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.
The man who sprayed vinegar at Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar during a Minneapolis town hall meeting as the city endured a surge of immigration agents and the deaths of two U.S. citizens is expected to be sentenced after reaching a deal with prosecutors.
A few showers linger Thursday morning in the Twin Cities ahead of a nice day with highs in the mid 70s, but widespread rain moves in Friday with heavier pockets developing through the day.
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.
A Twin Cities physician who has spent the last two years learning to live with a life-changing injury is making a remarkable recovery.
Minnesotans can start submitting absentee ballots on Friday to vote in the midterm election.
The man who sprayed vinegar at Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar during a Minneapolis town hall meeting as the city endured a surge of immigration agents and the deaths of two U.S. citizens is expected to be sentenced after reaching a deal with prosecutors.
A Twin Cities physician who has spent the last two years learning to live with a life-changing injury is making a remarkable recovery.
Anthony LaRoque and Amias LaRoque have not been seen since Monday and were last believed to be in the area of the 600 block of Jackson Street Northeast or the 3000 block of 39th Avenue South.
More than two months after a shooting in an Oakdale, Minnesota, backyard left a 33-year-old St. Paul man with life-threatening injuries, family members are still waiting for answers.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension says it arrested Castro around 2:15 p.m. Wednesday in the area of Second Avenue South and Third Street in Minneapolis.
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.
The shelter, located in St. Cloud, says a visitor had been looking at the kitten, a 2-month-old named Marin, for a while before taking him out of his kennel and stuffing him into their bag.
Fall color season is almost here, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says several factors will determine when the leaves peak and how brilliant they'll be.
Students were sent home from a school in Renville County, Minnesota, on Tuesday morning due to kitchen troubles.
Police in Elk River, Minnesota, say a potential bomb threat prompted students to be sent home early Tuesday morning, but they found no threat while searching the school.
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 Wisconsin high school football player has died from injuries sustained during a game on Thursday night.
In downtown Hudson, Wisconsin, a small gallery is making room for a lot of creativity.
The nonprofit opened its Twin Cities doors in 2010 and now runs a seven-woman operation out of a warehouse stocked entirely with what other Minnesotans gave away.
An Annandale, Minnesota, boy who survived overwhelming odds as a baby is once again facing a serious heart battle.
Zy'ire was diagnosed with bone cancer in his tibia, and throughout treatment, his love of the game helped keep his spirits up. Make-A-Wish Minnesota granted his wish by putting him on the sideline in Vikings gear.
Lt. Ryan Kelly, the first Minneapolis officer to arrive at Church of the Annunciation on Aug. 27, 2025, described walking in to find dozens of children hiding in the pews — and locating 2 who had already died.
The man who attacked a high-profile Minnesota politician is expected to learn his fate in federal court Thursday, plus more of the day’s top stories.
The man who sprayed vinegar at Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar during a Minneapolis town hall meeting as the city endured a surge of immigration agents and the deaths of two U.S. citizens is expected to be sentenced after reaching a deal with prosecutors.
Minnesotans can start submitting absentee ballots on Friday to vote in the midterm election.
Reps. Zach Nunn and Mariannette Miller-Meeks reversed course on a House resolution to require congressional approval for continued military action against Iran, citing open-ended war concerns ahead of competitive midterm races.
Minnesota Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar questioned FBI Director Kash Patel in a Senate hearing Tuesday over the federal investigations into the shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti earlier this year in Minneapolis amid Operation Metro Surge.
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.
The 2026 Minnesota State Fair is rolling out more than three dozen new food items this year, on top of all the returning favorites — which makes putting together a game plan for your visit no small task.
President Trump said Friday that the U.S. will waive higher tariffs on ground beef imports, which he says will reduce beef prices by 25%. Some cattle ranchers, including those in Minnesota and Wisconsin, worry the plan will hurt them financially.
An outbreak of E. coli and salmonella is linked to an alfalfa grower in Minnesota, health officials say. WCCO speaks with a food safety expert about the risks associated with alfalfa sprouts.
The man who sprayed vinegar at Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar during a Minneapolis town hall meeting as the city endured a surge of immigration agents and the deaths of two U.S. citizens is expected to be sentenced after reaching a deal with prosecutors.
More than two months after a shooting in an Oakdale, Minnesota, backyard left a 33-year-old St. Paul man with life-threatening injuries, family members are still waiting for answers.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension says it arrested Castro around 2:15 p.m. Wednesday in the area of Second Avenue South and Third Street in Minneapolis.
New body camera video shows the moments police officers came under fire at a Minneapolis apartment complex earlier this month.
A new WCCO documentary follows one Minnesota woman's decision to turn a painful secret into a fight for change..
The strike will include OBGYNs, psychiatrists and critical care physicians at Mercy Hospital's Coon Rapids campus and Allina Unity's campus in Fridley.
After 334 days in a neonatal intensive care unit in Maple Grove, Minnesota, North Memorial Health's "miracle baby" is finally home.
Affordable Care Act recipients in 30 states are set to receive the $500 checks starting in October. Here's why.
The money will fuel a 10-year push into precision medicine at a hospital system that treats children from before birth through young adulthood.
Hospice nurses who work for Allina Health are set to begin a seven-day strike on Friday.
Country music star Kenny Chesney is returning to Minneapolis next year.
WCCO is tracking everything you can go out and do 4 Your Weekend, including at the Minnesota State Fair.
While performing in St. Louis on Saturday night, Lionel Richie appeared at one point to lean on a piano for support, according to video from the show.
Louis Lee came to Minnesota decades ago from Hong Kong to become a student at the University of Minnesota. He says listening to comedy helped him learn English.
The vault is open. Recordings no one's ever heard, spanning 40 years of Prince's musical career, are now available on a new album called "Timeless."
Luke Keaschall went 3 for 5 and scored from second base on Victor Caratini's game-ending single in the 13th inning to send the Minnesota Twins past the New York Yankees 5-4.
The Minnesota Vikings announced on Wednesday that running back Jordan Mason has been placed on injured reserve due to an injury suffered in the team's victory over the Green Bay Packers Sunday.
Max Fried earned his first victory since April 27, backed by home runs from Cody Bellinger and Spencer Jones that helped the New York Yankees keep pace in the AL East race with an 8-1 win over the Minnesota Twins.
The team's new leader is just 20 years old and only graduated from Roseville in 2024.
Minnesota Wild coach John Hynes has signed a multi-year contract extension after leading the team to its first playoff series win in 11 seasons.
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.
Demuth has been running ads focusing on a million-dollar funding proposal that Klobuchar supported that was stripped out of a funding bill.
She has won four races for U.S. Senate by double digits, and now Sen. Amy Klobuchar is campaigning to become Minnesota's next governor.
The DFL primary in Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District was supposed to be close, but it wasn't. Former Lakeville Mayor and state Sen. Matt Little beat two well-known opponents by double digits.
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.
For five generations, one family has run the Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours along the St. Croix River.
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.
A school night usually means earlier bedtimes and setting multiple alarms. WCCO spoke with a sleep medicine physician about how many alarms you should set to wake up.
Behind the fried foods and thrilling rides, farming remains at the heart of the Minnesota State Fair, where farm families work around the clock to get their animals ribbon-ready.
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.
The Twin Cities will dry out from overnight storms Thursday, but heavier rain is on tap to end the work week, says meteorologist Joseph Dames.
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.
A few showers linger Thursday morning in the Twin Cities ahead of a nice day with highs in the mid 70s, but widespread rain moves in Friday with heavier pockets developing through the day.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer has the latest forecast.
It was a pleasant Wednesday, with temperatures hovering around average, but the soaking rain is set to come Friday.
The man who attacked a high-profile Minnesota politician is expected to learn his fate in federal court Thursday, plus more of the day’s top stories.
The Twin Cities will dry out from overnight storms Thursday, but heavier rain is on tap to end the work week, says meteorologist Joseph Dames.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says tomorrow looks lovely with a partly cloudy sky and highs in the mid-70s.
The Tri-County Humane Society in St. Cloud says the kitten hadn't even spent one night at the shelter before someone took it this afternoon.
From making the paper for Crayola Crayons to getting a visit from Mr. Rogers, it was quite a run. In this week’s Finding Minnesota, John Lauritsen shares the history behind a Little Falls paper mill and how its ruins have become its future.