Walz signs lake weed removal safety bill into law after drownings
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Thursday signed into law a bill designed to protect employees of lake weed removal businesses after two young men drowned on the job.
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Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Thursday signed into law a bill designed to protect employees of lake weed removal businesses after two young men drowned on the job.
A new state law will now help protect underwater workers in Minnesota lakes.
A proposal advancing in the Minnesota Legislature includes changes to clarify the absentee ballot process after officials in Shakopee last fall accidentally threw ballots in a close race in the trash, prompting a court case challenging the results.
Minnesota lawmakers are racing to check off the to-do list before session wraps up in 2 weeks. And one of the policies up for debate aims to make sure a ballot controversy in a super close election last fall never happens again. Our Caroline Cummings has been keeping tabs on developments at the Capitol and joins us with the latest.
The Minnesota Senate on Thursday unanimously agreed to rename a Minneapolis bridge for the late Sen. Kari Dziedzic, the former DFL leader who died late last year after a battle with cancer.
Employees like bus drivers and teacher aides weren't eligible for unemployment insurance during summer break until a 2023 law expanded eligibility. The newly empowered GOP in a tied House wants to repeal that law.
Previous state leadership prioritized ending veteran homelessness. Now, lawmakers are looking at eliminating state-funded direct financial assistance that helps veterans.
During a news conference Friday, workers impacted warned that any change would force them to quit in order to make ends meet.
A clash at the Minnesota State Capitol over jobless benefits for school workers on summer break.
Gov. Tim Walz declared the state of our state is “as strong as it’s ever been” in his annual speech in St. Paul. He says that stands in contrast to what he calls chaos 1,000 miles away in Washington, D.C. Caroline Cummings joins us now with the latest from the Capitol.
Minnesota's governor will deliver his yearly "State of the State" address to a closely divided Capitol. WCCO's Caroline Cummings is there live with a look at what we can expect to hear tonight.
Dozens of Minnesotans gathered at the state capitol on Tuesday for an Earth Day rally, urging policymakers to double down on curbing climate change and protecting Minnesota's natural resources.
For more than 50 years, we've been celebrating Earth Day to protect our planet. As Caroline Cummings reports, dozens of Minnesotans who gathered at the state capitol today worry we're not doing enough.
Applications for free state health care by undocumented Minnesota residents are exceeding expectations.
Applications for free state health care by undocumented Minnesota residents are exceeding expectations. Esme Murphy has more on a clash at the State Capitol over the program.
Former Minnesota state senator Justin Eichorn, accused of attempting to pay a teenager for sex, pleaded not guilty on Monday in his federal arraignment hearing in St. Paul.
There is a budget battle brewing when the Minnesota Legislature returns to the state capitol on Monday after a week-long break, as the sprint to the finish line in mid-May begins.
The ethics standards in the Minnesota Legislature are facing fresh scrutiny after a prominent state senator didn't disclose a former legal client poised to benefit from a bill he sponsored.
Ethics rules are under the spotlight at the State Capitol following concerns about a conflict of interest involving a prominent state senator. Caroline Cummings explains why government watchdogs say it's time for a change.
At the State Capitol, there is a bipartisan effort to limit the authority of homeowner association (HOA) boards and make their dealings more transparent.
One in four Minnesotans live under Homeowners Associations. There is a major bipartisan push at the state Capitol to change HOA regulations. Esme Murphy talked about the bill with Rep. Kristen Bahner, a DFL Representative from Maple Grove.
Republican and Democratic lawmakers' phones are ringing off the hook with calls about tariffs. Democratic Congresswoman Kelly Morrison joins WCCO's Esme Murphy to talk about what they've been hearing from constituents.
Democrats in the Minnesota Legislature introduced proposals to assist federal workers targeted by spending cuts in the Trump administration.
State workers rallied Thursday to support their colleagues who lost their jobs last week due to federal funding cuts. Some at the state capitol say it’s time for Minnesota to throw some of those workers a lifeline. Caroline Cummings reports.
Large companies with more than 1 million users would pay $165,000 per month plus $0.50 per person on the sites.
A wildfire several miles north of Two Harbors, Minnesota, has grown to over 370 acres, according to officials.
Monday will mark five years since the tragic killing of 6-year-old Aniya Allen in Minneapolis
Saturday looks perfect with ample sunshine, highs in the low 80s and less wind than previous days. Things turn active on Sunday.
Defenseman Jonas Brodin and center Joel Eriksson Ek were unable to play for the Minnesota Wild in the second-round series against the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL playoffs because of broken bones in their feet.
Aaron Ashby became the major leagues' first eight-game winner, helped when an interference call on third baseman Royce Lewis allowed the tying run to score in a two-run eighth inning, and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Minnesota Twins 3-2 for their seventh win in eight games.
Monday will mark five years since the tragic killing of 6-year-old Aniya Allen in Minneapolis
Saturday looks perfect with ample sunshine, highs in the low 80s and less wind than previous days. Things turn active on Sunday.
Quincy Street isn't just at the center of Art-A-Whirl, it's at the heart of the Arts District in northeast Minneapolis. The road itself, however, is falling apart. And the only thing bumpier than the exposed brick is the reaction to the city's plans to fix it.
Staff with the City of Minneapolis are moving forward with a recommendation to give development rights for the Peoples' Way, located at George Floyd Square, to the Minnesota Agape Movement, officials said.
Dozens of beagles are getting a fresh start in Minnesota after they were rescued from a biomedical research center near Madison, Wisconsin.
A wildfire several miles north of Two Harbors, Minnesota, has grown to over 370 acres, according to officials.
Saturday looks perfect with ample sunshine, highs in the low 80s and less wind than previous days. Things turn active on Sunday.
Crews are working to put out a wildfire in Lake County that has burned around 100 acres, the Minnesota Incident Command System said Friday night.
A missing swimmer who was last seen in Chaska, Minnesota, on Wednesday afternoon has been found dead, the Carver County Sheriff's Office said Friday.
Minnesota farmers say they're cautiously optimistic after President Donald Trump announced a deal with Beijing to buy more soybeans.
A driver went airborne during a high-speed police chase in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, after fleeing a traffic stop.
Fifty beagles rescued from animal testing in Wisconsin are set to arrive in Minnesota Thursday.
A 100-mile stretch of Mississippi River towns is hosting its annual 100 Mile Garage Sale this weekend, drawing shoppers and sellers from across the region and beyond.
Minnesota animal rescues are stepping up to take in dogs from a Wisconsin research facility accused of animal abuse.
You may have heard of Give to the Max Day, where people donate millions of dollars to hundreds of nonprofits and organizations across Minnesota on a single day. That idea has spread to western Wisconsin, called Give Big Valleys.
Quincy Street isn't just at the center of Art-A-Whirl, it's at the heart of the Arts District in northeast Minneapolis. The road itself, however, is falling apart. And the only thing bumpier than the exposed brick is the reaction to the city's plans to fix it.
Somali and Muslim leaders in Minnesota played a threatening voicemail at a public gathering Friday, saying businesses in their community are being targeted with messages warning of death.
The Black homeownership rate in the Twin Cities dropped to 29% in 2024, and the region had the largest gap between Black and White homeownership rates of any comparable metro in the country.
Bobby Rogers once came to the Minneapolis Institute of Art to sketch and study; now he leads its design and editorial work, shaping what visitors see and experience.
Moses Cooper, who has cerebral palsy, met running partner Mark Hulsey through My Team Triumph Minnesota two years ago and the pair qualified for the Boston Marathon at Grandma's Marathon last summer.
Reg Chapman has the morning headlines.
President Trump announced Friday evening that U.S. and Nigerian military forces had killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, a leader in the Islamic State group.
A protest led by DFL members of the Minnesota House over a stalled gun reform bill entered the 24-hour mark on Friday night as the session goes down to the wire. The state representatives are holding the floor at the Minnesota State Capitol in hopes of getting a vote on the legislation. Republicans in the chamber say it's already had its chance. Ubah Ali spoke with a political science professor about how this compares to previous demonstrations over similar proposals.
A round-the-clock protest entered its 22nd hour at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul on Friday evening. With just two days left in the session, DFL lawmakers are holding a sit-in in the Minnesota House. They want Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth to allow a vote on gun control in the wake of the deadly Annunciation shooting. WCCO’ Esme Murphy shares where the debate stands as of Friday evening.
Minnesota farmers say they're cautiously optimistic after President Trump announced a deal with Beijing to buy more soybeans.
Part of the end-of-session deal in the Minnesota Legislature rolls back skyrocketing tab renewal fees. Those fees have electric vehicle owners especially revved up.
In Minnesota, you'll be able to try one at St. Paul's CHS Field.
With more Americans opting to drive rather than fly amid higher costs, South Dakota tourism officials say the state is well-positioned as a regional road trip destination.
President Trump's idea to save drivers a few dollars at the pump could cost them in the long run.
A 100-mile stretch of Mississippi River towns is hosting its annual 100 Mile Garage Sale this weekend, drawing shoppers and sellers from across the region and beyond.
Monday will mark five years since the tragic killing of 6-year-old Aniya Allen in Minneapolis
Police in Rochester, Minnesota, are investigating a shooting near Essex Park, according to a post on social media.
Justin Eichorn, the former Republican Minnesota state senator charged last year with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, appeared in a St. Paul federal court Thursday where he instead pleaded guilty to attempted possession of child pornography.
Federal investigators say four men from South America burglarized homes in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Florida, and walked away with more than a million dollars worth of cash, jewelry, firearms, precious metals and rare coins.
Charges say survelliance cameras caught the stabbing on video.
It comes after insurers stopped paying for their kids' daily care, which they argue was covered as part of a 15-year-old state law. As the end of the Minnesota session nears, lawmakers have four days to make a change.
A Twin Cities teenager is facing an unimaginable battle: terminal cancer. She's fortunate enough to have family by her side through her fearless fight as they all hope for a miracle.
Dr. Gianrico Farrugia has led Mayo Clinic since 2019, and the organization said it was his decision to "complete his tenure at the end of this year."
Twin Cities emergency room physicians, nurses and technicians made an emotional plea Tuesday for lawmakers to do something about Minnesota's gun laws.
The Minnesota Department of Health said Tuesday afternoon that it is monitoring a person who was potentially exposed to someone who tested positive for hantavirus aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship.
The Library of Congress revealed this year's list of 25 recordings to be preserved for future generations on the National Recording Registry.
Dave Ryan announced Wednesday that May 22 will be his last day at KDWB, ending a 33-year run at the Twin Cities station.
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis are calling their Aug. 29 show "Homecoming: A Celebration of the Minneapolis Sound."
A trial in the lawsuit between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni was set to begin later in May.
The Minnesota Star Tribune was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for breaking news for its coverage of a mass shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic school that killed two children and injured more than a dozen others.
Defenseman Jonas Brodin and center Joel Eriksson Ek were unable to play for the Minnesota Wild in the second-round series against the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL playoffs because of broken bones in their feet.
Aaron Ashby became the major leagues' first eight-game winner, helped when an interference call on third baseman Royce Lewis allowed the tying run to score in a two-run eighth inning, and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Minnesota Twins 3-2 for their seventh win in eight games.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have been eliminated from the postseason after losing to the San Antonio Spurs 139-109 on Friday night in Minneapolis.
The Preakness Stakes will feature its biggest field in 15 years today with 14 horses in the middle jewel of horse racing's Triple Crown.
Natasha Howard scored 26 points as the Minnesota Lynx defeat the Dallas Wings 90-86.
Amy Klobuchar is putting her gubernatorial campaign into high gear. She faces no significant opposition in the race for the DFL endorsement and her existing record of statewide wins is formidable.
The legislation establishes a list of requirements aimed at improving transparency and reducing conflicts within HOAs. Minnesota estimates that 25% of its residents live in an HOA, and 82% of new homes are built within one.
The Minnesota Senate passed a bill with mandatory requirements for homeowners associations aimed at improving transparency and preventing disputes, after two years of legislative work driven by public complaints.
The Minnesota Senate passed a bill with mandatory requirements for homeowners associations aimed at improving transparency and preventing disputes, after two years of legislative work driven by public complaints. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy spoke with Dana Ohman, an attorney who handles HOA disputes, about some of the most common questions homeowners have.
Sen. Tina Smith is using her last months in office to vocally campaign for progressive and environmental causes. She hopes that a progressive will succeed her when Minnesotans go to the polls next November.
There's a place in Wabasha County, Minnesota, where people go wild for wildflowers.
For nearly 50 years, Farmamerica has been sowing agricultural knowledge near Waseca, Minnesota.
The carillon has 56 bells, and the Mayo Clinic said that makes it one of the largest instruments in the world and the largest instrument in Minnesota.
When you think of masterful, memorable works of art, grain elevators don't typically come to mind. But in towns across the country, including in Minnesota, they're becoming an unlikely canvas for creativity.
At Arnie Lillo's Creations in Blue Earth County, you can visit a metal-scaled version of the Eiffel Tower and the Golden Gate Bridge. The works of art have taken on a shape of their own.
President Trump's idea to save drivers a few dollars at the pump could cost them in the long run.
More people than the entire population of Minneapolis, or half a million, were estimated to go fishing in Minnesota this past weekend. WCCO looks at how the tradition stacks up with other outdoor events that keep the state's economy running.
A deadly virus that's killed cruise ship passengers can be traced to small critters found hiding in homes.
So far this decade, the Twin Cities metro has, on average, added about 17,000 housing units per year, according to data from the Metropolitan Council.
A symbolic change is bothering some Minnesotans. Now their local leaders are listening; several cities are voting to fly the old state flag instead of the new one. While it was a drastic redesign, it wasn't the first.
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.
The Minnesota State Fair has unveiled its new food, drinks and vendors for 2025.
Saturday looks perfect with ample sunshine, highs in the low 80s and less wind than previous days. Things turn active on Sunday.
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 Adam Del Rosso has the latest forecast.
Saturday is a #Top10WxDay with high temperatures in the 70s and 80s across much of Minnesota, according to NEXT Weather meteorologist Lisa Meadows. Storms are possible on Sunday and Monday.
Storms will move through southeastern Minnesota on Friday night before a #Top10WXDay on Saturday, according to NEXT Weather meteorologist Lisa Meadows.
A wildfire several miles north of Two Harbors, Minnesota, has grown to over 370 acres, according to officials. Video from social media shows its destruction.
Kickoff to Summer at the Fair will soon be underway. Here's a preview.
Meteorologist Adam Del Rosso has the latest forecast.
Reg Chapman has the morning headlines.
Saturday is a #Top10WxDay with high temperatures in the 70s and 80s across much of Minnesota, according to NEXT Weather meteorologist Lisa Meadows. Storms are possible on Sunday and Monday.