Rapidan Dam had been in poor condition before failure
Blue Earth County owns the Rapidan Dam and it's their job to maintain the integrity of it. WCCO Senior Investigative Reporter Jennifer Mayerle has been digging in to learn more about this dam.
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Blue Earth County owns the Rapidan Dam and it's their job to maintain the integrity of it. WCCO Senior Investigative Reporter Jennifer Mayerle has been digging in to learn more about this dam.
Rising water levels led to the partial failure of the Rapidan Dam in the town of Rapidan on Monday morning. The water is washing away buildings and powerlines next to the dam, leading to power outages and dangerous debris in the water. John Lauritsen shows us how people are now bracing themselves for the worst.
High water in Minnesota is already causing major problems. A big one on Monday: a Minnesota dam has failed. The Rapidan Dam sits in the Blue Earth River near Rapidan Township and Mankato. Our John Lauritsen has been monitoring conditions there all day.
One Waterville, Minnesota, resident said "hundreds of cabins and homes" have been flooded and that his cabin saw about 18 inches of water.
Experts believe the Cannon River finally crested in Northfield on Sunday evening, reaching 901.52 feet above sea level.
Experts believe the Cannon River has finally crested in Northfield, reaching 901.52 feet Sunday at about 8 p.m., potentially setting a new record.
In Warsaw, the owner of Channel Inn put out a call for help on Facebook, and within minutes, community members started showing up to help fill sandbags.
Sunday night, flood warnings are still in place across Minnesota and western Wisconsin. In Rice County, rivers rose fast overnight, flooding into neighborhoods in Morristown, Faribault, Warsaw and other small communities. WCCO's Kirsten Mitchell was there as people raced to save their homes.
With 1,000 volunteers and 60,000 sandbags filled and distributed, city and county officials said they don't know when this flood fight will end.
The flood fight is on across Minnesota and Western Wisconsin. Local leaders say this is the worst flooding the town of Waterville has ever seen. Our Jason Rantala is there and he's seen the damage firsthand.
Gov. Tim Walz has declared a peacetime emergency in the southern Minnesota city of Waterville and has activated the National Guard to help in the fight against rising floodwaters.
Flooding in one Sibley County town is leaving residents with only one way in or out.
The Crow River in Delano is expected to crest on Sunday night, bringing the river to major flooding stage.
More rain will fall across parts of Minnesota on Friday and Saturday, exacerbating flood conditions and putting several communities at risk.
The Cannon River runs through two big lakes surrounding the town about an hour south of the Twin Cities. With more rain in the forecast, people who live there are bracing for the flooding to get worse before it gets better.
More rain will fall across parts of Minnesota on Friday and Saturday, exacerbating flood conditions and putting several communities at risk.
More rain will fall across parts of Minnesota on Friday and Saturday, exacerbating flood conditions and putting several communities at risk.
More scattered showers are on tap Thursday afternoon and evening, mainly across southern Minnesota.
Neighbors are digging in and pulling together as the water surges down south. Waterville, an hour south of the Twin Cities, is surrounded by two swollen lakes and a pair of waterways that are overflowing with all our rain. Ubah Ali shows us how the community is facing the flood of trouble together.
The declaration enables the county to apply for federal and state money to help with the clean-up.
Parts of Minnesota are experiencing major flooding because of the excessive rain pouring into the state. It's causing problems all over. In particular, Waterville is one place really living up to its name. The Cannon River runs through two big lakes surrounding the town about an hour south of the cities. WCCO’s Kirsten Mitchell shows us how neighbors are helping each other as the water keeps rising.
Parts of rural Minnesota have a half-foot more of rain than they did at this point last year, which has caused a different kind of headache for farmers.
Parts of rural Minnesota have a half-foot more of rain than they did at this point last year.
With up to four inches of rain expected through Saturday, officials said they are on alert for flash flooding along the creek.
In the metro, the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District issued a high water and flash flood alert.
There's a buzz at the fairgrounds as vendors, exhibitors and 4-H families get ready to welcome millions of people across a very specific stretch of time. Why is the Minnesota State Fair 12 days? Good Question.
The program will charge a flat fee of $25 per day for vehicles to park between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. during the 12 days of the fair.
Mann said the Plymouth location will be the only family-owned, locally based Minnesota theater company operating an IMAX and will bring the format to an area where moviegoers have previously had to travel farther to find one.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jeshaun Jones was issued a three-game suspension by the NFL for violating the league's substances of abuse policy.
Canada's finance minister on Tuesday says a set of retaliatory tariffs will target more than $27 billion of U.S. imports, including steel, appliances and dairy.
The program will charge a flat fee of $25 per day for vehicles to park between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. during the 12 days of the fair.
Mann said the Plymouth location will be the only family-owned, locally based Minnesota theater company operating an IMAX and will bring the format to an area where moviegoers have previously had to travel farther to find one.
Big changes are coming to downtown St. Paul, Minnesota, to improve safety and address abandoned buildings.
The Hennepin County Attorney's Office announced that it has declined to file felony charges related to an incident involving far-right instigator and pardoned Jan. 6 insurrectionist Jake Lang at Minneapolis City Hall.
A 22-year-old White Bear Township, Minnesota, man has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a woman north of the Twin Cities last fall.
Minnesota is facing its worst drought conditions in five years, experts say. About 88% of the state is either experiencing abnormally dry or drought conditions.
Minnesota's Iron Range has a history of iron ore mining dating back to the 1880s. But renewed conversations about copper-nickel mining in the area are fueling debate up north and beyond. Neighbors in the Ely area are navigating the divisive issue while staying largely united.
A Michigan child is in the hospital after being run over by a lawn mower in central Minnesota Friday afternoon.
A Pennsylvania man is accused of causing a fatal crash on a northern Minnesota highway last week by swerving his semi into a motorcycle and pushing it into a cable barrier.
The Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Office says it received a report of a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of County Road 2 and County Road 33 in Roseville Township just before 2 p.m. Saturday.
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 Franklin County Coroner's Office says Jack Pugh died March 30 from acute bronchopneumonia caused by cardiomyopathy, a disease that weakens the heart's ability to pump blood.
The crash happened at approximately 7:12 a.m. on westbound I-94 at milepost 13 in St. Croix County near Roberts, Wisconsin, according to the State Patrol.
Crews in St. Paul, Minnesota, are clearing out the city's largest encampment on Wednesday.
After officials in Minnesota's capital city announced they would shut down encampments for those experiencing homelessness, the City Council approved more than $1 million to expand capacity at local shelters.
The city of St. Paul, Minnesota, is taking a stand and closing encampments amid growing concerns.
Baseball fans might remember the Metrodome's iconic blue seats, and now in Atwater, Minnesota, spectators can once again grab a blue seat and watch a game.
Tucked away in the Midway neighborhood in St. Paul is a community treasure many have come to love and respect.
Canada's finance minister on Tuesday says a set of retaliatory tariffs will target more than $27 billion of U.S. imports, including steel, appliances and dairy.
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon says Minnesota voters will not be affected in November by a plan put forward by President Trump and cleared by the Supreme Court to limit mail voting
Mail-in balloting has become increasingly popular in Minnesota. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon says that he believes the new rules established by USPS for mail-in voting is unconstitutional.
Big changes are coming to downtown St. Paul, Minnesota, to improve safety and address abandoned buildings.
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.
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.
Dozens of cases of E. coli and salmonella in multiple states are linked to an alfalfa grower in Minnesota, health officials say.
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.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison released nearly 700 documents Wednesday in his office's investigation into Fleet Farm, alleging the company "ignored an internal warning" about selling firearms to a "straw buyer."
The Hennepin County Attorney's Office announced that it has declined to file felony charges related to an incident involving far-right instigator and pardoned Jan. 6 insurrectionist Jake Lang at Minneapolis City Hall.
A 22-year-old White Bear Township, Minnesota, man has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a woman north of the Twin Cities last fall.
Law enforcement has released an extensive report on the response and investigation into last year's deadly attack at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis.
A Pennsylvania man is accused of causing a fatal crash on a northern Minnesota highway last week by swerving his semi into a motorcycle and pushing it into a cable barrier.
Police are investigating two weekend stabbings that occurred in Minneapolis early Sunday: one inside a popular North Loop bar, and one at a northside after-hours club.
While our summer has been dry, many can't say the same for their nose or eyes. Ragweed allergies are picking up steam.
The "We Give Blood" drive will kick off this week. It's a competition between the 18 Big Ten Schools to see who can donate the most blood.
Hospice nurses who work for Minnesota-based Allina Health have voted to authorize a seven-day unfair labor practice strike, the union representing them said on Monday.
Could you have a life-saving kidney? A Minnesota woman with end-stage renal disease says she needs one.
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.
Mann said the Plymouth location will be the only family-owned, locally based Minnesota theater company operating an IMAX and will bring the format to an area where moviegoers have previously had to travel farther to find one.
President Trump said that he would be "lowering the American flag" throughout the nation for one week in Dolly Parton's honor.
Dolly Parton became an icon over her six-decade career as a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, movie and TV star and theme park owner who donated millions to help others.
Bunny Levine worked as a school librarian for 25 years before pursuing her passion for acting and performing.
Hairball, an '80s rock 'n' roll tribute band, will replace the Rod Stewart show at the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand that was slated for Sept. 1.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jeshaun Jones was issued a three-game suspension by the NFL for violating the league's substances of abuse policy.
Zebby Matthews allowed six hits and one run over seven innings, Josh Bell drove in three runs, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Athletics 9-6.
The eligibility chaos across college football has complicated the competition at Minnesota for the place kicking job.
Last week was a whirlwind for Kenny Dyson. Going from street clothes to an NFL practice jersey, and then to a preseason game in less than seven days.
The "We Give Blood" drive will kick off this week. It's a competition between the 18 Big Ten Schools to see who can donate the most blood.
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.
In the aftermath of the primary, Republicans in Minnesota are more optimistic about their November chances than they ever have been.
The candidates for the Minnesota general election are all set, and the campaigns are shifting into a higher gear.
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.
Passing trains and scenic bluffs are a big part of Buffalo County, Wisconsin, but in the middle of it all is a garden where creativity and flowers grow together, all courtesy of a man named Herman Rusch.
Thousands of pictures of Split Rock Lighthouse are taken each year. And oftentimes a little island appears in those photos. Ellingsen Island has developed a following of its own.
There's a scenic, nearly century-old spot in St. Cloud, Minnesota, where right now you'll find thousands of flowers in bloom.
There's a buzz at the fairgrounds as vendors, exhibitors and 4-H families get ready to welcome millions of people across a very specific stretch of time. Why is the Minnesota State Fair 12 days? Good Question.
While our summer has been dry, many can't say the same for their nose or eyes. Ragweed allergies are picking up steam.
Maybe you've experienced the "Sunday scaries" which is when you worry about the looming work week or wish you could have accomplished more over the weekend. The "August blues" create similar feelings, one being regret.
As if the constant barrage of political ads wasn't enough, some WCCO viewers are particularly bothered by the language candidates are using.
There's a certain elegance to the common loon. Its black and white plumage carries a gentle sheen of green as though dressed for a formal affair. Subtle colors that allow its piercing red eyes to steal your gaze.
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 a bit breezy, but it will feel very pleasant with highs in the low-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.
After some storms up north on Tuesday evening, the next few days look to be a little cooler with low humidity.
Skies are expected to clear and it’ll get less humid as rain and storms push to the east.
Some rain and storms to the north push through Minnesota on Tuesday night, but skies will clear.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says tomorrow will be a bit breezy, but it will feel very pleasant with highs in the low-80s.
Nearly two straight weeks of food, fun, and farming are just hours away. The Minnesota State Fair starts Thursday. In tonight's Good Question, Jeff Wagner learns the history behind the fair's 12-day stretch and why we wait until the end of August to celebrate it.
CBS News reports that Dolly Parton died after a brief battle with cancer. She leaves behind a legacy that reaches far beyond the stage.
The city hoping to cash-in on prime State Fair parking says it fell short of projected revenue. Falcon Heights projected between $100,000 to $200,000 in revenue from the new paid parking program started last year. The final total was closer to $50,000 after expenses. Ubah Ali explains how the system is evolving this year and what to know before heading to the fair.
After some storms up north on Tuesday evening, the next few days look to be a little cooler with low humidity.