Hortman family dog's legacy lives on through Helping Paws
Over the past year, many people have found ways to honor Mark and Melissa Hortman's dog, Gilbert. He, too, was shot on June 14, 2025, and had to be put down.
Watch CBS News
Over the past year, many people have found ways to honor Mark and Melissa Hortman's dog, Gilbert. He, too, was shot on June 14, 2025, and had to be put down.
A plea agreement in the killing of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman is bringing a mix of relief and emotion to the community she helped build.
U.S. Army National Guard Veteran Levi Anderson-Knutson doesn't go far without his black lab, Judy. She's his constant companion and trained service dog through America's Vet Dogs.
In Minnesota, 3M is helping raise the next generation of service dogs through a partnership with America's Vet Dogs.
Can Do Canines announced a new celebrity partnership Wednesday and showed off their latest certified team.
The nonprofit on Monday announced the Hortman Heroes Fund.
There is a new way to honor the legacy of the fallen Minnesota house speaker, her husband, and their beloved dog. After learning how Melissa and Mark Hortman adopted Gilbert from a group that trains service dogs, donations poured in. Photojournalist Nick Lunemann and Jeff Wagner share how that's changing the lives of those with PTSD.
Since the spring, Helping Paws volunteers have been bringing dogs to the Twin Cities senior care homes once a month.
Helping Paws has been in the spotlight since a moment of tragedy. Late House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman fostered for the nonprofit. Volunteering to train these dogs to work with people with disabilities and Veterans with PTSD. New this year, Helping Paws began a partnership with English Rose senior homes. As WCCO's Marielle Mohs shows us, it goes beyond therapy - it's a mutually beneficial relationship.
A dog named Nova is suiting up for a very special purpose: keeping a close eye on her human, University of Minnesota medical student Wesley Flint.
A sign outside the main gate of the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Faribault warns of security dogs, but a special litter of Labrador puppies inside the fences that are providing inmates with a different kind of personal safety.
Some prisons in Wisconsin and Minnesota are welcoming some new Labrador puppies. As Jonah Kaplan reports, the dogs are there to help with a different kind of personal security.
The veterinarian who worked on the Hortmans' dog recalls those moments he was first rushed to the emergency vet.
The Hortmans ended up keeping the last dog they trained, Gilbert, after he flunked out because he was too friendly.
Melissa and Mark Hortman served their community in many ways, including training dogs to be service animals for people in need.
Melissa and Mark Hortman served their community in many ways, including training dogs to be service animals for people in need. WCCO's Marielle Mohs spoke with the volunteer group and a veteran who has benefited from their efforts.
The Minnesota Legislature finalized the next two-year state budget and wrapped up all of its work on Monday in a short special session, after lawmakers failed to make the deadline last month and were forced into overtime.
Gov. Tim Walz Thursday morning signed a bill granting trainers of service dogs the same housing protections as people who rely on the animals to navigate daily life.
Duke, a 2-year-old lab, is a critical incident response dog with the Burnsville Police Department, specially trained to detect cortisol — a stress hormone — in people.
We know dogs can sense our emotions, but did you know they can actually smell it, too? Kirsten Mitchell introduces us to Duke, a first-of-his-kind K-9 in Minnesota, who’s is helping sniff out stress.
A new puppy enrichment center in Eden Prairie is like a preschool for puppies. Designed to promote healthy development, this new facility aims to specifically prepare dogs who hope to one day become service animals. WCCO's Reg Chapman and Adam Del Rosso stopped by to visit some furry friends.
A Minneapolis family fundraising to train an Alert Seizure Dog for toddler reached their goal of $25,000.
Several service dogs went through an intense 12 weeks of training, and are now ready to work in the city of Minneapolis.
It can take two to three years to be paired with a service dog, and Helping Paws is always in need of donations and volunteers to be service dog trainers.
On this Veteran's Day weekend, local nonprofit Helping Paws says it's seeing a growing need for their invaluable support for our service members who struggle with PTSD after they come home.
MLB's first game at the Field of Dreams movie site in four years in Dyersville, Iowa, averaged 1.66 million viewers on Netflix Thursday night according to Nielsen.
"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.
More than 7.2 million checks have been mailed so far, with millions more expected to go out this week, according to State Farm.
A member of the Minnesota National Guard is accused of sexually assaulting a colleague at Fort Ripley during training in 2022, according to court documents filed earlier this month.
Twin Cities community, education, faith, labor and healthcare leaders gathered Tuesday morning to condemn reports of federal surveillance targeting progressive groups during Operation Metro Surge earlier this year.
Twin Cities community, education, faith, labor and healthcare leaders gathered Tuesday morning to condemn reports of federal surveillance targeting progressive groups during Operation Metro Surge earlier this year.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on Tuesday announced he is suing Texas Gov. Greg Abbott over the extradition of an immigration agent accused of shooting a man in Minneapolis.
The home of an iconic Minneapolis bar is up for sale, and with it comes a whole lot of history.
People gathered at Downtown Park in Hopkins, Minnesota, on Monday night to mourn the deaths of 7-year-old Evie Brown, Kristen Brown and Alice Brown.
A 30-year-old man charged in a Medicaid fraud scheme is linked to several people accused of running a sex trafficking operation in Hennepin County, Minnesota, according to court documents.
A member of the Minnesota National Guard is accused of sexually assaulting a colleague at Fort Ripley during training in 2022, according to court documents filed earlier this month.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Tuesday is issuing an executive order to ban nonferrous mining in the Boundary Waters area.
Williams and Hall Outfitters in Ely has been in business for 33 years.
More than six fire departments responded in the middle of the night to Kingsway Senior Living, and staff say it took a village to relocate everyone to Belle Plaine High School for temporary shelter.
An individual is dead after a police officer shot at them with their service weapon on the Red Lake Nation Thursday, according to a special agent with the FBI.
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.
Progressive candidates for governor in Wisconsin and U.S. Senate in Minnesota are making their final pushes ahead of Tuesday's election.
Authorities have released the name of the Madison police officer who shot and killed a 38-year-old Black man last month in Wisconsin's capital city, Madison.
David Crowley, backed by Gov. Tony Evers, faces democratic socialist Francesca Hong in a Wisconsin primary that could signal how far left the Democratic Party is willing to go.
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.
Twin Cities community, education, faith, labor and healthcare leaders gathered Tuesday morning to condemn reports of federal surveillance targeting progressive groups during Operation Metro Surge earlier this year.
Twin Cities community, education, faith, labor and healthcare leaders gathered Tuesday morning to condemn reports of federal surveillance during Operation Metro Surge.
Four months after Congress voted to overturn a 20-year federal ban on mining near Minnesota's Boundary Waters, Gov. Tim Walz announced an executive order Tuesday to prevent mining of copper, nickel and other precious metals within the Rainy River Headwaters Watershed.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on Tuesday announced he is suing Texas Gov. Greg Abbott over the extradition of an immigration agent accused of shooting a man in Minneapolis.
The Justice Department is planning to deploy a record 1,000 federal monitors to polling places throughout the U.S. for the midterm elections.
A Minnesota woman says she fainted, spiked a 102-degree fever, and was hospitalized with sepsis three days after eating a chicken burrito bowl at a Chipotle in Roseville, and genetic testing connected her case to a multistate outbreak, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday.
Parents will be digging deeper into their wallets this back-to-school season.
Get ready to watch movies and television with clarity like never before. That's how industry experts are describing the latest TV technology now on sale exclusively at Best Buy.
A lottery player in Minnesota won a jackpot of more than $34 million last week, a record for the Lotto America game in the state.
The lawsuit accuses Loon of using "kid-friendly characters" to promote its vapes in flavors such as Cotton Candy, Strawberry Popsicle, Banana Taffy and Blue Razz Slushy.
A member of the Minnesota National Guard is accused of sexually assaulting a colleague at Fort Ripley during training in 2022, according to court documents filed earlier this month.
A Fridley, Minnesota, man is accused of stealing over $300,000 by billing for Medicaid services that he did not provide.
A 30-year-old man charged in a Medicaid fraud scheme is linked to several people accused of running a sex trafficking operation in Hennepin County, Minnesota, according to court documents.
Luigi Mangione's New York state trial on second-degree murder charges is being delayed.
The long-unsolved drive-by shooting gripped the hip-hop community, partly because no one was charged until Duane "Keffe D" Davis was indicted in 2023.
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.
In a wide-ranging interview with the CBS News partner BBC News, Hunter Biden grew emotional as he discussed his father's condition, describing it as very sad to watch.
Back-to-back tainted food outbreaks have a lot of people asking what's safe to bring home from the grocery store.
A Minnesota woman says she fainted, spiked a 102-degree fever, and was hospitalized with sepsis three days after eating a chicken burrito bowl at a Chipotle in Roseville, and genetic testing connected her case to a multistate outbreak, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday.
The system uses light tracing and more than 1,500 data points to create a personalized treatment plan.
"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.
Co-stars and friends of Hayden Panettiere are remembering her for her friendship, intelligence and talent after her shocking death on Sunday.
Hayden Panettiere, who starred in "Remember the Titans" as a child actor and rose to fame in the series "Heroes," has died at the age of 36. The coroner's office says she was found in cardiac arrest.
WCCO is tracking everything you can go out and do 4 Your Weekend, including a slate of county fairs.
MLB's first game at the Field of Dreams movie site in four years in Dyersville, Iowa, averaged 1.66 million viewers on Netflix Thursday night according to Nielsen.
Josh Bell's two-run double started the scoring in a four-run first inning, and the Minnesota Twins held on to beat the Atlanta Braves 4-2.
With the season opener around the corner at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, there's a big question: Which passer will pass the other?
Flag football is exploding in popularity among girls in Minnesota. In 2025, when girls flag football started in high schools, there were 51 schools. In 2026, there are 104 teams.
Jamal Adams, the hybrid defender the Minnesota Vikings signed this offseason to bolster Brian Flores' unit, won't play this year after suffering a preseason injury, the NFL Network reports.
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.
The Minnesota primary is Tuesday, with the final barrage of political ads in overdrive and candidates making their final pitches.
The Minnesota primary is Tuesday, with the final barrage of political ads in overdrive and candidates making their final pitches.
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.
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.
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.
Scattered thunderstorms develop mid-afternoon Tuesday through mid-evening south of the Twin Cities, says meteorologist Mike Augustyniak.
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.
After Tuesday's potential rounds of rain, Wednesday is looking clear and sunny, WCCO meteorologist Joseph Dames reports.
Showers will linger in parts of Minnesota Tuesday morning, though most of the day should be dry in the Twin Cities.
Scattered thunderstorms develop again mid-afternoon Tuesday through the mid-evening hours south of the Twin Cities.
Twin Cities community, education, faith, labor and healthcare leaders gathered Tuesday morning to condemn reports of federal surveillance during Operation Metro Surge.
Four months after Congress voted to overturn a 20-year federal ban on mining near Minnesota's Boundary Waters, Gov. Tim Walz announced an executive order Tuesday to prevent mining of copper, nickel and other precious metals within the Rainy River Headwaters Watershed.
Scattered thunderstorms develop mid-afternoon Tuesday through mid-evening south of the Twin Cities, says meteorologist Mike Augustyniak.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on Tuesday announced he is suing Texas Gov. Greg Abbott over the extradition of an immigration agent accused of shooting a man in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on Tuesday announced he is suing Texas Gov. Greg Abbott over the extradition of an immigration agent accused of shooting a man in Minneapolis.