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Pete Freiheit was a farm kid who developed a love for history -- most of all the tractors used on his farm. So he started tinkering with some tools and built a few model tractors -- thousands of them, actually.
Authorities have release the names of two Minnesota women who were killed in a collision with a semitrailer on Interstate 35 in northern Iowa.
One of the first major snowstorms of the season is expected to hit the Midwest beginning Friday. But this time, it's going to miss Minnesota.
A 63-year-old Mason City man who used a hammer to beat his dog has been given probation.
A white felon with Nazi tattoos repeatedly stomped on the face of a semi-conscious black man in a racially motivated attack at a northeastern Iowa bar last winter, according to a criminal complaint unsealed Wednesday.
It would be a monumental upset for the Gopher football team to go to Iowa City and beat the unbeaten Hawkeyes this Saturday. But as MIke Max reports, there is a rallying cry in the Gopher locker room: "Remember last year."
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders is spending $2 million on his first television ad campaign in Iowa and New Hampshire, casting himself as a longtime fighter against injustice and inequality.
Next Tuesday, a record number of Minnesota school districts will ask voters to pay more taxes to cover the cost of new buildings and better technology. Some 68 school districts will vote on building bond or capitol levy requests.
Responding to Ben Carson's surge in Iowa, Donald Trump said Tuesday he'll stick with the presidential race, even if he loses the luxury of running from atop the polls.
Bernie Sanders sharpened the contrast with Hillary Rodham Clinton on a bevy of liberal causes on Saturday, casting himself as a principled progressive before thousands of Iowa Democrats in an appearance that could set the tone for the leadoff presidential caucuses in February.
For the first time since Donald Trump threw his name into the mix, he was not sitting at the top of the polls in Iowa. According to new data from Quinnipiac, Ben Carson has overtaken the lead in that state, which is historically the first state in line for the nominating process for presidential races.
Iowa Western Community College is offering a pilot housing program that aims to help transgender students feel more comfortable. The Des Moines Register reports students were given the option this year of joining the program, which assigns them to a roommate based on their gender identity or expression rather than their legal sex.
A group that opposes a proposed oil pipeline across Iowa is asking a federal agency's regional office to be more stringent in issuing permits to a private company seeking access to waterways in the path of the project, and members say the request highlights their concern over varied oversight in the approval process.
A federal trial has begun in Iowa for two aides to Ron Paul's 2012 presidential campaign accused of secretly paying a state lawmaker for his endorsement. Twelve jurors and two alternates were selected Tuesday in Des Moines in the trial of Jesse Benton and Dimitri Kesari. Opening statements were expected later this afternoon.
A woman has jumped to safety from a second-floor window and a man has been rescued by firefighters during a blaze at a Waterloo apartment building. Authorities say the fire was reported at little after 9:30 p.m. Sunday.
Three top officials with Ron Paul's 2012 presidential campaign claim political motivations are behind charges alleging they violated federal financial disclosure laws by secretly paying an influential Iowa politician for his endorsement.
An Iowa school district had to dispatch a second bus and driver to pick up students because the first driver quit midway through her morning route.
A new survey suggests that the economy will slow down in rural parts of 10 Western and Plains states -- including Minnesota -- in the months ahead. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says weak crop and energy prices are hurting profits across the region.
Scott Walker is focusing his dimming presidential campaign on the first-to-vote Iowa caucuses, a downshift in strategy for a candidate once seen as an early front-runner.
A report released at a gathering of mayors in Dubuque finds that commerce along the Mississippi River generates more than $400 billion and supports 1.3 million jobs. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service coordinated the report, which was released Wednesday at a gathering of more than two dozen mayors in Dubuque.
ou've probably seen fantasy football sites like FanDuel or DraftKings advertising huge cash prizes. You pay to enter, and if you win, you get paid. If you lose, you lose your money. Sounds like gambling, right? It's not. So, why are these sites legal? Good Question.
The 2016 presidential election is still more than one year away, but dozens of political candidates take advantage of the State Fair every year to meet voters. One Independent presidential hopeful who has been grabbing headlines for his unconventional name stopped by the fair on Saturday.
At least two people died in separate head-on crashes Tuesday in Fillmore County, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. The first accident happened just after 7 a.m. on Highway 52. A southbound Infiniti FX collided head-on with a northbound Pontiac Grand AM, which had drifted into the Infiniti's lane.
Many attending the Minnesota State Fair make the most of their opportunity to sound off or enjoy a rap session with the politicians who attend. But what would you say to Deez Nuts?
A Rock Island man convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend will be sentenced Oct. 9. The sentencing date for 40-year-old Timothy McVay was set Wednesday. He was convicted July 17 of first-degree murder and concealment in the death of 29-year-old Carrie Olson of Davenport, Iowa.
More and more Minnesota families are struggling to put food on the table. The Salvation Army is working to stop the hardship.
Ayman Mohamad Ghazali made two purchases at a Phantom Fireworks store in Livonia, Michigan. He told the store staff the fireworks were for the end of Ramadan.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has again set up a livestream of a peregrine falcon nest in downtown St. Paul in an effort to monitor and protect the species.
Despite the potential for a winter storm, people across the Twin Cities are getting ready for St. Patrick's Day celebrations this weekend, and into next week.
A 29-year-old woman is dead after police in Bloomington, Minnesota, found her unresponsive in a cell at the city's jail early Friday, officials said.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has again set up a livestream of a peregrine falcon nest in downtown St. Paul in an effort to monitor and protect the species.
Despite the potential for a winter storm, people across the Twin Cities are getting ready for St. Patrick's Day celebrations this weekend, and into next week.
A 29-year-old woman is dead after police in Bloomington, Minnesota, found her unresponsive in a cell at the city's jail early Friday, officials said.
Wind sheared off four bolts holding a billboard near the 3M headquarters along Hudson Road in Maplewood, Minnesota, ahead of a winter storm expected to bring heavy snow Saturday night into Sunday.
Minnesota siblings Jamison and Amaya Battle are both basketball stars, with the brother playing forward for the Toronto Raptors and sister playing point guard for the Gopher women's team.
A man and a woman are in custody after a shootout between the man and Swift County deputies in Appleton, Minnesota, on Friday, according to police.
The hit HBO Max series "The Pitt" is getting buzz for how real it feels, and there's a Minnesota doctor making sure it stays that way.
Gas prices are up for the 12th straight day as the war with Iran pushes up crude oil prices. In Minnesota, the average went up 4 cents overnight. It's now $3.29 a gallon. That's 18-cents higher than just a week ago.
According to Rochester Police, officers were dispatched around 9:30 p.m. to the 1900 block of Ashland Drive Northwest. The call was domestic-related, police say.
Rain is falling Thursday night in the Twin Cities, while snow is falling up north.
As the war in Iran evolves, National Guardsmen from Wisconsin are being recognized for what they are doing in the Middle East.
It's the season for booking those spring break getaways, and if you're looking to skip the airport this year, take a page out of the Condé Nast Traveler.
A judge has sentenced a Wisconsin man who forged threats against President Donald Trump as part of a deportation scheme to 16½ years in prison.
A fire at a hotel in Superior, Wisconsin, Monday night left one person hurt and forced guests to move to new lodgings.
Excitement is in the air in northern Wisconsin with the 52nd annual American Birkebeiner underway.
The Minnesota Department of Corrections says 95% of all incarcerated individuals will eventually be released from prison. The DOC says it does all it can to help people transition back into the community as productive citizens.
Minnesota native and World War II veteran Les Schrenk died earlier this week. He was 102 years old.
People from across the nation are traveling to the Twin Cities, but not as tourists. Many want to learn in person from Minnesota protestors to bring that knowledge back to their own cities.
The Edina wife and mother of three said she felt called to go and protest in south Minneapolis after learning that Alex Pretti had been shot and killed by two Border Patrol agents.
Tuesday afternoon, more than 20 people gathered on the Highway 62 bridge between Minneapolis and Richfield after a small protest sparked a confrontation there last week.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine briefed on Operation Epic Fury in Iran Friday.
President Trump said that the U.S. military had conducted "one of the most power bombing raids" on Iran's Kharg Island, a vital oil hub for the country.
More than half-a-million taxpayer dollars meant to help Minnesotans was stolen, according to state investigators, who say a home health care provider took the money to buy flights, order food and take rides instead of helping the needy.
Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were murdered in their home in June 2025. On top of grieving the sudden, tragic loss of his parents, Colin Hortman says the cleanup of his childhood home was a headache.
Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were murdered in their home last June. Their son says what followed with the insurance company only made matters worse.
Delta is canceling flights at Midwest airports, including its Minneapolis-St. Paul hub, ahead of expected significant snow and winds starting Saturday evening through Sunday, the airline said Friday.
Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were murdered in their home in June 2025. On top of grieving the sudden, tragic loss of his parents, Colin Hortman says the cleanup of his childhood home was a headache.
Data show that catalytic converter thefts are on the rise again in the Twin Cities.
The war in Iran is not only blocking oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, it is also holding up much of the world's fertilizer supply, a development that is drawing close attention from farmers preparing for spring planting.
Renters' rights advocates and tenants gathered outside Hennepin County courtrooms Thursday to protest Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey's recent veto of an eviction notice extension ordinance.
Ayman Mohamad Ghazali made two purchases at a Phantom Fireworks store in Livonia, Michigan. He told the store staff the fireworks were for the end of Ramadan.
Police in St. Paul, Minnesota are investigating after a student at Macalester College accused a former professor of urinating on her belongings.
More than half-a-million taxpayer dollars meant to help Minnesotans was stolen, according to state investigators, who say a home health care provider took the money to buy flights, order food and take rides instead of helping the needy.
Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were murdered in their home in June 2025. On top of grieving the sudden, tragic loss of his parents, Colin Hortman says the cleanup of his childhood home was a headache.
Data show that catalytic converter thefts are on the rise again in the Twin Cities.
The hit HBO Max series "The Pitt" is getting buzz for how real it feels, and there's a Minnesota doctor making sure it stays that way.
More than half-a-million taxpayer dollars meant to help Minnesotans was stolen, according to state investigators, who say a home health care provider took the money to buy flights, order food and take rides instead of helping the needy.
Can a quick workout and your phone reveal something about your heart health? Researchers at the University of Minnesota Medical School say yes, and they've built an app to prove it.
A new Iowa law bans local nondiscrimination protections on the basis of gender identity after the state became the first in the U.S. to roll back its civil rights code last year.
At a Minnesota State Capitol hearing Wednesday morning, the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs unveiled its "Veteran Suicide Prevention Plan."
The hit HBO Max series "The Pitt" is getting buzz for how real it feels, and there's a Minnesota doctor making sure it stays that way.
A woman was arrested on Sunday for firing multiple shots at the Beverly Hills home of Rihanna, Los Angeles Police Department officials say.
Valleyfair in Shakopee, Minnesota, will soon come under new ownership.
A new art exhibition in Shoreview, Minnesota, is inviting visitors to see art — and maybe themselves — a little differently.
Actor and filmmaker Bruce Campbell told fans that he is in treatment for cancer and will cancel some upcoming public appearances.
Minnesota siblings Jamison and Amaya Battle are both basketball stars, with the brother playing forward for the Toronto Raptors and sister playing point guard for the Gopher women's team.
Travis Konecny scored the lone goal in a shootout to give the Philadelphia Flyers a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night.
The Minnesota Vikings have signed quarterback Kyler Murray to compete with J.J. McCarthy for the starting job next season, the team announced Thursday.
The Minnesota Vikings are hosting Kyler Murray on a free agent visit, focusing their latest quarterback search on the first overall pick in the 2019 draft who was just released by the Arizona Cardinals.
The Minnesota Vikings have cleared salary cap space taken by their failed strategy for contending last season by releasing defensive linemen Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave.
Talking Points is tracking a partisan push to end surveillance pricing this legislative session.
This session, a bipartisan bill to end surveillance pricing is moving forward at the Minnesota Capitol. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy spoke with Minnesota DFL Rep. Erin Koegel about the push and how the ban could protection your personal data.
Minnesota Democratic Rep. Angie Craig, who is running for U.S. Senate, says she now regrets her vote in favor of the Laken Riley Act last year.
With severe weather season right around the corner, what homeowners need to know about the evolving coverage for your roof.
With severe weather season right around the corner, what homeowners need to know about the evolving coverage for your roof. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy spoke with Grace Arnold, Department of Commerce commissioner about what's driving rising insurance premiums and what you should look from in home insurance coverage.
Denis Doyle was born in Kilkenny, Ireland. He emigrated to the U.S. and in 1856, Doyle traveled to Le Sueur County. Other Irish immigrants joined Doyle and the town was born.
One of the oldest operating theaters in the Midwest is in danger of closing its doors for good.
In St. Louis Park, Minnesota, there's a place where you can find radio and television technology that's nearly a century old — and it still works.
One of the best views in Minnesota is at the top of a Bloomington hill. But 15-year-old Jacob Larson isn't here for the scenery. He's here for the jump.
Pine trees are a common sight up north. But on a Carlton, Minnesota, road, they're joined by giant lollipops. They serve as the welcoming committee for Sweetly Kismet, one of the largest candy stores in the state.
Minnesota lakes remain frozen. The people walking on trails around them remain bundled up. After a warm start to March, the seasonal shift is sputtering as it often tends to do.
Drivers are bracing themselves for higher prices when they pull up to gas stations. But the pump isn't the only place you can expect to pay more in the weeks ahead.
A push for stricter gun laws in Minnesota is not new. However, this session comes on the heels of a devastating mass shooting last summer in which the target was students in prayer at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis.
The military strikes against Iran have sparked intense debate in Congress. U.S. lawmakers are not only split on whether to support the operation but also on whether President Trump should have sought congressional approval in advance. WCCO investigates how the Constitution defines declarations of war.
Traveling is already stressful, especially flying, but the deadly conflict south of the border might have some travelers second-guessing their upcoming trips.
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.
People across Minnesota are making their final preparations ahead of a winter storm that's expected to move into the state on Saturday evening. Ubah Ali reports from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport where several airlines are making changes and travelers are trying to escape the snow.
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.
The Twin Cities could see around a foot of snow by Sunday afternoon as a result of a winter storm that's set to move into Minnesota on Saturday evening, according to NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer.
A winter storm warning is in effect for a large area of Minnesota From Saturday night to Monday morning, according to NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer.
A winter storm is set to impact Minnesotans across the state on Saturday night into Sunday. Photojournalist Tony Peterson found out how businesses are helping residents prepare.
Police in Appleton, Minnesota, say a shootout between a man and deputies led to two arrests on Friday. Officials said no one was seriously hurt in the incident.
People across Minnesota are making their final preparations ahead of a winter storm that's expected to move into the state on Saturday evening. Ubah Ali reports from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport where several airlines are making changes and travelers are trying to escape the snow.
The Twin Cities could see around a foot of snow by Sunday afternoon as a result of a winter storm that's set to move into Minnesota on Saturday evening, according to NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer.
A man with a kind nature found dead. Investigators need your help finding his killer. It's been more than a year since 74-year old William Eickholt, or Ike, was found fatally shot in a ditch. It's a case WCCO has been following since it happened. On Friday, Frankie McLister sat down with investigators for the first time.
A winter storm warning is in effect for a large area of Minnesota From Saturday night to Monday morning, according to NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer.