Mpls. Police Stepping Up Efforts To Thwart Sex Trafficking
On Wednesday, the Minneapolis City Council got their first report on the latest efforts to stop child sex trafficking in the city.
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On Wednesday, the Minneapolis City Council got their first report on the latest efforts to stop child sex trafficking in the city.
Law enforcement officials are working with Twin Cities hotels to put a stop to child sex trafficking.
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 Village Voice is being sold, along with all of its affiliated free arts weeklies, but the deal excludes the online classified site Backpage.com, whose listings have drawn fire for promoting the illegal sex trade.
A national movement is calling for advertisers to boycott City Pages in response to adult classifieds. The controversy is over the website Backpage.com, which, along with City Pages, is owned by Village Voice Media.
A growing number of children in Minnesota are becoming victims of sex traffickers.
The Minneapolis City Council approved a resolution on Friday calling on Village Voice Media to end publication of its online classified section that facilitates the trafficking of minors for sexual exploitation.
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.
A Somali man who refused to testify against gang members in a sex trafficking trial in Nashville told a judge that he was assaulted and informed that gang members would get him if he snitched.
A Minneapolis woman pleaded guilty to sex trafficking a minor on Friday in federal court, according to the U.S. attorney's office. Kimberly Susan Latham, 33, now faces at least 10 years in prison and could receive life behind bars. Her sentence length will be determined at a future hearing.
A Tennessee jury has convicted three men charged with operating a sexual trafficking ring run mostly by Somali refugee gang members. Another six were acquitted of all charges.
A federal jury will continue deliberations Tuesday in the trial of nine defendants accused in a sexual trafficking ring operated by Somali gang members.
A federal jury will begin deliberating in Nashville on Monday in the trial of nine defendants accused in a child sexual trafficking conspiracy operated by Somali gangs.
A trial has begun in Nashville for nine Somali defendants charged with running a multi-state child sex trafficking ring.
After days of selecting jurors, attorneys are set to give opening arguments on Monday in the trial of more than a dozen people accused in a sex trafficking ring run by Somali gangs that reached from Minnesota to Tennessee.
A 32-year-old Minneapolis woman has been charged with allegedly sex trafficking a minor in November of 2011, according to the United States Attorney's Office.
A 52-year-old Woodbury man has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for bringing a 15-year-old girl across state lines with the intention of having her engage in prostitution.
A new community effort is underway to end sex trafficking along the north shore in Duluth.
Stevon Warren was convicted after a three-day trial on one count of sex trafficking a minor and one count of interstate transportation to engage in prostitution.
When she was 13, Amber Whitefeather met a smooth-talking man on the streets of Minneapolis who seemed to have it all: He wore a silk suit and snakeskin boots, drove a car with Jersey plates and, above all, seemed like he could be the protector she never had.
Men stalking girls at schools and malls only to sell them for sex isn't just happening in other countries. Sex trafficking happens every day in Minnesota.
A Minnesota woman who spent 27 years in the sex industry said police shouldn't punish women who participate in prostitution but focus on the men who pay them.
Minneapolis is on a list of 13 cities with a high concentration of sex trafficking organizations. It's a growing problem, and with children often the victims, several county attorneys are working to change the way Minnesota deals with the young victims.
Prosecutors who want a man accused in a sex trafficking ring run by Somali gangs to stay in jail pending trial claim his brother is not a trustworthy custodian.
Minneapolis-based Target on Monday announced it's cutting about 500 jobs in an effort to redirect payroll to its in-store experience.
After morning clouds clear, Tuesday will be a breezy, cooler day in the Twin Cities.
The monthslong Immigration and Customs Enforcement surge in Minnesota has sparked ongoing protests, some measured tens of thousands of demonstrators, others just a few dozen.
Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid and Atlanta Hawks forward Mouhamed Gueye were ejected Monday night after an altercation early in the fourth quarter of Minnesota's 138-116 win.
Anthony Edwards scored 21 of his 30 points in the first half as the Minnesota Timberwolves used a dominant second quarter to cruise to a 138-116 win against the short-handed Atlanta Hawks.
Minneapolis-based Target on Monday announced it's cutting about 500 jobs in an effort to redirect payroll to its in-store experience.
A 20-year-old Minneapolis man on Monday pleaded guilty to fatally shooting a man in the Elliot Park neighborhood last summer.
A judge sentenced a man to nearly three years in prison for straw purchasing dozens of guns, some of which were tied to criminal activity across the Twin Cities, including the killings of two young girls in 2021.
The Minnetonka Skipperettes finished in a top-three spot in jazz, earning a ticket to the state tournament for the first time since 2005, after a 21-year absence.
Teenage brothers born in Minneapolis and now living in Chicago documented federal immigration agents in both cities for months.
January is typically a slow month at Frontiersman Sports, but employees at the St. Louis Park, Minnesota, gun shop said sales spiked 30% above normal for the month.
The daughter of a Minnesota gubernatorial candidate was killed Friday in an apparent attempted murder-suicide involving her husband.
Two Republican candidates in the 2026 Minnesota gubernatorial race have dropped out: one for a heartbreaking reason, while the other is entering a different race.
People describing themselves as constitutional observers tell WCCO that in the past week, reports of ICE agents disguising themselves have flooded in from the Twin Cities Metro and rural areas of the state.
Last month, congressional Republicans moved closer to lifting a 20-year ban on mining near Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, pushing a resolution to end the moratorium through the House.
Three people are dead after a house fire in a small western Wisconsin town early Saturday.
John Lauritsen shares the story behind a massive snow sculpture that's now become a winter destination.
A jury has found a Wisconsin man guilty of forging threats against President Donald Trump in an attempt to get a witness against him deported.
Minnesota and Wisconsin are among the 11 states reporting their first measles cases of 2026.
Hundreds of schools in Minnesota and Wisconsin have closed or shifted to virtual learning on Friday amid dangerous cold.
The ongoing presence of ICE and federal law enforcement in the Minneapolis area has kept many immigrants at home for fear of being arrested. Now, their neighbors are crowdsourcing to cover their rent.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations aren't only happening in the Twin Cities. Federal agents are also working in smaller towns, and in some, seeing similar resistance from the community.
While Operation Metro Surge continues in the Twin Cities, Minnesota's farm country is also feeling the impact. The major concerns for farmers and the trickle-down effect it could have on consumers.
Minnesota's governor spoke out Sunday afternoon following the shooting death of Alex Pretti by federal immigration enforcement agents. "What's the plan, Donald Trump? What is the plan?" Walz said. "Fear, violence and chaos is what you wanted from us, and you clearly underestimated the people of this state and nation."
A marching protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minneapolis Friday afternoon happened as a widespread work stoppage across Minnesota, as organizers called for a day of no work, no school and no shopping.
The monthslong Immigration and Customs Enforcement surge in Minnesota has sparked ongoing protests, some measured tens of thousands of demonstrators, others just a few dozen.
A Mexican immigrant working in Minnesota says federal officers arrested and beat him. Court documents detail a laundry list of head injuries that hospital workers called life-threatening, including eight skull fractures and five brain bleeds. Ashley Grams is learning more from those documents.
A question for applicants wishing to fill vacancies in the U.S. Attorney's Office in Minnesota is sparking concerns from some attorneys who are concerned that politics is getting in the way of a once apolitical job.
Teenage brothers born in Minneapolis and now living in Chicago documented federal immigration agents in both cities for months.
January is typically a slow month at Frontiersman Sports, but employees at the St. Louis Park, Minnesota, gun shop said sales spiked 30% above normal for the month.
January is typically a slow month at Frontiersman Sports, but employees at the St. Louis Park, Minnesota, gun shop said sales spiked 30% above normal for the month.
Amid ongoing immigration operations in Minnesota, a local company is filling a desperate need for on-demand legal help.
Outside the governor's mansion in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Friday, demonstrators, including many students and teachers, pleaded for Gov. Tim Walz to enact an immediate eviction moratorium to help families impacted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement surge.
It's part of broader protests calling on the Minneapolis-based retailer to respond more directly to immigration enforcement.
While Operation Metro Surge continues in the Twin Cities, Minnesota's farm country is also feeling the impact. The major concerns for farmers and the trickle-down effect it could have on consumers.
Two Philadelphia-based men accused of traveling to Minneapolis after a friend told them the taxpayer-funded programs there presented "a good opportunity to make money," pleaded guilty to wire fraud on Monday.
A 20-year-old Minneapolis man on Monday pleaded guilty to fatally shooting a man in the Elliot Park neighborhood last summer.
A judge sentenced a man to nearly three years in prison for straw purchasing dozens of guns, some of which were tied to criminal activity across the Twin Cities, including the killings of two young girls in 2021.
Teenage brothers born in Minneapolis and now living in Chicago documented federal immigration agents in both cities for months.
January is typically a slow month at Frontiersman Sports, but employees at the St. Louis Park, Minnesota, gun shop said sales spiked 30% above normal for the month.
Public health officials say a measles crisis has long been brewing in Minnesota.
Patients in Minnesota are canceling appointments and deferring critical health care needs because of fear of immigration enforcement as the federal crackdown continues, doctors say.
Children's Minnesota announced Tuesday it plans to pause some gender-affirming care for children amid "threats" from the federal government.
Nurses in Minneapolis doubted federal immigration officers' claims about a Mexican immigrant's severe injuries.
Minnesota and Wisconsin are among the 11 states reporting their first measles cases of 2026.
Bad Bunny says he wants to bring his culture to his 2026 Super Bowl halftime show Sunday.
Renowned comedian Dave Chappelle is set to return to the Twin Cities later this month to perform and "show a stand with a community at the center of events that should unite all Americans," show organizers said Monday.
Complete closure of the performing arts center in Washington, D.C., will start on July 4, Mr. Trump said. It's not yet clear how extensive the changes to the building might be.
Music's biggest night returned Sunday with the 68th annual Grammy Awards. Here is how to watch and stream and what to know.
In 1971, Demond Wilson appeared on an episode of "All in the Family," a role that led him to land a lead part in "Sanford and Son."
Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid and Atlanta Hawks forward Mouhamed Gueye were ejected Monday night after an altercation early in the fourth quarter of Minnesota's 138-116 win.
Anthony Edwards scored 21 of his 30 points in the first half as the Minnesota Timberwolves used a dominant second quarter to cruise to a 138-116 win against the short-handed Atlanta Hawks.
In a surprising move to some, the Wild have two goaltenders playing in the Milano Cortina Winter Games: Filip Gustavsson and Jesper Wallstedt, who is in his first full NHL season.
The Minnetonka Skipperettes finished in a top-three spot in jazz, earning a ticket to the state tournament for the first time since 2005, after a 21-year absence.
Some 2026 Winter Olympics athletes say their winning medals are falling apart, coming detached from their ribbons.
The Republican Party endorsing convention is in May, and Demuth has said that if she doesn't win the endorsement, she will drop out, but several candidates are expected to continue to the August primary.
In a crowded field, Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth had a very good caucus night; she won the straw poll by about 32%.
The state of Minnesota is vowing to continue the legal battle after it and 12 cities were denied a temporary restraining order that would have shut down Operation Metro Surge.
The state of Minnesota is vowing to continue the legal battle after it and 12 cities, including St Paul and Minneapolis, were denied a temporary restraining order that would have shut down Operation Metro Surge.
While Operation Metro Surge continues in the Twin Cities, Minnesota's farm country is also feeling the impact. The major concerns for farmers and the trickle-down effect it could have on consumers.
John Lauritsen shares the story behind a massive snow sculpture that's now become a winter destination.
Northland Arboretum was built half a century ago on top of what was once a city dump. But over time, nature carved its own path with a little help from a Zamboni.
St. James is a smaller town with a main street and a railroad running though. But inside a local building, the main street and the railroad are even smaller.
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 monthslong Immigration and Customs Enforcement surge in Minnesota has sparked ongoing protests, some measured tens of thousands of demonstrators, others just a few dozen.
According to the Police Executive Research Firm, 82% of police departments in the United States equip officers with body cameras. That number comes from 2023, meaning it could be even higher by now.
With the new $2,600 stipend, DHS said the cost of a single self-deportation is $5,100. That's significantly less than the cost to arrest, detain and deport an undocumented immigrant, which DHS said costs more than $18,000.
It might be hard to believe, but it's gotten warmer outside over the past few days. The temperature is creeping above zero during the day, but the wind chill remains dangerously low. So, how is wind chill calculated?
Minnesota gun rights are in the spotlight after U.S. Border Patrol agents shot and killed a lawful gun carrier over the weekend.
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.
Expect winds between 20 and 25 mph, with highs in the mid-30s.
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 morning clouds clear, Tuesday will be a breezy, cooler day in the Twin Cities.
After morning clouds clear, Tuesday will be a breezy, cooler day in the Twin Cities.
WCCO meteorologist Lisa Meadows says above-average temperatures will continue through the entire week.
New claims of violence while in ICE custody, DHS agency leaders will testify before a House committee and more.
Expect winds between 20 and 25 mph, with highs in the mid-30s.
It's an opportunity to hear from the heads of different Homeland Security agencies as the ongoing federal crackdown in Minnesota continues.
New claims of violence while in ICE custody, plus more of the day’s top stories.
After morning clouds clear, Tuesday will be a breezy, cooler day in the Twin Cities.