Washington County officials share how they track down online predators
The sex trafficking unit in Washington County, Minnesota, is making a huge impact with only a small number of people.
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The sex trafficking unit in Washington County, Minnesota, is making a huge impact with only a small number of people.
Anton Lazzaro was sentenced in 2023 to 21 years in prison in the sex trafficking case. Records from the Office of the Pardon Attorney show he requested a commutation in 2025. Mr. Trump denied the request on July 10.
Authorities say an investigation into human sex trafficking in the Twin Cities led to the rescue of three victims, plus more of the day’s top stories.
Sean "Diddy" Combs was found guilty Wednesday of transportation to engage in prostitution in his federal trial in New York City, but the music mogul was acquitted of the more severe charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking.
Jurors in the Sean "Diddy" Combs trial continued their deliberations Wednesday on a racketeering conspiracy charge that they weren't able to agree over.
The partial verdict in the Sean "Diddy" Combs trial came on the second day of deliberations. The jury will return to deliberate on the final count Wednesday.
Combs, 55, faces multiple charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. He has been jailed since September, when he was ordered held without bail.
Former Minnesota state senator Justin Eichorn, accused of attempting to pay a teenager for sex, pleaded not guilty on Monday in his federal arraignment hearing in St. Paul.
Five people are facing felony charges after alleged attempts to solicit minors for sex in Washington County, according to the sheriff's office.
The lawsuit claims that the Hotel Ivy made no effort to protect the teen girls who were sex trafficked by Lazzaro at his condo on the 19th floor.
Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries was arrested on charges of sex trafficking and engaging in interstate prostitution.
Sean "Diddy" Combs is facing three charges, including sex trafficking, stemming from an investigation by federal authorities.
Once afraid to tell her story, Natalee Cramer now wants her voice heard.
The list of names could include Epstein's accused co-conspirators and others named in a settled lawsuit against Ghislaine Maxwell.
The deal calls for the Montreal-based company to pay more than $1.8 million to the U.S. government, as well as make separate payments to the individual women harmed by the trafficking.
Anthony Bass met Stephanie Page's father at his church and found out he shared a vision with her — to help stop sex trafficking.
She read one book and she was changed forever. Her mission is to help change the state of sex trafficking in Minnesota. He is a former Minnesota Viking and had just started a church and saw what she was doing. Now they share a vision they hope leads to building a facility that builds better outcomes.
Bloomington police have arrested more than a dozen people in connection to a prostitution sting.
A 21-year-old woman who helped GOP donor Anton Lazzaro sex traffic underage girls at "every step of the way" was sentenced Tuesday to three years in prison.
Here's what you need to know about Anton "Tony" Lazzaro and why he was sentenced to 21-years in prison for sex trafficking on Wednesday.
Anton Lazzaro, a former GOP donor in Minnesota, has been sentenced to 21 years in prison in a sex trafficking case.
Anton Lazzaro, a former GOP operative in Minnesota, has been sentenced to 21 years in prison in a sex trafficking case.
Law enforcement officials say they recovered four trafficking victims and arrested 11 people as the result of a two-day operation in St. Paul.
Lazzaro was charged with seven counts involving “commercial sex acts” with five minors ages 15 and 16 in 2020, when he was 30 years old.
A GOP operative accused of sex trafficking underage girls returned to the witness stand today in his own defense.
An inmate at the St. Louis County Jail in Duluth, Minnesota, died early Saturday morning after a medical emergency, officials say.
An 18-year-old who got out of his car after hitting a divider on a highway in Minneapolis was subsequently struck and killed by a Tesla, authorities said.
The recalled products with jalapeño were distributed at national retailers, including Walmart and Target, in 26 states.
Monday will be a pleasant day in the Twin Cities, with highs in the 80s and lower humidity.
A 5-year-old child drowned Saturday afternoon in Lake Minnetonka, according to the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office.
An 18-year-old who got out of his car after hitting a divider on a highway in Minneapolis was subsequently struck and killed by a Tesla, authorities said.
A 5-year-old child drowned Saturday afternoon in Lake Minnetonka, according to the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office.
The largest women-only triathlon in the continental U.S. returned to Minneapolis' Lake Nokomis on Sunday.
Police in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, say they're searching for 64-year-old Carlos Evelio Jimenez-Alvarez, who was last seen Saturday.
The Minneapolis Fire Department says one of its firefighters was hospitalized amid the effort to halt a blaze inside a three-story apartment building.
An inmate at the St. Louis County Jail in Duluth, Minnesota, died early Saturday morning after a medical emergency, officials say.
Forty miles west of Minneapolis, Howard Lake mixes water recreation with country living. But a couple weeks ago, the small town got a visit from an unexpected feline guest.
Part of a central Minnesota highway is closed Friday morning after a truck rolled on its side during a crash.
The polls close on Minnesota's high-stakes primary in a little more than five days, with new figures from the Secretary of State's Office showing more than 157,000 people have already voted.
WCCO is tracking everything you can go out and do 4 Your Weekend, starting with another packed weekend of local community days.
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.
A Dane County judge ruled Tuesday that Wisconsin's paper-only absentee ballot system denies disabled voters the equal opportunity to vote privately and independently, though a trial on electronic voting as a remedy is still ahead.
The Milwaukee mosque leader's former Israeli attorney testified in immigration court that Sarsour was coerced into confessions and was never convicted of any charge linking him to a terrorist organization.
Two people were injured when a small plane crashed in western Wisconsin early Sunday afternoon, according to authorities.
According to the Eau Claire Fire Department, Bryce Jungbluth, 27, suffered a medical emergency after his shift on July 26.
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.
President Trump says the U.S. is "low-keying" it with Iran, even as the country demands concessions before reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
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.
The Democratic Senate primary in Minnesota is heating up and immigration has become a central issue.
The closure of the Pig's Eye Park encampment in St. Paul, Minnesota, prompted dozens of people living there to take up residence at a different city encampment some seven miles up the Mississippi River.
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.
Minneapolis police say an 18-year-old man is expected to survive after being shot on Main Street near the Stone Arch Bridge early Sunday morning.
A Minnesota man was found guilty on Friday of two counts of mailing threatening communications and one count of threatening to murder a federal judge.
The Minneapolis Police Department is investigating after a man was fatally shot Friday night.
A man who was shot by St. Paul police while he was hiding in a dumpster after sexually assaulting and kidnapping his ex-girlfriend will receive a $350,000 settlement from the city.
The Ramsey County attorney and the the state attorney general filed lawsuits Friday in an attempt to prevent two rival gangs from gathering at the Minnesota State Fair.
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.
Two Michigan residents who had "significant underlying health conditions" have died after contracting cyclosporiasis, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said.
The Uptown Art Fair kicked off in Minneapolis on Friday afternoon. The event is now closer to Uptown for the first time in two years.
USA TODAY has confirmed what Minnesotans already know well: our state fair is the best in the nation.
WCCO is tracking everything you can go out and do 4 Your Weekend, starting with another packed weekend of local community days.
Ariana Grande had been due to star alongside her "Wicked" co-star Jonathan Bailey in a production of "Sunday in the Park with George" in 2027.
Vincent Pastore played Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero on all six seasons of "The Sopranos," which aired from 1999 to 2007.
Kayla McBride made a WNBA-record 10 3-pointers and finished with a career-high 43 points on Sunday as the Minnesota Lynx beat the Dallas Wings 103-90, becoming the first team to clinch a spot in the WNBA playoffs.
The largest women-only triathlon in the continental U.S. returned to Minneapolis' Lake Nokomis on Sunday.
Andrew Vaughn singled home the tiebreaking run in the eighth inning as the Milwaukee Brewers edged the Minnesota Twins 4-3.
Olivia Miles scored 26 points, Napheesa Collier added 22 and the Minnesota Lynx beat the Las Vegas Aces 98-87 on Saturday to clinch a WNBA playoff berth.
Kaelen Culpepper arrived in the big leagues eager to show he could make a major contribution to the Minnesota Twins' push for a playoff berth.
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.
The polls close on Minnesota's high-stakes primary in a little more than five days, with new figures from the Secretary of State's Office showing more than 157,000 people have already voted.
Minnesota's ban on AI "nudification" became law and Elon Musk isn't happy about it. He is suing the State of Minnesota, claiming the law violates free speech laws.
While the law is in effect, this issue is not over. The judge has set a preliminary injunction hearing for Aug. 19.
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.
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 issue is a major talking point ahead of the midterm elections. Do gas prices actually impact elections?
The U.S. House just voted to make daylight saving time permanent. In Good Question, Jeff Wagner explains how that could impact Minnesota and why our last attempt at getting rid of it failed.
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.
Monday will top out in the mid-80s with lower humidity.
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.
Monday will be a pleasant day in the Twin Cities, with highs in the 80s and lower humidity.
Monday will be a pleasant day in the Twin Cities, with highs in the 80s and lower humidity.
Monday will be pleasant, with highs in the low to mid-80s and lower humidity.
What’s your favorite way to put together a s’more?
Research from the Minnesota Department of Health shows tens of thousands of adults and youth are living on the spectrum in Minnesota. For some, going to college or getting a job can be challenging. But there is help available.
A teenager is dead following a crash on I-94 near Olson Memorial Highway.
A popular outdoor lifestyle brand is coming to Minnesota.
Monday will top out in the mid-80s with lower humidity.