Boy, 5, with rare condition makes amazing progress after heart transplant
At 5 years old, William Staley Olesen is a ball of energy. Watching him run around, laugh and play, it would be hard to know just how much he has already been through.
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At 5 years old, William Staley Olesen is a ball of energy. Watching him run around, laugh and play, it would be hard to know just how much he has already been through.
April is Transplant Awareness Month, a time to highlight the lives saved and the need that still exists. Photojournalist Nick Lunemann and Jeff Wagner introduce us to a Minnesota family who recently faced that reality head-on.
A farm family from Dennison, Minnesota, received a heartbreaking diagnosis: their unborn son has a rare, deadly genetic disorder. But thanks to a selfless stranger, their baby's story is taking a remarkable turn.
The Mayo Clinic says surgeons there successfully performed a face transplant for a Michigan man who was severely injured from a self-inflicted gunshot wound 10 years ago.
A Massachusetts man has regained his voice after surgeons removed his cancerous larynx, or voice box, and replaced it with a donated one.
A major change in the medical world is helping make kidney transplants more racially equitable.
How do hospitals decide who gets a transplant? It turns out, when it came to kidneys, the patient's race played a part — until now. Our David Schuman spoke to a woman with a new kidney who says without this change, she'd still be waiting for one.
Thursday is World Kidney Day. It's a day to create awareness about the importance of healthy kidneys. WCCO's Reg Chapman spoke with a woman living with kidney disease who has had four transplants in 20 years. Her story is an inspiration for anyone dealing with illness.
Aaron James lost most of his face in a 2021 work accident where he accidentally touched a live wire.
Lawrence Faucette, a 58-year-old Maryland man, is the second person to receive a transplanted heart from a pig.
This experiment marks the longest a genetically-engineered pig kidney has functioned after a transplant, according to NYU Langone Health.
This Father's Day, plenty of presents are sure to be exchanged. But for two Twin Cities dads, one amazing gift now tops them all.
Ben Williams has seen much in his 51 years of life, including a career in professional football and as a professional body builder. But he nearly lost his life four years ago, and because of that he now has a new purpose.
Northwestern Medicine successfully performed a double-lung transplant on a Minneapolis woman with stage 4 lung cancer.
More than 105,000 people are on the U.S. waiting list for an organ transplant. Thousands will die before it's their turn. Thousands more never even get put on the list, considered too much of a long shot.
The rate of organ donations among Native Americans is much lower than other ethnic groups. For some tribes, cultural beliefs are a factor. In rural communities, time, distance and spotty internet access can hinder the process.
A Fargo teen is recovering at Children's Minnesota in Minneapolis after doctors successfully gave him a new heart.
An Army soldier who lost her ear has received a revolutionary transplant which saw doctors grow a brand new ear on the patient's own arm.
The Johns Hopkins reconstructive surgery team has successfully performed the first total penis and scrotum transplant in the world.
A Cottage Grove man, who earned worldwide attention while waiting for a kidney transplant, has a new organ. Jim Gorbunow, 44, begins each day with a handful of medications. Over the course of a day, he'll take upwards of 30 pills.
A malpractice case for a Minnesota woman who died after receiving a transplant of a cancerous pancreas may be headed for a trial. The Minnesota Court of Appeals this week ruled the case against Dr. Ty Dunn should head to court in the death of Jodie Shierts, 36. The court says Dunn didn't know the pancreas was infected with cancer but should have screened the donor more thoroughly.
A Minneapolis Police officer battling lupus and kidney failure received a life-changing transplant this week. Carlos Escobar, 35, is recovering at Hennepin County Medical Center. He spent two years on a waiting list for a kidney donation. After working a full day as a police officer, he would come home and spend seven hours on dialysis, hoping and praying a donor would come through. "I never expected it to be too soon because they told me with my blood type, it could be seven years," Escobar said
In many ways, Maly Lee and Mason are just like any other mother and young son. But in other ways, their relationship is very different. Maly and her husband are part parents, part caregivers for their 20-month-old, who was born with serious birth defects and other issues, all related to a rare genetic disorder called Fanconi Anemia.
Last week, a new lung transplant procedure was used at the University of Minnesota, and for the first time in the Midwest. The new technology keeps the lungs warm and breathing from the time they leave the donor. Common practice has been to keep the organs on ice before transplant.
A Mankato native is now recovering from her second heart transplant in 15 years.
Monday will be dry during the day in Minnesota, but another round of possibly severe storms could arrive come nightfall.
The legislation, which passed in the state Senate, was also supported by healthcare professionals. It would have banned semiautomatic rifles and high-capacity magazines.
While the St. Paul Saints faced off against Columbus on Sunday, Seigo Masubuchi was running a marathon on the concourse inside CHS Field.
The 2026 Minnesota legislative session is over and finished on time — just barely.
Rookie Gabriela Jaquez set career highs with 20 points and eight rebounds, Kamilla Cardoso had 11 points and 12 rebounds, and the Chicago Sky beat the Minnesota Lynx 86-79.
While the St. Paul Saints faced off against Columbus on Sunday, Seigo Masubuchi was running a marathon on the concourse inside CHS Field.
Rookie Gabriela Jaquez set career highs with 20 points and eight rebounds, Kamilla Cardoso had 11 points and 12 rebounds, and the Chicago Sky beat the Minnesota Lynx 86-79.
A 72-year-old Minnesota man allegedly told police he tried to kill his wife so she would not have to "deal with" living off significantly reduced Social Security benefits.
Charges say two women had been arguing over $50 when one of them fatally shot the other at a Minneapolis apartment earlier this month.
Shelisa Demuth says she still believes in her heart that her mom, Lisa Demuth, should call for the vote, but she understands why it won't happen.
The Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Office says the crash occurred on County Road 18, 3.5 miles north of Lake Lillian, around 7:17 p.m. Saturday.
David Storbakken's story is one of the many Minnesota Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives cases.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Sunday declared a peacetime emergency and mobilized the National Guard to help battle several major wildfires in the state.
Wildfires are spreading quickly in northern Minnesota and burning hundreds of acres of land among extreme fire risk conditions on Saturday.
Authorities in northern Minnesota are asking for tips from the public after a fire suppression aircraft was struck by a bullet on Friday.
A driver went airborne during a high-speed police chase in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, after fleeing a traffic stop.
Fifty beagles rescued from animal testing in Wisconsin are set to arrive in Minnesota Thursday.
A 100-mile stretch of Mississippi River towns is hosting its annual 100 Mile Garage Sale this weekend, drawing shoppers and sellers from across the region and beyond.
Minnesota animal rescues are stepping up to take in dogs from a Wisconsin research facility accused of animal abuse.
You may have heard of Give to the Max Day, where people donate millions of dollars to hundreds of nonprofits and organizations across Minnesota on a single day. That idea has spread to western Wisconsin, called Give Big Valleys.
Quincy Street isn't just at the center of Art-A-Whirl, it's at the heart of the Arts District in northeast Minneapolis. The road itself, however, is falling apart. And the only thing bumpier than the exposed brick is the reaction to the city's plans to fix it.
Somali and Muslim leaders in Minnesota played a threatening voicemail at a public gathering Friday, saying businesses in their community are being targeted with messages warning of death.
The Black homeownership rate in the Twin Cities dropped to 29% in 2024, and the region had the largest gap between Black and White homeownership rates of any comparable metro in the country.
Bobby Rogers once came to the Minneapolis Institute of Art to sketch and study; now he leads its design and editorial work, shaping what visitors see and experience.
Moses Cooper, who has cerebral palsy, met running partner Mark Hulsey through My Team Triumph Minnesota two years ago and the pair qualified for the Boston Marathon at Grandma's Marathon last summer.
According to a new CBS News poll, many Americans don't believe the war with Iran is helping U.S. economic and strategic interests.
The 2026 Minnesota legislative session is over and finished on time — just barely
The legislation, which passed in the state Senate, was also supported by healthcare professionals. It would have banned semiautomatic rifles and high-capacity magazines.
The 2026 Minnesota legislative session is over and finished on time — just barely.
Lawmakers are scrambling to get the final bills passed before the clock strikes midnight, marking the end of the legislative session.
Part of the end-of-session deal in the Minnesota Legislature rolls back skyrocketing tab renewal fees. Those fees have electric vehicle owners especially revved up.
In Minnesota, you'll be able to try one at St. Paul's CHS Field.
With more Americans opting to drive rather than fly amid higher costs, South Dakota tourism officials say the state is well-positioned as a regional road trip destination.
President Trump's idea to save drivers a few dollars at the pump could cost them in the long run.
A 100-mile stretch of Mississippi River towns is hosting its annual 100 Mile Garage Sale this weekend, drawing shoppers and sellers from across the region and beyond.
A 72-year-old Minnesota man allegedly told police he tried to kill his wife so she would not have to "deal with" living off significantly reduced Social Security benefits.
Charges say two women had been arguing over $50 when one of them fatally shot the other at a Minneapolis apartment earlier this month.
Authorities in northern Minnesota are asking for tips from the public after a fire suppression aircraft was struck by a bullet on Friday.
Monday will mark five years since the tragic killing of 6-year-old Aniya Allen in Minneapolis
Police in Rochester, Minnesota, are investigating a shooting near Essex Park, according to a post on social media.
At least 80 deaths have been reported in a new Ebola disease outbreak in Congo and Uganda, authorities said.
It comes after insurers stopped paying for their kids' daily care, which they argue was covered as part of a 15-year-old state law. As the end of the Minnesota session nears, lawmakers have four days to make a change.
A Twin Cities teenager is facing an unimaginable battle: terminal cancer. She's fortunate enough to have family by her side through her fearless fight as they all hope for a miracle.
Dr. Gianrico Farrugia has led Mayo Clinic since 2019, and the organization said it was his decision to "complete his tenure at the end of this year."
Twin Cities emergency room physicians, nurses and technicians made an emotional plea Tuesday for lawmakers to do something about Minnesota's gun laws.
The Library of Congress revealed this year's list of 25 recordings to be preserved for future generations on the National Recording Registry.
Dave Ryan announced Wednesday that May 22 will be his last day at KDWB, ending a 33-year run at the Twin Cities station.
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis are calling their Aug. 29 show "Homecoming: A Celebration of the Minneapolis Sound."
A trial in the lawsuit between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni was set to begin later in May.
The Minnesota Star Tribune was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for breaking news for its coverage of a mass shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic school that killed two children and injured more than a dozen others.
Rookie Gabriela Jaquez set career highs with 20 points and eight rebounds, Kamilla Cardoso had 11 points and 12 rebounds, and the Chicago Sky beat the Minnesota Lynx 86-79.
Sunday's win at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, is only his second PGA tour victory, after winning the 2024 Wyndham Championship.
Ryan Jeffers hit a tiebreaking homer and Kody Clemens had two doubles and two RBIs as the Minnesota Twins defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 5-4 to avoid a three-game sweep.
Luca Langoni scored the go-ahead goal early in the second half and the New England Revolution held on for a 2-1 victory over Minnesota United to close out a four-match homestand.
Jackson Chourio hit a go-ahead solo homer in the sixth inning and made a run-saving catch in the seventh, Logan Henderson struck out seven in five innings and the Milwaukee Brewers edged the Minnesota Twins 2-1.
Amy Klobuchar is putting her gubernatorial campaign into high gear. She faces no significant opposition in the race for the DFL endorsement and her existing record of statewide wins is formidable.
The legislation establishes a list of requirements aimed at improving transparency and reducing conflicts within HOAs. Minnesota estimates that 25% of its residents live in an HOA, and 82% of new homes are built within one.
The Minnesota Senate passed a bill with mandatory requirements for homeowners associations aimed at improving transparency and preventing disputes, after two years of legislative work driven by public complaints.
The Minnesota Senate passed a bill with mandatory requirements for homeowners associations aimed at improving transparency and preventing disputes, after two years of legislative work driven by public complaints. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy spoke with Dana Ohman, an attorney who handles HOA disputes, about some of the most common questions homeowners have.
Sen. Tina Smith is using her last months in office to vocally campaign for progressive and environmental causes. She hopes that a progressive will succeed her when Minnesotans go to the polls next November.
There's a place in Wabasha County, Minnesota, where people go wild for wildflowers.
For nearly 50 years, Farmamerica has been sowing agricultural knowledge near Waseca, Minnesota.
The carillon has 56 bells, and the Mayo Clinic said that makes it one of the largest instruments in the world and the largest instrument in Minnesota.
When you think of masterful, memorable works of art, grain elevators don't typically come to mind. But in towns across the country, including in Minnesota, they're becoming an unlikely canvas for creativity.
At Arnie Lillo's Creations in Blue Earth County, you can visit a metal-scaled version of the Eiffel Tower and the Golden Gate Bridge. The works of art have taken on a shape of their own.
President Trump's idea to save drivers a few dollars at the pump could cost them in the long run.
More people than the entire population of Minneapolis, or half a million, were estimated to go fishing in Minnesota this past weekend. WCCO looks at how the tradition stacks up with other outdoor events that keep the state's economy running.
A deadly virus that's killed cruise ship passengers can be traced to small critters found hiding in homes.
So far this decade, the Twin Cities metro has, on average, added about 17,000 housing units per year, according to data from the Metropolitan Council.
A symbolic change is bothering some Minnesotans. Now their local leaders are listening; several cities are voting to fly the old state flag instead of the new one. While it was a drastic redesign, it wasn't the first.
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.
The Minnesota State Fair has unveiled its new food, drinks and vendors for 2025.
More severe weather is possible on Monday in parts of Minnesota.
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 dry during the day in Minnesota, but another round of possibly severe storms could arrive come nightfall.
Monday will be dry during the day in Minnesota, but another round of possibly severe storms should arrive come nightfall.
A severe line of storms is pushing through southern Minnesota, with a tornado watch in place until 1 a.m.
The legislative session is now over, Gov. Tim Walz is heading up north to survey fire damage and more.
More severe weather is possible on Monday in parts of Minnesota.
The bigger bills did not come until the final hours before the deadline, but in the end, they all passed before midnight, plus more of the day’s top stories.
According to a new CBS News poll, many Americans don't believe the war with Iran is helping U.S. economic and strategic interests.
Monday will be dry during the day in Minnesota, but another round of possibly severe storms should arrive come nightfall.