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You may have to change your Memorial Day weekend plans if they include canoeing or kayaking down Minnehaha Creek. The recent rain caused high levels on Lake Minnetonka. As a result, water is being released into the creek to lower it. The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District warns the release is causing unsafe conditions.
The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office is urging boaters to create a safety plan before hitting the waters this Memorial Day weekend. With a High Water Declaration in effect for Lake Minnetonka, Sheriff Rich Stanek says boaters need to manage their wakes properly, as well as have the necessary safety gear in place.
We're heading towards Memorial Day weekend and coming with it is sun and warmer temperatures. It's got boaters and anglers looking forward to getting out on the boat. It also makes for the perfect time for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to remind people about boat safety and to "Think Zero."
Nearly a half million people are out on Minnesota's lakes this weekend for the state fishing opener. Governor Dayton was in the Brainerd Lakes area, trying his luck on Gull Lake. The governor was among thousands of Minnesotans who got out on the water at the stroke of midnight.
An annual report card gives mixed grades to some of the most popular Twin Cities lakes. The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District sprawls over 181 square miles from the far western suburbs to the Mississippi River.
Not only is Minnesota the Land of 10,000 Lakes, we're also home to the second-highest number of registered boats in the nation. Only Florida has more motorboats registered than the 540,000 cruising our waterways. But there's a new trend that's getting even more families on the waters.
With the long, cold winter we all endured, we weren't sure this day would ever come. The Freshwater Society and the Hennepin County Sheriff's Water Patrol officially made the call Thursday morning that the ice is now officially out on Lake Minnetonka.
Soon the lakes will be completely ice free, and we will see lots of people out on canoes. But there is one canoe in the west metro that will definitely not be going back into the water. That's because archaeologists have just determined it is nearly 1,000 years old.
A 37-year-old man had to be rescued from Lake Minnetonka on Saturday after his snowmobile went through the ice, according to the Carver County Sheriff's Office. Authorities received several 911 calls just before 9 p.m. that a snowmobile and its rider had fallen through the ice at the southern end of Smithtown Bay on Lake Minnetonka.
A million dollar home on Lake Minnetonka burned to the ground Thursday morning. The fire started around 9:30 a.m. at a home on Old Beach Road in Orono, Minn.
Team WCCO braved the elements Saturday for a pair of charity pond hockey games on Lake Minnetonka. The team ranged in age from 14 to 62, and happily accepted the help of former Wild player Mark Parrish as a ringer. "This is awesome," Parrish said. "It takes you right back. This is where it all began for all of us." The wind chill on Lake Minnetonka was minus 15, but it was all for a good cause.
The view of Lake Minnetonka from the house that Jimmy Jam built is breathtaking. This 22,000-square-foot property sits on 3.5 acres, complete with 300 feet of Lake Minnetonka shoreline. WCCO was the first to show viewers inside the home before it went up for sale last summer. Scott Stabeck of the Stabeck Group at Lakes Sotheby's Realty in Wayzata is the listing agent.
It may have been cold, but it was still a good morning for many to take a swim, as Minnesotans took part in the 24th ALARC Ice Dive. The annual New Year's Day tradition took place at Lake Minnetonka, where morning temperatures were below zero degrees.
As many as 1,000 people are expected to welcome the new year by diving into a hole in the ice of Lake Minnetonka. The 24th annual ALARC Ice Dive gets underway at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 1 at Bayview Event Center in Excelsior.
The father of a baby girl who died after the family's SUV plunged through the ice on Lake Minnetonka has been sentenced for one count of criminal vehicular homicide.
If you've been on Lake Minnetonka, it's a house you've most likely seen. In fact, it's hard to miss the nearly 23,000-square-foot property. And it's going for a comparative steal.
State health officials said Friday at least three people have been diagnosed with E. coli from swimming near Big Island on Lake Minnetonka over the Fourth of July holiday. Health officials said the illnesses happened with young adults that were all within the seven-county Twin Cities metro.
Two collided on Wayzata Bay on Lake Minnetonka Sunday morning, resulting in a two-year-old boy being knocked overboard. According to the Hennepin County Sheriff's office, two boats – both approximately 22-feet-long – struck each other while traveling the in the same direction 200 feet from shore before 10 a.m. One boat was described as a runabout, and the other a deck boat. The runabout had four passengers, including the boy who was thrown in to the lake on impact. He was wearing a life jacket, and was pulled from the water by his father.
Brandon "Tollie" Tolliver had been wake surfing on Lake Minnetonka for years before most people knew what it was. After enough friends and water enthusiasts alike asked him to show them how to surf on the lake, Surf Tonka was born.
This holiday weekend, lakes and rivers around the state will be packed with boaters who are finally getting the chance to enjoy summer. But, a day off for most Minnesotans means a busy day for the Department of Natural Resources patrolling the water for those who are drinking and boating.
A frustrating Fourth of July is in store for some Twin Cities families. Several lakes and rivers have dangerously high water levels in addition to storm debris floating on or just below the surface. The water is moving so fast that the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis and near Minnehaha Park has been off limits to all boaters for the last ten days. The locks for commercial barges just reopened Wednesday, but recreational boating is still prohibited.
High water has Minnesota officials urging boaters to slow down and use caution as the Fourth of July holiday weekend approaches. A no-wake zone is in effect on the St. Croix River from Taylors Falls, Minn., to Prescott, Wis.
Authorities say there were no injuries in a fire that destroyed a boat on Lake Minnetonka Sunday.
We can all dream about having that big luxury home one day when we win the lottery or get that big pay raise, right? Thanks to a tour this weekend, you can actually visualize that dream. Some of the most beautiful homes in the metro are going on tour this month.
The national average for a gallon of gas has gone up 17 days in a row. But here in the Twin Cities, gas has dropped three cents to an average of $4.17 a gallon.
There's a buzz at the fairgrounds as vendors, exhibitors and 4-H families get ready to welcome millions of people across a very specific stretch of time. Why is the Minnesota State Fair 12 days? Good Question.
The program will charge a flat fee of $25 per day for vehicles to park between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. during the 12 days of the fair.
Mann said the Plymouth location will be the only family-owned, locally based Minnesota theater company operating an IMAX and will bring the format to an area where moviegoers have previously had to travel farther to find one.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jeshaun Jones was issued a three-game suspension by the NFL for violating the league's substances of abuse policy.
Canada's finance minister on Tuesday says a set of retaliatory tariffs will target more than $27 billion of U.S. imports, including steel, appliances and dairy.
The program will charge a flat fee of $25 per day for vehicles to park between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. during the 12 days of the fair.
Mann said the Plymouth location will be the only family-owned, locally based Minnesota theater company operating an IMAX and will bring the format to an area where moviegoers have previously had to travel farther to find one.
Big changes are coming to downtown St. Paul, Minnesota, to improve safety and address abandoned buildings.
The Hennepin County Attorney's Office announced that it has declined to file felony charges related to an incident involving far-right instigator and pardoned Jan. 6 insurrectionist Jake Lang at Minneapolis City Hall.
A 22-year-old White Bear Township, Minnesota, man has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a woman north of the Twin Cities last fall.
Minnesota is facing its worst drought conditions in five years, experts say. About 88% of the state is either experiencing abnormally dry or drought conditions.
Minnesota's Iron Range has a history of iron ore mining dating back to the 1880s. But renewed conversations about copper-nickel mining in the area are fueling debate up north and beyond. Neighbors in the Ely area are navigating the divisive issue while staying largely united.
A Michigan child is in the hospital after being run over by a lawn mower in central Minnesota Friday afternoon.
A Pennsylvania man is accused of causing a fatal crash on a northern Minnesota highway last week by swerving his semi into a motorcycle and pushing it into a cable barrier.
The Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Office says it received a report of a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of County Road 2 and County Road 33 in Roseville Township just before 2 p.m. Saturday.
A Wisconsin prosecutor says he will not file election bribery charges against billionaire Elon Musk even though the state's bipartisan elections commission said he likely broke state law.
A Wisconsin high school football player has died from injuries sustained during a game on Thursday night.
Dozens of cases of E. coli and salmonella in multiple states are linked to an alfalfa grower in Minnesota, health officials say.
The Franklin County Coroner's Office says Jack Pugh died March 30 from acute bronchopneumonia caused by cardiomyopathy, a disease that weakens the heart's ability to pump blood.
The crash happened at approximately 7:12 a.m. on westbound I-94 at milepost 13 in St. Croix County near Roberts, Wisconsin, according to the State Patrol.
Crews in St. Paul, Minnesota, are clearing out the city's largest encampment on Wednesday.
After officials in Minnesota's capital city announced they would shut down encampments for those experiencing homelessness, the City Council approved more than $1 million to expand capacity at local shelters.
The city of St. Paul, Minnesota, is taking a stand and closing encampments amid growing concerns.
Baseball fans might remember the Metrodome's iconic blue seats, and now in Atwater, Minnesota, spectators can once again grab a blue seat and watch a game.
Tucked away in the Midway neighborhood in St. Paul is a community treasure many have come to love and respect.
Canada's finance minister on Tuesday says a set of retaliatory tariffs will target more than $27 billion of U.S. imports, including steel, appliances and dairy.
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon says Minnesota voters will not be affected in November by a plan put forward by President Trump and cleared by the Supreme Court to limit mail voting
Mail-in balloting has become increasingly popular in Minnesota. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon says that he believes the new rules established by USPS for mail-in voting is unconstitutional.
Big changes are coming to downtown St. Paul, Minnesota, to improve safety and address abandoned buildings.
A Wisconsin prosecutor says he will not file election bribery charges against billionaire Elon Musk even though the state's bipartisan elections commission said he likely broke state law.
President Trump said Friday that the U.S. will waive higher tariffs on ground beef imports, which he says will reduce beef prices by 25%. Some cattle ranchers, including those in Minnesota and Wisconsin, worry the plan will hurt them financially.
An outbreak of E. coli and salmonella is linked to an alfalfa grower in Minnesota, health officials say. WCCO speaks with a food safety expert about the risks associated with alfalfa sprouts.
Dozens of cases of E. coli and salmonella in multiple states are linked to an alfalfa grower in Minnesota, health officials say.
Twin Metals says a copper-nickel mine near the Boundary Waters would bring hundreds of union jobs and 1,400 additional positions. Still, opponents say the environmental risks to the watershed are not worth the trade-offs.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison released nearly 700 documents Wednesday in his office's investigation into Fleet Farm, alleging the company "ignored an internal warning" about selling firearms to a "straw buyer."
The Hennepin County Attorney's Office announced that it has declined to file felony charges related to an incident involving far-right instigator and pardoned Jan. 6 insurrectionist Jake Lang at Minneapolis City Hall.
A 22-year-old White Bear Township, Minnesota, man has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a woman north of the Twin Cities last fall.
Law enforcement has released an extensive report on the response and investigation into last year's deadly attack at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis.
A Pennsylvania man is accused of causing a fatal crash on a northern Minnesota highway last week by swerving his semi into a motorcycle and pushing it into a cable barrier.
Police are investigating two weekend stabbings that occurred in Minneapolis early Sunday: one inside a popular North Loop bar, and one at a northside after-hours club.
While our summer has been dry, many can't say the same for their nose or eyes. Ragweed allergies are picking up steam.
The "We Give Blood" drive will kick off this week. It's a competition between the 18 Big Ten Schools to see who can donate the most blood.
Hospice nurses who work for Minnesota-based Allina Health have voted to authorize a seven-day unfair labor practice strike, the union representing them said on Monday.
Could you have a life-saving kidney? A Minnesota woman with end-stage renal disease says she needs one.
An outbreak of E. coli and salmonella is linked to an alfalfa grower in Minnesota, health officials say. WCCO speaks with a food safety expert about the risks associated with alfalfa sprouts.
Mann said the Plymouth location will be the only family-owned, locally based Minnesota theater company operating an IMAX and will bring the format to an area where moviegoers have previously had to travel farther to find one.
President Trump said that he would be "lowering the American flag" throughout the nation for one week in Dolly Parton's honor.
Dolly Parton became an icon over her six-decade career as a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, movie and TV star and theme park owner who donated millions to help others.
Bunny Levine worked as a school librarian for 25 years before pursuing her passion for acting and performing.
Hairball, an '80s rock 'n' roll tribute band, will replace the Rod Stewart show at the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand that was slated for Sept. 1.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jeshaun Jones was issued a three-game suspension by the NFL for violating the league's substances of abuse policy.
Zebby Matthews allowed six hits and one run over seven innings, Josh Bell drove in three runs, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Athletics 9-6.
The eligibility chaos across college football has complicated the competition at Minnesota for the place kicking job.
Last week was a whirlwind for Kenny Dyson. Going from street clothes to an NFL practice jersey, and then to a preseason game in less than seven days.
The "We Give Blood" drive will kick off this week. It's a competition between the 18 Big Ten Schools to see who can donate the most blood.
The DFL primary in Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District was supposed to be close, but it wasn't. Former Lakeville Mayor and state Sen. Matt Little beat two well-known opponents by double digits.
Democrat Jake Johnson, a high school math teacher, is running a competitive race against Republican Rep. Brad Finstad, prompting analysts to downgrade Finstad's reelection outlook.
In the aftermath of the primary, Republicans in Minnesota are more optimistic about their November chances than they ever have been.
In the aftermath of the primary, Republicans in Minnesota are more optimistic about their November chances than they ever have been.
The candidates for the Minnesota general election are all set, and the campaigns are shifting into a higher gear.
For five generations, one family has run the Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours along the St. Croix River.
Keith Richardson is a home brewer and beer memorabilia collector. His collection got so big that, two years ago, he moved everything into an old toy store near downtown Lanesboro and opened the Hammarama Museum and Gift Shop.
Passing trains and scenic bluffs are a big part of Buffalo County, Wisconsin, but in the middle of it all is a garden where creativity and flowers grow together, all courtesy of a man named Herman Rusch.
Thousands of pictures of Split Rock Lighthouse are taken each year. And oftentimes a little island appears in those photos. Ellingsen Island has developed a following of its own.
There's a scenic, nearly century-old spot in St. Cloud, Minnesota, where right now you'll find thousands of flowers in bloom.
There's a buzz at the fairgrounds as vendors, exhibitors and 4-H families get ready to welcome millions of people across a very specific stretch of time. Why is the Minnesota State Fair 12 days? Good Question.
While our summer has been dry, many can't say the same for their nose or eyes. Ragweed allergies are picking up steam.
Maybe you've experienced the "Sunday scaries" which is when you worry about the looming work week or wish you could have accomplished more over the weekend. The "August blues" create similar feelings, one being regret.
As if the constant barrage of political ads wasn't enough, some WCCO viewers are particularly bothered by the language candidates are using.
There's a certain elegance to the common loon. Its black and white plumage carries a gentle sheen of green as though dressed for a formal affair. Subtle colors that allow its piercing red eyes to steal your gaze.
The Minnesota State Fair has unveiled its new foods for 2026.
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.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says tomorrow will be a bit breezy, but it will feel very pleasant with highs in the low-80s.
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.
After some storms up north on Tuesday evening, the next few days look to be a little cooler with low humidity.
Skies are expected to clear and it’ll get less humid as rain and storms push to the east.
Some rain and storms to the north push through Minnesota on Tuesday night, but skies will clear.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says tomorrow will be a bit breezy, but it will feel very pleasant with highs in the low-80s.
Nearly two straight weeks of food, fun, and farming are just hours away. The Minnesota State Fair starts Thursday. In tonight's Good Question, Jeff Wagner learns the history behind the fair's 12-day stretch and why we wait until the end of August to celebrate it.
CBS News reports that Dolly Parton died after a brief battle with cancer. She leaves behind a legacy that reaches far beyond the stage.
The city hoping to cash-in on prime State Fair parking says it fell short of projected revenue. Falcon Heights projected between $100,000 to $200,000 in revenue from the new paid parking program started last year. The final total was closer to $50,000 after expenses. Ubah Ali explains how the system is evolving this year and what to know before heading to the fair.
After some storms up north on Tuesday evening, the next few days look to be a little cooler with low humidity.