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His name is shared with a mythical Greek hero. He's a mascot and he saves lives every year. Meet Hercules, a 2,000-pound horse blood donor. Not only is Hercules tall in stature, he's become quite the celebrity.
For military members returning home from deployment, the adjustment back to everyday life can be difficult. Veterans can take advantage of many different resources, from job training to emotional support. But one area that doesn't get a lot of attention is the family. Now there's a new study at the University of Minnesota to help parents and children cope with the return home.
After a difficult summer, Minnesota farmers are confronting a new challenge as colder weather moves in. The price of hay has more than tripled in the past six months, fueled by a shortage caused by a drought-plagued autumn and wet spring that diminished yield.
Richard Pitino will recognize the coach down the sideline next season when the Gophers men's basketball team opens its 2014-15 regular season. That's because it will be his father as they face Louisville in the 2014 Armed Forces Classic in Puerto Rico at the U.S. Coast Guard's Air Station Borinquen.
The Secret Service says it is investigating a credit- and debit-card data theft at Target stores. Secret Service spokesman Brian Leary confirms the agency is investigating, but declined to provide further details.
In anticipation of the Outdoor Hockey City Classic, officials announced Tuesday that eight ranked teams will be involved in a Jan. 11 event at TCF Bank Stadium. The five-game event is called the High School Hockey Faceoff and will feature some of the top boys and girls high school hockey teams in the state.
Officials at the University of Minnesota issued a crime alert Monday after a student was robbed at gun point on Sunday. According to University Police, the student says a man pulled out a gun and demanded their laptop computer at the Carlson School of Management, which is on the West Bank Campus. The student yelled for help and started chasing the robber, who ended up dropping the laptop during the chase.
For years, parents in the Somali community in Minneapolis have said autism is unusually common in their kids. Now, a University of Minnesota study confirms those claims. The study used data from 2010 to determine if more Somali kids, ages seven to nine, had autism than other kids in the state's largest city. Idil Abdul has a son with autism. "I knew what they said today in 2008," Abdul said.
Police are still trying to figure out how a University of Minnesota student ended up dead outside over the weekend. The freshman's body was discovered Sunday morning, just east of the Stone Arch Bridge, along Main Street in Minneapolis.
The University of Minnesota will host its 33rd annual Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute on Jan. 19. The concert will feature composer Bill Banfield and Jazz Urbane plus performances by Ysaye Barnwell of Sweet Honey in the Rock, vocalist Yolanda Williams and high school students from the FAIR School in Minneapolis.
University of Minnesota students have more than just finals to worry about this week. An armed robbery happened in broad daylight right near campus Wednesday on 14th Avenue Southeast and Sixth Street Southeast in Dinkytown - the latest in a string of robberies at or near the University. Police say a female student was walking to class around 9:30 a.m. when a man approached her, showed her a gun and then took her backpack. Her wallet, iPhone and iPad were all inside.
For years, the University of Minnesota has been doing research on tobacco and tobacco-related products. The dangers of the emerging market of electronic cigarettes is still widely unknown.
The Gopher basketball team takes on South Dakota State Tuesday night and one of the interesting story lines on this team has been the emergence of Joey king, a transfer who returned to the Twin Cities. He's making an impact and enjoying life.
The director of the University of Minnesota's Human Rights Program is calling for the immediate release of a Minnesota man who has been held for months in the United Arab Emirates. Barbara Frey and other leaders of the Human Rights Center say they are concerned about Shezanne Cassim's unwarranted and lengthy detention.
Minnesota senators are hoping to learn more about campus crime and security in the wake of several high-profile incidents. The Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee was holding a hearing Tuesday.
The University of Minnesota issued a crime alert after an attempted robbery off-campus in the Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Sunday.
The University of Minnesota will host tributes to Nelson Mandela this week. The Humphrey Students of Color Association at the Humphrey School will rebroadcast Mandela's memorial service, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday. The event will be held at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs on the university's West Bank. On Wednesday, the university's Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Global Change will host a Mandela memorial at 3 p.m. in Heller Hall on the West Bank.
Former University of Minnesota hockey star Lou Nanne, now a prominent Gophers booster, has been picked to lead the school's fundraising campaign for enhanced athletic facilities. The university announced the news on Monday. With a separate practice building for the men's and women's basketball teams at the top of the list, the Gophers are pursuing $190 million in private money to upgrade their sports programs. Football practice facility renovation is also a high priority. Nanne will lead a new volunteer leadership council that will assist the athletic department in meeting the needs of the athletes, coaches and programs.
Minnesota improved by two wins in 2013, its best regular season in a decade. The Gophers reward? A return to the same bowl they lost in a year ago.
The University of Minnesota men's hockey team battled with Michigan State to a 2-2 tie in regulation Friday night, then lost to the Spartans in a shootout in Big Ten Conference play. The Gophers, ranked No. 1 in the nation, didn't score any goals in the shootout and goalie Adam Wilcox stopped two of the three shots he faced.
The University of Minnesota says "Grinches" steal evergreens from its campuses each winter to use as Christmas trees at home. Now, they're using an unusual method to thwart would-be thieves.
A rash of robberies and assaults on the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus has students calling for more police on the beat. As a result, Minneapolis Police are ramping up its efforts to keep students on and near campus safe.
Andre Hollins scored 21 points and Austin Hollins added 16 as the Gophers beat Florida State 71-61 Tuesday night in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge at Williams Rena. Minnesota improved to 7-2 under new coach Richard Pitino.
Another armed robbery has been reported at the University of Minnesota, this time near the University Village. Authorities said the incident occurred around 8:45 a.m. Saturday at the bus stop in front of University Village on University Avenue between 25th Avenue and 26th Avenue SE.
The University of Minnesota is ranked first in the nation. Unfortunately, that ranking is not for academics, but for people cheating on their significant other. The claim comes from a new survey conducted by Ashley Madison, the website intended for those looking to find affairs or cheating partners.
Millions of people across the globe celebrated Christmas on Thursday. And once presents are opened and decorations come down, families are left with overflowing trash bags.
Police in Roseville, Minnesota, are investigating after they said officers found a man injured at the scene of a reported shooting on Friday morning.
The Minnesota Vikings are trying to practice the process of winning in December despite being eliminated from contention for the playoffs.
A lucky lottery player in Arkansas won the $1.817 billion Powerball drawing on Christmas Eve, but someone in the Twin Cities was also treated to a nice stocking stuffer in the form of $100,000.
Minneapolis police say they're investigating a "suspicious death" after a woman's body was discovered inside a vehicle Tuesday morning.
Police in Roseville, Minnesota, are investigating after they said officers found a man injured at the scene of a reported shooting on Friday morning.
A lucky lottery player in Arkansas won the $1.817 billion Powerball drawing on Christmas Eve, but someone in the Twin Cities was also treated to a nice stocking stuffer in the form of $100,000.
Minneapolis police say they're investigating a "suspicious death" after a woman's body was discovered inside a vehicle Tuesday morning.
In the wake of Hurricane Melissa, Chef Tomme Beevas — owner of Pimento Jamaican Kitchen restaurants — jumped into action to help the place he calls home.
Hockey moms are a community, one that Jacqueline Nowakowski had no idea she'd need as much as she does.
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.
Hockey moms are a community, one that Jacqueline Nowakowski had no idea she'd need as much as she does.
Two women are dead after a semitruck collided with a Chrysler minivan in Elmer Township, Minnesota, on Christmas Eve, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.
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.
Sabrina Schnoor, 25, was found dead under an Interstate 35 overpass bridge in May 2023.
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.
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.
Gama, originally from Mexico, has been operating the Pastaleria Gama bakery on Lake Street in Minneapolis for 10 years now. Her store was empty for long stretches of time on Christmas Eve, which she said has never been the case in the past.
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 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.
The Oscars ceremony is moving to YouTube starting in 2029, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Wednesday.
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.
Nikola Jokic set an NBA record with 18 points in overtime, leading the Denver Nuggets to a 142-138 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Christmas night.
Former University of Minnesota Gopher kicker and punter Rob Gray is adjusting to life with a new kidney donated by his pickleball partner.
Players and coaches alike were flowing in and out of the InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront hotel on Thursday, making final preparations ahead of the 2026 World Junior Championship. The tournament begins on Friday.
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.
Friday will be another mild one in the Twin Cities, but another bitter blast is on the way, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Adam Del Rosso.
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.
Friday will be another mild one in the Twin Cities, but another bitter blast is on the way, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Adam Del Rosso.
Dense fog and clouds will make for another gloomy one on Friday, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Adam Del Rosso.
Pockets of drizzle and freezing drizzle wrap up Friday morning in the Twin Cities, but continue to watch for slick spots on untreated surfaces.
Friday will be another mild one in the Twin Cities, but another bitter blast is on the way, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Adam Del Rosso.
Millions of people across the globe celebrated Christmas on Thursday. And once presents are opened and decorations come down, families are left with overflowing trash bags.
A Christmas night water main break flooding a residential street in the Seward neighborhood.
Brad and Amy Dethmers with Beef O' Brady's visit WCCO to show how to elevate your hosting abilities this New Year's with restaurant-worthy bites and drinks.
If you're going out this New Year’s Eve or just getting cozy with friends and family, make sure you step into the new year in style. Stylist Leslie Firkins visits WCCO to break down what to wear for the upcoming celebrations.