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Top Minnesota lawmakers are working to set the terms of a deal on tax cuts, new state spending and borrowing for construction that would enable them to end their session. Democratic leaders of the House and Senate said Thursday that they were closing in on a framework.
Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson is advising the Legislature to forge ahead with a bill making clear that lawmakers can't avoid arrest for drunken driving or other crimes during the months of session. But Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Ron Latz responded Thursday that he's not convinced that a new law is required to resolve what he sees as a misunderstanding of current law.
Top Minnesota lawmakers are making a major push to expand high-speed internet to regions of the state that still don't have it. Minnesota House Democrats are proposing big internet upgrades they say will improve rural schools and businesses.
Minnesota lawmakers haven't had a pay hike since 1999. But they can boost their take-home pay with per diem -- up to $76 per day in the Minnesota House, and up to $86 a day in the Minnesota Senate.
Lawmakers will be less than a month from the mandatory session finish line when they return to the Capitol after Easter, but don't be surprised if they make an earlier break for it. Much of the heavy lifting of the election-year session is done. Negotiators from the House, Senate and Gov. Mark Dayton's administration forecast more ease than usual buttoning up remaining tax and budget bills.
Minnesota lawmakers' immunity to drunken driving arrests would end under a bill that passed a House committee on Friday, a day after the Senate's version was tabled by lawmakers who see it as unnecessary. The archaic provision in the state constitution dates to 1858, when the state's founding fathers wanted to protect legislators from being arrested and detained from votes on important measures.
An expensive office building for lawmakers at the Capitol is facing new scrutiny. The four-story glass, steel and stone complex would sit across the street from the Capitol, and include offices for 45 of Minnesota's 67 state senators. But the cost and design are raising eyebrows, even from supporters like Gov. Mark Dayton, who called the project "overly lavish."
The up-and-down medical marijuana bill at the Capitol may be down again. Top lawmakers in the House and Senate say it's not likely to pass this year. Advocates of legalizing medical marijuana are hoping to make Minnesota the 20th state in the country to do so. Thursday, the advocates said it's possible to pass it this year. But it's not about medicine at this point at the Capitol; it's about math.
Minnesota state lawmakers are trying to slow down a plan from the Department of Public Safety that would restrict public access to driver's license data, including the bulk sale of data to insurance companies and car dealers. DPS officials say they made the change after thousands of snooping incidents into personal driver's license records. But insurance industry executives, and Insurance Federation of Minnesota Vice President Mark Kulda, say it could add money to your insurance bill.
Minnesota lawmakers have a difficult job ahead. They must decide what to do about the Minnesota Sex Offender Program, now that a federal judge has ruled that it is broken and in need of repair.
As the boys state hockey tournament skates into the Xcel Energy Center, it's another showdown in St. Paul that some high school athletes are fighting to win. Lawmakers are wondering if some students and their parents are going too far to gain a competitive edge.
A group of health experts and faith leaders were at the state capitol Monday to ask lawmakers to raise wages to improve the health of workers. Statistics show that low-income workers die eight-years earlier than other workers. Shaquonica Johnson, 37, has been a personal care attendant for 15 years. She works several different jobs at $8.50 an hour to care for her two children.
Minnesota Department of Administration officials estimate it would cost at least $2.4 million to rent temporary space for state senators and staff during the ongoing Capitol renovation.
Minnesota lawmakers have been told that a final decision on a new Senate Office Building must be made within weeks or a related renovation of the state Capitol will cost more and take longer.
Fears of prying from the sky have some Minnesota lawmakers seeking clamps on law enforcement's use of unmanned aerial drones to gather evidence.
Students at Concordia University are attempting something not a lot of college students try to do. They're going to the Minnesota Legislature to get some laws changed, including one controversial loophole for the lawmakers themselves.
Salaries of the top-paid employees in Minnesota city and county government have risen sharply since the state peeled back a restriction that made it rare for local personnel to earn more than the governor.
Lawmakers weighing where to send public construction aid are touring several Minnesota cities with projects in the 2014 mix. Members of the Senate Capital Investment Committee are headed to eight cities this week after spending three days on the road earlier in the month.
In Minnesota, veterans rallied at the Vietnam Memorial in St. Paul to show their support of the national movement. They talked about the closing of the national war memorials and the suspension of death benefits to military families.
Minnesota state legislators are struggling with how to craft new laws that would effectively combat the growing use of synthetic drugs. Several state House committees met Wednesday to strategize how to address problem that medical and law enforcement officials say is rapidly getting worse.
Minnesota leaders are taking stock of state departments that work in tandem with the federal government to determine those most at risk in the shutdown.
Two-year union contracts providing Minnesota state workers three percent annual raises are up for review by a panel of legislators. The Subcommittee on Employee Relations is deciding whether to ratify the deals.
A special session is expected to get underway today at the Minnesota State Capitol. Lawmakers are expected to deal with disaster relief after last June's storms.
Starting Monday, Minnesota's tax on tobacco is the sixth-highest in the country. The tax just jumped to $2.83 from $1.60, making the average pack of cigarettes in Minnesota now $7.51. Lawmakers who upped the tax said they did it not only to raise money, but to get people to quit.
Pressure is building for thousands of college students who could soon be paying more for school loans -- a lot more, if Congress doesn't act soon.
"The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" topped Apple Music's list while Michael Jackson's "Thriller," Stevie Wonder's "Songs in the Key of Life" and Nirvana's "Nevermind" finished in the top 10.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation says the southbound lane of the highway is closed at 193rd Avenue Northwest.
The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season officially starts on June 1 and ends on November 30. Here are the details on NOAA's forecast for this year.
Along with some sun, a warm front to the north will help heat up the Twin Cities close to 80 degrees on Thursday.
Claws, scales, teeth and tails: There's a place in Medford where alligators and snakes have taken over.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation says the southbound lane of the highway is closed at 193rd Avenue Northwest.
A state study found that crashes on the Lafayette Bridge in St. Paul have tripled since it was re-designed in 2015.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara says investigators know the suspect and that he has a "history of trespassing and acting erratically at the mosque and in the neighborhood."
If you're spending time in a Twin Cities park this summer, know it's among the best in the country.
The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners and Housing approved nearly $9 million in funding for housing projects.
Each time the Midwest is hit with severe weather, the damage adds up and so do the insurance costs. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy explores how insurance companies are looking at how they can make up for all those payouts.
A church in Faribault was struck by lightning Tuesday night after heavy storms rolled across the state.
Benton County officials say that a 71-year-old man died after a crash.
A 17-year-old died weeks after she was injured in an off-road vehicle crash near Duluth.
Officials confirmed that multiple tornadoes touched down in southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin on Tuesday evening.
Officials confirmed that multiple tornadoes touched down in southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin on Tuesday evening.
U.S. News & World Report has released its latest list of the top 150 best places to live in the country, with its top 15 featuring a pair of Upper Midwestern cities. But Minnesotans may be surprised that their only city to make the list was in the bottom third.
Wisconsin election officials have voted to provide more details to voters than normal to avoid confusion about a ballot that will have both a special and regular election for a vacant congressional seat.
After more than three decades, DNA researchers and authorities have identified a skeleton found in the chimney of a Madison, Wisconsin music store.
Twenty-four-year-old Madison Bergmann was charged earlier this month with first-degree child sexual assault with a child under 13 in regard to her relationship with a fifth-grade student at River Crest Elementary School in Hudson.
Ahead of Memorial Day weekend, a ceremony was held honoring Robert Hanley at his hospice facility, sharing cake and stories with friends and family.
There's only a handful of practicing Black architects in the state of Minnesota. It's a space one north Minneapolis designer is grateful to represent, and through his work on the north side, he aims to create a more equitable future.
A metro nonprofit makes a difference by meeting unmet needs in the community for women and children.
One woman aspires to open the first black, woman-owned brewery in the state
In a protest through songs, more than 50 students gathered outside Hinckley-Finlayson High School Wednesday afternoon, demanding a reversal to a school board decision to take a traditional Native song out of this year's upcoming graduation ceremony.
Dallas Mayor Eric L. Johnson and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey announced a friendly wager ahead of the NBA Playoffs Western Conference Finals.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson announced a friendly wager between their cities on Wednesday as the Minnesota Timberwolves face the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference finals.
The Justice Department filed a federal lawsuit accusing Ticketmaster and its parent company Live Nation of illegally monopolizing the live entertainment industry.
Minneapolis and Mendota Heights could start a four-year pilot project as early as next summer, implementing the cameras in high-risk areas or within 2,000 feet of a school to catch drivers speeding or running red lights.
Drive too fast in Minneapolis and you may get a speeding ticket — not from a cop, but a camera. The state legislature this year created a new lane for the city to test drive how they work.
Everyone is howling with the Minnesota Timberwolves as they chase the team's first-ever championship.
Minnesota has two new "million-dollar cities" where the median home prices are now in the seven figures.
On this week's Good Question, WCCO's Jeff Wagner discovers whether or not we can improve our attention spans for the better.
The Minnesota Legislature reached a deal Saturday that looks like it will keep Uber and Lyft in Minnesota.
An agreement was reached on Saturday night to keep Uber and Lyft operating in Minnesota and pay rideshare drivers more.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara says investigators know the suspect and that he has a "history of trespassing and acting erratically at the mosque and in the neighborhood."
Allison Schardin pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to third- and fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct.
A 35-year-old Minneapolis man pleaded guilty to killing a woman and injuring a man while driving drunk in Columbia Heights last summer.
A mother who, along with her toddler, was shot while sitting in a vehicle in a south Minneapolis alleyway Sunday night has died, police said.
An investigation is underway in the northwest Twin Cities metro after a toddler fell to their death over the weekend.
If you're spending time in a Twin Cities park this summer, know it's among the best in the country.
On this week's Good Question, WCCO's Jeff Wagner discovers whether or not we can improve our attention spans for the better.
Earlier this year, King Charles underwent a procedure for an enlarged prostate, which sparked interest in the extremely common condition among older men.
North Carolina Republicans are pushing forward with their plan to repeal a pandemic-era law, citing crime and recent campus protests.
With decades of experience healing the body, these two say this is the first step to healing the mind.
"The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" topped Apple Music's list while Michael Jackson's "Thriller," Stevie Wonder's "Songs in the Key of Life" and Nirvana's "Nevermind" finished in the top 10.
Charlie Colin, a founding member and former bassist of the band Train, died at 58, his sister confirmed to CBS News.
Recent Oscar winner and Iron Man himself Robert Downey Jr. was spotted in Minneapolis Tuesday.
Pop superstar Justin Timberlake is bringing "SexyBack" to St. Paul this fall.
Hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs posted a video on social media apologizing for his "inexcusable" behavior and that he takes "full responsibility" for his actions.
Luka Doncic had 15 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter to lift the Dallas Mavericks to a 108-105 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson announced a friendly wager between their cities on Wednesday as the Minnesota Timberwolves face the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference finals.
Anthony Edwards becomes the sixth player in Timberwolves history to be named to an All-NBA team, joining the ranks of Karl-Anthony Towns and Kevin Garnett.
Carlos Correa hit a solo home run and made a diving play to prevent a game-tying run, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Washington Nationals 3-2.
Before game one of the Western Conference finals could even tip off, the Minnesota Timberwolves had already made an impact off the court.
Each time the Midwest is hit with severe weather, the damage adds up and so do the insurance costs. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy explores how insurance companies are looking at how they can make up for all those payouts.
Each time the Midwest is hit with severe weather, the damage adds up and so do the insurance costs. Homeowners insurance rates have soared. In Iowa, insurers are not renewing policies leaving homeowners like Dave Langston of Cedar Rapids searching for new coverage.
Each time the Midwest is hit with severe weather, the damage adds up and so do the insurance costs. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy explores how insurance companies are looking at how they can make up for all those payouts. She spoke with Grace Arnold, the Commerce Department's commissioner. and WCCO's Director of Meteorology Mike Augustyniak.
Each time the Midwest is hit with severe weather, the damage adds up and so do the insurance costs. Homeowners insurance rates have soared. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy explores how insurance companies are looking at how they can make up for all those payouts. She spoke with Professor Andrew Whitman with the Carlson School of Management and Aaron Cocking, the president of the Insurance Federation of Minnesota.
The Minnesota Legislature reached a deal Saturday that looks like it will keep Uber and Lyft in Minnesota.
Claws, scales, teeth and tails: There's a place in Medford where alligators and snakes have taken over.
It's a rite of spring in the town of Atwater. When the weather gets warm, the racers get racing. But at this track, the vehicle of choice is a go-kart and most of the competition is too young for a driver's license.
Minnesotans like to explore, and now they'll have a chance to step into caves that haven't been explored in half a century.
John Lauritsen looks at how a Breezy Point barn went from housing buffalo and cattle to hosting customers and wedding parties.
It's one of the few covered bridges remaining in the Midwest, and it's seen a lot of traffic over the years.
With the Wolves' playoff run, people want to know — does a good defense really win championships?
On this week's Good Question, WCCO's Jeff Wagner discovers whether or not we can improve our attention spans for the better.
From Seattle in the Northwest, to across the world in Spain, and right back in Minnesota, the human collective looked north for a few nights as a massive light show performed for one of its largest audiences ever.
A sweaty Sunday with temperatures pushing into the 80s might have forced many people to hit the showers. And for some, it could have been their second go 'round for the day.
A survey by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shows 1.7 million anglers went fishing in Minnesota in 2022. Of those, 69% were residents and 31% were from out of state.
Minnesotans were delighted by an otherworldly light show Friday night that was on a level the state hadn't seen in nearly two decades.
Many Minnesotans were treated to a stunning double rainbow on Thursday.
Nicolae Miu, a 54-year-old man from Prior, Lake, Minnesota was found guilty of six criminal charges, including first-degree reckless homicide. Miu's trial lasted eight days in a Hudson, Wisconsin courtroom.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed early Tuesday, March 26 after a column was struck by a container ship that reportedly lost power, sending vehicles and people into the Patapsco River.
An early spring snowstorm made for many beautiful sights across the state of Minnesota over the weekend.
WCCO meteorologist Joseph Dames is looking at which parts of Minnesota could see some rain over the next few days.
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.
Meteorologist Joseph Dames says Thursday will be the nicest day this week.
Heavy rains, large hail and at least one tornado swept through parts of Texas on Wednesday night.
Meteorologist Joseph Dames says Thursday will be the Twin Cities' warmest day until next week.
A.J. Hilton and Shayla Reaves talk with a representative from Bachman's about the garden gains you can forge by pairing different types of plants.
Apple Music's newly-unveiled list features "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" just ahead of Michael Jackson's "Thriller," The Beatles' "Abbey Road," and Prince's "Purple Rain" among the best albums ever made.
In most major U.S. cities, buyers this year face slim pickings compared with the number of homes for sale before the pandemic.
This week is National Lucky Penny Day, which calls to mind many superstitions surrounding the diminutive denomination.
WCCO meteorologist Joseph Dames is looking at which parts of Minnesota could see some rain over the next few days.