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Investigators are releasing new information on the prostitution sting that led to the arrest of the Robbinsdale police chief. Former police chief Steven Smith was one of 11 people taken into custody on Feb. 20 by Coon Rapids police. According to police records, he was answering an ad on Backpage.com that was placed by an undercover Coon Rapids officer.
The Robbinsdale police chief stepped down Saturday after being issued a citation for hiring and engaging in prostitution by the Coon Rapids Police Department on Feb. 20.
A suburban St. Louis man has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison for transporting five female victims for prostitution purposes between Missouri and five other states. Federal prosecutors say 45-year-old Barry Wimberly of Hazelwood, Mo., pleaded guilty in December to one felony count of transportation for purposes of prostitution.
A 30-year-old St. Paul man received the longest sentence ever imposed on anyone found guilty of sex-trafficking in Minnesota history. Otis Deno Washington was found guilty of first- and second-degree solicitation to practice prostitution (one involving a minor), two counts of promotion of prostitution, and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.
A Chicago man was sentenced Friday to more than 26 years in prison for the sex trafficking of a teenage girl – which may be the longest sentence ever given in Minnesota for such a crime. According to the Ramsey County Attorney's office, Arteco Marvell Rhodes, 38, was found guilty on Nov. 1 on one count of engaging in sex trafficking in the first degree and possession of child pornography. Rhodes met the defendant, a 15-year-old girl, in Chicago in March, and asked her if she "wanted to make money and be part of the family." Within weeks, Rhodes drove the teen and a 19-year-old woman from Chicago to the Twin Cities in a conversion van.
Four family members have now been convicted for participating in a sex trafficking ring that last about two years, extended to multiple Minnesota communities and victimized many vulnerable women. On Wednesday, the Ramsey County Attorney's Office announced that 30-year-old Otis Deno Washington, of St. Paul, was found guilty in Ramsey County District Court on multiple sex trafficking counts. According to a press release, they are: two counts of promotion of prostitution; two counts of solicitation, one involving a minor; and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.
A Ramsey County jury found a 27-year-old Brooklyn Park man guilty on Friday in connection with a human sex trafficking operation that involved numerous victims -- including women who were mentally slow or vulnerable -- across multiple Minnesota communities.
A Ramsey County jury found a Chicago man guilty in the sex trafficking of a 15-year-old girl in St. Paul in April 2013. Arteco Marvell Rhodes, 38, was found guilty of possession of child pornography and he will be sentenced at 9 a.m. on Dec. 13.
A 37-year-old Eden Prairie woman is in Carver County jail pending charges of felony promotion of prostitution after officers raided a Chanhassen massage parlor last Wednesday. According to Carver County Sheriff Jim Olson, deputies served a search warrant at a message business on the 7900 block of Stone Creek Drive in Chanhassen on the afternoon of Oct. 29. Deputies had originally targeted to the business after allegations that employees were offering sexual services for a "$40-$50 tip."
A former suburban Minneapolis high school cheerleading captain has been sentenced to three years in prison for prostituting a younger squad member. Eighteen-year-old Montia Parker was sentenced Friday. She will spend at least two years behind bars before she's eligible for release.
Prosecutors say a high school cheerleader is admitting she talked a fellow student into prostituting herself, then kept the money. Eighteen-year-old Montia Parker pleaded guilty Friday to three prostitution-related counts.
Getting caught engaging in prostitution or soliciting sex for pay will come with a higher cost to Minnesota offenders. A new state law permits authorities to forfeit the cash that was used in or intended for the sex solicitation.
A Brooklyn Park man is charged with one count of prostitution involving a 16-year-old who was pulled in to prostitution by a fellow Hopkins High School cheerleader. According to the Hennepin County Attorney's office, 27-year-old Oladipupo Ademola Legunsen is accused of soliciting sex from a high school sophomore on March 6, which he saw posted in an ad on Backpages.com. The victim was allegedly solicited by 18-year-old Montia Marie Parker of Maple Grove, who knew the victim from the cheerleading team at Hopkins High, where she was a senior.
It's a story being written in the halls of schools across the Twin Cities -- girls as young as 12 are being recruited as sex workers. The FBI ranks Minnesota 13th in the nation for highest incidence of sex trafficking.
A Chicago man has been accused of prostituting a 15-year-old in the St. Paul area, and beating her so bad that he nearly killed her, too. According to a criminal complaint filed in Ramsey County, 38-year-old Arteco Marvell Rhodes was charged with one count of first-degree engaging in sex trafficking, one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct, and one count of possession of child pornography.
Prostitution charges against a former Twin Cities high school football coach have been dismissed, and in turn Mark Mauer must obey the terms of a 1-year probation and pay $500 in court fees.
Hill-Murray's head football coach resigned Tuesday afternoon, the school said, in the wake of being arrested during a prostitution sting Friday in Fridley, Minn.
A 54-year-old Woodbury man who is the head football coach at a Twin Cities Catholic high school was arrested this week for soliciting prostitution, authorities say.
A jury has convicted a 26-year-old man for sex trafficking and promotion of prostitution in Chicago and eventually Minneapolis, the Hennepin County Attorney's Office announced Wednesday.
A Minneapolis man is charged with running a juvenile sex trafficking operation out of his home, while an Eagan man is charged with giving the operation business.
The manager of a massage parlor in Ramsey, Minn. has been charged with receiving profits from prostitution and maintaining a "disorderly house."
A former Olympian who is now running for parks commissioner in the west metro area was busted for soliciting a prostitute.
Former Republican U.S. Sen. Larry Craig aims to fend off a federal election lawsuit against him by arguing his infamous July 11, 2007, Minneapolis airport bathroom visit that ended in his sex-sting arrest was part of his official Senate business.
A New Jersey man was sentenced to more than eight years in prison on Wednesday in federal court after taking a Minnesota girl to Denver for prostitution.
Edward Andre Washington was convicted Friday by a Hennepin County jury to two counts of promotion of prostitution/sex trafficking, and one count of kidnapping.
Fernando Tatis Jr. hit two home runs and drove in four runs for the red-hot San Diego Padres, who beat the Minnesota Twins 8-1 for a three-game sweep in a showdown of teams pushing for wild-card spots.
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.
Minnesota's drought has reached extreme levels in part of northwestern Minnesota, as more than 88% of the state is now feeling the impacts.
A Wisconsin high school football player has died from injuries sustained during a game on Thursday night.
Bunny Levine worked as a school librarian for 25 years before pursuing her passion for acting and performing.
Minnesota's drought has reached extreme levels in part of northwestern Minnesota, as more than 88% of the state is now feeling the impacts.
Officials say emergency crews in St. Paul responded to three different fires within 90 minutes of each other on Saturday.
One of five Minnesota men facing criminal sexual conduct charges for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl pleaded guilty on Friday, according to court documents.
Police say the girl's phone is off and last pinged on the 2000 block of Irving Avenue North.
The fight over Flock cameras could be moving to Minnesota's Capitol City. The automatic license plate-reading cameras continue to spark debate across Minnesota, with some cities cutting ties with the technology, as other cities deal with vandals taking matters into their own hands.
The Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Office says it received a report of a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of County Road 2 and County Road 33 in Roseville Township just before 2 p.m. Saturday.
Advocates say a copper-nickel mine near the Boundary Waters in northern Minnesota is the type of diversification needed to keep the industry alive in the region. Concerned neighbors worry that it could compromise the watershed and tarnish the wilderness area. Beyond environmental concerns, some wonder if a copper-nickel mine in the area makes sense.
A Minnesota hemp farmer won't let a looming federal ban cut down his efforts to create family fun.
A motorcyclist was killed in northern Minnesota Thursday afternoon when a semi truck ran him over during a crash, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.
Gov. Tim Walz's move to ban mining near the Boundary Waters highlights a long-standing debate: Can a copper-nickel mine operate in a northern Minnesota watershed without tarnishing the world-class Boundary Waters? The answer depends on who you ask.
A Wisconsin high school football player has died from injuries sustained during a game on Thursday night.
Dozens of cases of E. coli and salmonella in multiple states are linked to an alfalfa grower in Minnesota, health officials say.
The Franklin County Coroner's Office says Jack Pugh died March 30 from acute bronchopneumonia caused by cardiomyopathy, a disease that weakens the heart's ability to pump blood.
The crash happened at approximately 7:12 a.m. on westbound I-94 at milepost 13 in St. Croix County near Roberts, Wisconsin, according to the State Patrol.
Wisconsin residents headed to the polls Tuesday — or voted early — to have their say in the 2026 primary. Here are live results.
Crews in St. Paul, Minnesota, are clearing out the city's largest encampment on Wednesday.
After officials in Minnesota's capital city announced they would shut down encampments for those experiencing homelessness, the City Council approved more than $1 million to expand capacity at local shelters.
The city of St. Paul, Minnesota, is taking a stand and closing encampments amid growing concerns.
Baseball fans might remember the Metrodome's iconic blue seats, and now in Atwater, Minnesota, spectators can once again grab a blue seat and watch a game.
Tucked away in the Midway neighborhood in St. Paul is a community treasure many have come to love and respect.
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.
The U.S. and Canada have wrangled for decades over trade, and somehow, they still managed to remain friends, allies and trading partners.
The Pentagon has given separation notices to both the publisher and the editor-in-chief of Stars and Stripes, according to people familiar with the matter.
Chief Justice John Roberts issued a stay that will remain in place until the Supreme Court takes further action.
An unexpected reunion with one of the president's friends turned foes is gaining attention.
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.
Dozens of cases of E. coli and salmonella in multiple states are linked to an alfalfa grower in Minnesota, health officials say.
Twin Metals says a copper-nickel mine near the Boundary Waters would bring hundreds of union jobs and 1,400 additional positions. Still, opponents say the environmental risks to the watershed are not worth the trade-offs.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison released nearly 700 documents Wednesday in his office's investigation into Fleet Farm, alleging the company "ignored an internal warning" about selling firearms to a "straw buyer."
Target is reporting its second straight quarter of comparable sales gains, saying a merchandising overhaul under the discount retailer's new CEO was attracting more customers.
One of five Minnesota men facing criminal sexual conduct charges for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl pleaded guilty on Friday, according to court documents.
Police in Minneapolis are investigating after at least 87 vehicles were damaged across several areas of the city in nine separate incidents early Friday.
Marquez Hill Turnipseed, 24, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in May. He told investigators he went to the park to help fellow gang members in attacking an opposing gang on the evening of June 1, 2025.
A 34-year-old man is accused of playing shadow puppets with the grapple of a boom and crushing his coworker's head as they were trimming trees in Apple Valley, Minnesota, on Thursday evening.
Jurors heard Duane "Keffe D" Davis tell detectives his nephew Orlando "Baby Lane" Anderson fired the shots that killed Tupac Shakur.
Could you have a life-saving kidney? A Minnesota woman with end-stage renal disease says she needs one.
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.
Friday marks the fifth annual National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day, which has the goal of raising awareness about a drug epidemic that costs tens of thousands of lives a year.
Dozens of cases of E. coli and salmonella in multiple states are linked to an alfalfa grower in Minnesota, health officials say.
Maybe you've experienced the "Sunday scaries" which is when you worry about the looming work week or wish you could have accomplished more over the weekend. The "August blues" create similar feelings, one being regret.
Bunny Levine worked as a school librarian for 25 years before pursuing her passion for acting and performing.
Hairball, an '80s rock 'n' roll tribute band, will replace the Rod Stewart show at the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand that was slated for Sept. 1.
The Renaissance Festival, county fairs, Picklefest and Potato Days — there's plenty to do this weekend in Minnesota.
"Today, Elwood and I lost a great friend and collaborator, and the world lost one of the most naturally innovative drummers and a great and true son of Texas," ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons said in a statement.
Madonna leads all artists with 11 nominations at this year's MTV VMAs, and a full sweep would tie her with Beyoncé and Taylor Swift for the most VMA wins in history.
Fernando Tatis Jr. hit two home runs and drove in four runs for the red-hot San Diego Padres, who beat the Minnesota Twins 8-1 for a three-game sweep in a showdown of teams pushing for wild-card spots.
A Wisconsin high school football player has died from injuries sustained during a game on Thursday night.
Kelvin Yeboah scored two goals to help Minnesota United beat the San Jose Earthquakes 5-1 to snap a nine-game winless streak.
Jake Cronenworth raced home with the tying run on an error and Ty France singled in the go-ahead run during a four-run rally in the seventh inning that gave the San Diego Padres a 7-5 win against the Minnesota Twins.
Ty France homered and drove in three runs and Randy Vásquez and two relievers combined on a two-hitter as the San Diego Padres beat the Minnesota Twins 6-2 in the opener of a three-game series between teams fighting for wild-card berths.
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.
Democrat Jake Johnson, a high school math teacher, is running a competitive race against Republican Rep. Brad Finstad, prompting analysts to downgrade Finstad's reelection outlook.
In the aftermath of the primary, Republicans in Minnesota are more optimistic about their November chances than they ever have been.
In the aftermath of the primary, Republicans in Minnesota are more optimistic about their November chances than they ever have been.
The candidates for the Minnesota general election are all set, and the campaigns are shifting into a higher gear.
For five generations, one family has run the Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours along the St. Croix River.
Keith Richardson is a home brewer and beer memorabilia collector. His collection got so big that, two years ago, he moved everything into an old toy store near downtown Lanesboro and opened the Hammarama Museum and Gift Shop.
Passing trains and scenic bluffs are a big part of Buffalo County, Wisconsin, but in the middle of it all is a garden where creativity and flowers grow together, all courtesy of a man named Herman Rusch.
Thousands of pictures of Split Rock Lighthouse are taken each year. And oftentimes a little island appears in those photos. Ellingsen Island has developed a following of its own.
There's a scenic, nearly century-old spot in St. Cloud, Minnesota, where right now you'll find thousands of flowers in bloom.
Maybe you've experienced the "Sunday scaries" which is when you worry about the looming work week or wish you could have accomplished more over the weekend. The "August blues" create similar feelings, one being regret.
As if the constant barrage of political ads wasn't enough, some WCCO viewers are particularly bothered by the language candidates are using.
There's a certain elegance to the common loon. Its black and white plumage carries a gentle sheen of green as though dressed for a formal affair. Subtle colors that allow its piercing red eyes to steal your gaze.
Parents will be digging deeper into their wallets this back-to-school season.
Minnesotans have become quite familiar with drought in recent years. Not only how it affects the water supply, but also the rules that can come with it.
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.
Minnesota's drought has reached extreme levels in part of northwestern Minnesota, as more than 88% of the state is now feeling the impacts.
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.
Much of Minnesota is now under severe drought. In the Twin Cities, we're running 4 inches below normal rainfall this summer. Jason Rantala explores whether we could see a repeat of our extreme drought from just a few years ago.
WCCO meteorologist Lisa Meadows says the next chance for storms comes Monday night into Tuesday morning.
WCCO meteorologist Katie Steiner has the latest forecast.
Much of Minnesota is now under severe drought. In the Twin Cities, we're running 4 inches below normal rainfall this summer. Jason Rantala explores whether we could see a repeat of our extreme drought from just a few years ago.
WCCO meteorologist Lisa Meadows says the next chance for storms comes Monday night into Tuesday morning.
Among the big winners in this month's primary was Matt Little, now the DFL nominee in Minnesota Congressional District 2. Little, the former Mayor of Lakeville, beat two other prominent Democrats by double digits. He now faces Republican state Sen. Eric Pratt in the November general election.
WCCO meteorologist Katie Steiner has the latest forecast.
New details following nearly a dozen arrests after an out-of-town agitator and protesters clashed in Minneapolis Saturday. It happened outside City Hall during a planned event that attracted counterprotesters. Frankie McLister heard from city leaders about the incident.