How does a park become a state park?
Just under 1% of Minnesota is state or national parkland, which places Minnesota 29th compared to other states across the country.
Heather Brown
Morning Update: June 28, 2022
We’re talking about unplugging during summer travel, more on the first case of monkeypox in the state, and more
Morning Update: June 14, 2022
More than a dozen Mpls. schools switch to e-learning due to today’s dangerous heat, Wall Street slips into bear market, and more
Morning Update: June 13, 2022
We’re talking about how tipping habits have changed over the pandemic, US Senate negotiators reach agreement on gun control, and more
What is Next Weather?
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.
What Are Our Biggest Sunscreen Mistakes?
All too often, doctors see patients not use sun protection as effectively as they can.
How Are Hotels Rated? What Does A 5-Star Rating Mean?
Next week, Minneapolis' newest luxury hotel will open. The Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis will have with 222 rooms, a Gavin Kaysen restaurant, a pool plaza. and a spa.
How Can Parents Cope With Burnout?
A new study found two-thirds of working parents are burned out. And it's even worse for women or if the parent or child already deals with anxiety. So how can parents cope with burnout?
What Are The Stories Behind The Most Popular Superstitions?
This coming Friday is the only Friday the 13th in the year of 2022.
What Does Motherhood Look Like Now?
Mother's Day started in the United States more than 100 years ago, and a lot has changed since then.
What Makes A Great Teacher?
"A great teacher, number one, has the students' best interests at heart, 100% of the time," Edward Barlow said.
Good Question: How Do They Activates Severe Weather Sirens?
Whether it's a test or the real thing, many rely on the sirens to warn them. So how are they actually triggered? Good Question.
What's The Tallest Building In Minnesota?
For years, there's been a friendly debate between the Capella Tower and the IDS Center over who's taller.
Why Can't Minnesotans Figure Out The Zipper Merge?
"If you've been through a merge point where the zipper merge is done, it feels magical," MnDOT's Jake Loesch said.
Flashback: The 1st Intercollegiate Basketball Game Was Played At Hamline
Back then, there were no three-pointers. Each bucket counted for a single point. Players weren't allowed to dribble, but rather just pivot and pass.
What Makes Guessing March Madness Games So Hard?
"A side of what we're doing, whether we like it or not, is trying to predict how 18 to 22 year olds are going to perform under a lot of pressure," Professor Tim Chartier said. "We're trying to predict the human spirit in a very pressurey situation."
How Are Store Brands Different From Name Brands?
As prices for everything rise, more shoppers are turning to store brands. They're called "private labels," and they've grown year over year.
What Do Driver's License Scanners Do With Our Information?
Ever wonder why stores scan your driver's license when you buy alcohol or lottery tickets?
How Do You Find A Therapist To Match Your Mental Health Needs?
Demand for mental health services is sky-high right now.
How Does Plane De-Icing Work?
This season, Delta has de-iced 6,000 planes at MSP Airport.
How Are The Nighttime Colors Of Buildings Decided?
Friday is Go Red for Women Day, a day to increase awareness of women's heart health. That's why people in Minneapolis will see lots of landmarks, bridges and buildings lit up in red.
How Can We Recognize Misinformation And Media Bias?
An Associated Press poll found almost half of Americans say it's difficult to know if the information they take in is true.
How Does Minnesota Cold Stack Up Against Other States?
What Are The Rules For Cameras In Minnesota Courtrooms?
Next week, three former Minneapolis police officers will go on trial in federal court for violating George Floyd's civil rights. There will be no cameras in the courtroom, which is different from Derek Chauvin's trial that was livestreamed around the world.
Do Diets Actually Work?
A study found that on average, people regained more than half their lost weight within two years, and regained 80% within five.
Latest News
8 hospitalized after July 4 shooting at Boom Island Park
Several of the victims are in critical condition, police said.
Spam turns 85 years old
An iconic product from a Minnesota company is celebrating a birthday on Tuesday.
Suspect in custody after 6 killed, dozens wounded in mass shooting at Highland Park July 4th parade
Robert "Bobby" Crimo III was arrested after a police chase from North Chicago to Lake Forest. Charges are pending.
Next Weather: Hot, humid Tuesday, with storms possible later on
A foggy start will give way to a hot and humid day in the Twin Cities, and in southern Minnesota, storms are possible later on.
Apple Valley celebrates Freedom Days
Families at the carnival were there to celebrate the big things, like American independence, as well as the small, like spending the day with loved ones.
Twin Cities teen gains new perspective after drug overdose
The 4th of July brings in double the amount of teenage boys into the emergency room for drug or alcohol use over any other weekend in the summer.
Fourth of July air travel returns to pre-pandemic levels
Friday alone, the Transportation Security Administration screened nearly 2.5 million people, a record high since the start of the pandemic.
"So special" Minnesotans gleefully welcome back July 4th events after pandemic
Minnesotans celebrate the first Fourth of July parade in years after events were canceled by the pandemic.
"Just a darling little girl," the search for Elle Ragin continues
Northfield Police along with state investigators continue looking for missing six-year-old Elle Ragin. She is about three feet six inches tall with curly brown hair and brown eyes.
2 stabbed during fight in St. Cloud
Police say a woman stabbed two people during a fight in St. Cloud early Sunday morning.
St. Paul house fire leaves 1 dead, 2 firefighters injured
This is the city's first fire death of the year, the department said.
Man arrested in July 2021 drive-by shooting death in Cass Lake
Authorities have made an arrest in connection with a fatal drive-by shooting that happened in northern Minnesota nearly a year ago.
Hugo garage fire likely caused by fireworks
The Hugo Fire Department said firefighters were able to extinguish the fire before it spread into the house.
Red, White & Boom run canceled due to weather
The 4-mile run was scheduled to start on Boom Island at 8 a.m.
18-year-old in Brooklyn Park dies after fireworks explode in his face
A man is dead after a firework exploded in his face early Monday morning in Brooklyn Park.
Twin Cities News
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8 hospitalized after July Fourth shooting at Boom Island Park
Several of the victims are in critical condition, police said.
Apple Valley celebrates Freedom Days
Families at the carnival were there to celebrate the big things, like American independence, as well as the small, like spending the day with loved ones.
Fourth of July air travel returns to pre-pandemic levels
Friday alone, the Transportation Security Administration screened nearly 2.5 million people, a record high since the start of the pandemic.
"So special" Minnesotans gleefully welcome back July 4th events after pandemic
Minnesotans celebrate the first Fourth of July parade in years after events were canceled by the pandemic.
"Just a darling little girl," the search for Elle Ragin continues
Northfield Police along with state investigators continue looking for missing six-year-old Elle Ragin. She is about three feet six inches tall with curly brown hair and brown eyes.
Greater Minnesota News
More Greater Minnesota News
"So special" Minnesotans gleefully welcome back July 4th events after pandemic
Minnesotans celebrate the first Fourth of July parade in years after events were canceled by the pandemic.
"Just a darling little girl," the search for Elle Ragin continues
Northfield Police along with state investigators continue looking for missing six-year-old Elle Ragin. She is about three feet six inches tall with curly brown hair and brown eyes.
2 stabbed during fight in St. Cloud
Police say a woman stabbed two people during a fight in St. Cloud early Sunday morning.
Man arrested in July 2021 drive-by shooting death in Cass Lake
Authorities have made an arrest in connection with a fatal drive-by shooting that happened in northern Minnesota nearly a year ago.
Hugo garage fire likely caused by fireworks
The Hugo Fire Department said firefighters were able to extinguish the fire before it spread into the house.
Wisconsin News
More Wisconsin News
Western Wisconsin deputy shoots man who allegedly pointed gun at officers
Authorities in western Wisconsin say a sheriff's deputy shot a man Saturday after he allegedly pointed a handgun at officers.
Wisconsin reports first case of Monkeypox
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services says the case was reported in Dane County. They did not say how they believe that person contracted it.
Wisconsin's conservative high court hands GOP another weapon
The decision essentially prevents a governor from replacing the previous governor's appointees without Senate confirmation. The ruling left Democrats stunned.
Wisconsin court bats down challenge to Kohler golf course
Conservatives on the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a conservation group couldn't challenge an agency's decision to sell state park land for the construction of a high-end golf course along the shores of Lake Michigan.
Wisconsin governor, AG file legal challenge to 1849 abortion law
Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has filed a direct challenge to the state's 1849 criminal abortion law that bans nearly all abortions.
Politics
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Minnesota abortions fell 2% in 2021, but likely to flip
Abortions in Minnesota fell about 2% in 2021, but that decline is likely to quickly reverse in the state following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Simone Biles among next Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients
The awards will be presented Thursday, July 7.
THC edibles, beverages now legal in Minnesota as new law goes into effect
The new law now governs the packaging, the sale and the makeup of the products, which may not contain more than 5 mg of THC per serving, and no more than 50 mg per package.
Wisconsin's conservative high court hands GOP another weapon
The decision essentially prevents a governor from replacing the previous governor's appointees without Senate confirmation. The ruling left Democrats stunned.
'We're at a turning point": Deadline arrives for Nat'l Guard to be vaccinated
"We are in a war for talent," General James McConville, U.S. Army Chief of Staff, told members of the House Armed Services Committee. "That means recruiting our nation's best."
Consumer News
More Consumer News
Hy-Vee withdraws potato salad varieties due to presumptive positive microbial test
The withdrawal includes all varieties and sizes of Hy-Vee Potato Salad and Mealtime Potato Salad available from grab-and-go refrigerated cases and deli service cases in Hy-Vee, Hy-Vee Drugstore, Dollar Fresh Market locations and Hy-Vee Fast and Fresh convenience stores.
24-hour self-service grocery store thrives in small Minnesota town
A number of small, Minnesota towns have lost their grocery stores over the years - creating an inconvenience for residents - and a bit of a food desert. But a couple in Douglas County thinks they've found a solution.
Landscaper steps in to fill hole left behind by pool contractor accused of unfinished work
A local landscaper stepped in to help after seeing a WCCO investigation into a contractor who promised families a pool but didn't finish the work.
Red, white and blue - and now green as THC food and drinks are legal in Minnesota
The new law now governs the packaging, the sale and the makeup of the products, which may not contain more than 5 mg of THC per serving, and no more than 50 mg per package.
Minneapolis minimum wage increase takes effect
For small businesses with 100 or fewer employees, the minimum wage bumped from $12.50 to $13.50 an hour. Large businesses with more than 100 employees must pay workers at least $15 an hour.
Crime
More Crime
Suspect in custody after 6 killed, dozens wounded in mass shooting at Highland Park July 4th parade
Robert "Bobby" Crimo III was arrested after a police chase from North Chicago to Lake Forest. Charges are pending.
8 hospitalized after July Fourth shooting at Boom Island Park
Several of the victims are in critical condition, police said.
2 stabbed during fight in St. Cloud
Police say a woman stabbed two people during a fight in St. Cloud early Sunday morning.
Man arrested in July 2021 drive-by shooting death in Cass Lake
Authorities have made an arrest in connection with a fatal drive-by shooting that happened in northern Minnesota nearly a year ago.
Man who hit, killed pedestrian on Marquette Avenue to serve more than 8 years
A man who killed a pedestrian and severely injured another in a crash on Marquette Avenue last year has been sentenced to more than eight years in prison.
Health
More Health
Twin Cities teen gains new perspective after drug overdose
The 4th of July brings in double the amount of teenage boys into the emergency room for drug or alcohol use over any other weekend in the summer.
6 monkeypox cases now confirmed in Twin Cities, MDH urges awareness
The Minnesota health department has identified a total of six cases of monkeypox in the state.
Hy-Vee withdraws potato salad varieties due to presumptive positive microbial test
The withdrawal includes all varieties and sizes of Hy-Vee Potato Salad and Mealtime Potato Salad available from grab-and-go refrigerated cases and deli service cases in Hy-Vee, Hy-Vee Drugstore, Dollar Fresh Market locations and Hy-Vee Fast and Fresh convenience stores.
Red, white and blue - and now green as THC food and drinks are legal in Minnesota
The new law now governs the packaging, the sale and the makeup of the products, which may not contain more than 5 mg of THC per serving, and no more than 50 mg per package.
Wisconsin reports first case of Monkeypox
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services says the case was reported in Dane County. They did not say how they believe that person contracted it.
Entertainment
More Entertainment
Could R. Kelly's sentence impact his case in Hennepin County?
Kelly faces a solicitation case in Hennepin County, Minnesota. But the case has been on the back burner while the federal cases play out.
Tom Barnard to leave KQRS after 36 years as host
KQRS, a classic rock station based in Golden Valley, announced that Tom Barnard would be retiring from the station, with his final show being scheduled for Dec. 23.
Minnesota's top pick among patriotic movies is "Apollo 13"
Other states went for films that feature explicitly hometown appeal, such as Texas choosing "The Alamo," Alabama going for "Forrest Gump," and Pennsylvania selecting "Gettysburg."
For F1RST Wrestling's Arik Cannon, bringing the event back to Mall of America is "surreal"
Arik Cannon wasn't at the Mall of America on Sept. 4, 1995, when WCW wrestlers tussled in the rotunda for the first episode of "Monday Nitro. Now, 27 years later, he's finally going to get to see wrestling at the mall. In fact, he's in charge of the whole event.
These are the most popular game consoles in each state
In a single uninterrupted battle for supremacy of the living room, the console wars have given gamers such legendary installments as the Nintendo 64 and the PlayStation 2 and such cautionary tales as the Nokia N-Gage and the Ouya.
Sports
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Arraez hits 3 as Twins beat White Sox 6-3 in 10 innings
Luis Arraez had three hits, including a tiebreaking RBI single in Minnesota's four-run 10th inning, and the Twins beat the Chicago White Sox 6-3 on Monday night.
Rebekkah Brunson honored with jersey retirement after Lynx dispatch league-leading Aces, 102-71
On the night of Rebekkah Brunson's jersey retirement, the Minnesota Lynx (7-15) put on a performance fitting for the occasion, commanding the Las Vegas Aces (15-6) on the glass in a 102-71 victory.
Minnesota United beats RSL 3-2 on Luis Amarilla's winner
Luis Amarilla scored the deciding goal in a 3-2 win for Minnesota United over Real Salt Lake on Sunday.
Tyler Wells wins 6th straight decision, Orioles beat Twins 3-1
Tyler Wells took a no-hit bid into the fifth inning for the second straight start and won his sixth consecutive decision in leading the Baltimore Orioles over the Minnesota Twins 3-1 on Sunday.
Minnesota boy helps NASCAR driver Brandon Brown put new spin on 'Let's go, Brandon' chant
Brandon Brown wanted a way to change the narrative behind the "Let's go, Brandon" message after his first career NASCAR victory inadvertently fostered a chant that has been used to insult President Joe Biden.
Finding Minnesota
More Finding Minnesota
One-of-a-kind garden highlights Ojibwe culture, sense of beauty
Sue Foss began growing her garden near Sandstone in 1989. She and her husband, Rod, planted over 500 different kinds of flowers, shrubs and trees to honor the Ojibwe people.
Minneopa State Park enjoys a bison baby boom
"They are pretty laid back and calm. They really are," said park manager Ashley Steevens. "They're managed as a wild herd, so this is their territory. This is their home."
The story behind Faribault County's Jolly Green Giant statue
In this week's Finding Minnesota, John Lauritsen shows us how a giant statue ended up in the city of Blue Earth.
After More Than A Century, Southern Minnesota Restaurant Still Slinging 'Dam' Good Burgers, Pies
In this week's Finding Minnesota, John Lauritsen takes us to the Rapidan Dam Store in Blue Earth County.
'It's Bizarre': Southern Minnesota Ghost Town Still Attracting Summer Visitors
In this week's Finding Minnesota, John Lauritsen takes us on a tour of a treasured ghost town in Fillmore County, near the Iowa border.
Good Question
More Good Question
How does a park become a state park?
Just under 1% of Minnesota is state or national parkland, which places Minnesota 29th compared to other states across the country.
What will come of the January 6th hearings?
"The question then becomes though, even if the ex-president indicted, is there enough to convict," said constitutional law professor David Schultz.
Why is golf so hard?
"If you think of any other sport out there, whether it's football, baseball hockey, the ball is coming at you and react to it," said PGA pro Phil Anderson. "Whereas you have to think about it and make a movement away from a golf ball.
Why Are Some People More Prone To Mosquito Bites?
"One thing that scientists have known for a long time is that mosquitoes are attracted to the odor of used gym socks," Dr. Jon Oliver said.
What is the purpose of the "#ShowYourStripes" campaign?
"Just that slightest shift in an average puts us into a whole new climate, really upping those chances for all of the extremes that we have to deal with," said Climate Central Chief Meteorologist Bernadette Woods Placky.
Latest Galleries
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Flashback: "WCW Monday Nitro" at Mall of America
In 1995, Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan and a handful of other wrestling superstars squared off in a ring just outside of Camp Snoopy for the first episode of "WCW Monday Nitro."
Stars hit the red carpet at the 75th Annual Tony Awards
Stars of stage and screen hit the red carpet for the 75th Annual Tony Awards on Sunday night.
New Food Options At Target Field 2022
Opening Day is nearly here and the Minnesota Twins are unveiling new foods at Target Field, including Australian-inspired savory pies and an official grilled cheese sandwich of the ballpark.
2022 Celebrity Deaths
A gallery of the beloved celebrities who have died in 2022.
Viewers Share Their Love Stories
It's Valentine's Day, and Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield asked WCCO viewers to share their stories of romance. Here are some of the best we got!
Weather
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Weather
Next Weather: 6 a.m. report
We're dealing with dense fog early on Tuesday, with heat and humidity to follow.
Next Weather: 5 a.m. report
It's going to be a hot and humid day, with storms possible in southern Minnesota later on.
Next Weather: 10 p.m. weather report
WCCO meteorologist Lisa Meadows reports rising temperatures and the next chance for storms.
Tips for beating extreme heat
"The elderly and the really young," said CentraCare sports medicine physician Dr. George Morris. "Those are the two populations that I would worry about most."
What is Next Weather?
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.
Latest Video
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Latest Video
4 things to know from July 5, 2022
Police in suburban Chicago have a man is in custody after a mass shooting at a Fourth of July parade, SPAM turns 85 years old today, and more.
Gunshots, fireworks pepper Minneapolis on July Fourth
We're following breaking news after a chaotic night in Minneapolis.
Next Weather: 6 a.m. report
We're dealing with dense fog early on Tuesday, with heat and humidity to follow.
Spam turns 85 years old
An iconic product from a Minnesota company celebrates a birthday today.
Next Weather: 5 a.m. report
It's going to be a hot and humid day, with storms possible in southern Minnesota later on.