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Over the past several days of rain, some WCCO viewers have emailed us wondering: Why do some drivers not turn on their lights in the rain? "Some people are forgetting and some people aren't aware, and I think some people are choosing to ignore that," said Lt. Chris Erickson with the Minnesota State Patrol. "I hope that's not the case."
A new survey from Public Opinion Strategies of Washington, D.C. reveals that 14 percent of parents say they've left their children alone in a car. For parents of children under three years old, that percentage jumps to 23 percent. The study also found fathers are three times more likely (23 percent) than mothers (8 percent) to leave kids in cars.
The NBA commissioner will address racist statements attributed to LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling on Tuesday. The statements, reportedly between Sterling and his girlfriend, surfaced over the weekend. In the recordings, a man is heard telling a woman, "Yeah, it bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you're associating with black people. Do you have to?"
Grant from Eden Prairie just bought a car, so he was wondering: Why do auto dealership put their logos on the back of the car? Several car dealerships were consulted about this 'Good Question,' and the final consensus was pretty obvious – advertising.
Every spring, as the snow begins to melt, our lawns are usually mushy with brown spots. All of us wonder when they might start to green up. Sam Bauer, a turfgrass specialist with the University of Minnesota Extension, says don't worry. He expects - with some more rain, sun, time and a little raking - most of the grass should green up later in May.
According to the American Bar Association, a judge can declare a mistrial due to the death of a juror or attorney, an error that would cause prejudice and couldn't be rectified with jury instructions, impropriety in jury selection, jury misconduct or a hung jury.
According to a 2011 survey from Allstate Insurance, 64 percent of people think they are "excellent" or "very good" drivers. But when asked to rate their friends, that percentage falls to 29 percent. It's even lower, 22 percent, when it comes to rating peer groups.
In July 2012 a judge sentenced Amy Senser to nearly 41 months for the hit-and-run death of Anousone Phanthavong. Less than two years later, she's headed to work release. On Thursday, Senser is expected to move from the Shakopee Women's Prison to either a county jail or halfway house at night and a job during the day. She's expected to be there for six months before starting parole in October.
The word Easter isn't in any scripture, but back in the Middle Ages people in the Northern Hemisphere associated this time of year with new life, or spring. Eostre is a goddess in Germanic paganism, and fertile rabbits (or hares) are synonymous with new life.
Every year, 42 million people visit the more than 500 stores and restaurants at the Mall of America. Ultimately, that translates into an annual average about 10,000 tons of trash -- or about 28 tons per day.
When 2-and-a-half-year-old Jack from Deerwood, Minn. heard it was going to snow almost a foot on April 16, he yelled, "Noooooo!" and slapped his fork on the table. This response went on for a good minute. "The funny thing is I've had people 20-, 30-, 40-, 50-years older reacting the same way," said WCCO Meteorologist Chris Shaffer, who wasn't all that surprised at the reaction to his forecast. "I just can't get away with acting like that on television, but he can. It's cute for him."
Last month, the I-35W bridge was bathed in royal blue to symbolize the fight against colon cancer. "It was unbelievable, absolutely stunning. I've never seen anything like it," said Anne Carlson, the executive director of the Colon Cancer Coalition.
When running around Lake Calhoun Monday, Brad Homan of St. Paul, Minn. had hoped for a break from the wind, but the air on both sides of the lake hit him right in the face.
The Masters Golf Tournament is often called "a tradition unlike any other." Whoever wins it this Sunday will take home a unique prize that's been handed out for the past 65 years – the Masters green jacket. Only the 300 members or so (the exclusive list is secret) of the Augusta National Golf Club, as well as the winners of the Masters, are allowed to wear the jacket.
Seven in 10 college seniors have some sort of student debt. With the cost of a four-year college averaging between $22,000 and $30,000 a year, loans are the only way for most families to afford it.
After decades of women entering the workforce, more and more mothers are now staying home with their children. According to a new Pew Research Center report, 29 percent of moms stayed at home in 2012, up from a low of 23 percent in 1999.
Spring is one of the few times many of us look forward to chores. From sweeping off the porch to hosing down the deck to cleaning up the dog mess from the entire winter, it's a rite of passage after a long Minnesota winter.
Becca from Sartell asked: Why do we give an apple to a teacher? Some believe the apple is a symbol is knowledge. But others suggest that back in the 1800s, frontier families were responsible for feeding teachers and apples happened to be plentiful. The tradition continues even after families no longer fed teachers.
The Federal Family Medical Leave Act requires companies with more than 50 employees to give 12 weeks unpaid leave if an employee has been there for a year.
A Deephaven couple was in a Florida jail Wednesday night awaiting extradition back to Minnesota. Colin and Andrea Chisholm are accused of bilking the state out of $167,000, starting back in 2005. Prosecutors say they lived in a $1 million home and, at one point, owned $1 million yacht while they were receiving cash assistance, food support and medical assistance.
Many of us woke up Tuesday morning wondering if Mother Nature was playing an April Fool's joke on us. It snowed less than an inch in the Twin Cities on Tuesday, but several more inches are expected later this week.
Searchers looking for Malaysia Air Flight 370 haven't found any evidence of the plane yet, but they continue to get their hopes up when they see pieces of garbage and debris in the water. Yet, that can also add setbacks. Over the weekend, a promising lead turned out to be four orange cones. So, that had us wondering: how much trash is on our oceans?
Breanna from Anoka asked: Why are potholes called potholes? Taylor from Rosemount wanted to know: What do the red, white and blue ribbons on the floors of the NCAA men's basketball tournament stand for?
New NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has brought up an age-old issue within the NBA. He wants to raise the minimum age, which is now 20 years old. Right now, a player must be at least 19 and one year removed from high school. He argues it would make for a more competitive draft and another year of player maturity.
Most of us would just call it separation or divorce, but Gywneth Paltrow calls it "conscious uncoupling." On Tuesday, she and her husband, Chris Martin, announced they're splitting up after more than a decade of marriage.
Clive Davis helped shape the careers of music stars including including Janis Joplin, Bruce Springsteen and Whitney Houston.
Police are investigating after a woman was shot in the head and hand late Saturday night near Minneapolis' Bossen Field Park.
Three men were shot early Monday morning near a busy northeast Minneapolis intersection, and police say one of the victims is fighting for his life.
A plea to the public for help finding 53‑year‑old John Kapaun remains posted at a Burnsville convenience store. Authorities and the community have searched by ground and air since he was last seen on May 26.
A strike is looming for 500 concessions workers at Target Field in Minneapolis on Monday.
Police are investigating after a woman was shot in the head and hand late Saturday night near Minneapolis' Bossen Field Park.
Three men were shot early Monday morning near a busy northeast Minneapolis intersection, and police say one of the victims is fighting for his life.
A plea to the public for help finding 53‑year‑old John Kapaun remains posted at a Burnsville convenience store. Authorities and the community have searched by ground and air since he was last seen on May 26.
A strike is looming for 500 concessions workers at Target Field in Minneapolis on Monday.
The Woodbury Police Department says the crash happened on the 600 block of Kingfisher Lane around 11 p.m.
Hail pelted several central Minnesota communities as storms rolled through on Friday afternoon and evening.
A police officer was shot in the southern Minnesota city of St. Peter Thursday night, authorities said.
One of five cannabis testing sites in Minnesota is shutting down, citing exorbitant costs as the reason.
Minnesota's job growth outpaced national rates in May, while the state's unemployment rate ticked down slightly, according to data released Thursday.
We have another action-packed weekend with events happening every day all across the state, including plenty of ways to celebrate Father's Day!
A federal judge ruled ICE failed to show enough evidence to justify holding Salah Sarsour, a legal permanent resident detained for 80 days after speaking out in support of Palestinian rights.
Jim Troupis, Mike Roman, and Ken Chesebro entered not guilty pleas in Dane County Circuit Court on Tuesday to 11 felony forgery charges tied to a scheme to submit false electoral certificates to Congress after Trump lost Wisconsin in 2020.
A federal judge ruled Tuesday that Hannah Dugan's obstruction of justice conviction will stand, rejecting her legal team's argument that a recent appeals court ruling should have invalidated the case.
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.
Created by artist Lilyan Lauzon, the mini art vending machine at Inkwell Booksellers charges no fees to artists and returns the full $1 sale price to each creator.
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.
A grassroots movement is pushing for a new property tax to help fund schools in Minnesota's largest school district.
Alan Greenspan's lengthy reign at the Federal Reserve coincided with a period of stability from the mid-1980s until 2007.
Early voting for the Aug. 11 primary starts this Friday, and one of the most-watched races in Minnesota is the very tight contest for governor on the Republican side.
Minnesota protestors charged with violence against federal officers are seeing their cases dismissed. We introduced you to Paul Johnson last night. He says officers beat him and then charged him with assault. Months later those charges were dropped. Tonight, our Conor Wight walks us through more than a dozen similar cases that won't go to trial because federal prosecutors moved to dismiss them.
Paul Johnson said that he had been tracking ICE vehicles in his neighborhood when it happened. He said he was boxed in before agents swarmed his truck, punching him and using pepper spray at close range.
A strike is looming for 500 concessions workers at Target Field in Minneapolis on Monday.
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.
Police are investigating after a woman was shot in the head and hand late Saturday night near Minneapolis' Bossen Field Park.
Three men were shot early Monday morning near a busy northeast Minneapolis intersection, and police say one of the victims is fighting for his life.
Federal prosecutors are continuing to dismiss charges initially brought against people in Minnesota for allegedly assaulting federal officers during the winter.
Minneapolis police are investigating a shooting they say killed one man and injured another early Sunday morning.
According to court documents filed late last month, 34-year-old Kenneth Mills faces four counts of third-degree burglary and a count of possession of burglary or theft tools.
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.
Clive Davis helped shape the careers of music stars including including Janis Joplin, Bruce Springsteen and Whitney Houston.
Created by artist Lilyan Lauzon, the mini art vending machine at Inkwell Booksellers charges no fees to artists and returns the full $1 sale price to each creator.
James Burrows directed more than 1,000 episodes of television, including every episode of the original "Will & Grace."
We have another action-packed weekend with events happening every day all across the state, including plenty of ways to celebrate Father's Day!
Twin Cities native Michael Larsen, better known as Eyedea, made a name for himself with his freestyle battle rap skills and as one-half of the duo Eyedea & Abilities.
A strike is looming for 500 concessions workers at Target Field in Minneapolis on Monday.
Sonia Citron had 21 points and Kiki Iriafen added 17, hitting a go-ahead basket late for a second straight game to help the Washington Mystics upset the Minnesota Lynx 84-79 on Sunday night.
Alex Jackson's single tied the game in the seventh and the go-ahead run scored on an error, leading the Minnesota Twins to a 4-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Byron Buxton hit a grand slam in a 10-run fifth inning and the Minnesota Twins clobbered the Arizona Diamondbacks 16-8 on Saturday night.
Corbin Carroll had a three-run triple in the eighth inning to tie Arizona's career triples mark and fell a homer shy of the cycle in the Diamondbacks' 9-5 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Friday night.
Early voting for the Aug. 11 primary starts this Friday, and one of the most-watched races in Minnesota is the very tight contest for governor on the Republican side.
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.
Currie, Minnesota, is truly small-town America. The population hovers at just over 200. But on the northern outskirts, you'll happen upon a place with plenty of bells and whistles: End-O-Line Railroad Park and Museum
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.
Fifteen Minnesotans charged for conspiracy to impede or injure federal agents are part of what President 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.
A pleasant day with a mix of sun and clouds. Most areas stay dry with seasonable temperatures in the upper 70s, WCCO meteorologist Joseph Dames reports.
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.
It's a #Top10WxDay Monday in the Twin Cities, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Joseph Dames.
Monday is a #Top10WxDay in the Twin Cities, featuring a mix of sun and clouds.
It's a #Top10WxDay Monday in the Twin Cities, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Joseph Dames.
Amalia Moreno-Damgaard shares a spread of fish and.shrimp tortillas and tacos.
Caroline "Fitz" Fitzpatrick, with Lake Street Council, shares a preview of the event.
Jenni Hargraves, executive director with Starkey, shares more background.
Joseph Dames talks with Christy Sovereign, CEO of the Special Olympics USA games.
A pleasant day with a mix of sun and clouds. Most areas stay dry with seasonable temperatures in the upper 70s, WCCO meteorologist Joseph Dames reports.