Pat Kessler discusses polling and Scott Jensen’s campaign
WCCO political contributor Pat Kessler talks about “wishcasting” polling, and how controversial statements from Dr. Scott Jensen and Matt Birk may have impacted their gubernatorial campaign.
WCCO political contributor Pat Kessler talks about “wishcasting” polling, and how controversial statements from Dr. Scott Jensen and Matt Birk may have impacted their gubernatorial campaign.
Polls have closed in Minnesota, and political contributor Pat Kessler has the latest on what to expect.
More than 160,000 Minnesotans have cast their ballots early for the midterms elections. With every day closer to Election Day, several races are getting tighter. Pat Kessler has the latest.
As we approach a year of life in quarantine, special correspondent and former WCCO senior political reporter Pat Kessler reflects on his last handshake before the pandemic.
Thursday is National Toast Day, and special correspondent and former WCCO senior political reporter Pat Kessler has a personal essay to share on the topic of toast.
On Wednesday afternoon, a raucous protest turned into a violent and destructive riot at the U.S. Capitol.
What don't you know about Pat Kessler? We dig in for this special Reality Check.
WCCO is celebrating our friend and colleague Pat Kessler as he begins his retirement.
Pat Kessler is known for his tough questions. He's covered Minnesota politics for decades, but now he's retiring. So, we wanted to do a Reality Check on his career with WCCO.
"They want to find out how many votes they need and then they seem to be able to find them. They wait and wait and then they find them," President Donald Trump said.
The decision is likely to create voter confusion, with people who haven't returned their absentee ballots scrambling to make sure their votes count.
Ahead of the polls, Biden campaigned in Georgia, a southern state Democrats never thought they could win. Trump is holding three events in three states he won back in 2016: Michigan, Nebraska, and Wisconsin.
Thirteen days until Election Day, and the number of early voters is exploding across the country.
Kessler dedicated 36 years to covering Minnesota politics and local government here. Kessler has reported on the administrations of eight Minnesota governors, dozens of legislative sessions and political conventions.
Because of President Trump's restrictions on new refugees, Minnesota refugee resettlement numbers are down 90% -- the fewest refugees in at least 15 years.
There's a very good chance America won't know who wins the presidential election -- on election night. Not because of fraud, because of COVID.
Both President Trump and Democratic Presidential candidate Joe Biden are visiting "swing state" Minnesota on Friday. Now, a couple of Biden TV ads say President Trump is planning to end Social Security, but that's a stretch.
The Minnesota Trump campaign says the president is "building back the economy" for women, and the millions of jobs added back as the economy recovers is "shattering expectations."
The country's biggest cities saw violent unrest this summer, including Minneapolis. Since June 23, the president has repeatedly linked violence to cities run by Democrats.
Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is facing a challenge from fellow Democrat Antone Melton-Meaux in one of the most closely-watched congressional primaries in the country -- and a new TV ad making serious claims against her.
The state of South Dakota has launched a major marketing campaign-- in Minnesota. It's unusual not just because it's targeting Minnesota businesses, but because it's asking them to re-locate due to Minnesota's pandemic shut down.
President Trump is airing television campaign ads in Minnesota and Wisconsin linking Joe Biden to a controversial "defund the police" movement.
That's an average of $6,362 per lawmaker, or $449 extra per week on the paycheck -- for a session in which some of the biggest items were left undone.
President Donald Trump claims he sent National Guard troops to Minneapolis to restore order after the death of George Floyd. That never happened.
Minneapolis has one of the lowest numbers in the country for police residents. In fact, the four ex-Minneapolis police officers charged in Floyd killing don't live in the city.
A group of seniors are asking for answers, after the USPS has gone weeks without delivering mail to their apartment complex.
The St. Thomas Academy baseball team is learning to play through the grief and pain of losing a teammate.
Law enforcement were out in large numbers Tuesday — they were training to respond to real world critical incidents.
Minnesota has two new "million-dollar cities" where the median home prices are now in the seven figures.
Find out whether you can expect to see Apple AirPods on sale this year during Amazon's big Prime Day 2024 shopping event.
A group of seniors are asking for answers, after the USPS has gone weeks without delivering mail to their apartment complex.
The St. Thomas Academy baseball team is learning to play through the grief and pain of losing a teammate.
Law enforcement were out in large numbers Tuesday — they were training to respond to real world critical incidents.
Minnesota has two new "million-dollar cities" where the median home prices are now in the seven figures.
The first of four peregrine falcon eggs featured on the DNR FalconCam in St. Paul hatched early Tuesday morning.
A long-time deer sanctuary in Hutchinson is at risk of being shut down and a fence might be the culprit.
Rochester police are investigating a deadly three-vehicle crash that killed a high school senior and hurt six others, including a state trooper.
A 57-year-old man was hospitalized after a camper explosion Sunday morning.
Police in Moorhead have canceled a missing person alert for a 35-year-old woman.
Parts of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northeastern Minnesota have been temporarily closed as a search for two missing canoeists continues.
U.S. News & World Report has released its latest list of the top 150 best places to live in the country, with its top 15 featuring a pair of Upper Midwestern cities. But Minnesotans may be surprised that their only city to make the list was in the bottom third.
Wisconsin election officials have voted to provide more details to voters than normal to avoid confusion about a ballot that will have both a special and regular election for a vacant congressional seat.
After more than three decades, DNA researchers and authorities have identified a skeleton found in the chimney of a Madison, Wisconsin music store.
Twenty-four-year-old Madison Bergmann was charged earlier this month with first-degree child sexual assault with a child under 13 in regard to her relationship with a fifth-grade student at River Crest Elementary School in Hudson.
The moves come six months before the election and are just the latest examples of political jousting between Evers and the Legislature. Both are trying to use the stalemate over PFAS funding and other issues to their advantage in the November election
There's only a handful of practicing Black architects in the state of Minnesota. It's a space one north Minneapolis designer is grateful to represent, and through his work on the north side, he aims to create a more equitable future.
A metro nonprofit makes a difference by meeting unmet needs in the community for women and children.
One woman aspires to open the first black, woman-owned brewery in the state
In a protest through songs, more than 50 students gathered outside Hinckley-Finlayson High School Wednesday afternoon, demanding a reversal to a school board decision to take a traditional Native song out of this year's upcoming graduation ceremony.
While on his run, 74-year-old John suffered a heart attack. Craig Humpfer, a real estate appraiser, happened to be driving in the area and noticed him on the ground.
WCCO political reporter Caroline Cummings looks back at the chaotic close to the legislative session at the Minnesota Capitol.
The 2024 legislative session had a frenzied finale on Sunday night as lawmakers raced to beat the clock.
Sunday evening was a grim one at the Minnesota State Capitol, with lawmakers engaging in shouting matches during the final moments of the 2024 legislative session. But amid the chaos was a rare moment of bipartisan jubilation.
The 2024 legislative session ended in chaos. Lawmakers in both the house and senate found themselves in a shouting match in the final hours.
The Minnesota Legislature ended its work for the 2024 session Sunday with a chaotic finale, as political tensions erupted over a last-minute decision by Democrats to put their unfinished priorities into one bill to get them across the finish line.
Minnesota has two new "million-dollar cities" where the median home prices are now in the seven figures.
On this week's Good Question, WCCO's Jeff Wagner discovers whether or not we can improve our attention spans for the better.
The Minnesota Legislature reached a deal Saturday that looks like it will keep Uber and Lyft in Minnesota.
An agreement was reached on Saturday night to keep Uber and Lyft operating in Minnesota and pay rideshare drivers more.
A metro nonprofit makes a difference by meeting unmet needs in the community for women and children.
A new lawsuit has been filed against former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, accusing him of using excessive force a handful of months before he murdered George Floyd.
Police say a man was shot inside a Minneapolis homeless encampment on Tuesday morning — the fifth shooting victim in or near the encampment within the past month.
Rochester police are investigating a deadly three-vehicle crash that killed a high school senior and hurt six others, including a state trooper.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension on Monday announced a new unit focused on reducing violent crime.
It happened just before 10 p.m. on the 2800 block of 16th Avenue South, according to the Minneapolis Police Department.
On this week's Good Question, WCCO's Jeff Wagner discovers whether or not we can improve our attention spans for the better.
Earlier this year, King Charles underwent a procedure for an enlarged prostate, which sparked interest in the extremely common condition among older men.
North Carolina Republicans are pushing forward with their plan to repeal a pandemic-era law, citing crime and recent campus protests.
With decades of experience healing the body, these two say this is the first step to healing the mind.
Both chambers debated until early Thursday morning with the House making some progress regarding changes to the paid family and medical leave bill that passed last year.
Pop superstar Justin Timberlake is bringing "SexyBack" to St. Paul this fall.
Hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs posted a video on social media apologizing for his "inexcusable" behavior and that he takes "full responsibility" for his actions.
Smith Park in Bloomington is home to a new kind of playground to test your ninja skills — no matter your age.
Jim Parsons and Mayim Bialik are reprising their roles from "Big Bang Theory" in part one of the "Young Sheldon" series finale.
Guests will spend the night in The Kid's bedroom, enjoy "rare and special" Prince tracks and receive a private tour of the house featuring Prince's real-life personal items, according to Airbnb listing.
The St. Thomas Academy baseball team is learning to play through the grief and pain of losing a teammate.
Two members of the NBA's best regular season defense are being lauded for their efforts.
With both of Kevin Garnett's most beloved teams in their respective conference finals, the Big Ticket said he won't pick a side if they battle for the NBA championship.
Minnesota Vikings star wide receiver Justin Jefferson was absent on Monday when the Vikings held their first of 10 allowable organized team activities, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.
Eight days ago, the Minnesota Twins were baseball's hottest team and winners of 17 of 20 games.
The Minnesota Legislature reached a deal Saturday that looks like it will keep Uber and Lyft in Minnesota.
In 2020, then President Donald Trump promised that if he lost he would never come back. Now, he'll return to Minnesota Friday for one of the biggest fundraisers of the year for the Minnesota GOP. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy looks at Trump's goal of winning our state.
Internal Republican polling shows Minnesota is up for grabs, and Minnesota's 10 electoral college votes could be critical in the upcoming election.
While on the campaign trail in 2020, then President Donald Trump promised that if he lost Minnesota* he would never come back. Four years later, Trump will be back Friday to headline one of the biggest fundraisers of the year for the Minnesota GOP, the Lincoln Reagan dinner in St. Paul. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy spoke with Hamline Professor David Schultz about Trump's ongoing legal battles.
While on the campaign trail in 2020, then President Donald Trump promised that if he lost Minnesota* he would never come back. Four years later, Trump will be back Friday to headline one of the biggest fundraisers of the year for the Minnesota GOP, the Lincoln Reagan dinner in St. Paul. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy spoke with political strategists Abou Amara, a democrat, and Amy Koch, a Republican.
It's a rite of spring in the town of Atwater. When the weather gets warm, the racers get racing. But at this track, the vehicle of choice is a go-kart and most of the competition is too young for a driver's license.
Minnesotans like to explore, and now they'll have a chance to step into caves that haven't been explored in half a century.
John Lauritsen looks at how a Breezy Point barn went from housing buffalo and cattle to hosting customers and wedding parties.
It's one of the few covered bridges remaining in the Midwest, and it's seen a lot of traffic over the years.
Decades ago, at an 88-acre pasture near Annandale, cars replaced cows and French Lake Auto Parts was born.
On this week's Good Question, WCCO's Jeff Wagner discovers whether or not we can improve our attention spans for the better.
From Seattle in the Northwest, to across the world in Spain, and right back in Minnesota, the human collective looked north for a few nights as a massive light show performed for one of its largest audiences ever.
A sweaty Sunday with temperatures pushing into the 80s might have forced many people to hit the showers. And for some, it could have been their second go 'round for the day.
A survey by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shows 1.7 million anglers went fishing in Minnesota in 2022. Of those, 69% were residents and 31% were from out of state.
A summer sausage is apparently what's propelled the Twins to 12 straight victories. So, why are athletes superstitious? Good Question.
Minnesotans were delighted by an otherworldly light show Friday night that was on a level the state hadn't seen in nearly two decades.
Many Minnesotans were treated to a stunning double rainbow on Thursday.
Nicolae Miu, a 54-year-old man from Prior, Lake, Minnesota was found guilty of six criminal charges, including first-degree reckless homicide. Miu's trial lasted eight days in a Hudson, Wisconsin courtroom.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed early Tuesday, March 26 after a column was struck by a container ship that reportedly lost power, sending vehicles and people into the Patapsco River.
An early spring snowstorm made for many beautiful sights across the state of Minnesota over the weekend.
A rapidly moving system is bringing thunderstorms, and some parts of southern Minnesota are under a tornado warning.
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.
Several tornado warnings are in effect Tuesday evening in southern Minnesota.
A NEXT Weather Alert is in effect due to encroaching storms that could turn severe.
Severe weather is likely this afternoon and evening, particularly in southeastern Minnesota, but the Twin Cities could also get hit.
Copper thieves disguised themselves as AT & T reps and managed to steal thousands of dollars worth of copper from local businesses
A rapidly moving system is bringing thunderstorms, and some parts of southern Minnesota are under a tornado warning.
The St. Thomas Academy baseball team says they’re coming together on the field to honor their friend.
If you see something scary going on at Macalester College in St. Paul, know it’s only a drill.
Chauvin is the former Minneapolis police officer who killed Floyd when he knelt on his neck in May 2020. The federal civil rights lawsuit filed Tuesday dates back to a DWI arrest four months earlier.