Jury Acquits Northern Minnesota Priest In Sexual Misconduct Case
A jury in northern Minnesota acquitted a former priest Monday in a case where he was accused of molesting four girls.
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A jury in northern Minnesota acquitted a former priest Monday in a case where he was accused of molesting four girls.
A man wrongfully convicted of sexually abusing his stepdaughter will likely receive $475,000 from Minnesota taxpayers -- but the state legislature must still approve the award. In his attorney's office Wednesday, Roger Olsen described how he still has trouble getting a job even a decade after the conviction was tossed.
A 12-person panel comprised of doctors, lawyers and church laypersons will oversee any suspicions of clergy sex abuse in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. It's part of a breakthrough settlement reached on Thursday with the Ramsey County Attorney to resolve a civil suit that was filed last June.
On Wednesday, Dec. 9, WCCO is hosting a phone bank as part of our "Trees of Hope" series. WCCO will be raising funds for Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge. MnTC helps thousands of people overcome drug addiction and lead healthy and productive lives.
Two former student actors at the Children's Theatre Company have filed suit against the theatre, co-founder John Clark Donahue and Minneapolis businessman Jason McLean. The lawsuit alleges McLean sexually assaulted a female student in 1983, when she was 15 years old.
Friends and neighbors paint a dark picture of Danny Heinrich's past. He is the man in jail on child pornography charges and a person of interest in Jacob Wetterling's kidnapping. Born in 1963 at Paynesville Hospital, Heinrich grew up just south of town. He spent most of his childhood with his parents and two brothers in a home near Lake Koronis.
Tire tracks and shoeprints: Investigators have old evidence in the Jacob Wetterling case that links person of interest Danny Heinrich to the area where Jacob was last seen. According to a former U.S. Attorney, prosecutors need more.
It took a jury less than two hours Thursday to convict a two-time convicted sex offender of producing and distributing child pornography. The United States Attorney's Office says 52-year-old Rex Lee Furman, of Federal Dam, was convicted after a three-day trial of 13 counts of producing child porn, two counts of distributing it and one count each of receipt of child porn, possession of child porn and committing a felony while required to register as a sex offender.
A 66-year-old northern Minnesota man was convicted Friday of sexually abusing two women on the Red Lake Indian Reservation. The U.S. Attorney's Office says William Andrew Clark, of Blackduck, was found guilty of one count of aggravated sexual abuse and one count of sexual abuse in connection to two rapes on the reservation.
Pope Francis praised American bishops Wednesday for their "generous commitment'" to helping victims of clergy sex abuse, drawing an angry rebuke from advocates who said the bishops acted only under the threat of hundreds of lawsuits. Addressing church leaders in a prayer service at the Washington cathedral, Francis said they had faced the crisis "without fear of self-criticism and at the cost of mortification and great sacrifice."
A priest convicted of child sexual abuse is part of a group that is raising money to buy the Archdiocese of St. Paul & Minneapolis' Chancery building.
The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis has put a Roseville priest on leave after receiving what it is calling a credible allegation that he sexually abused a minor in the 1980s. The Rev. Robert Fitzpatrick is pastor at Corpus Christi parish and St. Rose of Lima parish and school.
St. John's Abbey Church stands unchanged on the campus of St. John's University. But within the walls, there is a shift in leadership. Father Tom Andert -- the monastery's prior, or second in command -- stepped aside for now following accusations he molested a former student.
Victims of alleged sexual abuse by clergy in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis have filed more than 400 claims against the archdiocese in federal bankruptcy court, according to attorneys for victims and the archdiocese. The claims were filed by Monday, the deadline imposed by the bankruptcy court.
Two men are suing the Boys Scouts of America, claiming they were sexually abused as scouts by troop leaders in St. Paul. The plaintiffs' attorney say the lawsuits allege the Boys Scouts organization created a public nuisance by its negligence and concealment of abuse allegations and by failing to warn parents and others about the "prevalence" of abuse.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is seeking the public's help to locate additional victims of a convicted online child predator who may have Lucas Chansler, 31, formerly of St. Johns, Florida, was sentenced to 105 years in prison after pleading guilty last August to nine counts of producing child pornography.
A former boy scout has come forward with claims his scoutmaster sexually abused him for years.
A retired St. John's Abbey priest accused of sexually abusing children is dead. The law office of Jeff Anderson and Associates announced Friday that Father Richard Eckroth passed away this week at the age of 88.
A former Hastings priest accused of sexual abuse was found not guilty on Tuesday. The 64-year-old was accused of repeatedly sexually abusing a former altar boy at a Hastings Catholic Church from 1989 to 1991.
The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis says it placed an active priest on a leave of absence after it received an allegation of past sexual abuse. Archbishop John Nienstedt says in a statement there is a "credible allegation" that the Rev. Gerald Dvorak sexually abused a minor in the 1970s.
A former St. Paul Public Schools custodian was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in prison for sexually abusing several young children, including members of his family. Walter Johann Happel, 63, struck a plea deal in March after pleading guilty to one count of surreptitious invasion of privacy, after he spied on an 11-year-old boy in Linwood Monroe Arts Plus School student bathroom.
A judge says three people who claim they were sexually abused by priests can proceed with public nuisance claims against the Diocese of New Ulm in southern Minnesota. Brown County District Court Judge Robert Docherty dismissed some counts in the two lawsuits in a ruling dated March 27. But he ruled the public nuisance claims can go forward.
The Diocese of New Ulm has released the names of four priests accused of sexual abuse. St. Paul lawyer Jeff Anderson says that, of the four named, one has to his knowledge not been publicly named before -- Father Dennis Becker.
An attorney has released the names of 17 clergy members accused of sexual abuse or misconduct with a minor in the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis. St. Paul lawyer Jeff Anderson said Wednesday the clergy were identified in notice of claims submitted to the archdiocese and its insurance carriers.
The archbishop of the St. Paul-Minneapolis Archdiocese says he has ordered a bankruptcy declaration because it's the fairest way to help victims of sexual abuse by priests.
Renowned architect Frank Gehry died at the age of 96 on Friday, a representative confirmed to CBS News. His worldwide legacy included two works that were constructed in Minnesota.
Temperatures will remain in the teens on Saturday, but the wild chill will make it feel closer to the single digits.
Residents in the Twin Cities are keeping a close eye on public schools for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity amid operations targeting Somali immigrants in the area.
A student is recovering after a school bus collided with a Metro Transit light rail train in St. Paul on Friday morning.
Car thieves aren't waiting for the sun to rise in the suburbs of the Twin Cities, and neither are the police.
Renowned architect Frank Gehry died at the age of 96 on Friday, a representative confirmed to CBS News. His worldwide legacy included two works that were constructed in Minnesota.
A student is recovering after a school bus collided with a Metro Transit light rail train in St. Paul on Friday morning.
Car thieves aren't waiting for the sun to rise in the suburbs of the Twin Cities, and neither are the police.
A combination of cold weather and fresh powder serves as a beacon for cross country skiers, eager to hit the trails.
Residents of a South Minneapolis apartment building say they've been without heat for weeks as a bitter blast of winter weather continues.
Renowned architect Frank Gehry died at the age of 96 on Friday, a representative confirmed to CBS News. His worldwide legacy included two works that were constructed in Minnesota.
Out of the 1,500 men on his ship, Del Thielke was the only one selected to be aboard the USS Missouri when the peace treaty was signed.
The owner of the historic Lutsen Resort on Minnesota's North Shore has been charged with arson and insurance fraud more than a year after a fire destroyed the resort's lodge.
Minnesota will see a higher-than-expected surplus for this current budget, but is expected to see a deficit in the future due to spending outpacing revenues, according to state budget experts.
Police in Duluth, Minnesota, say a mountain lion has been spotted in the city recently.
River Falls hosts St. John's this weekend in round three of the NCAA tournament.
Bodycam video captured a sheriff's deputy in Racine County, Wisconsin, saving the life of a little girl from a house fire that killed her mother and the family dog earlier this week.
A divided Wisconsin Supreme Court has agreed to take a case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of an immigrant rights group.
A Democrat who served four years as Wisconsin's lieutenant governor and narrowly lost a 2022 U.S. Senate bid is running for governor in the battleground state.
Organizers at Mt. Telemark Village in Cable say there's no shortage of reasons to head north.
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.
On Sunday, members of Minnesota's Somali community spoke out against President Trump's social media post calling for an end to temporary protected status.
Two hundred Thanksgiving meals were distributed to this community by Second Harvest Heartland and the Thielen Foundation.
A Minnesota nonprofit is getting a major boost this week as dozens of college students spend their morning sorting donated shoes to support families in need.
The Supreme Court said Friday it will decide the legality of President Trump's executive order that seeks to end birthright citizenship.
In July 2019, Minnesota state officials spotted early signs of fraud that would eventually siphon away more than $1 billion in taxpayer money, sources told CBS News.
Minneapolis City Council leaders are set to roll out what they’re calling a “people-centred budget."
Minnesota's state budget could go from boom to bust. A new forecast shows a $2.5 billion surplus for the current budget but a $3 billion deficit in the next one. WCCO's Caroline Cummings explains the drop and how it could impact you.
Inspire Change Clinic opened its doors in Minneapolis with a simple mission: provide access to marginalized communities. On Thursday afternoon, the clinic should have been bustling with a waiting room filled with families. Instead, the clinic was empty.
The holidays are upon us, and in the town of Kellogg, Minnesota, you'll find a toy store unlike any other.
When we do winter weather stories, there's always that one line people use: cold, snow, ice — it's just what happens here. And this week, Ticket King president Michael Nowakowski said that same idea kind of applies to Minnesota Vikings ticket prices.
Thanksgiving is a big day for the farmers who raise the centerpiece of Americans' dinner tables on the last Thursday of November. But in Minnesota, the nation's top turkey producer, the work doesn't stop once the national holiday ends.
A family-owned Linden Hills bar and restaurant is closing its doors for Thanksgiving, but opening the kitchen for those who need it most.
On the eve of Thanksgiving, Sentyrz Liquor & Supermarket turned into holiday headquarters for last-minute shoppers.
Car thieves aren't waiting for the sun to rise in the suburbs of the Twin Cities, and neither are the police.
A 28-year-old man previously convicted of sexual assault in Minnesota has been federally charged with kidnapping a 15-year-old girl in 2017 and kidnapping a woman earlier this year, according to court documents filed Thursday.
A man who law enforcement say was armed with a large knife when a deputy shot him in Monticello, Minnesota, now faces charges.
Police said this is the city's 13th homicide of the year.
The special edition locket was inspired by the James Bond film "Octopussy," which revolves around a plot to steal a rare Faberge egg.
Inspire Change Clinic opened its doors in Minneapolis with a simple mission: provide access to marginalized communities. On Thursday afternoon, the clinic should have been bustling with a waiting room filled with families. Instead, the clinic was empty.
Minnesotans who welcomed a child this year were able to start applying this week to the state's new paid family and medical leave program to take time off in 2026.
Cases always rise in colder months, with the use of furnaces and people working on gas motors in closed garages.
A jury has awarded an Iowa woman a $19.8 million verdict against the Mayo Clinic and a colorectal surgeon in a lawsuit brought in Minnesota courts, according to her attorneys.
ByHeart said it can't rule out that all of its baby formula across all product lots could be contaminated, citing recent test results.
Frank Gehry was known for designing the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.
Netflix on Friday said it will acquire Warner Bros., including its film and television studios, HBO Max and HBO.
The yellow childhood home of the Purple One is abandoned and in need of some TLC, despite the City of Minneapolis recently granting it landmark status.
Legendary rock 'n roll band Guns N' Roses is hitting the road again next year and will make a stop in Shakopee, Minnesota.
Jimmy Cliff, who famously sang about the "many rivers" we all must cross, has died after suffering a seizure and pneumonia, his family say.
Early in the winter season, there are always good nonconference matchups in Minnesota, including Friday, when the Chanhassen girls basketball team visited Blaine. Plus, see the results of other exciting prep games in Minneapolis, Shakopee, Andover and other areas in the state.
River Falls hosts St. John's this weekend in round three of the NCAA tournament.
Julius Randle had 28 points and nine rebounds, carrying Minnesota on a quiet night from Anthony Edwards, and the Timberwolves beat the New Orleans Pelicans 125-116 on Thursday night.
J.J. McCarthy has returned to the lineup for the Minnesota Vikings, refreshed after an injury absence to resume his much-delayed development with a better perspective on how to handle this most difficult job.
A White Bear Lake Native, Bill Butters lived a hockey life through and through – playing for coach Herb Brooks at the University of Minnesota before embarking on a pro career throughout most of the 1970s with the Minnesota Fighting Saints and the Minnesota North Stars.
Minnesotans who welcomed a child this year were able to start applying this week to the state's new paid family and medical leave program to take time off in 2026.
Minnesotans who welcomed a child in this year can start applying to the state's new paid family and medical leave program to take time off in 2026. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy spoke with Matt Varilek, the commissioner of the state's Department of Employment and Economic Development about the program's rollout and who qualifies for the program.
Minnesotans who welcomed a child this year were able to start applying this week to the state's new paid family and medical leave program to take time off in 2026.
Minnesota lawmakers and small businesses are scrambling to get a piece of new federal legislation overturned that they say would eliminate Minnesota's hemp industry.
A new federal law threatens the hemp industry that Democratic U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar says provides 2,700 Minnesota jobs and has generated $16 million in taxes for the state through nine months in 2025.
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."
How would you like to own a former Cold War missile site? In Dakota County, Minnesota, there's a one-of-a-kind property that could be yours for the right price.
It's a photograph found in homes across the country, and even overseas. The picture "Grace" shows a man bowing his head in prayer with food and what appears to be a Bible in front of him.
Fall harvest means barns across the Midwest are a busy place — but for a central Minnesota woman, they aren't just farm buildings, they're works of art.
It is the food that is top of mind right now, but did you know more turkeys come from Minnesota than anywhere else in the country?
Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnehaha, Minnetonka, Minnewaska, Minneota. Those are just some of the place names in "the Land of 10,000 Lakes" featuring "minne" as the first five letters.
As we approach Thanksgiving, we wanted to do a deep dive into gratefulness, and why it makes us feel better.
Many commuters know the Interstate 394 and Interstate 94 interchange seems to back up almost every afternoon. And you face the choice: should you wait in the back of the line or try to get closer and swoop in?
According to the Minnesota Christmas Tree Association, 50% of their farms open before Thanksgiving, which used to be unheard of.
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.
Temperatures will remain in the teens on Saturday, but the wild chill will make it feel closer to the single digits.
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.
Temps today stay in the teens, but wild chills will make it feel like single digits. There's a chance for more snow this evening, but it'll stay mostly in the southern part of the state. WCCO's meteorologist Adam Del Rosso breaks down the timing and how much snow we could see.
Showers moving through southern Minnesota on Saturday may drop up to 5 inches of snow in some areas, according to Next Weather meteorologist Lisa Meadows. The Twin Cities could see up to 3 inches as the system moves through.
Snow will cover southern Minnesota on Saturday, according to Next Weather meteorologist Lisa Meadows, with the system partially hitting the Twin Cities metro.
Highland popcorn is the perfect stocking stuffer and supports a local non-profit organization.
Temps today stay in the teens, but wild chills will make it feel like single digits. There's a chance for more snow this evening, but it'll stay mostly in the southern part of the state. WCCO's meteorologist Adam Del Rosso breaks down the timing and how much snow we could see.
WCCO's Reg Chapman updates on recent ICE operations in the Twin Cities and other headlines.
Early in the winter season, there are always good nonconference matchups in Minnesota, including Friday, when the Chanhassen girls basketball team visited Blaine. Plus, see the results of other exciting prep games in Minneapolis, Shakopee, Andover and other areas in the state.
Showers moving through southern Minnesota on Saturday may drop up to 5 inches of snow in some areas, according to Next Weather meteorologist Lisa Meadows. The Twin Cities could see up to 3 inches as the system moves through.