#PassYourParka: Campaign Encourages Visitors To Donate Winter Gear To Homeless
With the Super Bowl in town, there are a lot of out-of-towners from warmer climates who are buying winter gear that they simply won't need when they leave Minnesota.
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With the Super Bowl in town, there are a lot of out-of-towners from warmer climates who are buying winter gear that they simply won't need when they leave Minnesota.
Many of us are fortunate enough to have a warm house to retreat to when temperatures dip below zero. But many people across the Twin Cities are desperately trying to get into shelters.
Thousands of runners are getting ready for the "most beautiful urban marathon in America." The Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon starts Sunday morning. The course takes runners from the U.S. Bank Stadium site in downtown Minneapolis to the State Capitol in St. Paul.
Homeless Twin Cities residents are regularly evicted from encampments for MnDOT "bridge cleaning."
A Minneapolis woman who serves the poor and homeless in the Twin Cities got a face-to-face meeting with Pope Francis Thursday. Mary Jo Copeland, founder of Minneapolis' Sharing and Caring Hands, says the Holy Father prayed with her and blessed her work with the poor.
On any given night, homeless youth could fill more than half the hotel rooms in downtown Minneapolis. The numbers are on the rise and now a group of executives are working together to bring awareness to this issue and to raise money. Some 105 CEOs will take part in a Night of Hope to help benefit homeless youth.
From Har Mar Superstar doing his thing in St. Paul to a great outside get-together in northeast Minneapolis, here are the four shows and events to experience this weekend!
This year's mild winter was still cold enough to turn deadly. Exposure to the cold was a factor in the deaths of at least 43 Minnesotans from Oct. 1, 2014, through the end of March, according to the state Department of Health.
A record number of people experiencing homelessness passed away this year in Minnesota. On Thursday night, Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges was among those remembering them.
During the holidays, it can be easy to fall into a gift-shopping, gift-giving frenzy.
Monday night, street teams with St. Stephen's Street Outreach are out in full force searching for people who are homeless. They want to offer them a warm place to sleep.
The number of homeless youth in Minnesota is on the rise. On any given night, homeless teens and young adults could fill half the hotel rooms in downtown Minneapolis.
WCCO is hosting a phone bank Monday to help homeless youth in our community. YouthLink provides services to homeless youth by helping them find counseling, medical care and other vital resources. They wrapped up a unique night of awareness Monday morning, where executives and city leaders from around the Twin Cities spent the night on the ground right in downtown Minneapolis.
More than 60 of the Twin Cities top business leaders are trading their warm beds for a sleeping bag Sunday night. It's part of YouthLink's executive sleep-out known as the "Night of Hope." They'll spend the night outside, just like thousands of homeless people do each night.
After hours of debate, the Edina City Council passed a controversial project, by a unanimous vote. Developers of 66 West Apartments say the goal is to provide housing to young adults who have experienced homelessness.
Housing nearly 600 people a night is typical for the Salvation Army Harbor Light Center. But those numbers remain steady with the hot weather, barely giving staff a break to prepare adequate room.
A new summer music festival is planned for Coon Rapids next month. The first Rum River Music Fest will be held July 19. The festival will be held at Sand Creek Park and will benefit HOPE 4 Youth, a nonprofit organization serving homeless young people in Anoka County.
It's a part of city life that Minneapolis hopes to end – panhandling. Billboards in downtown Minneapolis urge visitors and workers to avoid giving money to panhandlers. The "Give Real Change" campaign encourages people instead to give to charities.
For hundreds of homeless veterans across the state of Minnesota, getting their hands on a nice business suit could be life changing.
Hundreds came to the State Capitol Thursday to ask legislators to give $100 million to provide shelter for the homeless. The money would go to pay for 5,000 units across Minnesota, and supporters say it would keep Minnesota on track to be first state to eliminate homelessness for veterans. According to Rep. Alice Hausman (DFL-St. Paul), 14,000 people are homeless on an average night in the state.
Three people have been charged with using other people's food stamps to purchase groceries and ship them to Africa at a profit. According to the criminal complaints, the group operating the scheme bought up EBT cards from those on SNAP, usually buying them from people at homeless shelters.
Minneapolis Community and Technical College held their sixth annual MLK, Jr. Day Of Service on Saturday. Those attending started the day with breakfast before hearing some inspirational speakers and music. Afterwards, many attendees went to several local non-profit organizations to volunteer. Volunteer Delores Roberts was with a group who were making blankets for the homeless.
The Salvation Army's Harbor Light Center in downtown Minneapolis is packed with people seeking refuge from the extreme cold.
The Salvation Army is welcoming people without shelter to use its eight Twin Cities worship and service centers, as well as its Harbor Light shelter in downtown Minneapolis during the dangerous cold snap. Staff at Harbor Light are planning for people to be inside for the next 48 hours or more, beginning on Saturday night. Staff say they have plenty of blankets, extra food and warm beverages on hand.
We know what a lot of teenagers want for Christmas: things like cell phones and Xboxes. Jessica Peterson, 17, of East Bethel is not like those teenagers. She got what she wanted on Christmas Eve by making a difference.
Tulsi Gabbard is resigning as the director of national intelligence after her husband was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer.
WWE superstar Tiffany Stratton grew up in Prior Lake, Minnesota, and focused on another sport before becoming a champion in the ring.
WCCO Radio, which has been a CBS affiliate for almost a century, aired its first programming as an ABC News affiliate on Thursday.
Dashcam video from a Twin Cities police department shows one of its officers arresting a southern Minnesota officer accused of crashing his vehicle while driving under the influence.
The Pentagon on Friday released a new batch of 64 files related to UFOs, unveiling a second tranche of records under an executive order by President Trump.
WCCO Radio, which has been a CBS affiliate for almost a century, aired its first programming as an ABC News affiliate on Thursday.
Dashcam video from a Twin Cities police department shows one of its officers arresting a southern Minnesota officer accused of crashing his vehicle while driving under the influence.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is proposing to change the statewide walleye bag limit from six fish to four.
Minneapolis police say they are investigating after a teenage boy was killed and a man was injured in a shooting Thursday evening.
The E-ZPass express lanes are a great way to zip through congested Twin Cities traffic, but to use those lanes during peak traffic times, you need a valid E-ZPass transponder or you need to carpool.
Dashcam video from a Twin Cities police department shows one of its officers arresting a southern Minnesota officer accused of crashing his vehicle while driving under the influence.
Law enforcement in southern Minnesota is asking for the public's help to identify a woman suspected of stealing more than $30,000 in fraudulent bank transactions earlier this month.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is proposing to change the statewide walleye bag limit from six fish to four.
A Minnesota mother and father may face felony drug charges after police say their child brought THC candy to school earlier this week.
The crew says specialized equipment and training completed last fall enabled them to pull off the nighttime rescue.
A driver went airborne during a high-speed police chase in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, after fleeing a traffic stop.
Fifty beagles rescued from animal testing in Wisconsin are set to arrive in Minnesota Thursday.
A 100-mile stretch of Mississippi River towns is hosting its annual 100 Mile Garage Sale this weekend, drawing shoppers and sellers from across the region and beyond.
Minnesota animal rescues are stepping up to take in dogs from a Wisconsin research facility accused of animal abuse.
You may have heard of Give to the Max Day, where people donate millions of dollars to hundreds of nonprofits and organizations across Minnesota on a single day. That idea has spread to western Wisconsin, called Give Big Valleys.
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.
Quincy Street isn't just at the center of Art-A-Whirl, it's at the heart of the Arts District in northeast Minneapolis. The road itself, however, is falling apart. And the only thing bumpier than the exposed brick is the reaction to the city's plans to fix it.
Somali and Muslim leaders in Minnesota played a threatening voicemail at a public gathering Friday, saying businesses in their community are being targeted with messages warning of death.
The Black homeownership rate in the Twin Cities dropped to 29% in 2024, and the region had the largest gap between Black and White homeownership rates of any comparable metro in the country.
Bobby Rogers once came to the Minneapolis Institute of Art to sketch and study; now he leads its design and editorial work, shaping what visitors see and experience.
Tulsi Gabbard is resigning as the director of national intelligence after her husband was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer.
The Pentagon on Friday released a new batch of 64 files related to UFOs, unveiling a second tranche of records under an executive order by President Trump.
The U.S. Department of Justice and other federal officials will announce a "major law enforcement action involving fraud" in the state on Thursday.
Several top federal officials will be in Minnesota Thursday for a "major law enforcement action involving fraud" — a visit coinciding with the sentencing of Feeding Our Future mastermind Aimee Bock, plus more of the day’s top stories.
The new fund to provide payouts to those who say the legal system was "weaponized" against them raised immediate questions about its legality, implementation and enforcement.
As Minnesotans get ready for Memorial Day weekend and travel, they're also keeping an eye on gas prices.
Target, which embarked on a turnaround plan under its new CEO earlier this year, reported an increase in first-quarter sales Wednesday.
The federal commodities regulator filed suit against Minnesota to stop a new state law, signed by Gov. Tim Walz, that would criminalize operating or participating in prediction markets starting Aug. 1.
Part of the end-of-session deal in the Minnesota Legislature rolls back skyrocketing tab renewal fees. Those fees have electric vehicle owners especially revved up.
In Minnesota, you'll be able to try one at St. Paul's CHS Field.
Dashcam video from a Twin Cities police department shows one of its officers arresting a southern Minnesota officer accused of crashing his vehicle while driving under the influence.
Law enforcement in southern Minnesota is asking for the public's help to identify a woman suspected of stealing more than $30,000 in fraudulent bank transactions earlier this month.
Minneapolis police say they are investigating after a teenage boy was killed and a man was injured in a shooting Thursday evening.
A Ramsey County deputy is accused of sending explicit pictures and messages to people he believed to be children, according to charges filed Thursday.
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.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz went to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis Wednesday to talk about how the state is going to help the hospital financially.
Minnesota has legalized marijuana. Could magic mushrooms be next?
At least 80 deaths have been reported in a new Ebola disease outbreak in Congo and Uganda, authorities said.
It comes after insurers stopped paying for their kids' daily care, which they argue was covered as part of a 15-year-old state law. As the end of the Minnesota session nears, lawmakers have four days to make a change.
A Twin Cities teenager is facing an unimaginable battle: terminal cancer. She's fortunate enough to have family by her side through her fearless fight as they all hope for a miracle.
WWE superstar Tiffany Stratton grew up in Prior Lake, Minnesota, and focused on another sport before becoming a champion in the ring.
Stephen Colbert hosted "The Late Show" for the final time Thursday night as the franchise came to an end after 33 years.
Lee Mendelson Film Productions alleges the U.S. Department of the Interior illegally used the jazzy tunes in social media posts and a video game.
"The Late Show" host Stephen Colbert is marking the end of an iconic late-night franchise on CBS.
Dave Ryan has been a pillar of Minnesota radio for over three decades who last week made the surprise announcement that he would retire from his morning show at KDWB.
WWE superstar Tiffany Stratton grew up in Prior Lake, Minnesota, and focused on another sport before becoming a champion in the ring.
Reserve Maya Caldwell led a balanced attack with 16 points and the Minnesota Lynx beat the Toronto Tempo 100-72.
Kyle Busch's family earlier Thursday announced he had been hospitalized with a "severe illness."
Joe Ryan matched his career high with 12 strikeouts over six innings, Ryan Kreidler hit a three-run home run against his former team and the Minnesota Twins beat the Houston Astros 4-1.
While Tim Connelly doesn't see this season as a total failure, he knows the team needs to evolve, whether by internal or external means, to compete for a championship.
Amy Klobuchar is putting her gubernatorial campaign into high gear. She faces no significant opposition in the race for the DFL endorsement and her existing record of statewide wins is formidable.
The legislation establishes a list of requirements aimed at improving transparency and reducing conflicts within HOAs. Minnesota estimates that 25% of its residents live in an HOA, and 82% of new homes are built within one.
The Minnesota Senate passed a bill with mandatory requirements for homeowners associations aimed at improving transparency and preventing disputes, after two years of legislative work driven by public complaints.
The Minnesota Senate passed a bill with mandatory requirements for homeowners associations aimed at improving transparency and preventing disputes, after two years of legislative work driven by public complaints. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy spoke with Dana Ohman, an attorney who handles HOA disputes, about some of the most common questions homeowners have.
Sen. Tina Smith is using her last months in office to vocally campaign for progressive and environmental causes. She hopes that a progressive will succeed her when Minnesotans go to the polls next November.
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.
There's a place in Wabasha County, Minnesota, where people go wild for wildflowers.
For nearly 50 years, Farmamerica has been sowing agricultural knowledge near Waseca, Minnesota.
The carillon has 56 bells, and the Mayo Clinic said that makes it one of the largest instruments in the world and the largest instrument in Minnesota.
When you think of masterful, memorable works of art, grain elevators don't typically come to mind. But in towns across the country, including in Minnesota, they're becoming an unlikely canvas for creativity.
If Minnesota lawmakers won't vote on a bill, why can't the people? That's what Carol from Stillwater wants to know after the gun reform bill never made it to the House floor. In Good Question, Jeff Wagner explains how statewide ballot measures are created.
Dozens of recreational marijuana dispensaries can now be found across Minnesota. Many of them opened last year, but it's still relatively new. And if you've visited dispensaries in other states, the rules can be different.
President Trump's idea to save drivers a few dollars at the pump could cost them in the long run.
More people than the entire population of Minneapolis, or half a million, were estimated to go fishing in Minnesota this past weekend. WCCO looks at how the tradition stacks up with other outdoor events that keep the state's economy running.
A deadly virus that's killed cruise ship passengers can be traced to small critters found hiding in homes.
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.
We’ll see a few showers on Friday, then a big warm-up over Memorial Day weekend.
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.
A cloudy and gusty Friday is in the cards for the metro ahead of some overnight rainfall, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Katie Steiner.
Expect some rain early Friday in the metro ahead of a cooler and windier day, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Katie Steiner.
High pressure drifting farther east will allow the next weak system to move into Minnesota Friday.
We’ll see a few showers on Friday, then a big warm-up over Memorial Day weekend.
A southern Minnesota police officer was arrested on suspicion of DWI, while still in uniform and carrying a gun.
WWE superstar Tiffany Stratton grew up in Prior Lake, Minnesota, and focused on another sport before becoming a champion in the ring.
Stockholm Pie Shop & General Store in Minnesota has been nominated once again by USA Today as 2026 Best Pie Shop in America. Owner Alan Nugent visits the WCCO Kitchen to show off his award-winning desserts.
The Kickernick Gallery in downtown Minneapolis is featuring a new exhibit: LEGACY: The Women of WARM Gallery. It honors the Women's Art Resources of Minnesota, the pioneering feminist art movement. Artist Harriet Bart and the gallery's Emily Awaijane discusses the exciting collection.