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The National Park Service says it's less likely the extraordinary ice cave formations that have drawn tens of thousands of people to the Apostle Island National Lakeshore will be accessible this year.
Get outside and enjoy parks for free Tuesday! The National Park Service is celebrating its 99th birthday by offering free admission to all 408 parks Tuesday, August 25.
Travel guide to Utah's Arches National Park, featuring the world's largest collection of natural stone arches.
The National Park Service is beginning to excavate the mouth of an unexplored cave in the Black Hills of South Dakota, and researchers believe it could help broaden our understanding of how the region's climate has changed over thousands of years.
Minneapolis is getting $500,000 to help in the development a new park on an old industrial site. The National Park Service just announced that it's giving the money for improvements to Sheridan Memorial Park along the Mississippi River.
The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore plans to use thousands of dollars generated through a new fee for visiting the ice caves this winter to cover the cost of additional staff and equipment.
According to the National Park Service, about 12,000 people visited the caves on Lake Superior near the Apostle Islands this weekend. The ice caves drew more than 138,000 tourists last year, when the deep freeze made the caves accessible to pedestrians for the first time in nearly five years.
The ice caves in northwestern Wisconsin are proving very popular again this year. According to the National Park Service, the caves on Lake Superior near the Apostle Islands opened Saturday and attracted more than 7,000 people.
Visitors to the Apostle Islands ice caves will have to pay a $5 fee this winter. The National Park Service will charge the fee for visitors ages 16 and older, assuming the caves form again this winter.
The ice caves in Lake Superior's Apostle Islands were a huge tourist hit last winter. They were so popular that the National Park Service is talking about charging a fee. About 138,000 people visited the amazing scene last winter.
Rangers rescued a 60-year-old Minnesota man who apparently had fallen while attempting to summit a 13,770-foot peak in Grand Teton National Park in northwest Wyoming. The National Park Service says Steve Markusen, of Minneapolis, was rescued Friday morning.
A Twin Cities family is coming to terms with the fact that their missing son is likely dead after going on a mountain climbing trip last week. Mark Mahaney, 26, of St. Paul, Minn. was one of six climbers who went missing last Wednesday on Mount Rainier in Washington. The National Park Service said they were all likely killed in a 3,300 foot fall near their last known location.
A study is underway in parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin to monitor the health of bald eagles. On Tuesday, WCCO's cameras got to tag along as a crew brought a single eagle chick down from its nest.
Access to the popular ice caves at the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore will be closed by Sunday night due to safety concerns, according to National Park Superintendent Bob Krumenaker. The caves, which just saw one of its longest and most popular seasons in recent memory, will close due to rapidly-changing ice conditions that pose a growing safety concern.
A new National Park Service report says Minnesota's national parklands drew over 600,000 visitors who spent over $34 million and supported over 500 jobs in the state in 2012.
The ice caves near the Apostle Islands in northern Wisconsin are still proving to be very popular. According to the National Park Service, nearly 78,000 people visited the caves along Lake Superior from Jan. 15 through the end of February.
One of our national symbols is making a comeback along the Mississippi River. For years, the bald eagle had been nearing extinction due to pesticides. But things have changed for the better. Paul Labovitz with the National Park Service says the experience of seeing a bald eagle is one filled with awe.
The stretch of the Mississippi River that flows through the Twin Cities area is in better shape than it was 40 years ago, but a new report warns of some emerging threats.
A new farmer-to-farmer cooperative effort is aiming to clean up and protect streams in Minnesota.
Former National Park Service director Roger Kennedy, who staunchly defended his agency from budget cuts, has died at age 85. He had melanoma.
When Jon Francis disappeared while hiking in the Idaho mountains five years ago, Dan and Sue Seftick lent support to the Minnesota man's family while it grappled with the uncertainty and despair.
An online petition in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, has nearly 800 signatures after neighbors say a city project is threatening to remove historical trees on their street.
A brave group in Burnsville, Minnesota, battled through Saturday's brisk rain for a good cause.
Drake Lindsey threw for 204 yards and three touchdowns on Saturday as Minnesota defeated Akron 41-7.
Minneapolis police are asking for the public's help to find a vehicle they believe is connected to July's mass shooting outside the Reign Event Center.
Connor Prielipp allowed two hits in a season-high seven innings and fellow rookie Walker Jenkins homered to lead the Minnesota Twins to a 3-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.
An online petition in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, has nearly 800 signatures after neighbors say a city project is threatening to remove historical trees on their street.
A brave group in Burnsville, Minnesota, battled through Saturday's brisk rain for a good cause.
Minneapolis police are asking for the public's help to find a vehicle they believe is connected to July's mass shooting outside the Reign Event Center.
A pedestrian was hit and killed by a METRO Green Line train Friday night in St. Paul, Minnesota, according to Metro Transit police.
Operation Metro Surge took a toll on schools, businesses, restaurants and medical care. Inspire Change Clinic in south Minneapolis responded by changing how it delivered care.
The long journey from a marked common grave with other POWs in the Philippines to home soil in Minnesota came to an end for Pvt. Wallace Goodrich.
The DNR says the color shows up statewide, not just up north. Prairie parks out west, Mississippi River bluffs down south, and no overnight bag required.
Some families have reported that their kids have waited more than two hours to get on a bus, only to have the bus drive past them.
"We see over $82.5 million visitors throughout the state a year, and a large portion of that are coming through the fall," said Chris Morgan with Explore Minnesota.
Officials in Stearns County, Minnesota, are issuing an advisory about a wedding venue they say is operating despite a court order demanding its owner comply with safety regulations.
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.
A grieving Twin Cities mother took the stand on Friday in the trial of a man charged with the murder of his son, plus more of the day’s top stories.
An HR investigation into St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her is complete, but the full report has not been released, and the police chief's attorney is demanding it be made public.
Americans are optimistic about scientific advances in AI, but concerned that AI may take jobs.
CBS News observed two MS NOW employees being turned away from the White House on Saturday morning.
Federal immigration officer Christian Castro is pleading not guilty to federal charges that he lied to the FBI about being attacked before he shot and wounded a Venezuelan man in Minneapolis amid Operation Metro Surge.
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.
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.
Minneapolis police are asking for the public's help to find a vehicle they believe is connected to July's mass shooting outside the Reign Event Center.
Ashley Berry told jurors her son had been staying with his father in Columbia Heights because he was struggling at school. Jordan Dupree Collins Sr., who is representing himself, asked her nothing.
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.
A federal immigration officer is pleading not guilty to federal charges that he lied to the FBI about being attacked before he shot and wounded a Venezuelan man during the immigration crackdown in Minneapolis.
Jordan Dupree Collins Sr. is charged with one count of second-degree murder. He plans to represent himself.
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.
Nearly half of Americans with medical debt owe at least $2,000, forcing them to make tough choices, new research shows.
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.
Duncan Sheik died on Thursday night, his family said.
John Malkovich took the Volpi Cup at Venice this month for Martin McDonagh's CIA drama. Minnesota audiences get it Oct. 15, three weeks before it reaches theaters.
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.
A brave group in Burnsville, Minnesota, battled through Saturday's brisk rain for a good cause.
Drake Lindsey threw for 204 yards and three touchdowns on Saturday as Minnesota defeated Akron 41-7.
Connor Prielipp allowed two hits in a season-high seven innings and fellow rookie Walker Jenkins homered to lead the Minnesota Twins to a 3-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.
Breanna Stewart scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the New York Liberty beat the Minnesota Lynx 93-81.
Minnesota named a starter and a backup for Sunday but said nothing about the quarterback who opened the season. Murray began the week in the NFL's concussion protocol.
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.
Sunday will be a little brighter and milder in the Twin Cities with highs in the upper 60s, says meteorologist Lisa Meadows.
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.
Pesky drizzle and showers Saturday with some sun, and a little milder Sunday, says meteorologist Mace Michaels.
WCCO meteorologist Lisa Meadows says it will continue to rain through tomorrow morning.
A lingering shower is possible early Saturday, with another chance late Sunday near I-90. Highs hold in the upper 60s to near 70 into early next week, WCCO meteorologist Lisa Meadows reports.
Sunday will be a little brighter and milder in the Twin Cities with highs in the upper 60s, says meteorologist Lisa Meadows.
Stars of the North held the 12th annual Girls in Aviation Day Saturday at Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.
One of Minnesota's largest celebrations of Latino culture and community happened Saturday with a new venue: CHS Field in Lowertown, St. Paul.
A petition in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, has nearly 800 signatures, with neighbors saying a city project is threatening to remove historical trees on their street.
Celebrate all things Thai Saturday in St. Louis Park at the MinnesoThai Street Food Festival. Penny and Bobby Bank visit WCCO to discuss all the fun.