Upcoming SNAP benefit shakeup could bring more visitors to food shelves
Last year was the busiest year on record for food shelves, with over 9 million visits statewide.
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Last year was the busiest year on record for food shelves, with over 9 million visits statewide.
The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota and Pennsylvania, accusing the states of refusing to provide the U.S. Department of Agriculture with data on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program applicants.
The ruling deals a setback to the "Make America Healthy Again" campaign, which seeks to curb purchases of foods officials say are unhealthy.
Federal agents say they executed criminal search warrants at two Twin Cities stores on Thursday as part of an investigation into $2.1 million of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program fraud.
Attorney General Keith Ellison is joining 20 other states, plus Washington, D.C., in suing the USDA over guidance regarding SNAP benefits.
A government funding package signed by President Trump on Wednesday will reopen federal agencies, opening the door for food-stamp recipients to collect their full benefits.
A compromise that could end the government shutdown hasn't stopped the confusion around feeding families in need.
A compromise that could end the government shutdown hasn't stopped the confusion around feeding families in need. About 440,000 Minnesotans rely on SNAP benefits to get groceries each month. Many of them are children or seniors. WCCO's Esme Murphy explains how legal fights are making it hard to make sure meals make it to dinner tables.
Collecting food is a year-round effort at St. Joan of Arc, but the uncertainty around SNAP benefits is leading to more giving than usual.
The Trump administration threatened to impose financial penalties on states that did not comply with the new orders.
SNAP benefits for Minnesotans have come back, as the longest government shutdown in U.S. history continues. People in Minneapolis came together Saturday morning to support those who lost SNAP benefits for a week. Cyclists gathered at Angry Catfish bike shop for "Cranksgiving." They biked to collect food for those who need it most.
Minnesota leaders confirmed Saturday the state will issue full SNAP benefits for November to the 440,000 Minnesotans enrolled in wake of a federal court ruling ordering existing federal funds to be directed to the program.
While some in the Trump administration say food benefits could restart as soon as this Wednesday, the uncertainty is stressful for Minnesotans who rely on them and food shelves in the state.
Promises of partial payments for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits came from the White House on Monday. The program ran out of Money on Nov. 1, during the government shutdown. The program provides 440,000 Minnesotans with food benefits. Esme Murphy reports that the question of when funds will be available is unclear.
Two federal judges on Friday said the Trump administration must tap into contingency funds to make SNAP payments during the government shutdown.
The government shutdown is set to reach its 32nd day as there is still no deal in sight. Two federal judges on Friday said the Trump administration must tap into contingency funds to make payments for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program during the shutdown. Erica Brown reports from Washington, D.C.
In just two days, 42 million Americans who rely on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for food will lose them. Twin Cities food shelves continue to stock away, day by day.
At Lock and Dam Eatery, the restaurant will soon be serving a different kind of meal, meant to ease the burden of hunger.
Communities are stepping up as the clock is ticking on critical food support for nearly 500,000 Minnesotans.
Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program runs out on Nov. 1. Gov. Tim Walz on Monday said the state will provide $4 million in emergency funding for food shelves across Minnesota. Jason Rantala shows how neighbors are filling the void left without the federal funds.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Monday announced $4 million in emergency funding for food shelves. Esme Murphy reports that the money is in anticipation of the facilities seeing a huge surge in people who are hungry.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education at the University of Minnesota is looking elsewhere for financial help after new federal spending cuts.
A University of Minnesota food education program is on the cutting board. It has been funded by the federal government until now. It's part of $190 billion in cuts to food stamps over the next decade. Jonah Kaplan reports how the ripple effect might be bigger than you think.
Minnesota county officials are concerned about changes to food assistance benefits under the tax and spending package President Trump signed into law on Friday, which could mean property tax hikes due to increased costs to local governments administering the program.
As lawmakers in Washington D.C. consider a budget proposal to slash taxes, advocates in Minnesota are warning of the potential for devastating consequences for hundreds of thousands in the state.
Zach Brown's college football career has been bumpy at times. After losing the starting quarterback job at Crown College in St. Bonifacius, Minnesota, last year, he's back in the driver's seat this season.
Jordan Dupree Collins Sr. is charged with one count of second-degree murder. He plans to represent himself.
Justin Jefferson relished his return to the end zone at Minnesota's stadium in the season opener.
Maya Kern stitched her clothing company together piece by piece, but now she and her partner are at risk of watching it all unravel because of tariffs.
An 85-year-old St. Paul, Minnesota, woman helped stop an armed home intruder from stealing her vehicle this week by trapping him inside her garage, according to authorities.
Jordan Dupree Collins Sr. is charged with one count of second-degree murder. He plans to represent himself.
Maya Kern stitched her clothing company together piece by piece, but now she and her partner are at risk of watching it all unravel because of tariffs.
An 85-year-old St. Paul, Minnesota, woman helped stop an armed home intruder from stealing her vehicle this week by trapping him inside her garage, according to authorities.
Drivers are now paying on average $4.43 to fill up with regular gas, up 44 cents from a month ago.
The man who sprayed vinegar at Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar during a Minneapolis town hall meeting as the city endured a surge of immigration agents and the deaths of two U.S. citizens was sentenced to 14 months in prison Thursday after reaching a deal with prosecutors.
Some families have reported that their kids have waited more than two hours to get on a bus, only to have the bus drive past them.
"We see over $82.5 million visitors throughout the state a year, and a large portion of that are coming through the fall," said Chris Morgan with Explore Minnesota.
Officials in Stearns County, Minnesota, are issuing an advisory about a wedding venue they say is operating despite a court order demanding its owner comply with safety regulations.
From making the paper for Crayola crayons to getting a visit from Mr. Rogers. John Lauritsen shares the history behind a Little Falls paper mill, and how its ruins have become its future, in this week's Finding Minnesota.
The Tri-County Humane Society in central Minnesota says a kitten taken from its shelter Wednesday afternoon has been safely returned.
In downtown Hudson, Wisconsin, a small gallery is making room for a lot of creativity.
A $1.8 billion project to replace the Blatnik Bridge, which links Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin, is now underway.
An 18-year-old man has pleaded guilty to killing 10-year-old Lily Peters in Wisconsin four years ago. He was then given a life sentence with the possibility of extended supervision after 25 years.
A Wisconsin prosecutor says he will not file election bribery charges against billionaire Elon Musk even though the state's bipartisan elections commission said he likely broke state law.
A Wisconsin high school football player has died from injuries sustained during a game on Thursday night.
In downtown Hudson, Wisconsin, a small gallery is making room for a lot of creativity.
The nonprofit opened its Twin Cities doors in 2010 and now runs a seven-woman operation out of a warehouse stocked entirely with what other Minnesotans gave away.
An Annandale, Minnesota, boy who survived overwhelming odds as a baby is once again facing a serious heart battle.
Zy'ire was diagnosed with bone cancer in his tibia, and throughout treatment, his love of the game helped keep his spirits up. Make-A-Wish Minnesota granted his wish by putting him on the sideline in Vikings gear.
Lt. Ryan Kelly, the first Minneapolis officer to arrive at Church of the Annunciation on Aug. 27, 2025, described walking in to find dozens of children hiding in the pews — and locating 2 who had already died.
The man who attacked a high-profile Minnesota politician is expected to learn his fate in federal court Thursday, plus more of the day’s top stories.
The man who sprayed vinegar at Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar during a Minneapolis town hall meeting as the city endured a surge of immigration agents and the deaths of two U.S. citizens was sentenced to 14 months in prison Thursday after reaching a deal with prosecutors.
Minnesotans can start submitting absentee ballots on Friday to vote in the midterm election.
Reps. Zach Nunn and Mariannette Miller-Meeks reversed course on a House resolution to require congressional approval for continued military action against Iran, citing open-ended war concerns ahead of competitive midterm races.
Minnesota Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar questioned FBI Director Kash Patel in a Senate hearing Tuesday over the federal investigations into the shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti earlier this year in Minneapolis amid Operation Metro Surge.
The Minnesota Department of Human Services is working with a contractor to correct an autism treatment plan backlog that is frustrating both parents and providers.
You've probably seen THC drinks at Minnesota bars and liquor stores, but those made-in-Minnesota drinks could disappear this winter if new federal rules take effect.
The 2026 Minnesota State Fair is rolling out more than three dozen new food items this year, on top of all the returning favorites — which makes putting together a game plan for your visit no small task.
President Trump said Friday that the U.S. will waive higher tariffs on ground beef imports, which he says will reduce beef prices by 25%. Some cattle ranchers, including those in Minnesota and Wisconsin, worry the plan will hurt them financially.
An outbreak of E. coli and salmonella is linked to an alfalfa grower in Minnesota, health officials say. WCCO speaks with a food safety expert about the risks associated with alfalfa sprouts.
Jordan Dupree Collins Sr. is charged with one count of second-degree murder. He plans to represent himself.
An 85-year-old St. Paul, Minnesota, woman helped stop an armed home intruder from stealing her vehicle this week by trapping him inside her garage, according to authorities.
The man who sprayed vinegar at Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar during a Minneapolis town hall meeting as the city endured a surge of immigration agents and the deaths of two U.S. citizens was sentenced to 14 months in prison Thursday after reaching a deal with prosecutors.
More than two months after a shooting in an Oakdale, Minnesota, backyard left a 33-year-old St. Paul man with life-threatening injuries, family members are still waiting for answers.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension says it arrested Castro around 2:15 p.m. Wednesday in the area of Second Avenue South and Third Street in Minneapolis.
Nearly half of Americans with medical debt owe at least $2,000, forcing them to make tough choices, new research shows.
The strike will include OBGYNs, psychiatrists and critical care physicians at Mercy Hospital's Coon Rapids campus and Allina Unity's campus in Fridley.
After 334 days in a neonatal intensive care unit in Maple Grove, Minnesota, North Memorial Health's "miracle baby" is finally home.
Affordable Care Act recipients in 30 states are set to receive the $500 checks starting in October. Here's why.
The money will fuel a 10-year push into precision medicine at a hospital system that treats children from before birth through young adulthood.
Country music star Kenny Chesney is returning to Minneapolis next year.
WCCO is tracking everything you can go out and do 4 Your Weekend, including at the Minnesota State Fair.
While performing in St. Louis on Saturday night, Lionel Richie appeared at one point to lean on a piano for support, according to video from the show.
Louis Lee came to Minnesota decades ago from Hong Kong to become a student at the University of Minnesota. He says listening to comedy helped him learn English.
The vault is open. Recordings no one's ever heard, spanning 40 years of Prince's musical career, are now available on a new album called "Timeless."
Zach Brown's college football career has been bumpy at times. After losing the starting quarterback job at Crown College in St. Bonifacius, Minnesota, last year, he's back in the driver's seat this season.
Justin Jefferson relished his return to the end zone at Minnesota's stadium in the season opener.
Minneapolis will be the fifth stop in an eight-city tour. Tickets for the Jan. 24 game at Target Center go on sale to newsletter subscribers at 3 p.m. and to the general public at 4 p.m. Thursday.
Luke Keaschall went 3 for 5 and scored from second base on Victor Caratini's game-ending single in the 13th inning to send the Minnesota Twins past the New York Yankees 5-4.
The Minnesota Vikings announced on Wednesday that running back Jordan Mason has been placed on injured reserve due to an injury suffered in the team's victory over the Green Bay Packers Sunday.
In August, a law changing the age for criminal prosecutions in Minnesota went into effect. The law bars children under 13, no matter how serious the crime, from being prosecuted. It's unclear what will happen to kids now accused of these crimes.
Maryland and New Hampshire have similar laws but carve out exceptions for serious violent crimes like murder and rape; Minnesota's version, effective August 1, 2026, has none.
Demuth has been running ads focusing on a million-dollar funding proposal that Klobuchar supported that was stripped out of a funding bill.
She has won four races for U.S. Senate by double digits, and now Sen. Amy Klobuchar is campaigning to become Minnesota's next governor.
The DFL primary in Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District was supposed to be close, but it wasn't. Former Lakeville Mayor and state Sen. Matt Little beat two well-known opponents by double digits.
From making the paper for Crayola crayons to getting a visit from Mr. Rogers. John Lauritsen shares the history behind a Little Falls paper mill, and how its ruins have become its future, in this week's Finding Minnesota.
Built in 1886, the Prospect House was once a resort hotel. The third floor is preserved to show what the hotel looked like back then, but for Jay Johnson, the real history is in the basement.
For nearly a half century, the Haunted Mansion at the Minnesota State Fair has been scaring people silly.
It is one of the most uniquely shaped buildings at the Minnesota State Fair, and it holds nearly 80 years of history.
For five generations, one family has run the Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours along the St. Croix River.
If you're buying ground beef at the grocery store, there's a good chance that part of it came from a country outside the United States.
It's the fifth time in six years that Minnesotans are approaching fall during a drought. The time of year is right when homeowners typically start repairing their yards. Is it worth fighting back now or simply waiting until spring?
The first days of school can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. New teachers, new classes, maybe even a new building. It can be a lot to manage without a plan.
A school night usually means earlier bedtimes and setting multiple alarms. WCCO spoke with a sleep medicine physician about how many alarms you should set to wake up.
Behind the fried foods and thrilling rides, farming remains at the heart of the Minnesota State Fair, where farm families work around the clock to get their animals ribbon-ready.
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.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says rain will begin tomorrow morning and fall throughout most of the day.
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.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says it'll be cloudy tonight but should remain dry until tomorrow morning.
It dried out Thursday afternoon, but expect some widespread, soaking rain on Friday.
Friday will be an all-day rain event. It will be heaviest across southern Minnesota, where some communities could be dealing with localized flooding, WCCO meteorologist Mike Augustyniak reports.
They were at the Gopher game and, despite outcome, it was a win. The Greenway Nashwauk Keewatin football team took a field trip for the game. For many, it was the first time they had seen the Gophers in person or been on campus, and that was the victory.
Two sport athletes are uncommon in college, especially in football, but Ren Clayton discovered a quarterback pulling it off and tossing something besides the pigskin.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says rain will begin tomorrow morning and fall throughout most of the day.
The Tri-County Humane Society in central Minnesota says a kitten taken from its shelter Wednesday afternoon has been safely returned.
A car rolled over a person this afternoon trapping them under the vehicle.