State Department enacts widespread layoffs, cutting 1,353 staff
The involuntary staff reductions include 1,107 civil service and 246 foreign service employees, according to a notice sent to employees Friday morning.
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The involuntary staff reductions include 1,107 civil service and 246 foreign service employees, according to a notice sent to employees Friday morning.
New law reduces the number of federal student loan repayment options and caps how much individuals can borrow for higher education.
The tax and spending package includes $66.4 billion in new money for programs assisting farmers, strengthening the safety net if there is significant volatility in crop prices and revenues.
Farmers will see a boost from the so-called "one big, beautiful bill" that Congress cleared last week. Included in that tax and spending package is $66.4 billion for agriculture programs over a decade. Caroline Cummings reports on the impact.
A federal judge in New Hampshire certified a class action lawsuit over President Trump's birthright citizenship order and issued a preliminary injunction blocking it.
Should immigration agents be allowed to wear masks during raids and arrests? Minnesota's Attorney General says no and is writing a brief to support 18 other states that are suing the Trump administration over that practice. Some immigration advocates say agents wearing masks stokes fear and it's not always clear if they are legitimate officers. As Esme Murphy reports, ICE says it has a good reason for those masks.
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.
New tariff rates are set to go live next month, but the effects on Minnesota small business owners could be felt in a matter of days.
Property taxpayers in Minnesota may soon be on the hook for some spending cuts that Congress just approved. The president's "one big, beautiful bill" cuts $186 billion from SNAP, the food assistance program for low-income people. Caroline Cummings reports on why some local officials worry that could mean higher costs at home.
The Trump administration is expected to send dozens of letters to countries that have not made a trade deal, warning them that higher tariffs could kick in next month.
President Trump's new tax cuts and budget bill is expected to have a major impact on local hospitals and nursing homes. Dr. Tyler Winkelman is a doctor at Hennepin Healthcare and an associate professor at the U of M Medical School. He joins Esme Murphy to talk about the cuts on WCCO Sunday Morning at 10:30 a.m.
Minnesota Director of Medicaid John Connolly joins WCCO's Esme Murphy to talk about cuts to Medicaid and its impact on Minnesotans.
President Trump hosted a celebratory event at the White House to sign his "one big, beautiful bill."
Trump administration faces pressure to clinch more trade deals, with a temporary tariff freeze on dozens of countries set to expire.
Minnesotans' home electricity costs could increase by 28% and industrial electricity costs by 46%, according to an analysis by think tank Energy Innovation.
In its 2026 fiscal year budget proposal released in May, the Interior Department estimated that such a surcharge would generate more than $90 million annually.
Consumer advocates warn that cuts in that legislation could drive up your energy bills. One think tank estimates that home electricity costs in Minnesota could jump by nearly 30% over the next decade. WCCO's Caroline Cummings explains why.
Congress delivered a legislative victory for the president Thursday. The so-called "one big, beautiful bill" is now headed to the president's desk. Erica Brown explains what it took to pass the massive spending plan, and the potential impacts.
At hospitals around the state and country, this latest vote raises the level of uncertainty over how they are going to be able to care for patients in the future.
President Trump's massive tax and spending plan is a step closer to his desk after the U.S. Senate narrowly approved its version of the bill Tuesday morning. Nearly 100,000 patients rely on that insurance option at Hennepin Healthcare. The hospital's CEO and a patient shared their concerns with WCCO's Esme Murphy.
The Senate narrowly passed President Trump's massive tax and spending bill Tuesday after a marathon series of amendment votes.
The bill, which narrowly passed in the Senate Tuesday, could leave an estimated $1.4 billion to $1.6 billion hole in the Minnesota state budget, according to the Office of Management and Budget.
Tesla shares have taken a hit as the world's richest person and President Trump continue to exchange jabs over the spending bill.
Getting an electric vehicle could get more expensive if President Trump's budget bill passes, taking away a tax credit for an increasingly popular way to drive. In today's Price Check, Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield shows us what's driving the change and whether it still makes "cents" to go electric.
President Trump's massive spending bill could get the green light as soon as Monday night. As Esme Murphy reports, if it passes, it would leave a hole of nearly $1.5 billion in the Minnesota state budget.
Saturday will see temperatures in the 40s before a major drop off comes on Sunday.
Hill-Murray is again one of the best girls hockey teams in Minnesota. This season, at any given time, there could be five Pohls on the Pioneers bench.
Many Minnesotans would describe the past few days as fairly warm, given the time of year. That didn't stop the Ice Castles from making its earliest start to the season ever in Minnesota, officially opening on Friday.
A man and a woman are dead, and two others, including a 1-year-old boy, are injured after a crash in Thompson Township, Minnesota, on Friday morning.
Jalen Smith scored his second touchdown a diving 12-yard catch in the first overtime and Minnesota extended its postseason winning streak to nine straight games with a 20-17 win over New Mexico in Rate Bowl.
Saturday will see temperatures in the 40s before a major drop off comes on Sunday.
Many Minnesotans would describe the past few days as fairly warm, given the time of year. That didn't stop the Ice Castles from making its earliest start to the season ever in Minnesota, officially opening on Friday.
The weeklong festival of Kwanzaa began on Friday with much fanfare at Lake Street's Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis.
Gov. Tim Walz has ordered U.S. and Minnesota flags at all state buildings to fly at half-staff on Monday to honor and remember St. Paul firefighter Timothy Bertz, who officials said died after suffering a "serious medical event."
Minneapolis officials have banned government officials, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, from using city lots and ramps as a staging area to enforce federal immigration laws, according to an updated city ordinance.
Saturday will see temperatures in the 40s before a major drop off comes on Sunday.
A man and a woman are dead, and two others, including a 1-year-old boy, are injured after a crash in Thompson Township, Minnesota, on Friday morning.
As Christmas trees across the nation come down, a farm in Elk River, Minnesota, is finding a new purpose for the pines.
Gov. Tim Walz has ordered U.S. and Minnesota flags at all state buildings to fly at half-staff on Monday to honor and remember St. Paul firefighter Timothy Bertz, who officials said died after suffering a "serious medical event."
An ER patient is accused of attacking a security guard inside a Wyoming, Minnesota, hospital on Christmas evening, leading to a confrontation with a police officer outside the facility.
A Wisconsin woman who almost killed her sixth-grade classmate to please the fictional Slender Man has been ordered back to a state psychiatric hospital after she escaped from her group home last month.
Several schools in Minnesota and Wisconsin are reporting delayed starts on Monday amid a messy morning commute.
The U.S. Justice Department has sued three states, including Illinois and Wisconsin, and D.C. for not turning over requested voter information to the Trump administration.
Defenders of a Wisconsin judge found guilty of felony obstruction for helping a Mexican immigrant evade federal officers are raising alarms about judicial independence and say they hope the conviction will be overturned on appeal.
The Minnesota Attorney General's Office says Menards, the Wisconsin-based home improvement retailer, has reached a $4.25 million settlement with several states to "resolve claims" of deceptive marketing practices in its popular "11% Rebate Program," and pandemic-era price gouging.
Many people who serve in the U.S. military find it hard to ask for assistance when they've been trained to help and serve others.
Food Bank Eatery in North Minneapolis provides free meals for children, who may have little to eat after the pause of SNAP benefits for many in the community.
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.
Minneapolis officials have banned government officials, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, from using city lots and ramps as a staging area to enforce federal immigration laws, according to an updated city ordinance.
The Veterans Affairs Department is reimposing a near total ban on abortions for veterans and their families that was modified in 2022.
President Trump says the U.S. launched powerful and deadly strikes against Islamic state forces in Nigeria, plus more of the day’s top stories.
Strikes against ISIS targets in Nigeria come after President Trump spent weeks accusing the West African country's government of failing to rein in the persecution of Christians.
The message, aired on Channel 4 on Christmas Day, reflected on the impact of President Trump's second term in office thus far.
This season of giving can really do a number on our recycling systems. But we can all be part of the solution.
With the time-honored tradition of gift giving comes gift concealing.
Twin Cities shoppers were out and about on Super Saturday, the second-busiest shopping day of the year. The day lands on the final Saturday before Christmas annually.
Buy now, pay later plans are becoming more popular for shoppers this holiday season.
The Minnesota Attorney General's Office says Menards, the Wisconsin-based home improvement retailer, has reached a $4.25 million settlement with several states to "resolve claims" of deceptive marketing practices in its popular "11% Rebate Program," and pandemic-era price gouging.
Police in Roseville, Minnesota, are investigating after they said officers found a man injured at the scene of a reported shooting on Friday morning.
Minneapolis police say they're investigating a "suspicious death" after a woman's body was discovered inside a vehicle Tuesday morning.
An ER patient is accused of attacking a security guard inside a Wyoming, Minnesota, hospital on Christmas evening, leading to a confrontation with a police officer outside the facility.
A 63-year-old West St. Paul, Minnesota, man accused of pointing a gun at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent says the agent also pointed a gun at him, according to court documents filed on Thursday.
Minneapolis police are investigating after they say a man suffered "potentially life-threatening injuries" in a stabbing on Thursday morning.
The clock is ticking to snag a few more gifts and prepare for that holiday trip to visit family. As the pressure builds, so does the stress.
The Minnesota Athletic Trainers Association says of the middle and high schools they know of, only 49% have an athletic trainer providing some level of service.
From 2021 to 2025, Smart Therapy Center submitted claims totaling $31.8 million across all Minnesota Department of Human Services programs, according to that data. But the provider was only approved for a fraction of those payments.
The family of a Minnesota Vikings player who died at training camp from heat exhaustion in 2001 is still fighting to protect others.
A Twin Cities metro area school shifted to e-learning after a flu outbreak impacted nearly a quarter of its students. A senior epidemiologist with the Minnesota Department of Health said flu season is "definitely picking up."
The band announced Perry Bamonte's death on their official website on Friday.
The message, aired on Channel 4 on Christmas Day, reflected on the impact of President Trump's second term in office thus far.
Feeding America's CEO said the organization is "incredibly grateful" for Taylor Swift's large donation.
The singer said an MRI showed a cancerous spot on one of his lungs after he recovered from a lengthy bout of bronchitis.
The special features interviews with Kathy Bates, Annette Bening, Albert Brooks, Michael Douglas, Kiefer Sutherland, Jerry O'Connell and Mandy Patinkin.
Hill-Murray is again one of the best girls hockey teams in Minnesota. This season, at any given time, there could be five Pohls on the Pioneers bench.
Jalen Smith scored his second touchdown a diving 12-yard catch in the first overtime and Minnesota extended its postseason winning streak to nine straight games with a 20-17 win over New Mexico in Rate Bowl.
The World Junior Championship tournament kicked off in Minnesota on Friday. For those eager to check it out, there's a free fan experience called the Bold North Breakaway.
The Minnesota Vikings are trying to practice the process of winning in December despite being eliminated from contention for the playoffs.
Hockey moms are a community, one that Jacqueline Nowakowski had no idea she'd need as much as she does.
Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is calling for answers about the immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities. She is also denouncing the president's attacks on the Somali community and herself. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy shows us how, for Omar, this is a familiar position to be in.
Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is calling for clarity about the immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities.
Fear and uncertainty continue in Minnesota's Somali communities as ICE continues its intensified focus on the Twin Cities.
Opposition to ICE actions is widespread among Democratic elected officials throughout the state, though nowhere more than in Minneapolis, home to the state's largest Somali population.
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.
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 story begins years ago when the city acquired one of the T-38 Talon Thunderbird jets from the Air Force.
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."
According to the Smithsonian Magazine and Britannica, eggnog has British roots.
With the time-honored tradition of gift giving comes gift concealing.
The story of "The Wizard of Oz " is 125 years old, yet still reinventing itself in all kinds of forms.
It's the time of year when we accumulate the most stuff. When we do, people often throw around the word "hoarding." But it turns out it's a frequently misunderstood term.
Why do we have oily or dry skin? A dermatologist explains the root cause and how it can change over time.
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.
We will have a dense fog advisory starting at 8 p.m. Saturday night. Sunday morning a winter storm watch goes into effect, lasting until Monday morning. The worst conditions are expected Sunday night with strong winds and potentially heavy snow. Lisa Meadows breaks down the important information you need to know to stay safe.
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.
Saturday will see temperatures in the 40s before a major drop off comes on Sunday.
Saturday will be gloomy but mild temperatures before a major change comes Sunday.
A large area of northern Minnesota is under a winter weather advisory until 5 a.m. on Saturday due to the potential for freezing rain, NEXT Weather meteorologist Lisa Meadows says. Temperatures in the Twin Cities that day will reach the low 40s.
We will have a dense fog advisory starting at 8 p.m. Saturday night. Sunday morning a winter storm watch goes into effect, lasting until Monday morning. The worst conditions are expected Sunday night with strong winds and potentially heavy snow. Lisa Meadows breaks down the important information you need to know to stay safe.
A Wyoming, Minnesota, hospital security guard who was involved in a confrontation on Christmas has passed away from her injuries.
Saturday will be gloomy but mild temperatures before a major change comes Sunday.
Jonah Kaplan shares headlines for Dec. 27, 2025
Emily Pohl, one of the top girls hockey players in Minnesota, is chasing another state title. She comes from a pair of iconic Minnesota hockey names and is breaking with tradition. Ren Clayton explains.