Good Question Reply All: Stadium Lights, Goose Bumps, And More
Heather Brown answers all your questions, from where did goose bumps get its name to where do bird go during a thunderstorm.
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Heather Brown answers all your questions, from where did goose bumps get its name to where do bird go during a thunderstorm.
Mary wrote to us this week out of frustration. In fact, many of you were quite angry in your Good Question submissions about the government shutdown. On Tuesday, we answered the GQ about Congressional members' salaries. I thought we'd use this space to answer Mary's question: Is there a recall option for Congress?
A few years back, Kathy Lesicka's Monticello home had hail damage and needed the roof replaced. Two months after the repairs, her homeowners' premium increased by $200. "That was the first time we ever claimed, and we were like, 'We've been with you for 20 years, are you kidding me?'" she said.
Last year, the flu virus showed up in Minnesota in October, so many doctors are recommending people get the shot now. That has Susie wondering: Can you get sick from the flu shot?
Hundreds of thousands of federal workers won't be getting paid for the foreseeable future. That had many of you emailing, wanting to know: Do members of Congress get paid during a government shutdown?
Many viewers of the Vikings game Sunday may have taken in some adult beverages; perhaps a beer or two. So, we thought this would be a good time to answer a question from Bruce in Blaine: How much does beer contribute to a beer belly? Allina Health cardiologist Dr. Courtney Baechler says beer bellies are a bit of a myth. "Culturally speaking, men tend to drink a little more beer than women, and it's the perfect nitus to get fat because it's a lot of carbohydrates," Dr. Baechler said.
Thanks to everyone who sent in Good Question suggestions this week! Please keep them coming! In the meantime, I wanted to answer a few that didn't make air. Rosy has a question I've never thought about before: Why do people put an "s" on the end of email, as in emails? We don't say we are going to pick up our snail mails from the post office. Good point, Rosy. I looked up the definition of email in the dictionary and found three definitions – two for nouns and one for a verb.
This weekend, the University of Minnesota, along with many other colleges and high schools, will celebrate homecoming. That had U of M senior Kelli Peterson wondering: How did homecoming traditions start?
It's a source of pride for many Minnesotans – the number of Fortune 500 companies that call Minnesota home. "We live in an amazing state, so I thought a big percentage were here," said Diane Anderson, of Minneapolis.
On Tuesday, Burger King released a healthier french fry: the Satisfry. The fast-food restaurant says it has 20 percent fewer calories and 25 percent percent less fat compared to regular fries. It's made with a different batter so less oil is absorbed.
After mortgage banker Alex Stenback of Alerus Mortgage helps people buy a new home, he sells off the mortgage. "We sell everything that we do here," Stenback said. "When we sell them, it's one by one." About 80 percent of home loans are eligible to be sold. Stenback says it can happen for a couple of reasons. "One is there is $10 trillion in outstanding mortgages right now in the country and there's simply not enough deposits in all the banks to make that many mortgages," he said.
It's Friday, and Heather Brown went to the mailbag to answer some of your burning Good Questions about the human body.
Thank you to everyone who sent in Good Question suggestions this week! So far, I've counted about 75 submissions and that's just from the emails. Please keep them coming! In the meantime, though, I wanted to answer a few that didn't make air.
In the land of lutefisk and Uff-da, it appears there are fewer Sven and Oles. According to new data released by the U.S. Census, the faces of Minnesota are changing.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently released its "eat your fruits and vegetables" reminder. It used to be the experts suggested people eat between 3 to 5 servings of vegetables and 2 to 4 servings of fruits each day. But now the CDC says the number of servings depends on the person.
All across the state, workplaces, doctors' offices and drug stores have been offering the flu shot. For years, the Centers for Disease Control and Minnesota Department of Health have recommended people get vaccinated as soon as the vaccine is available, which is generally the middle to end of September.
According to AAA, the average cost of gas has been more than $3 per gallon for 1,000 days straight. It's the longest streak ever for gas prices at this level. Right now, the average in Minnesota is $3.50 per gallon, slightly lower than the national average of $3.54 per gallon. Bob Darbelnet, president and CEO of AAA, says kiss the days of cheaper gas prices goodbye. "Paying less than $3 per gallon for gasoline may be automotive history for most Americans, like using 8-track tapes or going to a drive-in movie," Darbelnet said.
Don from Eden Prairie and Linda from Roseville want to know: What happens to the money collected when NFL players are fined?
We've all heard that sound -- a motorcycle so loud it can hurt your ears. Some bikers say they do it to be safer on the road, but being too loud is against Minnesota law.
Almost all of us remember where we were and what we were doing when we heard terrorists flew planes into the World Trade Center 12 years ago. "I remember thinking, is this really happening, it's like an out of body experience," said Kristin Witte of Minneapolis.
In 2013, 91 percent of us own some sort of cell phone. Fifty-six percent own a smart phone. It wasn't until 2007 that we saw what's now considered the first smartphone – the iPhone. The iPhone 5 is now the top selling phone in US, followed by the Samsung Galaxy S III.
According to the Federal Highway Administration, the average Minnesota driver pays $125 per year to register his or her car. But some of us pay much more, and some of us pay much less. So, when Joel Tracy of St. Paul found out his daughter paid almost $400 her new minivan's tags, he was surprised. He had only paid $41 for his 2002 Tahoe. "I thought she stuttered," Tracy said. According to Bruce Gordon, the director of communications for the Department of Public Safety, the car tabs fees are set by the state legislature.
Mary from Eagan wants to know: Why do speedometers go so high? Her Honda CRV says 140 mph, but she, like many of us, would never go that fast. According to Larry Dominique, a longtime automotive engineer and current president of ALG, there are two reasons: 1) Consumer research shows that when people are driving on the highway, they like their speedometers to be between 11 and 1, like on a clock. That makes the needle easier to see at highway speeds. 2) Consumers believe that a car that says it can go 140 mph is better than a car that says it can go 120 mph.
It's estimated about 40,000 to 50,000 Minnesotans are Jewish. And on Thursday, many of them went to services or spent time with family to celebrate an important holiday – Rosh Hashanah. "It's our new year. It's the start of a new beginning," said Madeline Grolnick just after she attended services at Temple Israel in uptown Minneapolis.
Over the past few weeks, you might have been hearing a loud buzzing sound outside. It sounds like buzzing power lines, but it's actually an insect we usually start hearing in Minnesota in July. "All the buzzing is cicadas," said U of M Extension Entomologist Jeffrey Hahn. He said he heard from so many people about the cicadas at the U of M Extension State Fair booth that he decided to write an article about it.
Teniki Steward, 40, was convicted of two counts of third-degree murder and two counts of criminal vehicular operation for the Dec. 16, 2024, crash.
Law enforcement in southern Minnesota is asking for the public's help to find 12-year-old Sayvon Deongelo Brown, who went missing Sunday night.
A proposal to create a new independent watchdog agency in Minnesota to crack down on fraud in public programs could cost nearly $16 million over the next few years for set-up alone, a fiscal analysis shows, as lawmakers continue to hash out disagreements.
The Minnesota Vikings are hoping a unique approach to this year's NFL draft will prove more successful than their past few efforts.
Hundreds of nursing home workers from across the Twin Cities are on strike Monday.
Teniki Steward, 40, was convicted of two counts of third-degree murder and two counts of criminal vehicular operation for the Dec. 16, 2024, crash.
Hundreds of nursing home workers from across the Twin Cities are on strike Monday.
A Minneapolis man convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Monday.
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.
Law enforcement in southern Minnesota is asking for the public's help to find 12-year-old Sayvon Deongelo Brown, who went missing Sunday night.
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.
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.
A proposal to create a new independent watchdog agency in Minnesota to crack down on fraud in public programs could cost nearly $16 million over the next few years for set-up alone, a fiscal analysis shows, as lawmakers continue to hash out disagreements.
The legal fight is the latest to land before the Supreme Court in recent years that involve religious entities' participation in state-funded programs.
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.
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.
Teniki Steward, 40, was convicted of two counts of third-degree murder and two counts of criminal vehicular operation for the Dec. 16, 2024, crash.
A proposal to create a new independent watchdog agency in Minnesota to crack down on fraud in public programs could cost nearly $16 million over the next few years for set-up alone, a fiscal analysis shows, as lawmakers continue to hash out disagreements.
A Minneapolis man convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Monday.
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.
Hundreds of nursing home workers from across the Twin Cities are on strike Monday.
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.
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.
The Minnesota Vikings are hoping a unique approach to this year's NFL draft will prove more successful than their past few efforts.
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.
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.
It's a warm and breezy start to the week, with a Red Flag warning in effect for much of western Minnesota.
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.
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.
A red flag warning for critical fire weather conditions is in effect until 8 p.m. Monday for northern, western and central Minnesota.
Erin Hassanzadeh and Derek James share the latest news headlines and updates from Monday afternoon.
It's a warm and breezy start to the week, with a Red Flag warning in effect for much of western Minnesota.
The workers with SEIU Healthcare Minnesota and Iowa have walked off the job at five metro area facilities.
There’s just a month left in the Minnesota legislative session and fighting fraud is a top priority.
Amalia Moreno-Damgaard shares some recipes that are fresh, healthy and also aimed at picky eaters.