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As of March 20, 57 percent of American taxpayers filed their federal taxes. Just about 80 percent received a refund. The average federal refund amount is $3,038. That refund rate is expected to drop slightly as we head closer to April 15.
Wednesday is a day when you should trust no one, eat no food in the office and believe no stories that sound even remotely suspect. For centuries, we've been honoring April 1 as April Fools' Day, trying to make fools out of our friends and family.
A new study published in the Journal of Marriage and Family finds the amount of time we spend with our kids has virtually no bearing on how well they turn out. It looked at behavior, emotional health and academic achievement of 3 to 11 year olds.
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.
French authorities made a stunning announcement Thursday morning: They believe Andreas Lubitz, a 28-year-old German co-pilot, deliberately crashed an airliner into the French Alps, killing all 150 people on board.
Ten-year-old Barway Collins has now been missing for a week. On Tuesday, Crystal police called his father a suspect in the boy's disappearance. They say he failed a lie detector test.
Ted Cruz announced Monday he's running for President of the United States. The U.S. Senator from Texas was born in Calgary and moved to the U.S. with his family when he was four years old.
Every Friday, we tackle a bunch of viewers' burning questions. This week, Heather Brown explores tax returns, unsold Girl Scout Cookies and folding hands for prayer.
Minnesota didn't make it to the "big dance" this year, but three of the four Division 1 schools from Iowa did: Iowa, Iowa State and Northern Iowa. Our neighbor to the south has a little over half the population of Minnesota, but four times the number of D-1 schools.
Minnesota State Troopers arrested 94 people for drunken driving on St. Patrick's Day. It was lowest number for the holiday in six years. Year-round DWI arrests across Minnesota are also down – for eight years straight – even though we are one of 12 states that don't allow sobriety checkpoints.
Though we like to celebrate the Patron Saint of Ireland, most Minnesotans originally came from Germany. According to the 2013 American Community Survey, 34.3 percent claim German ancestry, followed by Norwegian (15.1 percent), Irish (10.6 percent), Swedish (8.1 percent), English (5.5 percent) and Polish (4.8 percent).
Each Friday during Lent, Catholics are supposed to give up meat, so many turn to fish. That had Chuck from Clearwater wanting to know: Why is fish not considered meat? According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, abstinence laws say meat is considered something that comes only from animals that live on land, like chicken, cows, sheep or pigs.
Every Friday, we tackle a bunch of viewers' burning questions. This week, Heather Brown explores Friday the 13th superstitions, road weigh restrictions and fuzzy microphones.
It's a fight five years in the making that some say could determine the future of boxing. On May 2, the two biggest names in the sport will take the ring. Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao will duke it out for a payday of more than $120 million and $80 million, respectively.
Hillary Clinton has spent the past week under scrutiny for using a personal email account while she was the U.S. Secretary of State. On Tuesday, she told reporters that she handed over about 30,000 work-related emails, but "chose not to keep" another 30,000 personal emails.
It's that time of year when we get way back in the nooks and crannies of our homes with a mop, or a cloth or a broom. It's also when we find dust in places we'd long forgotten to clean. Daniel from Sauk Rapids has been doing some deep spring cleaning, so he emailed WCCO wondering: Where does all the dust come from?
Often, we hear stories about children defying the odds, whether it's spending overnights outside in the winter or surviving several minutes submerged underwater in icy lakes. So, are children just better at surviving the cold? Good Question.
Every Friday, we tackle a bunch of viewers' burning questions. This week, Heather Brown explores recycling protocol, sleet vs. freezing rain, and why your voice gets lower when you're sick.
McDonald's announced Wednesday that it will phase out its practice of using chickens raised with human antibiotics over the next two years.
President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have spent the past week in a very public disagreement about negotiations over Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Every Friday, we tackle a bunch of viewers' burning questions. This week, Heather Brown explores water towers, creaky houses and shivering.
Most of Minnesota hasn't gone above the freezing mark since Feb. 9, so anyone spending time outside might be feeling that drip, drip, drip from the nose. That had Carole from Hibbing wanting to know: Why do our noses run in the cold?
The University of Minnesota announced Wednesday it will reduce the number of incidents it uses race to describe criminals.
New numbers from the IRS show just 0.86 percent of tax returns are being audited, which is the lowest level since 2004.
Every Friday, we tackle a bunch of viewers' burning questions. This week, Heather Brown explores toenails, construction cranes and sneezing etiquette.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy will return from injury for the team's season finale against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
Stefon Diggs, the New England Patriots' wide receiver, spoke to the media for the first time since it was revealed he is facing criminal charges.
A man is dead and a person is in custody after an apparent shooting near Wolverton on New Year's Day, according to the Wilkin County Sheriff's Office.
St. Paul Mayor-elect Kaohly Her will be sworn in on Friday afternoon, kicking off a three-year term.
Roughly 12,000 Minnesotans have already applied for the state's new paid family leave program, according to an update by the Department of Employment and Economic Development.
St. Paul Mayor-elect Kaohly Her will be sworn in on Friday afternoon, kicking off a three-year term.
From severe weather to extreme heat and everything in between, 2025 was a year full of big swings and big storms across Minnesota.
According to the Coon Rapids Police Department, the crash happened in the area of 119th Avenue Northwest and Northdale Boulevard Northwest at approximately 3:45 p.m.
Kaholy Her will be sworn in as mayor of Minnesota's capital city on Friday, officially kicking off her three-year term.
Not many people were outside on Thursday morning, but those who were shared their hopes for 2026. Many said they were starting off the year with a sense of optimism.
A man is dead and a person is in custody after an apparent shooting near Wolverton on New Year's Day, according to the Wilkin County Sheriff's Office.
From severe weather to extreme heat and everything in between, 2025 was a year full of big swings and big storms across Minnesota.
According to Minnesota Lottery, one Minnesota Millionaire Raffle ticket was sold at a Holiday Stationstore in Coon Rapids on 13051 NW Round Lake Blvd. The other was sold in International Falls at Forestland Sales on 1111 3rd St.
As a new year begins, there are several new laws taking effect in Minnesota.
The Steele County Sheriff's Office is asking for help in finding a missing teenager, last seen in early December.
When he's not playing zone or man, Hall is carving it up at local hills. He has qualified for multiple professional snowboard competitions.
Two people were killed and another hurt in a crash in western Wisconsin Tuesday afternoon.
A Wisconsin woman who almost killed her sixth-grade classmate to please the fictional Slender Man has been ordered back to a state psychiatric hospital after she escaped from her group home last month.
Several schools in Minnesota and Wisconsin are reporting delayed starts on Monday amid a messy morning commute.
The U.S. Justice Department has sued three states, including Illinois and Wisconsin, and D.C. for not turning over requested voter information to the Trump administration.
Many people who serve in the U.S. military find it hard to ask for assistance when they've been trained to help and serve others.
Food Bank Eatery in North Minneapolis provides free meals for children, who may have little to eat after the pause of SNAP benefits for many in the community.
Firefighters are continuing a 44-year tradition that happens every year north of the Twin Cities.
It was a scary moment in the Twin Cities over the weekend, as a trailer hauling sled dogs turned over on Interstate 494 in Minnetonka.
On Sunday, members of Minnesota's Somali community spoke out against President Trump's social media post calling for an end to temporary protected status.
St. Paul Mayor-elect Kaohly Her will be sworn in on Friday afternoon, kicking off a three-year term.
Her will be the first woman and Asian person to become mayor in the state’s capitol city.
Roughly 12,000 Minnesotans have already applied for the state's new paid family leave program, according to an update by the Department of Employment and Economic Development.
Audits completed in the past 10 years show that Minnesota has lacked the teeth to properly vet attendance records and go after possible fraudsters proactively.
Right now, Minnesota's child care system is in the national spotlight. But months ago, the federal government told state officials they needed to make serious improvements. As our Conor Wight shows us, the state was told that a lack of oversight could increase the risk of fraud, waste and abuse.
Minnesota drivers have something to celebrate this holiday — a price drop at the pump.
With costs still high and budgets stretched, getting smarter with money matters more than ever.
There were 584 vehicles towed during this week's snow emergency in Minneapolis. That number stands at 352 and counting in St. Paul, where parking restrictions are in place until 9 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 2.
While no illness has been reported so far, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says 54 stores in the state were affected by Gold Star Distribution's recall.
This season of giving can really do a number on our recycling systems. But we can all be part of the solution.
A man is dead and a person is in custody after an apparent shooting near Wolverton on New Year's Day, according to the Wilkin County Sheriff's Office.
A Minneapolis day care says that vandals damaged the facility early this week, after a YouTube video purporting to expose fraud among day cares in the Twin Cities metro area went viral.
The ringleader of what authorities called the largest pandemic fraud case in the United States has been ordered to forfeit more than $5 million.
Twin Cities police say they believe there could be more victims of a 37-year-old man charged earlier this month with child sex crimes.
Broken Clock Brewing Cooperative is a tap room, a brewery, coffee shop and an event center on Marshall Street in northeast Minneapolis. During Christmas, it was unfortunately a community for thieves.
Roughly 12,000 Minnesotans have already applied for the state's new paid family leave program, according to an update by the Department of Employment and Economic Development.
It's a beauty technique that's exploding. Depending on your age, you might not have heard of it. It's called micro-needling.
The clock is ticking to snag a few more gifts and prepare for that holiday trip to visit family. As the pressure builds, so does the stress.
The Minnesota Athletic Trainers Association says of the middle and high schools they know of, only 49% have an athletic trainer providing some level of service.
From 2021 to 2025, Smart Therapy Center submitted claims totaling $31.8 million across all Minnesota Department of Human Services programs, according to that data. But the provider was only approved for a fraction of those payments.
Here are the significant books, films and characters joining the list of works in the public domain on Jan. 1, 2026.
Isiah Whitlock Jr. is perhaps best known for his role as state Sen. R. Clayton "Clay" Davis on HBO's "The Wire."
The band announced Perry Bamonte's death on their official website on Friday.
The message, aired on Channel 4 on Christmas Day, reflected on the impact of President Trump's second term in office thus far.
Feeding America's CEO said the organization is "incredibly grateful" for Taylor Swift's large donation.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy will return from injury for the team's season finale against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
When he's not playing zone or man, Hall is carving it up at local hills. He has qualified for multiple professional snowboard competitions.
Harrison Smith's 14th year as a steadying presence and energizing force in the secondary for the Minnesota Vikings has hardly been smooth.
All eyes will be on the University of Minnesota dance team this month as they hope to add to their 23 national titles at the UDA Dance Nationals in Orlando, Florida.
Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier said Thursday she will undergo surgery, sidelining her for the upcoming season of the 3-on-3 basketball league she cofounded.
Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is calling for answers about the immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities. She is also denouncing the president's attacks on the Somali community and herself. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy shows us how, for Omar, this is a familiar position to be in.
Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is calling for clarity about the immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities.
Fear and uncertainty continue in Minnesota's Somali communities as ICE continues its intensified focus on the Twin Cities.
Opposition to ICE actions is widespread among Democratic elected officials throughout the state, though nowhere more than in Minneapolis, home to the state's largest Somali population.
Minnesotans who welcomed a child this year were able to start applying this week to the state's new paid family and medical leave program to take time off in 2026.
On Dec. 9, 1965, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" debuted on CBS, and it became an instant classic. Lee Jenkins' home is proof that the show is still a hit six decades later.
Holiday lights are on full display across the state right now, and just south of the Twin Cities you'll find a Christmas light show that's been around for more than half a century.
The story begins years ago when the city acquired one of the T-38 Talon Thunderbird jets from the Air Force.
The holidays are upon us, and in the town of Kellogg, Minnesota, you'll find a toy store unlike any other.
With the holidays fast approaching, and lutefisk on the menu for many families, one Minnesota town has the distinction of being called the "Lutefisk Capital of the Country."
Have you ever wondered how the actors memorize so many lines? A neurologist says everyone could strengthen their memories by taking cues from actors.
It's a beauty technique that's exploding. Depending on your age, you might not have heard of it. It's called micro-needling.
According to the Smithsonian Magazine and Britannica, eggnog has British roots.
With the time-honored tradition of gift giving comes gift concealing.
The story of "The Wizard of Oz " is 125 years old, yet still reinventing itself in all kinds of forms.
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.
Temps are set to warm up over the weekend, with a light snow system moving in on Sunday afternoon.
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.
High pressure is moving in and will dominate our weather pattern for most of the weekend, WCCO meteorologist Joseph Dames reports.
Highs will reach the teens in the Twin Cities as clouds linger.
The cold will stick around in Minnesota on Friday, but a warmer turn is coming.
Temps are set to warm up over the weekend, with a light snow system moving in on Sunday afternoon.
Her will be the first woman and Asian person to become mayor in the state’s capitol city.
Evolution experts note that humans are far from the only animals that demonstrate kissing in nature, even beyond primates.
"Man about town" Phil Thompson shares a preview of the shows that are coming to the Twin Cities area for the first month of 2026.
"I tell you what I know, when I know it and how I know it. And when I get it wrong, I'll tell you that too," Dokoupil says.