Sen. Tom Bakk To Retire At End Of Year: 'Time For Me To Pass The Torch'
Minnesota Sen. Tom Bakk will be retiring at the end of the year and won't seek reelection.
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Minnesota Sen. Tom Bakk will be retiring at the end of the year and won't seek reelection.
The Minnesota Senate voted unanimously Monday to approve an audit of a more than $2 billion light rail line that's been marred by delays and huge cost overruns since the transit project broke ground in 2019.
The Minnesota Senate on Thursday unanimously passed legislation to provide $20 million in grants for research against Lou Gehrig's disease, a tribute to Sen. David Tomassoni, of Chisholm, who was diagnosed with the disease last year.
The Minnesota Senate held its first votes Thursday on a package of Republican-backed education bills promoted as a "Parents Bill of Rights," most of which likely won't become law this session but will tee up some hot-button social issues for the election campaign.
A Minnesota Senate elections committee on Tuesday began considering a bill to block local governments from using outside money for election expenses.
Minnesota Senate Republicans on Thursday announced a tax cut proposal that would cost more than $8.5 billion over the next three years, which they say would make it the largest in the state's history.
Minnesota State Sen. Scott Newman (R-Hutchinson) announced Monday that he'll be retiring at the end of the year.
"We have seen the rights of parents eroded over time and replaced by heavy-handed bureaucracy," Sen. Justin Eichorn (R-Grand Rapids) said. Senate Republicans say a slate of bills they've put forward empower parents, who they believe have been sidelined in their kids' education.
DFLers in the Minnesota Senate elected a new minority leader Monday after Sen. Susan Kent announced earlier this month she was stepping down.
The pandemic upended so much of daily routines, and the Minnesota legislature was no exception, with remote work defining much of regular and special sessions that lasted 17 months straight.
The Minnesota Legislature's special session is now officially over after the Senate adjourned Wednesday instead of voting on the fate of some top government officials' jobs in Gov. Tim Walz's administration.
The Minnesota Senate began the day by recognizing Waseca police officer Arik Matson and his family. Matson was shot and seriously injured while chasing a suspect.
The Minnesota Senate on Monday unanimously passed a housing bill that focuses on ending Gov. Tim Walz's eviction moratorium and improving housing affordability.
After much anticipation, the Minnesota House passed the Omnibus Transportation bill Wednesday with a 112 to 21 vote.
The Minnesota state Senate unanimously passed the biennial higher education budget Monday targeting specific student needs.
On the last day of the regular session, top legislative leaders and Gov. Tim Walz finally reached an agreement on a $52 billion state budget for the next two years.
The Minnesota House on Thursday night approved a bill that would legalize recreational marijuana in the state, a historic vote for an effort some have been pushing for decades.
For the first time ever, a bill to legalize recreational marijuana will get a vote on the floor of the Minnesota House later this week. That bill is expected to pass with bipartisan support.
Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan are calling on the Minnesota Senate to pass a summer learning package in the state's COVID-19 budget, a plan that they say will help students catch up after pandemic-related disruptions.
Both chambers of the Minnesota legislature on Tuesday approved $7.8 million in emergency funding to cover the costs for extra law enforcement during Derek Chauvin's murder trial in Minneapolis.
The announcement, acknowledged by Republican lawmakers as a starting point, is the latest step in a series of negotiations at the Capitol that will continue into the end of the legislative session in mid-May.
The House bill would establish automatic voter registration, allow Minnesotans on probation or parole to vote, and create a permanent absentee voting lists.
In addition to reigning in government spending, Senate Republicans say they are going to focus on blocking the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency from implementing emissions standards from California.
Experts say there's still a long way to go until there's equal representation across all of government.
Sens. Thomas Bakk and David Tomassoni say they're doing so to take an opportunity to better serve their districts within the legislative framework.
Anthony Markanich scored in the first half, Drake Callender made three saves for his fourth clean sheet of the season and Minnesota beat FC Dallas 1-0.
Minnesota Wild right wing Matt Boldy was sidelined for about half of the first period of Game 3 of the first-round NHL playoff series against Dallas after face-planting on the ice following a hit to the head from Stars captain Jamie Benn.
When you think of masterful, memorable works of art, grain elevators don't typically come to mind. But in towns across the country, they're becoming an unlikely canvas for creativity.
A DFL senator is faced backlash Wednesday night after admitting he placed a bet in his own political race. All while pushing a bill to ban the very same platforms that took his wager.
The Mets snapped their 12-game losing streak Wednesday night, beating the Minnesota Twins 3-2.
A DFL senator is faced backlash Wednesday night after admitting he placed a bet in his own political race. All while pushing a bill to ban the very same platforms that took his wager.
Police in Edina, Minnesota, say one person was fatally shot Wednesday afternoon near the city's Southdale Center.
A TikTok creator is no longer banned from parks in St. Paul, Minnesota, after appealing the city's restriction, according to his agent.
Police in Blaine, Minnesota, are asking for the public's help to find 16-year-old Patrick Keane Jr., who was last seen on April 11.
The report found 15 issues with Moturi's case and 22 with Lussier's.
When you think of masterful, memorable works of art, grain elevators don't typically come to mind. But in towns across the country, they're becoming an unlikely canvas for creativity.
For more than 50 years, Steve Nesseth has answered the call, not for the recognition, but because for him service is simply a way of life.
Planting is underway and spring conditions have been good across much of Minnesota. But even so, some farmers are electing to sit out a year.
Elk River follows the cities of Champlin, Zumbrota, St. Francis and others in reverting to the old state symbol that was originally adopted in 1957.
Terrifying surveillance footage shows the moment a tornado smashed into a southern Minnesota home Friday.
Dozens of former employees are now suing their former bosses after they were all abruptly laid off from a metal fabrication plant in western Wisconsin.
Officials say more than 100 homes were damaged and one person was injured in a "significant tornado outbreak" across Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa on Friday.
A woman was found dead at a complex on the Mississippi River in Winona County, Minnesota, on Wednesday morning.
Gamblers in Wisconsin will still have to wait months or maybe even longer before they can start to legally place bets.
Leaders on the board that oversees the Universities of Wisconsin say that the fired president of the system was slow to address pressing issues like artificial intelligence and feared upsetting policymakers, faculty and staff.
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.
Mackenzie Reed, head custodian at Shakopee East Middle School, has painted large-scale murals throughout the building she once attended as a student, creating a more welcoming space for current students.
Kristi comes to the Salvation Army not only to get food, but to shine her light. She talks with and encourages people waiting in line.
The way Mary Hernandez describes it, the effort to keep families off the street in Shakopee, Minnesota, is like trying to keep your head above water.
A DFL senator is faced backlash Wednesday night after admitting he placed a bet in his own political race. All while pushing a bill to ban the very same platforms that took his wager.
About half of Iran's stockpile of ballistic missiles and its associated launch systems were still intact as of the start of the ceasefire in early April, officials said.
The report found 15 issues with Moturi's case and 22 with Lussier's.
Many are feeling relief as President Trump extends a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran. But there is still plenty of uncertainty
State and local agencies say they were forced to spend big and fast without any warning.
Some Trader Joe's shoppers will get a payout after a lawsuit alleged that the retailer's customer receipts put shoppers at risk of ID theft.
The bill would provide an average refund increase of $171 to homeowners after sharp property tax increases across the state this year.
The bills aim to close what supporters call a gambling law loophole, allowing for these prediction markets to flourish with no regulations.
It's a bittersweet changing of kegs and hands in northeast Minneapolis as HeadFlyer Brewing issued a permanent last call on Sunday.
Minnesota continues to beat the national gas price average, but there are still ways to save in the metro area.
Police in Edina, Minnesota, say one person was fatally shot Wednesday afternoon near the city's Southdale Center.
The report found 15 issues with Moturi's case and 22 with Lussier's.
Recently released 911 logs provide new insight into how police responded to the assassination of state Rep. Melissa Hortman, including the fact that officers did not recover her body for nearly an hour after the initial shooting at her home.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Police Chief Brian O'Hara and other city leaders outlined ongoing efforts to improve safety and livability in the city's Uptown neighborhood during a news conference Tuesday morning.
Minneapolis police suspect a driver was under the influence when he fatally struck a bicyclist on the city's southside early Monday morning.
For more than 50 years, Steve Nesseth has answered the call, not for the recognition, but because for him service is simply a way of life.
The media we consume and how long we spend consuming it can impact our mental health. In a world where screens are scrutinized, what is the worst kind of screen time?
National Nurses United warns Hennepin County Medical Center could close following federal health care cuts under H.R. 1, threatening care across Minnesota and the Midwest.
Hundreds of nursing home workers from across the Twin Cities are on strike Monday.
At M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina, Minnesota, there is an emergency room within the emergency room, focused on mental health.
A previously unreleased song is one of many ways Prince is being honored a decade after his death.
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.
A video game is helping people experience the Ojibwe culture in a new way.
At Mixed Blood Theatre in Minneapolis, a new production is using the stage to explore the impact of immigration and displacement.
Brad Paisley, along with special guest Avery Anna, will take to the stage on Sept. 3.
Anthony Markanich scored in the first half, Drake Callender made three saves for his fourth clean sheet of the season and Minnesota beat FC Dallas 1-0.
Minnesota Wild right wing Matt Boldy was sidelined for about half of the first period of Game 3 of the first-round NHL playoff series against Dallas after face-planting on the ice following a hit to the head from Stars captain Jamie Benn.
The Mets snapped their 12-game losing streak Wednesday night, beating the Minnesota Twins 3-2.
The Mets, 0-10 in their last 10 games and sitting at 7-16 overall, face the Twins in a 7:10 p.m. matchup as they try to break their longest losing streak of the season.
New York lost its 12th consecutive game, falling 5-3 to the Twins on Tuesday night.
From the controversies to the name-calling to bathhouse proposals to perhaps not renewing Police Chief Brian O'Hara's contract, it seems the Minneapolis City Council is always giving us something to talk about.
From the controversies to the name-calling to bathhouse proposals to perhaps not renewing Police Chief Brian O'Hara's contract, it seems the Minneapolis City Council is always giving us something to talk about.
Both the DFL and GOP nominating conventions are the last weekend in May 7, and voting for the Aug. 11 primary begins in June.
Minnesota's hospitals are facing a growing financial crisis amid higher costs, fewer insured patients, shuttering clinics and federal Medicaid cuts.
Minnesota's hospitals are facing a growing financial crisis amid higher costs, fewer insured patients, shuttering clinics and federal Medicaid cuts.
When you think of masterful, memorable works of art, grain elevators don't typically come to mind. But in towns across the country, 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.
It's one of the largest musky hatcheries in the entire world. John Lauritsen shows us how the Spooner hatchery keeps fish healthy and anglers happy.
Shattuck-St. Mary's is more than a hockey school, but hockey has helped put the school on the map. They have banners and big names to prove it, though the real evidence lies with a man called Rooster.
Opening Day for the Minnesota Twins is almost here. And across town, the St. Paul Saints are getting ready for their season, too, with some added history.
The media we consume and how long we spend consuming it can impact our mental health. In a world where screens are scrutinized, what is the worst kind of screen time?
The pet insurance industry is relatively new, and experts say that's partly why there's a low number of policies, but it is growing.
The popular afternoon pick-me-up in a cup is like a super food, supplement and medicine cure-all.
One of the biggest obstacles to exercising can be finding enough time to work out. WCCO explores whether upping the intensity can give someone the same benefits in a shorter amount of time.
Filing your taxes can be stressful. But daydreaming about how to spend that refund makes it worthwhile.
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.
Severe weather is headed our way Thursday night. Most of the state will be in a marginal risk for severe weather, while the metro area and southern part of the state will be in a light risk. There's a chance for heavy wind, rain and potential for hail. Chief meteorologist Chris Shaffer breaks down the timing of it all and shares when we could see another day of heavy rain.
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.
Fire dangers stay in place until 8 p.m. on Wednesday. Thursday tops out in the 70s before the severe weather rolls on Thursday evening. Chief meteorologist Chris Shaffer shares the timing on Thursday and what you need to know to stay safe.
Some possible severe weather is headed for the Twin Cities, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer.
Thunderstorms develop late Thursday with a few strong to severe, damaging winds and hail possible, WCCO meteorologist Mike Augustyniak reports.
Severe weather is headed our way Thursday night. Most of the state will be in a marginal risk for severe weather, while the metro area and southern part of the state will be in a light risk. There's a chance for heavy wind, rain and potential for hail. Chief meteorologist Chris Shaffer breaks down the timing of it all and shares when we could see another day of heavy rain.
When you think of masterful, memorable works of art, grain elevators don't typically come to mind. But in towns across the country, they're becoming an unlikely canvas for creativity.
A Minnesota DFL senator used a prediction market app to bet on the outcome of his own race, now he's facing backlash.
Edina Police say they've arrested 3 men they believe are connected to the fatal shooting in Edina.
Fire dangers stay in place until 8 p.m. on Wednesday. Thursday tops out in the 70s before the severe weather rolls on Thursday evening. Chief meteorologist Chris Shaffer shares the timing on Thursday and what you need to know to stay safe.