundred people sued the now-bankrupt plant in White Bear Township last year over exposure to a toxic and cancer-causing chemical called TCE. That chemical is now banned in the state, and recently the EPA banned it too. News of a settlement follows a multi-year WCCO Investigation led by senior investigative reporter Jennifer Mayerle.
A cancer-causing chemical at the center of a pollution investigation will now be banned nationwide. WCCO first told you about the toxic danger five years ago. That's when we learned that a Twin Cities manufacturing plant had emitted unsafe levels of TCE into the air for years. Jennifer Mayerle explains how this ban could keep the chemical from ever harming neighborhoods again.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans produce 25% more trash from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day.
It's known as the most wonderful time of the year, turns out it's also the most wasteful. We produce 25% more trash from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day. Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield helps us navigate the tricky art of holiday recycling.
It's the time of year when families pick out the perfect Christmas tree for their home. Just like the last three years, a troubling weather trend for farmers joins that tradition. So how does drought impact Christmas tree growth? Good Question. WCCO's Jeff Wagner explains what to expect when tree shopping this season.
There are expensive efforts in the east metro to filter out PFAS from drinking and wastewater. The forever chemicals are used in everyday items like nonstick pans, dental floss and food packaging. PFAS can build up in our bodies and harm our health. 3M settlement dollars are paying for $140 million dollar treatment facilities in Cottage Grove. But as our Erin Hassanzadeh shows us, other communities will have to foot some of the bill on their own.
Communities across Minnesota have drinking water that's contaminated with PFAS. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says PFAS don't break down in the environment. They do build up in the body and can lead to some serious health issues. That means more communities, like Cottage Grove will have to start filtering it out, but it's not cheap or easy.
If you have walked on a trail or swam in a lake in Minnesota you've benefited from the environmental natural resources trust fund. The fund was designed decades ago using funds from the state lottery.
Richfield residents can throw their jack-o-lantern in the garbage, the city is providing a destructive, yet constructive alternative.
Analysts say Hurricanes Helene and Milton and the devastation in the southeast should serve as reminders for Minnesotans: weather patterns are changing in the upper Midwest, too.
Analysts say Hurricanes Helene and Milton and the devastation in the southeast should serve as reminders for Minnesotans: weather patterns are changing in the upper Midwest, too.
Analysts say Hurricanes Helene and Milton and the devastation in the southeast should serve as reminders for Minnesotans: weather patterns are changing in the upper Midwest, too.
Several people testified at the Minnesota Truth Council Wednesday evening at the Minnesota State Capitol. The council, established by Gov. Tim Walz via an executive order, will record and assess the overall impact of the immigration enforcement operation.
The father of Jordan "Manny" Collins, who is accused killing his 16-year-old son, will go on trial Thursday in Anoka County.
WCCO is tracking everything you can go out and do 4 Your Weekend, including local festivals and the start of some fall activities.
It'll be a mostly sunny day Thursday with light winds, but the humidity starts to pick up Friday ahead of some scattered showers.
Hospice nurses who work for Allina Health are set to begin a seven-day strike on Friday.
Several people testified at the Minnesota Truth Council Wednesday evening at the Minnesota State Capitol. The council, established by Gov. Tim Walz via an executive order, will record and assess the overall impact of the immigration enforcement operation.
The father of Jordan "Manny" Collins, who is accused killing his 16-year-old son, will go on trial Thursday in Anoka County.
WCCO is tracking everything you can go out and do 4 Your Weekend, including local festivals and the start of some fall activities.
It'll be a mostly sunny day Thursday with light winds, but the humidity starts to pick up Friday ahead of some scattered showers.
Hospice nurses who work for Allina Health are set to begin a seven-day strike on Friday.
WCCO is tracking everything you can go out and do 4 Your Weekend, including local festivals and the start of some fall activities.
It'll be a mostly sunny day Thursday with light winds, but the humidity starts to pick up Friday ahead of some scattered showers.
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.
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.
The father of Jordan "Manny" Collins, who is accused killing his 16-year-old son, will go on trial Thursday in Anoka County.
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.
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.
It'll be a mostly sunny day Thursday with light winds, but the humidity starts to pick up Friday ahead of some scattered showers.
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.
Thursday will be warm and sunny, before some storms Friday.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says tomorrow will be sunny with highs in the lower 80s.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says tomorrow will be quiet and comfortable.
Minnesotans are going on the record about the massive impact of Operation Metro Surge.
The State Fair is now behind us, but there is still so much to do "4 Your Weekend"-
The 16-year-old Manny Collins was missing for more than two months before his remains were found in a landfill.
Thursday will be warm and sunny, before some storms Friday.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says tomorrow will be sunny with highs in the lower 80s.