Minimum Wage, Big Checks Spur Obama Minnesota Trip
President Barack Obama's latest trip to Minnesota is about drawing attention to the state's about-to-increase minimum wage and drawing campaign checks to assist House Democrats in the fall.
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President Barack Obama's latest trip to Minnesota is about drawing attention to the state's about-to-increase minimum wage and drawing campaign checks to assist House Democrats in the fall.
Six months ago, a Twin Cities business took a risk few have voluntarily taken. Before state law changed minimum wage laws in April, the owner of Punch Pizza increased wages to $10 an hour -- a $2.5 million investment over the next 10 years.
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development officials say the summer job outlook for teens is looking pretty good this year. DEED Jobs Analyst Oriane Casale says the unemployment rate for teens in Minnesota is down substantially from the last two years.
A Twin Cities pizza chain is getting national attention once again for leading the way with higher employee wages. "Hi, everybody. In my state of the union address, I talked about pizza. More specifically, I talked about a pizza chain in Minneapolis - Punch Pizza - whose owner, John Soranno, made the business decision to give his employees a raise to ten bucks an hour," President Obama said in his weekly address.
Gov. Mark Dayton is capping a push to raise Minnesota's minimum wage with a ceremony to sign the bill doing just that. Dayton planned to turn the bill into law Monday afternoon in the Capitol Rotunda.
Gov. Mark Dayton plans to sign the minimum wage bill into law on Monday, bringing one of the country's lowest rates to one of the highest in the nation.
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.
President Barack Obama is praising Minnesota lawmakers for raising the state's minimum wage.
Minnesota lawmakers are prepared for the final vote on a bill significantly boosting the minimum wage. House approval Thursday would send the bill to Gov. Mark Dayton, who supports the plan to raise the wage to $9.50 by 2016.
The bill ushering in one of the nation's highest minimum wages is hitting the Minnesota Senate floor and could reach Gov. Mark Dayton by week's end.
Minnesota legislative leaders appear to have reached a deal to raise the state's minimum wage. No details have been announced, but top lawmakers called a news conference for Monday morning to discuss an agreement.
This legislative session has stalled out with battles over a proposed $90 million Senate office building and a proposed minimum wage increase. But the battle is not between Republicans and Democrats - it's the Democrats who are fighting amongst themselves. With Democrats controlling the Minnesota House and Senate as well as the governor's office, it's the Democrats who are battling with each other over key issues.
Despite a collection of traditional adversaries aligning in opposition Friday, Democratic senators advanced a proposed ballot measure to let voters resolve a legislative deadlock over the minimum wage. A Senate jobs panel endorsed a constitutional amendment on a party-line vote over the objections of business, labor, faith and other advocacy groups. The measure would let voters decide if increases in the minimum wage should be automatically tied to inflation starting in 2017.
Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk says voters should decide whether Minnesota's minimum wage climbs automatically. A constitutional amendment that he and another prominent senator put in play Thursday would ask voters this fall if they think the wage should be forever linked to inflation.
Public bargaining is resuming over Minnesota's minimum wage. A House-Senate conference committee trying to forge a deal is scheduled to convene on Tuesday. The committee hasn't met since early in March after getting bogged down.
The push is growing to raise the minimum wage in Minnesota. Some lawmakers want to pass a bill this session to raise it to $9.50 an hour, but some workers in Minneapolis were rallying for much more Saturday. "I believe workers have a right, have a basic human right to be able to make enough money to raise their families and have safe affordable housing," Veronica Mendez Moore from Minneapolis said.
Another Minnesota-based company is hiking its own minimum wage. Mahtomedi-based Chuck and Don's Pet Food Outlet is giving its employees a starting wage of $10.10 an hour. Company founder Chuck Anderson says he didn't want to wait for mandates from the government to do what he calls "the right thing."
Restaurant and resort owners were at the Capitol Monday, lobbying against the proposed increase in the minimum wage. They say most servers already make well over the minimum wage when you factor in tips. Some said the increase would force them to lay off employees and raise prices, and they are trying to get lawmakers to carve out exceptions to the current proposed increase.
A political coalition pushing for a minimum wage increase in Minnesota is rallying in the Capitol rotunda as the new legislative session gets underway. House Speaker Paul Thissen and Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk are scheduled to speak at the Tuesday event sponsored by the Raise the Wage Coalition.
The Minnesota House quickly passed a bill Tuesday to send emergency heating aid to people suffering through the brutal winter, setting a rapid pace on the first day of what could be a quick legislative session.
Democrats who lead the Minnesota Legislature left no doubt Wednesday that a minimum wage increase of some kind will prevail in the upcoming session.
Democrats who lead the Minnesota Legislature left no doubt Wednesday that a minimum wage increase of some kind will prevail in the upcoming session.
As Minnesota's legislative session nears, one of the state's minimum-wage champions has issued a challenge. Five House colleagues accepted Golden Valley Democrat Rep. Ryan Winkler's invitation Tuesday to live for a week on the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour.
Some of Minnesota's well-known mayors, including the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul, are putting their weight behind an effort to pass Minnesota's first minimum wage hike in 8 years.
President Barack Obama shed a national spotlight on Minnesota Tuesday night when he praised a Minneapolis business owner during his State of the Union speech.
Law enforcement shot and killed a man Friday evening amid a standoff in northwestern Minnesota, according to the Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office.
Another weak system lifts northward over the weekend, bringing more clouds Saturday to the Twin Cities.
Jacob deGrom matched a career high by allowing eight earned runs and the Texas Rangers stumbled again in the AL West race with a 10-2 loss to the Minnesota Twins.
Plans to close more than a dozen public schools in Minneapolis aren't about saving money. So why do it? That's the question district leaders tried to answer Friday.
The of St. Paul went 547 days without a supermarket after a Lunds and Byerlys closed.
Plans to close more than a dozen public schools in Minneapolis aren't about saving money. So why do it? That's the question district leaders tried to answer Friday.
The of St. Paul went 547 days without a supermarket after a Lunds and Byerlys closed.
Police in Roseville, Minnesota, say they've made an arrest after a woman was kidnapped and assaulted on Wednesday.
Vance Boelter, the man convicted on federal charges for last year's deadly attacks on Minnesota lawmakers, made a court appearance Friday in his state case.
Maria Grant sustained severe injuries that left her with six staples in her head. She said she's recovering physically, but the emotional toll is only growing with her attacker on the loose.
Law enforcement shot and killed a man Friday evening amid a standoff in northwestern Minnesota, according to the Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office.
At Carlos Creek Winery in Alexandria, Minnesota, freshly harvested grapes are starting their journey from vine to wine.
A Scouting America committee believes the girl Cameron Scharfbillig brought to the surface of a pool may have died seconds later. The Minnesota Cub Scout, now 9, received the organization's Honor Medal in Sartell.
Police in Albert Lea, Minnesota, say that the damage caused by a vandalism incident earlier this week will cost upwards of $25,000 to fix.
The dry conditions much of Minnesota saw this summer weren't ideal for most crops, but grapes have flourished.
The Wisconsin State Patrol says a trooper is in the hospital with severe injuries after falling off a bridge while attempting to end a pursuit.
In downtown Hudson, Wisconsin, a small gallery is making room for a lot of creativity.
A $1.8 billion project to replace the Blatnik Bridge, which links Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin, is now underway.
An 18-year-old man has pleaded guilty to killing 10-year-old Lily Peters in Wisconsin four years ago. He was then given a life sentence with the possibility of extended supervision after 25 years.
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 Scouting America committee believes the girl Cameron Scharfbillig brought to the surface of a pool may have died seconds later. The Minnesota Cub Scout, now 9, received the organization's Honor Medal in Sartell.
Automotive collision and refinishing students at Dunwoody College in Minneapolis rebuilt a Hyundai Elantra and gave it to Robert Hanson, a U.S. Navy veteran, through the National Auto Body Council's Recycled Rides program.
For years, Keiona Cook has been weaving communities together, teaching kids from North Minneapolis and Edina to sew together. Now she's taking her work to New York for the city's iconic fashion week.
Natalie Flaherty started I Stand With Anne when she was 10. She's now one of this year's Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes winners, an award for people ages 8 to 18 who are making a positive difference.
In downtown Hudson, Wisconsin, a small gallery is making room for a lot of creativity.
Victims of last year’s deadly attack on Minnesota lawmakers say a convicted killer’s lies are traumatizing them all over again, plus more of the day’s top stories.
Minnesota is back in the crosshairs of the federal government with a lawsuit over gun legislation passed years ago. Adam Duxter spoke with the Democratic lawmaker who wrote the legislation and a leading gun rights advocate in the state about the legal battle.
Gov. Tim Walz ordered U.S. and Minnesota flags lowered at state buildings from sunrise to sunset Sunday, and he's asking businesses, organizations and individuals to do the same.
Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, the Republican candidate for governor in November, said Thursday she doesn't back President Trump when it comes to the war with Iran.
Vance Boelter, the man convicted on federal charges for last year's deadly attacks on Minnesota lawmakers, made a court appearance Friday in his state case.
Tim Wertish and his son drove out to the lot every morning before school. This weekend, nearly 400 classic trucks, pickups and cars go to the highest bidder in Redwood Falls.
Every grain and ingredient that comes through the door is certified gluten-free, co-owner Kasey Pate says, a dedicated facility for a community that lost its taproom when Burning Brothers closed last year.
Sunset to sunrise. Any rain, snow, sleet or hail. And any time you can't clearly make out people and vehicles 500 feet ahead. Three triggers in one statute, and most drivers only know the first one.
The Minnesota Department of Human Services is working with a contractor to correct an autism treatment plan backlog that is frustrating both parents and providers.
You've probably seen THC drinks at Minnesota bars and liquor stores, but those made-in-Minnesota drinks could disappear this winter if new federal rules take effect.
Law enforcement shot and killed a man Friday evening amid a standoff in northwestern Minnesota, according to the Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office.
A Minnesota mother and her son are accused of fraud involving Medicaid-funded services that were never provided, resulting in more than $130,000 in improper payments, according to court documents filed on Friday.
A Minnesota native who had been serving aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln for nearly 10 months came home to an upsetting surprise.
Police in Roseville, Minnesota, say they've made an arrest after a woman was kidnapped and assaulted on Wednesday.
Vance Boelter, the man convicted on federal charges for last year's deadly attacks on Minnesota lawmakers, made a court appearance Friday in his state case.
A potential merger between Allina and Sutter health has concerned community members pushing for patient and worker protections.
Doctors Council SEIU and Allina Health have been working toward an agreement for three years.
The headlines surrounding Artificial Intelligence's rapid advancement have been tough to digest recently. WCCO wanted to know how to manage anxiety caused by AI.
The virus has struck poultry producers in at least five counties in a single month. Nationally, nearly 23 million turkeys have been put down since 2022 — even as U.S. farmers raise 45 million fewer birds than they did a decade ago.
Officials say that anyone who touched the bat should call 911 and ask to be connected to Animal Care and Control and contact their healthcare provider.
Challenging documentaries and award-winning features are among the offerings of New York City's leading cinema event, starring such luminaries as Pedro Pascal, Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, Julianne Moore and Godzilla.
Taylor Swift announced her new single "Patient Zero" earlier this week, saying she has been "impatiently waiting" to announce that it will be out on Friday.
A Tennessee judge granted Dolly Parton's estate a temporary restraining order Wednesday against the late singer's nephew Bryan Seaver and his private security company.
An autopsy by the Greenville County Coroner's Office determined Hayden Panettiere's death was due to an accidental overdose of several drugs, including fentanyl.
Nike-owned Converse acknowledged that an ad for its Chuck Taylor sneaker is "deeply upsetting."
Jacob deGrom matched a career high by allowing eight earned runs and the Texas Rangers stumbled again in the AL West race with a 10-2 loss to the Minnesota Twins.
As a long baseball season winds down, a new one is heating up for a few Minnesota Twins players: fantasy football.
Kyler Murray is grateful to be back with the Minnesota Vikings this week after a concussion forced him out of his first game.
Kirill Kaprizov quickly became close friends with Mats Zuccarello when he joined the Minnesota Wild.
Kayla McBride scored 22 points on 6-for-10 shooting from 3-point range as the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx closed the regular season by cruising to a 86-66 victory that pushed the Indiana Fever into sixth place entering the WNBA playoffs.
One of the big races in the Twin Cities in November is the contest for Hennepin County Attorney.
Former acting U.S. Attorney Anders Folk and DFL state Rep. Cedric Frazier are competing to succeed Mary Moriarty, whose tenure has drawn controversy over sentencing and a Hennepin County investigation into federal agents during Operation Metro Surge.
The constitutional amendment would raise the contribution to schools by $33 per pupil for each school. That would take the fund's current contribution of $68 per pupil to $101 per pupil.
In August, a law changing the age for criminal prosecutions in Minnesota went into effect. The law bars children under 13, no matter how serious the crime, from being prosecuted. It's unclear what will happen to kids now accused of these crimes.
Maryland and New Hampshire have similar laws but carve out exceptions for serious violent crimes like murder and rape; Minnesota's version, effective August 1, 2026, has none.
The town of Lindstrom, Minnesota, is known for its unique water tower, but an unlikely discovery is bringing back memories of another landmark.
From making the paper for Crayola crayons to getting a visit from Mr. Rogers. John Lauritsen shares the history behind a Little Falls paper mill, and how its ruins have become its future, in this week's Finding Minnesota.
Built in 1886, the Prospect House was once a resort hotel. The third floor is preserved to show what the hotel looked like back then, but for Jay Johnson, the real history is in the basement.
For nearly a half century, the Haunted Mansion at the Minnesota State Fair has been scaring people silly.
It is one of the most uniquely shaped buildings at the Minnesota State Fair, and it holds nearly 80 years of history.
The leaves have been changing, the temperature has been dropping, and the pumpkin flavored coffee drinks are flowing.
The headlines surrounding Artificial Intelligence's rapid advancement have been tough to digest recently. WCCO wanted to know how to manage anxiety caused by AI.
If you're buying ground beef at the grocery store, there's a good chance that part of it came from a country outside the United States.
It's the fifth time in six years that Minnesotans are approaching fall during a drought. The time of year is right when homeowners typically start repairing their yards. Is it worth fighting back now or simply waiting until spring?
The first days of school can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. New teachers, new classes, maybe even a new building. It can be a lot to manage without a plan.
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.
Another weak system lifts northward over the weekend, bringing more clouds Saturday to the Twin Cities.
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.
Another round of clouds and showers to kick off the weekend in the Twin Cities, says meteorologist Adam Del Rosso.
It will be rainy and windy in the Twin Cities on Saturday ahead of a cloudy and dry Sunday, NEXT Weather meteorologist Lisa Meadows says.
Saturday will be rainy, cloudy and breezy in the Twin Cities, according to NEXT Weather meteorologist Lisa Meadows.
Police in St. Paul, Minnesota, need the public's help cracking a hit-and-run case that left an e-biker badly hurt.
There's something for cat lovers, polka and jazz enthusiasts — and those with the muscle to outlast competitors in a beer stein-holding contest!
Going to the pumpkin patch is a classic fall activity, but there's a creative twist at an upcoming event in Minneapolis. Emily McBride and Sarah Horning with Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts visits WCCO to show off some amazing spooky art.
Liza Sterletske and Grete Bergland from CrowBar in St. Paul visit WCCO to show off some delicious drinks with big Halloween vibes.
Liza Sterletske and Grete Bergland from CrowBar in St. Paul visit WCCO to show off some delicious drinks with big Halloween vibes.