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With Thanksgiving in our rear-view mirror, we've entered the holiday season and with it comes a drive to give to charity. For the fourth straight year, anonymous donor "Saint Grand" made their first donation of the season over the weekend.
In the spirit of the holiday, hundreds of volunteers are making the day a little brighter for those in need. About 500 people gathered at the Salvation Army Harbor Light Center in Minneapolis Thursday afternoon for a Thanksgiving meal.
The Salvation Army kicked off the giving season with its "Rock the Red Kettle" Campaign Saturday. Hundreds of bell ringers set up throughout the Twin Cities Saturday afternoon.
For the next six hours, every child in the Twin Cities is entitled to a free coat, hats and gloves. It's because of Coats for Kids, a Salvation Army program going on all day Thursday in 11 locations.
Going to the dentist can be both expensive and scary. That's why a group of doctors are helping thousands get free dental care Saturday. Around two dozen patients received free teeth cleanings, extractions and other procedures they may not otherwise be able to afford.
Housing nearly 600 people a night is typical for the Salvation Army Harbor Light Center. But those numbers remain steady with the hot weather, barely giving staff a break to prepare adequate room.
With warm weather and clear skies, heading out for a camping trip is one of America's most popular excursions. Here are some of the best money-saving tips while camping.
The Salvation Army's Harbor Light Center in downtown Minneapolis is packed with people seeking refuge from the extreme cold.
The Salvation Army is welcoming people without shelter to use its eight Twin Cities worship and service centers, as well as its Harbor Light shelter in downtown Minneapolis during the dangerous cold snap. Staff at Harbor Light are planning for people to be inside for the next 48 hours or more, beginning on Saturday night. Staff say they have plenty of blankets, extra food and warm beverages on hand.
With historic cold temperatures and dangerous wind chills expected to start next week, the Twin Cities Salvation Army said it's opening nine additional shelters as warming stations for those needing to get out of the extreme cold.
A group of anonymous Santas are helping the Salvation Army fill its red kettles this holiday season in Minnesota and North Dakota.
Derek Lilyquist and Jeremy Gilbert spent 30 hours ringing bells for the Salvation Army in front of the County Market in Hudson, Wis. Their goal was to raise $50,000 for a homeless shelter in nearby New Richmond. Friday night, about an hour before the end of their marathon, Lilyquist and Gilbert topped their goal, raising nearly $52,000.
Two years ago, I headed north to find an entire Christmas village twinkling on the shores of Lake Superior. And as Mike Waldren told me on Twitter, it was 100 percent worth the drive.
Minnesota Timberwolves star forward Kevin Love brought a Range Rover full of coats to the Salvation Army in Northeast Minneapolis on Tuesday as part of his sixth annual winter coat drive.
The Salvation Army is equipped to help the hundreds of homeless men and women who come to them for shelter a night, but since the cold snap hit, their space has become crowded.
After five days of non-stop bell ringing, the three contenders working towards the Salvation Army World Bell Ringing record have decided to walk away. The three agreed on the tie record, ending the hunt at 8 p.m. on Saturday.
Tuesday is the day for a Minnesota man who has set his sights on a world record with a holiday twist. Jim Brickson, captain of the Albert Lea Salvation Army, plans to be bell-ringing for no less than 80 consecutive hours at the Northbridge Mall in Albert Lea.
Just as the charity was announcing a downturn in donations, the mysterious "St. Grand" is once again leaving generous donations in the Salvation Army's red kettles. A donation of $1,000 -- in the form of a bundle of 10 $100 bills -- showed up in a red kettle in Roseville on Black Friday.
Thanksgiving came early for folks at the Salvation Army in St. Paul. They put out the traditional turkey and stuffing spread with a fine dining feel, complete with a wait staff and white table cloths. To top it off, their special meal was cooked-up by a chef with a five-star background.
Jeff Ansorge once commanded a staff of 17 and made around $80,000 a year as executive chef at a posh downtown Minneapolis restaurant where a 24-ounce dry aged Porterhouse steak goes for $48. But he gave it all up to become the head cook of a Salvation Army soup kitchen, where the meals are free.
One Minnesota man isn't spending the holidays shopping. Instead, he's setting his sights on a world record. Jim Brickson, captain of the Albert Lea Salvation Army, plans to be bell-ringing for no less than 80 consecutive hours.
The Salvation Army kicked off the holiday season with its "Rock the Red Kettle" Campaign on Saturday as hundreds of bell ringers set up at Cub Food Stores throughout the Twin Cities. The Salvation Army is looking to raise more than $10 million this season, and in order to reach that goal, Commander Jeff Strickler said they will need a lot more volunteers. "We have 120,000 hours to fill with volunteer bell ringers, so we can use all the help we can get from people," Strickler said. Whether it's a couple of hours or a few dollars donated, Strickler said it all adds up.
Accusations of abuse and racism at a Salvation Army treatment center sparked protest Saturday. Demonstrators called on the organization to fire the new administrators brought in over the summer. They gathered outside of the Adult Rehabilitation Center on Minneapolis' North 4th Street.
Now is the time to break out the winter coat as snow fall and freezing temperatures aren't far away. But there are thousands of kids across Minnesota who need one. That's why the Salvation Army is holding a coat boutique Tuesday for parents who need a winter coat for their child.
If you and your family would like to offer assistance to someone else in need, look into these five opportunities for families in Minnesota.
Paul Schnell, Minnesota's corrections commissioner, rejects DHS' claims that state authorities have been releasing hundreds of dangerous criminals, rather than turning them over to ICE.
The Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday announced that their accomplished defensive coordinator, Brian Flores, has signed a contract extension with the team.
The Minnesota Legislature returns for the 2026 session next month and fighting fraud in public programs will likely be among the policies lawmakers consider.
ICE's Operation Metro Surge started in the Twin Cities metro area nearly two months ago. The Trump Administration says they've arrested at least 3,000 immigrants in Minnesota. But federal officials have released only limited information about those who have been detained.
Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota and the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportations have left many pets behind.
The Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday announced that their accomplished defensive coordinator, Brian Flores, has signed a contract extension with the team.
The Minnesota Legislature returns for the 2026 session next month and fighting fraud in public programs will likely be among the policies lawmakers consider.
ICE's Operation Metro Surge started in the Twin Cities metro area nearly two months ago. The Trump Administration says they've arrested at least 3,000 immigrants in Minnesota. But federal officials have released only limited information about those who have been detained.
Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota and the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportations have left many pets behind.
Members of the CTUL workers' non-profit walked through the doors of the D.R. Horton office in Lakeville, Minnesota, on Wednesday morning, demanding the company keep ICE off construction sites without proper warrants.
Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota and the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportations have left many pets behind.
The U.S. House of Representatives is voting Wednesday on a bill that would reverse a 20-year ban on mining in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
As Minnesotans, along with much of the rest of the nation, hunker down for a brutally cold stretch of January weather, a new winter concern is starting to go viral on social media.
Minnesota schools are beginning to announce early closures on Wednesday as snow impacts parts of the state and dangerous cold approaches.
Democrats are rethinking their midterm election strategy due to the controversial immigration crackdown in Minnesota.
A Wisconsin man accused of sending the state Supreme Court's chief justice intimidating emails has been sentenced to probation.
Some schools in Minnesota and Wisconsin are delayed or closed on Tuesday as early morning rain makes the roads slick.
A western Wisconsin town is reveling in the national spotlight.
When he's not playing zone or man, Hall is carving it up at local hills. He has qualified for multiple professional snowboard competitions.
Two people were killed and another hurt in a crash in western Wisconsin Tuesday afternoon.
At Moth Oddities in northeast Minneapolis, volunteers moved through stacks of boxes as donations continued to pour in for families impacted by the increased presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the city.
Many people who serve in the U.S. military find it hard to ask for assistance when they've been trained to help and serve others.
Food Bank Eatery in North Minneapolis provides free meals for children, who may have little to eat after the pause of SNAP benefits for many in the community.
Firefighters are continuing a 44-year tradition that happens every year north of the Twin Cities.
It was a scary moment in the Twin Cities over the weekend, as a trailer hauling sled dogs turned over on Interstate 494 in Minnetonka.
Paul Schnell, Minnesota's corrections commissioner, rejects DHS' claims that state authorities have been releasing hundreds of dangerous criminals, rather than turning them over to ICE.
The Minnesota Legislature returns for the 2026 session next month and fighting fraud in public programs will likely be among the policies lawmakers consider.
Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota and the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportations have left many pets behind.
School district officials in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, say their sense of security is shaken and their hearts shattered after four students from the district have recently been taken by officers with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Two men detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement appeared in federal court hearings Wednesday, including the Venezuelan national who was shot in the leg by ICE agents last week in north Minneapolis.
Admission and parking prices for the Minnesota State Fair will remain the same in 2026, organizers announced.
It's a business model picking up steam across the Twin Cities. For instance, all the major sports venues in town, like Target Field and U.S. Bank Stadium, no longer accept cash.
WCCO gathered data on core staple items from Aldi in Apple Valley, Target in Fridley and Cub Foods in north Minneapolis.
Minnesota drivers have something to celebrate this holiday — a price drop at the pump.
With costs still high and budgets stretched, getting smarter with money matters more than ever.
Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota and the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportations have left many pets behind.
School district officials in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, say their sense of security is shaken and their hearts shattered after four students from the district have recently been taken by officers with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
ICE authorized its officers to enter homes without judicial warrants in the cases of people with deportation orders, a sweeping reversal of longstanding rules, according to a whistleblower complaint.
Two men detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement appeared in federal court hearings Wednesday, including the Venezuelan national who was shot in the leg by ICE agents last week in north Minneapolis.
Another man has been convicted in the sexual assault of a woman at a central Minnesota college.
Parents looking to get their children vaccinated are navigating confusing times. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently announced new guidelines on the shots it recommends for kids. But the Minnesota Department of Health disagrees with the changes.
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development says it began distributing payments on Friday to over 2,600 Minnesotans.
Just one day after dropping his bid for reelection, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said the state's paid family leave program is one of the most transformational bills the state has ever passed.
Roughly 12,000 Minnesotans have already applied for the state's new paid family leave program, according to an update by the Department of Employment and Economic Development.
It's a beauty technique that's exploding. Depending on your age, you might not have heard of it. It's called micro-needling.
The 2026 Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees were revealed on "CBS Mornings" on Wednesday. See the full list.
Here is everything you need to know about how to watch and stream the 2026 Golden Globes.
Bob Weir wrote or co-wrote and sang lead vocals on Grateful Dead classics including "Sugar Magnolia," "One More Saturday Night" and "Mexicali Blues."
Here are the significant books, films and characters joining the list of works in the public domain on Jan. 1, 2026.
Isiah Whitlock Jr. is perhaps best known for his role as state Sen. R. Clayton "Clay" Davis on HBO's "The Wire."
The Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday announced that their accomplished defensive coordinator, Brian Flores, has signed a contract extension with the team.
Richfield boys basketball holds a 15-1 record as of January 21st, with an undefeated record in the Tri-Metro Conference.
The opening night party and first day of games for the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships are being canceled due to dangerous cold in Minneapolis, organizers announced Wednesday.
Keyonte George scored a career-high 43 points, Jusuf Nurkic recorded his second career triple-double, and the Utah Jazz rallied to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 127-122.
John Mobley Jr. scored 26 points and made five 3-pointers, Bruce Thornton had 23 points, seven rebounds and four steals, and Ohio State beat Minnesota 82-74 in overtime.
You have seen the protests against ICE on the street, but Minnesota's battle against the federal surge is also in federal court.
As residents in the Twin Cities protest in the streets against ICE and federal immigration enforcement actions, Minnesota's battle against the federal surge is also playing out in the federal court system.
The shooting death of Renee Good by an ICE agent has raised several legal questions.
The fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent has raised many legal questions. Constitutional law professor David Schultz, who has taught a class on police, criminal and civil procedure, has some answers.
The DFL race pits two prominent party leaders, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Rep. Angie Craig, against each other.
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.
The story begins years ago when the city acquired one of the T-38 Talon Thunderbird jets from the Air Force.
The holidays are upon us, and in the town of Kellogg, Minnesota, you'll find a toy store unlike any other.
With the holidays fast approaching, and lutefisk on the menu for many families, one Minnesota town has the distinction of being called the "Lutefisk Capital of the Country."
It's a saying Minnesotans and Wisconsinites know well: "There's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing." The problem is that even proper clothing might not be enough to withstand the bitter chill headed for the bold north.
Parents looking to get their children vaccinated are navigating confusing times. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently announced new guidelines on the shots it recommends for kids. But the Minnesota Department of Health disagrees with the changes.
New polling shows most voters do not think last week's deadly ICE shooting was justified. But the Trump administration thinks so and suggested that Renee Good was a domestic terrorist. Experts say that's not a label to be taken lightly.
ICE is making arrests in Minnesota right next to shoppers grabbing groceries. The tense encounters are happening at places like Target, Walmart and other private businesses.
It's a question many people have been asking: What is the cost of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation in Minnesota? WCCO was able to get some numbers.
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.
Dangerously cold weather is headed our way. WCCO has issued NEXT WEATHER ALERTS for Thursday, Friday and Saturday. WCCO chief meteorologist Chris Shaffer shares what you need to know to stay weather aware.
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 dangerous arctic blast rolls through Minnesota beginning early Thursday, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer.
Bitter cold settles in Thursday night through Saturday, with likely dangerous conditions, WCCO meteorologist Mike Augustyniak reports.
As Minnesotans, along with much of the rest of the nation, hunker down for a brutally cold stretch of January weather, a new winter concern is starting to go viral on social media.
Dangerously cold weather is headed our way. WCCO has issued NEXT WEATHER ALERTS for Thursday, Friday and Saturday. WCCO chief meteorologist Chris Shaffer shares what you need to know to stay weather aware.
Pets have been left behind after their owners are deported. One local organization is looking to help.
ICE has made several appearances at construction sites and businesses. On Wednesday, protesters gathered to call an end to that practice.
Many lawsuits have been filed against the federal government since operation Metro Surge started.
Richfield boys basketball holds a 15-1 record as of January 21st, with an undefeated record in the Tri-Metro Conference.