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Minnesotans seeking the best driving experience can rest east, as a new ranking places the state among the top five best in the nation. Minnesota comes in with the fifth best state in the U.S. with the best conditions for drivers, according to a study by Bankrate.
Oil and gas industry watchers said Wednesday prices at the pump have jumped across the Great Lakes region because of the unexpected, partial shutdown of a large Indiana oil refinery, and those increases could continue.
Drivers taking that summer road trip can expect to see even more savings at the pump in the coming weeks.
Roughly 41.9 million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more from their homes this Independence Day, according to AAA. AAA said this is up .7 percent from 2014 and the most Fourth of July travelers since 2007.
You may not have noticed much of a change at the gas pumps over the past week, but there is good news ahead -- experts say gas prices have hit their peak for the year.
Drivers who have seen a steady rise in the price of gasoline can relax: They will almost certainly be paying far less for gas this summer than they have in at least six years.
The average national price for a gallon of regular gas dropped five cents over the past month to $2.39 a gallon.
Gas prices usually go up in the summer. But AAA said prices could actually drop this year. AAA said as long as there are no unexpected refinery problems or major conflicts in the Middle East, gas prices will go down.
Every Friday, we tackle a bunch of viewers' burning questions. This week, Heather Brown explores gas prices, strange structures in the Mississippi River and gray hair.
After gas dipped below $2 last month, prices have begun to rise. Statewide Monday morning, Minnesotans are paying $0.17 more than we were one week ago. The average now sits at $2.41 a gallon. A month ago, it was $1.99.
Gas prices have been a little more tolerable for a while now. Or at least we don't cringe every time we pull up to the pump. But as cheaper gas flows into our cars and less money leaves our pockets, how much of that $2 per gallon gas is helping with road repairs?
Lower gas prices have had an added bonus in Minnesota beyond fatter wallets: Train traffic is leveling off, giving regulators space to refocus on safety issues, a state railroad official told lawmakers Wednesday. "That's the good news. It gives us a little breathing space," Dave Christianson, a rail planner for the Minnesota Department of Transportation, told a state House committee.
Cheap oil doesn't only mean cheaper gas in the tank. It means that a car dealer in Illinois is shuffling the inventory of models he'll be selling, that more students in Wisconsin may get school-provided iPads, that some planned projects in a Southern California city will get delayed, and that some expected oilfield hiring in North Dakota and Texas may not happen.
The new speaker of the Minnesota House, Rep. Kurt Daudt, spoke with Esme Murphy on WCCO Sunday Morning about road construction, gas prices, education, liquor on Sundays and the Capitol construction project.
Travel agents say now is a good time for that beach vacation. With the state of the economy and low gas prices, spring break trips are booking fast. If you want to save some money and avoid the lines, experts say to try some last minute deals.
Minnesota drivers are paying 7 cents less per gallon than a week ago. The state's average is now $1.93, which makes it the sixth-cheapest state in the country for gas currently.
Gov. Mark Dayton blasted the new Republican Majority in the Minnesota House Friday for what he calls a "phony" transportation plan. Republicans yesterday unveiled a "no new taxes" plan to fix roads and bridges, but Dayton called it "fantasy."
Twice a month, CitySprint, a courier company based in Edina, adjusts its fuel surcharge. It generally adjusts down one percent for every 10 cent drop in gas. Larger delivery companies, like UPS, have also reduced their fuel surcharge.
Sticker shock at the pump continues in the Twin Cities and around the nation. And for motorists filling up, it's the good kind of shock.
Minnesotans are starting 2015 with the cheapest gas prices we've seen in five years. According to AAA, the average price for a gallon of gas in the Twin Cities is $2.03. That's 14-cents cheaper than a week ago, and far cheaper than the $3.24 we were paying last January.
It has been five years since gas prices dipped below $2 per gallon. Now, there's one gas station in the Twin Cities at that price, and there're a few more around the state.
Gas prices are finally falling, but those savings might not last long. At least 18 states, including Minnesota, are considering taxing drivers based on distance. Gas prices aren't the only reason for the idea, since newer cars get better gas mileage.
Just when you thought gas prices couldn't go any lower – they did. Some Twin Cities gas stations are now selling gas for lower than $2.30 a gallon, a windfall for consumers.
Gas prices have fallen steadily over the past few months and they're currently at their lowest level in about four years as we transition into winter.
AAA is forecasting more travelers will hit the road this Thanksgiving than at any time since 2007.
As thousands of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents hit the streets of Minneapolis, thousands of neighbors followed, documenting and protesting the immigration operation for months. On Friday, a community that found itself in the federal government spotlight gave thanks to some observers.
Minnesota adopted an ambitious timeline to replace all lead water pipes in the state.
Federal agents are largely out of Minnesota, but the impact is still being felt. State leaders say the economy could take months, if not years, to recover. An establishment in Shakopee said its business came to a screeching halt.
America's war with Iran has left Minnesota travelers stranded a world away from home. Two friends from St. Paul and Crystal are among those suddenly caught in the war zone.
Friday's rainy weather won't cause any flooding, but this is the time of year when high water can quickly become a problem.
Motorists near Bloomington and Richfield, Minnesota, will need to beware of a road closure this weekend as crews work near the area of the 12th Avenue bridge.
The Boys State Hockey Tournament is in full swing at Grand Casino Arena in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota.
A Hennepin County deputy is accused of domestic assault in an incident that sent a hospital in Maple Grove, Minnesota, into lockdown in February.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has ordered U.S. and Minnesota flags at all state buildings to fly at half-staff in honor and remembrance of a soldier from Minnesota killed last weekend in Kuwait.
Minneapolis police are investigating three shootings that happened in a span of just 20 minutes Thursday night.
A police squad car was involved in a crash Monday night in Farmington, Minnesota, seriously injuring a local business owner.
Charges say Sujan Tamang and his codefendant, 21-year-old Dipak Phayal, forced a student into her St. Cloud State University dorm room on Nov. 1, 2024. The two then assaulted her.
Southern Minnesota's Lois Widmark, 104, played a key role in helping the Allies gain victory in World War II.
On Thursday, the Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs posted on X saying nearly 20,000 Americans have returned to the U.S. from the Middle East since the end of February.
Authorities have lifted a shelter-in-place warning issued earlier on Thursday in a residential area of Hastings, Minnesota.
As the war in Iran evolves, National Guardsmen from Wisconsin are being recognized for what they are doing in the Middle East.
It's the season for booking those spring break getaways, and if you're looking to skip the airport this year, take a page out of the Condé Nast Traveler.
A judge has sentenced a Wisconsin man who forged threats against President Donald Trump as part of a deportation scheme to 16½ years in prison.
A fire at a hotel in Superior, Wisconsin, Monday night left one person hurt and forced guests to move to new lodgings.
Excitement is in the air in northern Wisconsin with the 52nd annual American Birkebeiner underway.
Minnesota native and World War II veteran Les Schrenk died earlier this week. He was 102 years old.
People from across the nation are traveling to the Twin Cities, but not as tourists. Many want to learn in person from Minnesota protestors to bring that knowledge back to their own cities.
The Edina wife and mother of three said she felt called to go and protest in south Minneapolis after learning that Alex Pretti had been shot and killed by two Border Patrol agents.
Tuesday afternoon, more than 20 people gathered on the Highway 62 bridge between Minneapolis and Richfield after a small protest sparked a confrontation there last week.
Karmel Mall has been mostly silent, with shops closed at the building on East Lake Street. Operation Metro Surge has caused many Somalis to stay home.
Minnesota adopted an ambitious timeline to replace all lead water pipes in the state.
Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters Russia's government is in "dialogue" with Iranian leadership representatives.
The husband of the Minnesota soldier killed last weekend in Kuwait says he hopes to honor her with a memorial greenhouse, plus more of the day’s top stories.
One in six struggle to get pregnant or stay pregnant, according to analysis by infertility associations, and many cannot afford treatments due to high out-of-pocket costs.
Work permits, driver's licenses, a nail gun. These are just some of the items listed off in federal court Thursday. ICE can't find them, according to the attorneys for the former detainees trying to get their possessions back.
With severe weather season right around the corner, what homeowners need to know about the evolving coverage for your roof.
Gas prices in Minnesota are climbing, mirroring a national trend experts say is at least in part caused by the U.S. and Israel attacking Iran.
It's the season for booking those spring break getaways, and if you're looking to skip the airport this year, take a page out of the Condé Nast Traveler.
As the strikes from U.S. and Israel continue, and Iran strikes back, the violence and turmoil could have significant worldwide ramifications.
On Friday, hundreds of leaders from Minnesota food banks and food shelves came together in Brooklyn Center. Their goal is to find the best ways to help hungry families in the aftermath of Operation Metro Surge, and while food prices remain high.
A Hennepin County deputy is accused of domestic assault in an incident that sent a hospital in Maple Grove, Minnesota, into lockdown in February.
Minneapolis police are investigating three shootings that happened in a span of just 20 minutes Thursday night.
Charges say Sujan Tamang and his codefendant, 21-year-old Dipak Phayal, forced a student into her St. Cloud State University dorm room on Nov. 1, 2024. The two then assaulted her.
Guillermo Mercado-Chaparro was arrested and charged last July after authorities seized nearly 900 pounds of meth from two vehicles in St. Paul.
Authorities have lifted a shelter-in-place warning issued earlier on Thursday in a residential area of Hastings, Minnesota.
One in six struggle to get pregnant or stay pregnant, according to analysis by infertility associations, and many cannot afford treatments due to high out-of-pocket costs.
HHS Secretary RFK Jr. wants the popular coffee chains to prove their surgery drinks are safe for teens and suggested the Trump administration could place limits on your cup of coffee.
Tests of dozens of baby formulas by Consumer Reports found that nearly half contained potentially dangerous chemicals.
Minnesota on Monday sued Trump administration officials Dr. Mehmet Oz and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in an attempt to stop them from withholding $243 million in Medicaid spending, warning it may have to cut health care for low-income families if the funding is held back.
Thousands of Minnesotans enrolled in Medicaid take a total of millions of trips to their medical appointments each year through nonemergency medical transportation services, a federally required, taxpayer-funded program that's among more than a dozen others Minnesota determined to be at "high risk" for fraud.
Valleyfair in Shakopee, Minnesota, will soon come under new ownership.
A new art exhibition in Shoreview, Minnesota, is inviting visitors to see art — and maybe themselves — a little differently.
Actor and filmmaker Bruce Campbell told fans that he is in treatment for cancer and will cancel some upcoming public appearances.
The Minnesota Wild and St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her announced a $600 million plan on Tuesday to renovate the team's arena and connected venues.
The 80-year-old will play at Grand Casino Arena on Sept. 15. Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m.
Minnesota Vikings center Ryan Kelly, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, announced on Friday that he is retiring from the NFL after 10 seasons.
Nick Foligno is joining his brother Marcus with the Minnesota Wild, who made several moves on NHL trade deadline day Friday.
Bobby Brink is heading home, and the Flyers are acquiring 6-foot-4 right-handed defenseman David Jiricek from the Wild.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have won their fifth straight game.
Between the four teams duking it out in the WCHA semifinals — Minnesota, Ohio State, Wisconsin and Minnesota State — there are six players who won the gold medal for the U.S. women's hockey team.
With severe weather season right around the corner, what homeowners need to know about the evolving coverage for your roof.
With severe weather season right around the corner, what homeowners need to know about the evolving coverage for your roof. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy spoke with Grace Arnold, Department of Commerce commissioner about what's driving rising insurance premiums and what you should look from in home insurance coverage.
The month of March will be a pivotal one as Minnesota attempts to emerge from the shadow of massive fraud.
The month of March will be a pivotal one as Minnesota attempts to emerge from the shadow of massive fraud.
In the aftermath of Operation Metro Surge, a bill to make it easier for someone to sue the federal government is advancing at the Minnesota Capitol.
One of the oldest operating theaters in the Midwest is in danger of closing its doors for good.
In St. Louis Park, Minnesota, there's a place where you can find radio and television technology that's nearly a century old — and it still works.
One of the best views in Minnesota is at the top of a Bloomington hill. But 15-year-old Jacob Larson isn't here for the scenery. He's here for the jump.
Pine trees are a common sight up north. But on a Carlton, Minnesota, road, they're joined by giant lollipops. They serve as the welcoming committee for Sweetly Kismet, one of the largest candy stores in the state.
John Lauritsen shares the story behind a massive snow sculpture that's now become a winter destination.
A push for stricter gun laws in Minnesota is not new. However, this session comes on the heels of a devastating mass shooting last summer in which the target was students in prayer at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis.
The military strikes against Iran have sparked intense debate in Congress. U.S. lawmakers are not only split on whether to support the operation but also on whether President Trump should have sought congressional approval in advance. WCCO investigates how the Constitution defines declarations of war.
Traveling is already stressful, especially flying, but the deadly conflict south of the border might have some travelers second-guessing their upcoming trips.
Drivers beware. Cities are seeing an uptick in stolen cars this winter.
On the first day of the Minnesota Legislature, artificial intelligence is giving visitors and lawmakers at the State Capitol a new sense of security.
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.
NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer says the Twin Cities could see a quick burst of snow early Saturday before temperatures warm to the 40s.
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.
Friday's rainy weather won't cause any flooding, but this is the time of year when high water can quickly become a problem.
Residents in southwestern and central Minnesota could see icy conditions early Saturday, according to NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer.
NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer says parts of southwestern and central Minnesota could see freezing rain on Friday night.
NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer says the Twin Cities could see a quick burst of snow early Saturday before temperatures warm to the 40s.
Hopkins coach Ken Novak Jr. became the coach with the most wins in Minnesota history on Friday after the boys basketball team defeated Armstrong. As Mike Max reports, it's quite a distinction for a man who just wanted to coach the game because he loved it.
Hopkins boys basketball coach Ken Novak Jr. on Friday became the winningest coach in Minnesota history after the team defeated Armstrong. See highlights from the game and the results from other section tournament battles in the March 6, 2026, edition of High School Sports Rally.
U.S. leaders now say the military has struck more than 3,000 targets in the first week of Operation Epic Fury. Erica Brown explains President Trump's new objective in the War with Iran.
As thousands of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents hit the streets of Minneapolis, thousands of neighbors followed, documenting and protesting the immigration operation for months. Conor Wight shows how a community that found itself in the federal government spotlight is thanking them.