Good Question: How Long Should We Keep Financial Documents?
This time of year, many of us talk about getting our finances in order. A WCCO-TV viewer named Rachael from St. Joseph wrote us asking how long she should keep her financial documents.
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This time of year, many of us talk about getting our finances in order. A WCCO-TV viewer named Rachael from St. Joseph wrote us asking how long she should keep her financial documents.
About 40 percent of us will make New Year's resolutions for 2014. But,according to research by University of Scranton psychologist Dr. John Norcross, those lofty goals fall by the wayside after six months for more than half who set them. In his study, success rates were 71 percent for two weeks, 64 percent for one month and 46 percent for six months.
Every year, billions of people spend time with friends and family on December 25th to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. But, there's no mention of Jesus' birthdate in Bible, so why do we celebrate on the 25th? Good Question.
It's that time of year when we might not even be able to see the real color of our car. When that familiar shade of dirty whitish-grey appears, it seems the cars themselves are screaming for a soapy brush. Nick Burlow, owner of Isles Auto Repair, says it's probably not a bad idea to wash your vehicle at least once a week.
Sara from Bloomington, Katie from Savage and Elisabeth from Owatonna asked: Why do we decorate with lights at Christmas?
During the holidays, many of us thank the people who have helped us throughout the year. According to a Consumer Reports survey from the 2011 holiday season, a little less than half of Americans tip during the holidays -- sometimes, it's with cash, gift cards, home-baked cookies and gifts.
Christmas is one week away, but the National Retail Federation says about half of us haven't finished our shopping and 14 percent haven't even started. "I'm just lazy," said Mohammed Abdelfathah of Fridley. "I say I'll do it in another hour, then another hour, then tomorrow."
We know Christmas must be close when we see poinsettias decorating offices, public spaces and homes. "I like them because they're pretty and last long," said 8-year-old Abby, who was buying one for herself and one for her mother at Bachman's on Tuesday night.
The new Weather Watcher sign atop the WCCO building has been alerting TV viewers and passersby to changes in the air since the day after Thanksgiving. That has prompted several Good Questions from WCCO viewers, including one from 10-year-old Alex of Glenwood City, Wis. He wanted to know: How do we decide when to change the color? For example, flurries were in the forecast for Monday night, but warmer weather is on the way. The Weather Watcher was shining red. "I was watching the news and it was showing red on the thing, and I looked at it and said snow is coming, too," Alex said.
There's no denying winter has arrived in Minnesota. Many of us have sent us questions about our recent blast of frigid air this week. So we thought we'd answer your cold weather Good Questions in this week's Reply All.
Every holiday season, thousands of Minnesotans will eat lutefisk dinners in church basements, restaurants and VFW posts across the state. On Friday night, Minneapolis' Mount Olivet Church will hold one of the largest in the state with 1,600 people.
Among our weapons to fight winter is an ingredient that's also on our kitchen table. Salt gets rid of the slick spots on our driveways and sidewalks. But how does salt melt ice? Good Question.
We all know Minnesota winters aren't easy, especially driving through all the ice and snow. This week's weather has reminded some of us it's time to change our tires. But who really needs snow tires? Good Question.
On CBS' 60 Minutes, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos announced a plan to deliver packages within 30 minutes by unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones. Amazon's "Prime Air' service could be used for packages which weigh less than five pounds, and can only be sent to destinations that are within 10 miles of an Amazon distribution center. Bezos said he hopes the service could be ready in four years. "I know this looks like science fiction," Bezos said. "It's not." So, how realistic is this idea?
James from Apple Valley and Anna from Sartell wanted to know: When did Black Friday start? According to BlackFriday.com, the term "Black Friday" was coined back in the 1960s, but it was really 1924 - the first year of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade - that the day after Thanksgiving became the unofficial start to the Christmas shopping season. Early on, when the term was coined in 1961, it had a negative connotation because Philadelphia Police used it to describe the traffic jams and clogged sidewalks of that day. But, by the 1980s, the idea of the Friday after Thanksgiving putting the retailers back in the black (or profitable) started to take hold.
Thirty-one years ago on Thanksgiving Day, a massive fire in downtown Minneapolis robbed the Northwestern National Bank of its iconic weather ball. But on Friday, a new twist on the weather ball concept was shining over Nicollet Mall.
f turkey sandwiches, turkey soup and turkey a la king are on your menu over weekend, it's good to know long it's safe to eat Thanksgiving leftovers.
After all of the Thanksgiving cooking comes the cleaning as garbage disposals get a major workout. "The day after Thanksgiving is usually our biggest day for drains, especially kitchen sinks," said Jason Kuehn, a plumber with Dean's Professional Plumbing and Heating.
If you were to listen to the headlines, "Nature threatens holiday happiness," you wouldn't be crazy to think no one will be getting home for the holidays.
Imagine having to dress up an almost five-million-square foot space for the holidays! The daunting task is a reality for Brett Baudette, design manager at MOA. He says they "kick in to holiday gear" in mid-September, contracting out to about 100 workers who normally build inside the stores. "It's a team of construction workers," Baudette said. "It's kind of a fun change for them." They'll spend $250,000 on new decorations and labor, with most of the work executed in the middle of the night.
Caroline Kennedy was sworn in as the ambassador to Japan on Tuesday. So, that had Wendy from Eagan wondering: What does being an ambassador entail? According to the U.S. State Department, a U.S. ambassador is the president's highest-ranking representative to another country. That person's main role is to coordinate the Foreign Service office and the staff that serves under him or her. An ambassador is nominated by the president, but must be approved by the Senate. Some ambassadors are long-time diplomats, and others have been political friends or allies. In this case, Caroline Kennedy is a well-known person from prominent political family who will fill a high-profile ambassadorship.
The rules for car and booster seats can be confusing for any parent. Car seat laws vary by state. So what are the car seat laws and how do you know when your child should switch from a car seat to a seatbelt? Good Question.
For the first time since 1888, the first day of Hanukkah and Thanksgiving will overlap. Experts say that might not happen again until 79,811.
"One of the principles of the Affordable Care Act is that everybody has good insurance," said Dan McLaughlin, director of the Center for Health and Medical Affairs at the University of St. Thomas. "When you start pulling apart the insurance, all of the sudden you have inadequate insurance."
Every year, the average American family spends more than $100 on energy costs to power appliances that have been turned off. These "vampire appliances" - like televisions, cable boxes, DVD players, etc. - continue to use power once we turn off the power switch. According to the Department of Energy, this vampire power accounts for 4 to 5 percent of the energy use in a home. As is the case with almost all appliances, when we turn something "off," it's still usually "on" in standby mode.
A Minneapolis man convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend is set to learn his fate Monday after he skipped his original sentencing date on Friday.
Dozens of former employees are now suing their former bosses after they were all abruptly laid off from a metal fabrication plant in western Wisconsin.
Much of the state is under a red flag warning, and the metro and southeastern Minnesota will see elevated fire weather conditions as well.
TJ Friedl hit a go-ahead, three-run double in the ninth inning, Rece Hinds added a two-run double in the 10th, and the Cincinnati Reds rallied past the Minnesota Twins 7-4 on Sunday for a three-game sweep.
The Minnesota Wild now have an opportunity to do something they have never done in the NHL playoffs after putting the Dallas Stars in a very familiar postseason situation.
A Minneapolis man convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend is set to learn his fate Monday after he skipped his original sentencing date on Friday.
Jessie Diggins was back in the Twin Cities at Allianz Field on Sunday as she gets ready to retire from the sport that she helped redefine.
A national medical transportation business says allegations of fraud caused it to recently cancel a 20-year contract with a local company. The company says it's not true.
The Hopkins Police Department says officers were dispatched to the area of Feltl Court and Smetana Road for a reported shooting around 3 p.m.
The opening was a huge success and just a year later, Erin Flavin opened up her St. Paul location. However, two years ago, she saw a shift that would end up being what she calls the "downfall of Marigold."
Officials say more than 100 homes were damaged and one person was injured in a "significant tornado outbreak" across Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa on Friday.
WCCO's crew found multiple houses whose side walls had been torn down; multiple vehicles had been flipped or launched like toys; garages and sheds were leveled.
Residents in Bemidji, Minnesota, reported hearing "multiple explosions" when a structure fire caused propane tanks to blow Thursday afternoon, authorities said.
The U.S. Senate on Thursday voted to end a mining ban near the Boundary Waters in northern Minnesota.
A farm in Monticello, Minnesota, is recovering after a barn fire on Saturday killed dozens of animals, according to the facility.
Dozens of former employees are now suing their former bosses after they were all abruptly laid off from a metal fabrication plant in western Wisconsin.
Officials say more than 100 homes were damaged and one person was injured in a "significant tornado outbreak" across Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa on Friday.
A woman was found dead at a complex on the Mississippi River in Winona County, Minnesota, on Wednesday morning.
Gamblers in Wisconsin will still have to wait months or maybe even longer before they can start to legally place bets.
Leaders on the board that oversees the Universities of Wisconsin say that the fired president of the system was slow to address pressing issues like artificial intelligence and feared upsetting policymakers, faculty and staff.
Moses Cooper, who has cerebral palsy, met running partner Mark Hulsey through My Team Triumph Minnesota two years ago and the pair qualified for the Boston Marathon at Grandma's Marathon last summer.
Mackenzie Reed, head custodian at Shakopee East Middle School, has painted large-scale murals throughout the building she once attended as a student, creating a more welcoming space for current students.
Kristi comes to the Salvation Army not only to get food, but to shine her light. She talks with and encourages people waiting in line.
The way Mary Hernandez describes it, the effort to keep families off the street in Shakopee, Minnesota, is like trying to keep your head above water.
Deputy Fire Marshal Shawn Johnson, 61, died March 5 after a two-year battle with job-related cancer, the Minnetonka Fire Department announced.
President Trump says negotiations to end the war will continue, but Iranian state media has pushed back.
The order will open the door for more research into psychedelic drugs, including ibogaine, sources told CBS News earlier this week.
The deal, approved by the FCC, would create a company that owns 265 television stations in 44 states and Washington, D.C.
Lakeville is home to more than 77,000 residents and is growing quickly. New developments are pushing the city to number one in the Twin Cities for residential building permits in 2025, according to Housing First Minnesota.
Sources close to Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas tell CBS News neither is planning to retire this year.
The bills aim to close what supporters call a gambling law loophole, allowing for these prediction markets to flourish with no regulations.
It's a bittersweet changing of kegs and hands in northeast Minneapolis as HeadFlyer Brewing issued a permanent last call on Sunday.
Minnesota continues to beat the national gas price average, but there are still ways to save in the metro area.
A passenger on an American Airlines flight from New York to Chicago has been charged with making a false bomb threat that forced an emergency landing at Detroit Metro Airport last month, according to a federal criminal complaint.
Your car isn't the only vehicle that needs gas. It's a huge budget item for Minnesota fire departments, police and mass transit.
A Minneapolis man convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend is set to learn his fate Monday after he skipped his original sentencing date on Friday.
Officers from the Iowa City Police Department heard gunfire while responding to a report of a large fight, the department said.
The gunman, who is also dead, shot 10 people in total, according to police. All eight who died were children from 3 to 11 years old, police said.
The Hopkins Police Department says officers were dispatched to the area of Feltl Court and Smetana Road for a reported shooting around 3 p.m.
The sentencing for a Minneapolis man who shot and killed his ex-girlfriend minutes after she posted about his abuse on social media is pushed back to Monday, after he failed to show up to court on Friday morning.
At M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina, Minnesota, there is an emergency room within the emergency room, focused on mental health.
Lawmakers at the Minnesota State Capitol are searching for solutions, trying to lend a hand to Hennepin Healthcare before it's too late.
The popular afternoon pick-me-up in a cup is like a super food, supplement and medicine cure-all.
At 5 years old, William Staley Olesen is a ball of energy. Watching him run around, laugh and play, it would be hard to know just how much he has already been through.
With a billion in Medicaid cuts, Hennepin Healthcare, a hospital that serves people with or without insurance, will likely close if state lawmakers don't act.
A video game is helping people experience the Ojibwe culture in a new way.
At Mixed Blood Theatre in Minneapolis, a new production is using the stage to explore the impact of immigration and displacement.
Brad Paisley, along with special guest Avery Anna, will take to the stage on Sept. 3.
Minnesota's own Bob Dylan will return to the Twin Cities to play a show at the new Mystic Lake Amphitheater this summer.
Lady Gaga is still slated to perform in St. Paul later this week, despite canceling her Monday night show in Montreal.
TJ Friedl hit a go-ahead, three-run double in the ninth inning, Rece Hinds added a two-run double in the 10th, and the Cincinnati Reds rallied past the Minnesota Twins 7-4 on Sunday for a three-game sweep.
The Minnesota Wild now have an opportunity to do something they have never done in the NHL playoffs after putting the Dallas Stars in a very familiar postseason situation.
Jessie Diggins was back in the Twin Cities at Allianz Field on Sunday as she gets ready to retire from the sport that she helped redefine.
Savannah Harmon and Daryl Watts each scored a goal, Raygan Kirk had 24 saves, and the Toronto Sceptres beat the Minnesota Frost 2-0 to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Minnesota Wild rookie goalie Jesper Wallstedt was a little surprised when told he was starting the postseason opener.
From the controversies to the name-calling to bathhouse proposals to perhaps not renewing Police Chief Brian O'Hara's contract, it seems the Minneapolis City Council is always giving us something to talk about.
From the controversies to the name-calling to bathhouse proposals to perhaps not renewing Police Chief Brian O'Hara's contract, it seems the Minneapolis City Council is always giving us something to talk about.
Both the DFL and GOP nominating conventions are the last weekend in May 7, and voting for the Aug. 11 primary begins in June.
Minnesota's hospitals are facing a growing financial crisis amid higher costs, fewer insured patients, shuttering clinics and federal Medicaid cuts.
Minnesota's hospitals are facing a growing financial crisis amid higher costs, fewer insured patients, shuttering clinics and federal Medicaid cuts.
At Arnie Lillo's Creations in Blue Earth County, you can visit a metal-scaled version of the Eiffel Tower and the Golden Gate Bridge. The works of art have taken on a shape of their own.
It's one of the largest musky hatcheries in the entire world. John Lauritsen shows us how the Spooner hatchery keeps fish healthy and anglers happy.
Shattuck-St. Mary's is more than a hockey school, but hockey has helped put the school on the map. They have banners and big names to prove it, though the real evidence lies with a man called Rooster.
Opening Day for the Minnesota Twins is almost here. And across town, the St. Paul Saints are getting ready for their season, too, with some added history.
The Nuss Collection is home to a lot of vintage trucks.
The popular afternoon pick-me-up in a cup is like a super food, supplement and medicine cure-all.
One of the biggest obstacles to exercising can be finding enough time to work out. WCCO explores whether upping the intensity can give someone the same benefits in a shorter amount of time.
Filing your taxes can be stressful. But daydreaming about how to spend that refund makes it worthwhile.
It's estimated that children playing with fire set more than 20,000 fires every year. On average, the fires they start cause nearly 1,000 injuries and 150 deaths each year.
As we all pay more to fuel our cars, drivers might miss the savings hidden right at the pump. It comes down to timing, then adjusting your routine.
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.
Wednesday's highs could get well into the 80s, and the weekend cooldown still looks to reach the 50s and 60s, 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.
Highs will be in the low to mid-60s, with wind gusts up to 30 mph. Much of the state is under a red flag warning.
Much of the state is under a red flag warning, and the metro and southeastern Minnesota will see elevated fire weather conditions as well.
Monday will be warm, breezy and dry in the Twin Cities.
Wednesday's highs could get well into the 80s, and the weekend cooldown still looks to reach the 50s and 60s, WCCO meteorologist Joseph Dames reports.
Highs will be in the low to mid-60s, with wind gusts up to 30 mph. Much of the state is under a red flag warning.
The sentencing of a murderer is now rescheduled to Monday, because the killer simply chose not to show up to court.
Take two of a murder sentencing after a dramatic day in court, plus more of the day’s top stories.
President Trump says negotiations to end the war will continue, but Iranian state media has pushed back.