Here are the top moments in Minnesota politics for 2024
From Gov. Tim Walz becoming the Democratic nominee for vice president to the whirlwind conclusion of Minnesota's legislative session, 2024 was packed with political highlights in the state.
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From Gov. Tim Walz becoming the Democratic nominee for vice president to the whirlwind conclusion of Minnesota's legislative session, 2024 was packed with political highlights in the state.
Fighting fraud will likely take center stage at the State Capitol next year.
Minnesota is expected to have a $616 million surplus in the next two-year budget, state officials said Wednesday, but there is a looming $5 billion deficit in future years.
The Republican candidate in a close state House race is asking a judge to invalidate the results and declare a vacancy for that seat, which could prompt a special election sometime early next year.
A new law requiring public agencies in Minnesota to report cybersecurity incidents to state IT officials is now in effect.
Control of the Minnesota House is still up in the air as Republicans were able to flip three seats and several other races could head towards a recount.
If you have walked on a trail or swam in a lake in Minnesota you've benefited from the environmental natural resources trust fund. The fund was designed decades ago using funds from the state lottery.
The DFL monopoly on power in St. Paul is coming to an end. Democrats kept control of the Minnesota Senate with Ann John Stewart winning the only state Senate race on the ballot.
All 134 seats in the chamber are on the ballot this fall. But only about a dozen — like District 48B covering all of Chanhassen and parts of Chaska — are competitive. Roughly half of those are in the Twin Cities metro.
The race for president gets the majority of the attention as we race towards Election Day, but Minnesota could be in for some major changes on a state level, too. Democrats currently control the Minnesota House 70 seats to 64. But Republicans only need to secure 68 seats this election to take control back. As our Caroline Cummings reports, that's going to come down to just a handful of races.
In a rare special election this November, just one seat will decide the balance of power in the state Senate and decide whether DFL priorities keep getting the green light.
The move comes after the Minnesota Star Tribune published previously unreported court filings detailing several accusations against Rep. Jeff Dotseth, R-Kettle River, who is seeking a second term in the legislature.
Democrats in control of the state capitol have pushed for insurance mandates so IVF and other fertility treatments are included in health plans.
After a historic 2023 legislature session, Minnesota Republicans have their eyes on breaking up the Democratic trifecta at the Capitol. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy looks at the battle for the Minnesota House and why it could impact our lives.
Several new laws take effect in Minnesota Monday, including a fee on some retail deliveries to help fund transportation systems.
It will soon become a felony to buy a gun for someone else not legally allowed to have one — known as a straw purchase — under a new law effective Aug. 1.
Gun safety advocates are celebrating what they see as a win for Minnesota communities. State lawmakers approved tougher penalties for people who buy guns for others who are not allowed to have them. That's known as a straw purchase. Caroline Cummings reports on what you need to know.
Though the session ended in controversy, the legislature did pass some impactful policies. Rep. Melissa Hortman discusses those laws.
The Minnesota Legislature finished its work on Sunday with a chaotic close as lawmakers raced against the clock.
A new Minnesota law is considered a win-win for people in search of a job and those in search of workers.
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.
The Minnesota Legislature ended its work for the 2024 session Sunday with a chaotic finale, as political tensions erupted over a last-minute decision by Democrats to put their unfinished priorities into one bill to get them across the finish line.
Sunday evening was a grim one at the Minnesota State Capitol, with lawmakers engaging in shouting matches during the final moments of the 2024 legislative session. But amid the chaos was a rare moment of bipartisan jubilation.
The 2024 legislative session ended in chaos. Lawmakers in both the house and senate found themselves in a shouting match in the final hours.
The Minnesota Legislature ended its work for the 2024 session Sunday with a chaotic finale, as political tensions erupted over a last-minute decision by Democrats to put their unfinished priorities into one bill to get them across the finish line.
A Brooklyn Park police SUV rolled during a crash that officials said sent four people to the hospital on Wednesday afternoon.
A prayer camp is now set up at Fort Snelling near Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, where Indigenous activists say they're praying for families impacted by immigration detentions.
A University of Minnesota researcher is back home after a months-long journey to the end of the earth, collecting ice samples that are likely millions of years old.
One Minnesota group has been leading the charge to train legal observers and document tactics used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
Dr. Michael Osterholm and Dr. Emil Lou, faculty members with the University of Minnesota, have been recognized by TIME as two of the 100 most influential people in health in 2026.
A Brooklyn Park police SUV rolled during a crash that officials said sent four people to the hospital on Wednesday afternoon.
A prayer camp is now set up at Fort Snelling near Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, where Indigenous activists say they're praying for families impacted by immigration detentions.
One Minnesota group has been leading the charge to train legal observers and document tactics used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
Dr. Michael Osterholm and Dr. Emil Lou, faculty members with the University of Minnesota, have been recognized by TIME as two of the 100 most influential people in health in 2026.
Minnesota is in the midst of what state health officials call the nation's "largest known outbreak" of TMVII, a sexually transmitted fungal skin infection that can cause severe ringworm.
Minnesota is in the midst of what state health officials call the nation's "largest known outbreak" of TMVII, a sexually transmitted fungal skin infection that can cause severe ringworm.
Deputies fatally shot a man after trying to pull him over for driving recklessly in Duluth, Minnesota, Tuesday night, officials said.
Police in Duluth, Minnesota, say they're actively searching Tuesday for the shooter who killed a man near the city's Goat Hill neighborhood.
January is typically a slow month at Frontiersman Sports, but employees at the St. Louis Park, Minnesota, gun shop said sales spiked 30% above normal for the month.
A St. Cloud, Minnesota, man is charged with murder in connection to the stabbing death of his wife, the daughter of Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Jeff Johnson.
Three people are dead after a house fire in a small western Wisconsin town early Saturday.
John Lauritsen shares the story behind a massive snow sculpture that's now become a winter destination.
A jury has found a Wisconsin man guilty of forging threats against President Donald Trump in an attempt to get a witness against him deported.
Minnesota and Wisconsin are among the 11 states reporting their first measles cases of 2026.
Hundreds of schools in Minnesota and Wisconsin have closed or shifted to virtual learning on Friday amid dangerous cold.
The ongoing presence of ICE and federal law enforcement in the Minneapolis area has kept many immigrants at home for fear of being arrested. Now, their neighbors are crowdsourcing to cover their rent.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations aren't only happening in the Twin Cities. Federal agents are also working in smaller towns, and in some, seeing similar resistance from the community.
While Operation Metro Surge continues in the Twin Cities, Minnesota's farm country is also feeling the impact. The major concerns for farmers and the trickle-down effect it could have on consumers.
Minnesota's governor spoke out Sunday afternoon following the shooting death of Alex Pretti by federal immigration enforcement agents. "What's the plan, Donald Trump? What is the plan?" Walz said. "Fear, violence and chaos is what you wanted from us, and you clearly underestimated the people of this state and nation."
A marching protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minneapolis Friday afternoon happened as a widespread work stoppage across Minnesota, as organizers called for a day of no work, no school and no shopping.
A prayer camp is now set up at Fort Snelling near Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, where Indigenous activists say they're praying for families impacted by immigration detentions.
A prayer camp is now set up at Fort Snelling in Minneapolis, where Indigenous activists say they're praying for families impacted by ICE detentions.
There was a heated confrontation on a pedestrian bridge Tuesday in Richfield, Minnesota, where a woman confronted people voicing opinions against ICE — and eventually called 911.
Attorneys are hoping new filings in court could compel federal judges to order better access to immigrants held at the Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis — and better conditions for them.
After a two-year trifecta where Democrats had total control of the State Capitol, the dynamics shifted. And they return once again,.stunted in their ability to pass their priorities without buy-in from Republicans.
January is typically a slow month at Frontiersman Sports, but employees at the St. Louis Park, Minnesota, gun shop said sales spiked 30% above normal for the month.
Amid ongoing immigration operations in Minnesota, a local company is filling a desperate need for on-demand legal help.
Outside the governor's mansion in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Friday, demonstrators, including many students and teachers, pleaded for Gov. Tim Walz to enact an immediate eviction moratorium to help families impacted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement surge.
It's part of broader protests calling on the Minneapolis-based retailer to respond more directly to immigration enforcement.
While Operation Metro Surge continues in the Twin Cities, Minnesota's farm country is also feeling the impact. The major concerns for farmers and the trickle-down effect it could have on consumers.
At least two dozen U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement employees and contractors have been charged with crimes since 2020, and their documented wrongdoing includes patterns of physical and sexual abuse, corruption and other abuses of authority, a review by The Associated Press found.
"Because we have taken out thousands of criminals, their crime is down," the president said when speaking about Minnesota. "Not because of anybody else, it's because of us their crime is down."
Nancy Guthrie, the mother of "Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie, was reported missing on Feb. 1 and ransom notes were being investigated.
Police in Duluth, Minnesota, say they're actively searching Tuesday for the shooter who killed a man near the city's Goat Hill neighborhood.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said Tuesday that he expects the ongoing Operation Metro Surge immigration enforcement actions in the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota to last "days, not weeks and months."
Dr. Michael Osterholm and Dr. Emil Lou, faculty members with the University of Minnesota, have been recognized by TIME as two of the 100 most influential people in health in 2026.
Minnesota is in the midst of what state health officials call the nation's "largest known outbreak" of TMVII, a sexually transmitted fungal skin infection that can cause severe ringworm.
A new web page dedicated to fact-checking claims about Medicaid fraud in Minnesota has been launched by the state's Department of Human Services, officials said Wednesday.
Public health officials say a measles crisis has long been brewing in Minnesota.
Patients in Minnesota are canceling appointments and deferring critical health care needs because of fear of immigration enforcement as the federal crackdown continues, doctors say.
"Dawson's Creek" and "Varsity Blues" star James Van Der Beek has died at 48 years old.
Social media users incorrectly identified a young boy who was part of Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday as Liam Conejo Ramos.
Bad Bunny says he wants to bring his culture to his 2026 Super Bowl halftime show Sunday.
Renowned comedian Dave Chappelle is set to return to the Twin Cities later this month to perform and "show a stand with a community at the center of events that should unite all Americans," show organizers said Monday.
Complete closure of the performing arts center in Washington, D.C., will start on July 4, Mr. Trump said. It's not yet clear how extensive the changes to the building might be.
"We definitely have a little more buzz around us and more people at our games and stuff," said senior Vienna Murray. "People are taking notice thankfully which is more fun for us."
The 41-year-old American came out of retirement to compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics and crashed seconds into her downhill race on Sunday.
A Minnesotan competing at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy took a moment to address the situation closer to home in his home state, calling the practices of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents during Operation Metro Surge unconstitutional.
Social media users incorrectly identified a young boy who was part of Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday as Liam Conejo Ramos.
Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid and Atlanta Hawks forward Mouhamed Gueye were ejected Monday night after an altercation early in the fourth quarter of Minnesota's 138-116 win.
One Minnesota group has been leading the charge to train legal observers and document tactics used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
Even as Governor Tim Walz and state leaders hint that Operation Metro Surge may be ending, many Minnesota communities say the reality on the ground looks different. On tonight’s Talking Points, Esme Murphy speaks with a leader from COPAL Minnesota, an immigrant rights group training constitutional/legal observers, documenting ICE tactics, and providing resources for detained individuals and the families left behind.
The Republican Party endorsing convention is in May, and Demuth has said that if she doesn't win the endorsement, she will drop out, but several candidates are expected to continue to the August primary.
In a crowded field, Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth had a very good caucus night; she won the straw poll by about 32%.
The state of Minnesota is vowing to continue the legal battle after it and 12 cities were denied a temporary restraining order that would have shut down Operation Metro Surge.
John Lauritsen shares the story behind a massive snow sculpture that's now become a winter destination.
Northland Arboretum was built half a century ago on top of what was once a city dump. But over time, nature carved its own path with a little help from a Zamboni.
St. James is a smaller town with a main street and a railroad running though. But inside a local building, the main street and the railroad are even smaller.
On Dec. 9, 1965, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" debuted on CBS, and it became an instant classic. Lee Jenkins' home is proof that the show is still a hit six decades later.
Holiday lights are on full display across the state right now, and just south of the Twin Cities you'll find a Christmas light show that's been around for more than half a century.
As our weather warms, love is also in the air. Valentine's Day is this Saturday, and while we know many of the traditions, Jeff Wagner wanted to get to the heart of the holiday.
The monthslong Immigration and Customs Enforcement surge in Minnesota has sparked ongoing protests, some measured tens of thousands of demonstrators, others just a few dozen.
According to the Police Executive Research Firm, 82% of police departments in the United States equip officers with body cameras. That number comes from 2023, meaning it could be even higher by now.
With the new $2,600 stipend, DHS said the cost of a single self-deportation is $5,100. That's significantly less than the cost to arrest, detain and deport an undocumented immigrant, which DHS said costs more than $18,000.
It might be hard to believe, but it's gotten warmer outside over the past few days. The temperature is creeping above zero during the day, but the wind chill remains dangerously low. So, how is wind chill calculated?
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.
A suspect was taken into custody after an attack on Pearl Street Mall in Boulder on June 1 in which there were 15 people and a dog who were victims. The suspect threw Molotov cocktails that burned some of the victims, who were part of a march for Israeli hostages.
Temps will break into the 40s Thursday for the first time in nearly a month, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer.
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.
We really start to warm tomorrow. We should break into the 40s for the first time in nearly a month on Thursday, WCCO meteorologist Mike Augustyniak reports.
The metro’s unseasonable pattern continues on Wednesday — and record warmth is possible in the coming days, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Lisa Meadows.
Unseasonably warm pattern continues into the weekend. Highs climb from the 30s and 40s midweek into the 40s and 50s by Friday and Saturday, WCCO meteorologist Joseph Dames reports.
Temps will break into the 40s Thursday for the first time in nearly a month, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer.
A prayer camp is now set up at Fort Snelling in Minneapolis, where Indigenous activists say they're praying for families impacted by ICE detentions.
There was a heated confrontation on a pedestrian bridge Tuesday in Richfield, Minnesota, where a woman confronted people voicing opinions against ICE — and eventually called 911.
Attorneys are hoping new filings in court could compel federal judges to order better access to immigrants held at the Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis — and better conditions for them.
After a two-year trifecta where Democrats had total control of the State Capitol, the dynamics shifted. And they return once again,.stunted in their ability to pass their priorities without buy-in from Republicans.