'Cartel Land' Is A Brave Look At The Drug War; J.Lo Adds Nothing To 'Lila And Eve'

Questions about vigilantism are at the heart of Cartel Land, a gripping documentary on the people risking their lives taking a stand against Mexican drug cartels on both sides of the border. Directed by Matthew Heineman, whose camerawork is athletic and fearless, the movie unfolds like a blockbuster action flick, not unlike executive producer Kathryn Bigelow's The Hurt Locker or Zero Dark Thirty. The film starts in Mexico, in the dead of night, with masked men cooking meth, explaining that while the drugs might wreak havoc in America, it's the only way for them to escape poverty. What choice do they have?

• Jul 17, 2015

Minnesota Woman Survives Deadly Boat Crash With Whale In Mexico

It started as a relaxing vacation in Mexico, but it turned in to a terrifying rescue at sea for a Minnesota woman. Kim Armstrong of Windom was on a snorkeling tour when a gray whale breached and hit her boat. A Canadian tourist later died from her injuries. Armstrong was one of two people hurt.

• May 22, 2015

Best Cinco De Mayo Events Near Minnesota

Have a fiesta this year on May 5th.

• May 2, 2015

WCCO Viewers' Choice For Best Guacamole In Minnesota

The avocado is really having a moment. A Google search yields hundreds of recipes from soups to even ice cream. But the original avocado recipe is guacamole, especially at St. Paul's Boca Chica -- which WCCO viewers picked as the Best of Minnesota.

• Apr 30, 2015

Amid Bird Flu Outbreak, Turkey Farmers Increase Security

Poultry producers in the nation's top turkey state are taking extra steps to protect their flocks after a devastating strain of bird flu was confirmed at two Minnesota farms in as many days last week, a disease that had already slammed the doors shut on some key export markets.

• Mar 30, 2015

Minn. Deputy Paralyzed In Mexico Swimming Accident

What started as a winter vacation getaway turned into a struggle to survive for a Minnesota deputy. Last month, 39-year-old Jeff Edwards was vacationing with his girlfriend and other friends in Ixtapa, Mexico. While swimming in the ocean, he got caught in a wave and was slammed into the ocean floor.

• Mar 18, 2015

Minnesota Governor Headed To Mexico In August On Trade Trip

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton has Mexico in his sights. The Democratic governor's office said Tuesday that he will lead an August trade mission south of the U.S. border.

• Mar 3, 2015

Good Question: Where Do Our Immigrants Come From?

Some Republicans don't want the President, among other things, to grant legal status to undocumented parents who have children born in the U.S. Where do our immigrants come from? And, how have those groups changed over time? Good Questions.

• Mar 2, 2015

Minnesota Exports Record $5.5B In Third Quarter

State officials say Minnesota exports have jumped nearly 6 percent in the last year. Minnesota exported a record $5.5 billion of manufactured, agricultural and mining products in the third quarter of 2014, the Department of Employment and Economic Development announced Wednesday. That's up 5.8 percent from the same period last year.

• Dec 17, 2014

Everything You Need To Know About Poinsettias

I visited Bachman's farmhouse on Tuesday to learn about the Poinsettia, the most popular holiday plant in North America.

• Nov 25, 2014

Rare Hummingbird Found In St. Paul Now Back Home

A hummingbird found far away from home in a St. Paul yard is now back home. Roufus hummingbirds are from the Pacific Northwest and winter in Mexico. Experts think the bird got lost in our first snow storm.

• Nov 24, 2014

Rare Hummingbird's St. Paul Detour Causes Nat'l Buzz

A rare hummingbird found in St. Paul is caught in the middle of a national decision on where to send it. A St. Paul resident found a rufous hummingbird in their backyard a few days before Monday's snowstorm. "The homeowner was very concerned, knowing that the bird was really out of territory," said Phil Jenni, executive director of the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. "Typically we do not take healthy, adult animals."

• Nov 13, 2014

Travel To The Wonders Of The World

Here's a quick guide for families to the New Seven Wonders of the World and the only surviving original Seven Wonders of the World.

• Oct 17, 2014

Most Popular Destination Wedding Locations

Planning a destination wedding offers couples the opportunity to plan a unique wedding where they can say "I do" in front of a breathtaking background. All of these locations offer unique venues, luxurious resorts and beautiful settings.

• Aug 29, 2014

Bachmann Heads To Mexico Border For Look At Crisis

Minnesota Republican Michele Bachmann is spending the weekend along the U.S.-Mexico border to get a firsthand look at an immigration crisis involving Central American youth.

• Jul 26, 2014

The World Cup Soccer Coach You Have To See To Believe

• Jun 26, 2014

Celebrate Cinco De Mayo In St. Paul's West Side Neighborhood

This weekend, thousands will celebrate an important day in Mexican history. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Battle at Puebla, a day when Mexican soldiers defeated the French.

• May 3, 2014

The 25 Best Beaches In The World

After months of polar vortexes it's finally almost time to lay out in the sun and sand. To help get the ball rolling, we rounded up the 25 best beaches in the world.

• Apr 23, 2014

Movie Blog @ MSPIFF, Day 9: 'Heli'

Set in rural, modern-day Mexico, Heli is two parts beautiful, one part mundane and eight parts horrific. The film was in the running for the Palme d'Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, where it shocked viewers and critics alike. New York Times critic Manohla Dargis even scoffed at the Steven Spielberg-led jury for giving director Amat Escalante the Best Director prize for what she referred to as his "staged atrocities."

• Apr 11, 2014

Lime Shortage Takes Zest Away From Bars, Planes

A bad harvest year in Mexico has caused the price of limes to go way up. They've become so expensive that some airlines have quit serving them on planes. Lucas Price is a bartender at Barrio in downtown Minneapolis, a place known for its tacos and tequila. But lately, it's a little green fruit that's been putting the squeeze on Price.

• Apr 9, 2014

Mankato Woman Pleads Guilty To Human Trafficking

A Mankato woman has pleaded guilty to bringing a Vietnamese woman to the U.S. and forcing her to work at her son's restaurant.

• Mar 26, 2014

Enhanced IDs To Ease Re-Entry From Canada, Mexico

Minnesota residents can now apply for enhanced driver's licenses or identification cards that will make it easier to go back and forth between the U.S. and certain countries. The licenses can be used to re-enter the U.S. from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or the Caribbean.

• Feb 12, 2014

Man Pleads Guilty To Kidnapping Estranged Wife

A northern Minnesota man has pleaded guilty in federal court to kidnapping his estranged wife. Forty-two-year-old Timothy Glen Caskey of Virginia admitted that on July 14, 2011, he kidnapped his wife from Virginia, Minn., and took her across state lines against her will. Court documents say Caskey jumped out of a pickup truck, grabbed his wife, shoved her into the vehicle and struck two people who tried to help the woman. Caskey kidnapped his wife just hours after being released from jail for violating a protective order she had against him.

• Feb 6, 2014

International Trips You Can Do In A Weekend

Many international destinations close to home may prove to be a better option than South Beach or Miami. Among the best international trips that can be done in a weekend are the Bahamas, Cabo San Lucas, Cancun, Montreal and Vancouver.

• Jan 21, 2014

Ring In Navidad With The Holiday Treat 'Tamales Dulces'

For as long as anyone can remember, Mexican families have been gathering around at Christmas time to make "tamales dulces." Milissa Silva-Diaz and her mother Maria are keeping the tradition alive at El Burrito Mercado in St Paul. "Tamales go back from the Aztecan, Mayan civilizations," Milissa said. "And because it's such a great comfort food and it travels well."

• Dec 25, 2013

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