Unpaid Bills From Flooding, Ebola May Cost State $29M
Minnesota lawmakers are looking to spend $29 million to cover cost overruns at state agencies.
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Minnesota lawmakers are looking to spend $29 million to cover cost overruns at state agencies.
Maple Grove High School has two good basketball teams, and both are state tournament contenders. But last Saturday, their schedule changed because they don't have a home court. Their gymnasium was flooded due to a pipe burst, leaving it unplayable.
Gov. Mark Dayton says his administration needs Minnesota legislators to quickly approve a relief package for recovery costs related to last summer's severe flooding.
Fargo, North Dakota, Mayor Dennis Walaker, the man known as the "flood mayor" for leading the state's largest city through several successful fights against the Red River, died Tuesday at his home, city officials said. He was 73. Walaker had been battling kidney cancer for several months. Deputy Mayor Tim Mahoney said Walaker was hospitalized over the weekend from a reaction to his chemotherapy.
With 2014 starting to wind down and a whole new set of Top 10 Weather Days just around the corner, it's a perfect time to take a trip down memory lane. The past year was full of weather extremes. On the cusp of the change from fall to winter, Kylie Bearse sat down with the rest of the WCCO weather team to look back at all Minnesota has endured this past year.
The historic June floods left a permanent mark on a well-known high school basketball coach and his family. The record rainfall sent a mudslide cascading into the Carlson's Le Sueur, Minn. home, making it unlivable.
Less than a year after the state struggled through a severe propane shortage, another vital commodity is in short supply.
Although the federal government said no, Dakota County will get disaster aid to help with severe storms and flooding earlier this year. Gov. Mark Dayton on Tuesday directed Minnesota emergency management director Kris Eide (EYE'-dee) to provide state aid to Dakota County under the State Public Disaster Assistance Fund.
The U.S. Department has designated 18 more Minnesota counties as primary natural disaster areas due to heavy rain, flooding and cold temperatures from May 1 through July 1. The designation makes farmers and ranchers in those counties eligible for low-interest emergency loans if they meet the eligibility requirements.
Existing emergency accounts are probably sufficient to cover state costs related to severe June flooding and avoid the need for a special session of the Minnesota Legislature. That message was delivered Tuesday by Gov. Mark Dayton's administration.
Organizers say hundreds of volunteers have collected about three tons of trash during a cleanup of Minnehaha Creek near the Twin Cities following heavy summer floods. The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District says volunteers and park workers spent most of Sunday cleaning up and assessing damage along Hiawatha and Nokomisthe lakes and the creek, which branches off the Mississippi River.
The summer was going just great until June 15 for many golf course owners in the Twin Cities. Then the rain started falling, and it flooded two of the five public courses in the city.
Thunderstorms have swept across western and central Minnesota, causing street flooding and wiping out an orchard's apple crop the day before it was to be picked. The National Weather Service reports 2.7 inches of rain fell at the St. Cloud Regional Airport on Wednesday.
The federal government has denied Minnesota's request to add Dakota County to a disaster declaration for recent severe storms and flooding. The Federal Emergency Management Agency notified the state about the rejection late Tuesday.
Hennepin and Ramsey counties have now been added to a presidential disaster declaration for damage from flooding and severe storms this summer. Gov. Mark Dayton's office says adding the two counties means 37 counties and three tribal governments are now eligible to receive federal and state aid to recover from damage to public infrastructure. Dakota County is still assessing its damages.
Months after the floods, one of the communities that saw some of the worst damage has a lot of cleanup and repairs to do. Heavy rain washed out major roads, triggered mudslides and flooded homes in the town of Blakeley, which is about an hour southwest of the Twin Cities.
A federal judge has ruled that a state lawsuit filed by upstream opponents of a Red River flood control project duplicates a federal complaint. U.S. District Judge John Tunheim on Thursday issued a preliminary injunction that prohibits the lawsuit from moving forward in Minnesota state court.
Another $5 million in federal assistance is bound for Minnesota to help repair roads and bridges damaged by severe flooding in June. Gov. Mark Dayton's administration said Thursday that the emergency repair money is on top of $5 million previously released by the Federal Highway Administration.
The federal government has expanded Minnesota's flood disaster declaration to 24 more counties and two tribal governments. Last month President Barack Obama declared a disaster in eight Minnesota counties damaged by flooding, unleashing federal funds to help repair millions in damages.
Minnesota officials have hired a contractor to start stabilizing a highway closed by flood and mudslide damage. The Minnesota Department of Transportation tells the Mankato Free Press that GeoStabilization International of Grand Junction, Colorado, has begun work on Highway 19.
Commercial barge traffic should fully resume on the Mississippi River as early as next Tuesday. Parts of the heavily used upper Mississippi River were left impassible to barge and tug traffic after recent flooding left behind an unwanted surprise.
Golfers like Roosevelt Elliott are returning to tee it up on Hiawatha Golf Course in Minneapolis. "Really, really excited," Elliot said. "I couldn't wait to get out here because I wanted to get some exercise. I've been chipping and putting, you know, for the past month or so."
President Obama has declared a disaster in eight Minnesota counties damaged by flooding, unleashing federal funds to help repair millions in damages. June and July storms hit more than 50 of the state's 87 counties, costing Minnesota an estimated $55 million for flood response and repairs.
The suburban city of Farmington is offering itself up as a temporary fill-in for the state Capitol. State Rep. Pat Garofalo says his city would be perfect to host a special legislative session to address spring flooding damage.
Residents in Prior Lake have been dealing with flooding for weeks now. Neighbors have already used a record number of sandbags, but water levels are just not receding fast enough.
Carter Casmaer, a dog owner who lives in Minneapolis, started a petition to "stop the rushed shutdown" of the park. He's gathered over 1,000 signatures.
Fifteen Minnesotans charged for conspiracy to impede or injure federal agents are part of what President Donald Trump considers a terrorist group, prosecutors said.
Trevor Larnach led off the game with a home run, Kody Clemens added a three-run shot and the Minnesota Twins clinched another series in Texas with an 12-2 victory over the Rangers.
A 31-year-old Minneapolis man is facing nearly two dozen charges following an eight-hour standoff with police along the city's Eat Street corridor last week.
A new cannabis dispensary just opened north of the Twin Cities metro and the city's mayor is one of the owners.
Carter Casmaer, a dog owner who lives in Minneapolis, started a petition to "stop the rushed shutdown" of the park. He's gathered over 1,000 signatures.
Fifteen Minnesotans charged for conspiracy to impede or injure federal agents are part of what President Donald Trump considers a terrorist group, prosecutors said.
A 31-year-old Minneapolis man is facing nearly two dozen charges following an eight-hour standoff with police along the city's Eat Street corridor last week.
A new cannabis dispensary just opened north of the Twin Cities metro and the city's mayor is one of the owners.
Police in Bloomington, Minnesota, are asking for the public's help to find 17-year-old Joseline Tapia, who has had no contact with her family or law enforcement since late April.
A proposed data center in Elk River, Minnesota, is drawing major backlash from residents.
Prosecutors allege a 35-year-old man intentionally set fire to his former girlfriend's Cambridge, Minnesota, home while her husband, a Marine veteran, and his service dog were inside.
Tyler Walter Edwards pleaded guilty in April to second-degree unintentional murder for the July 25, 2024, death of Maxton Keith Gudowski.
Carla Anderson was last seen at her Greenwood Apartments residence in Wadena on the evening of Nov. 13, 1987, after spending time with her family.
Authorities in central Minnesota say alcohol and speed may have contributed to a crash that seriously injured two people Saturday night.
A big birthday party is coming up this summer, one that every American can celebrate. And it could help the fireworks industry explode with record sales. WCCO explores how much Americans spend each year on fireworks.
A man serving a life sentence in a Wisconsin prison for killing six hunters during a confrontation over trespassing in 2004 has died, officials said.
Two women were involved in a deadly head-on crash Tuesday night in Chisago City, Minnesota.
Attorneys for Salah Sarsour, president of Wisconsin's largest mosque, told a federal judge he has lost 30 pounds and is not receiving consistent medical care for Type 2 diabetes while held in an Indiana jail.
President Trump was in western Wisconsin Friday afternoon to host a roundtable on farming at Custer Farms in Chippewa Falls.
On the Lake Harriet shoreline in Minneapolis Saturday evening, dozens of children picked up a fishing rod for the first time.
Hours after the announcement, community members were eager to learn more about the one challenged with leading the most scrutinized police department in the country.
Created by Freedom Reads, a nonprofit organization in Connecticut, the Inside Literary Prize is the first major U.S. book award decided exclusively by incarcerated readers.
A 23-year-old man from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, faces a criminal vehicular homicide charge after prosecutors say he hit and killed a person on a highway, then fled.
Quincy Street isn't just at the center of Art-A-Whirl, it's at the heart of the Arts District in northeast Minneapolis. The road itself, however, is falling apart. And the only thing bumpier than the exposed brick is the reaction to the city's plans to fix it.
Carter Casmaer, a dog owner who lives in Minneapolis, started a petition to "stop the rushed shutdown" of the park. He's gathered over 1,000 signatures.
Fifteen Minnesotans charged for conspiracy to impede or injure federal agents are part of what President Donald Trump considers a terrorist group, prosecutors said.
A place for dogs to play or a sacred site? Right now, it's both, but it likely won't be for long. Ashley Grams explains.
Today's charges in Minnesota allege ties to antifa. President Trump signed this order last fall that labeled antifa a "domestic terrorist organization." In Good Question, Jeff Wagner digs into how the protest movement is defined and the challenges of separating free speech from actual threats.
More than a dozen protesters are facing federal prosecution months after the largest immigration operation in U.S. history swept through Minnesota. The Department of Justice says they were part of conspiracy to block and hurt ICE agents. Ubah Ali was at the federal courthouse and spoke to one of the defendants.
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.
The dream of a woman in Minnesota started with excitement, but quickly unraveled into loss after she said she fell victim to a scheme that targeted more than 30 Spanish speakers.
For years, it was all hands on deck; a business model buoyed by a bevy of free time that sent sales surging in a way never before seen. But as Minnesota enters lake season, outdoor sales for boats, jet skis and more have almost dropped anchor.
Jester Concepts' Monday announcement noted that Borough will mark its remaining five weeks of service through June 27 with events celebrating the restaurant's history, and it encouraged customers to reserve tables during the final weeks.
A 31-year-old Minneapolis man is facing nearly two dozen charges following an eight-hour standoff with police along the city's Eat Street corridor last week.
A 35-year-old Minnesota woman has been charged with negligent storage of a firearm after her 10-year-old daughter allegedly took her gun and threatened their neighbor with it.
U.S. prosecutors in Minnesota on Tuesday announced charges against 15 people they say conspired to "violently oppose immigration law enforcement," though U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen failed to describe a single example of injuries to federal agents when repeatedly questioned.
A Minnesota swim coach is accused of "grooming type behavior" toward a student's sister, including sending explicit text messages and a nude photo to the 15-year-old girl, according to charges filed Friday.
Prosecutors allege a 35-year-old man intentionally set fire to his former girlfriend's Cambridge, Minnesota, home while her husband, a Marine veteran, and his service dog were inside.
Emily Pearson has a rare genetic disorder that causes severe, painful reactions to sunlight.
Jenn Glass has been taking a GLP-1 since last November. The 53-year-old mother of three has already lost more than 30 pounds, but she's focused on something beyond the number on the scale.
It's a gruesome problem impacting livestock in southern states and veterinarians worry it could come to Minnesota.
Minnesotans weathered the third air quality alert triggered by ozone of the year Monday. If two more happen, it will tie the yearly record.
HCMC in Minneapolis got what they wanted, a large financial boost from lawmakers, and now the leaders of Minnesota's busiest trauma hospital say they'll put their money where their mouths are and get to work restructuring finances.
Luke Skywalker's lightsaber from the "Star Wars" sequel "The Empire Strikes Back" is expected to sell for at least $1 million at an upcoming auction.
Rio de Janeiro's Military Fire Department said one of the helicopters crashed in the parking lot of a car dealership, where several electric vehicles were parked, igniting a fire.
There's plenty to do in Minnesota this weekend, including some major anniversary parties, Maple Grove's ever-popular Chalkfest and much more!
Anthony Head played librarian and mentor Rupert Giles in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and recently appeared in "Ted Lasso."
Everywhere you look in downtown Minneapolis, people are sporting purple in honor of Prince.
Trevor Larnach led off the game with a home run, Kody Clemens added a three-run shot and the Minnesota Twins clinched another series in Texas with an 12-2 victory over the Rangers.
Minnesota Twins catcher Victor Caratini is a master of the strike zone. He's one of the best in baseball at using replay to turn balls into strikes.
Emily Pearson has a rare genetic disorder that causes severe, painful reactions to sunlight.
Josh Bell hit a three-run homer in the first inning, Byron Buxton went deep for the 23rd time this season, leading off the sixth, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Texas Rangers 4-2 on Monday night.
Natasha Howard had 18 points to lead seven players in double-figure scoring for the Minnesota Lynx in a 107-74 victory over Portland.
After disputes about ballots and concerns about voting totals, businessman Kendall Qualls won the endorsement.
Minnesota's endorsing conventions are over, and the story of the weekend is the upset of House Speaker Lisa Demuth in the GOP governor's race.
Minnesota's election season officially kicks off this week as both major parties hold conventions to endorse candidates for governor and U.S. Senate, with competitive battles on the Republican side and clearer paths for Democrats.
Both parties begin the endorsement process today in Rochester and Duluth, with the August primary just two months away.
Friday, the Democratic and Republican parties begin the process of endorsing nominees for statewide offices.
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.
Minneiska, Minnesota, is a small river town on Highway 61 near the Mississippi River, but at one point it was home to a castle.
The sign is 51 feet tall and 63 feet wide. And when it was built 85 years ago it was one of the largest neon signs in the entire country.
There's a place in Wabasha County, Minnesota, where people go wild for wildflowers.
Fifteen Minnesotans charged for conspiracy to impede or injure federal agents are part of what President Donald Trump considers a terrorist group, prosecutors said.
A big birthday party is coming up this summer, one that every American can celebrate. And it could help the fireworks industry explode with record sales. WCCO explores how much Americans spend each year on fireworks.
Minnesotans weathered the third air quality alert triggered by ozone of the year Monday. If two more happen, it will tie the yearly record.
Milder winters mean more ticks survive to the following spring, and a southern species that can trigger a red meat allergy is now gaining ground in Minnesota as a result.
She didn't win her party's endorsement, but Republican Lisa Demuth plans to keep running for governor anyway. History shows that might actually work in her favor.
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 will return tonight with rounds of rain throughout the day tomorrow.
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 it'll be rainy and cooler tomorrow with highs in the upper 60s.
Another round of rain is headed for the Twin Cities late Tuesday, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer.
Wednesday will not be a washout, but expect rounds of rain. There could also be thunderstorms in the mix, WCCO meteorologist Mike Augustyniak reports.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says scattered showers will return tonight with rounds of rain throughout the day tomorrow.
A place for dogs to play or a sacred site? Right now, it's both, but it likely won't be for long. Ashley Grams explains.
A fugitive holed-up in an apartment on Eat Street in Minneapolis last week and started shooting at law enforcement. Charges against him say he shot through the door towards the deputies directly outside.
Today's charges in Minnesota allege ties to antifa. President Trump signed this order last fall that labeled antifa a "domestic terrorist organization." In Good Question, Jeff Wagner digs into how the protest movement is defined and the challenges of separating free speech from actual threats.
More than a dozen protesters are facing federal prosecution months after the largest immigration operation in U.S. history swept through Minnesota. The Department of Justice says they were part of conspiracy to block and hurt ICE agents. Ubah Ali was at the federal courthouse and spoke to one of the defendants.