Franken Spends Limited Time With Obama
Re-election seeking Sen. Al Franken joined President Barack Obama for only a limited portion of a two-day Minnesota visit.
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Re-election seeking Sen. Al Franken joined President Barack Obama for only a limited portion of a two-day Minnesota visit.
Over two days, President Barack Obama took in two of Minnesota's most scenic parks all while he talked about how ugly Washington had become. Obama headed back to Washington on Friday after his stay in Minneapolis, where he spoke extensively about how gridlock has stymied economic progress.
Minnesota congressional members have introduced bills to honor the late U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar. The legislation would rename the Chisholm (CHIS'-uhm) Post Office and portions of Highways 35 and 61 in Oberstar's memory. U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken and U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan, who now holds Oberstar's seat, introduced the bipartisan bill. Minnesota Reps. Collin Peterson, Betty McCollum, Michele Bachmann, Keith Ellison and Tim Walz signed on as sponsors.
The Department of Natural Resources says a huge step forward was taken recently in the fight against Asian carp after President Barack Obama signed legislation to close the Upper St. Anthony Falls lock to boat traffic.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar is using Minnesota's sex trafficking laws as a way to improve safety across the country and the world. The state's "Safe Harbor" laws ensure children who are sold for sex are treated as victims, not prosecuted as criminals.
Senators from North Dakota and Minnesota say the Obama administration should retreat on a proposal to make significant changes to renewable fuel standards and show its support for the biodiesel industry. Democratic Sens. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota say that biodiesel production has led to thousands of jobs and remains a clean, safe form of energy.
Former U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar, who represented northeastern Minnesota for 36 years, died unexpectedly early Saturday morning. He was 79. A statement released by his family said Oberstar died in his sleep. A cause of death was not provided. His former chief of staff, Bill Richard, said Oberstar died at his home in Potomac, Maryland.
U.S. senators from North Dakota and Minnesota are making a friendly wager on the outcome of the NCAA Frozen Four semifinal hockey matchup involving the University of North Dakota and the University of Minnesota.
The Senate on Wednesday confirmed former federal prosecutor Andy Luger as the next U.S. attorney for Minnesota. Luger, an experienced litigator who is now in private practice, said he expects to join the U.S. Attorney's Office in the next couple of days.
Plans to relocate a federal government office in the Twin Cities have gone off track, and all because of a bus stop. Many people who need to go to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Bloomington wouldn't be able to get there easily without public transportation. The office's current location is just a block away from a bus stop, but the office is scheduled to move this fall. Even though the office is still in Bloomington, it is at least 3 miles away from a Metro Transit bus stop.
A man who broke color barriers and led Minnesota in the Civil Rights Movement was remembered Saturday. Matthew Little, long-time president of the Minneapolis NAACP, passed away last Sunday after complications from pneumonia. He was 92. Hundreds of people gathered for a memorial service at Shiloh Temple in north Minneapolis.
Tuesday marked an important milestone for hundreds of proud Minnesotans. It's the day they became U.S. citizens.
Former Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak is recovering in the hospital Saturday afternoon after suffering chest pains while cross-country skiing. According to officials at Abbot Northwestern Hospital, Rybak had completed 7.7 miles of skiing at Theodore Wirth Park with his wife before complaining of chest pains and shortness of breath. The former mayor was taken by ambulance to Abbot at 1 p.m., where he underwent an angioplasty and received two stents. Officials say he is currently resting. Rybak was upbeat when he tweeted two and a half hours after being admitted.
A Golden Valley veteran just received a military honor after a decades-long delay. Fred Jenness was a Navy Seabee who was wounded in Vietnam in 1969. On Monday afternoon, he finally received a Purple Heart medal. The award was delayed for decades because his mission was classified, which made access to records difficult. Senator Amy Klobuchar, whose office helped Jenness get the medal, spoke at his ceremony.
A local business is just getting over the red tape from the federal government shutdown earlier this year. And, they're celebrating with a toast. The new Freehouse Brewery celebrated their opening in Minneapolis Saturday. The business finally got their brewery permit from the Treasury Department after about a month delay. It's something they say couldn't have been done without the help of Sen. Amy Klobuchar.
A public memorial service for Nelson Mandela will be held Saturday in St. Paul. The memorial for the late South African leader and anti-apartheid fighter will begin at 1 p.m. in the Cathedral of St. Paul.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar has announced new legislation to combat sex trafficking. The announcement was made at the Breaking Free" breakfast at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Minneapolis. The breakfast was to benefit local sex trafficking victims.
With less than two hours to spare, Congress averted a crisis that could have sent the United States into default. On Wednesday night, the House passed the Senate's bill to end the government shutdown.
Reaction to the deal is not all over the map, surprisingly. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) is expressing optimism that lessons have been learned and this type of crisis will not happen again. Conservatives like Rep. Michele Bachmann say they are not done fighting.
A Minnesota senator is one of the key players hammering out a deal that could end the federal government shutdown. Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar is helping write a compromised version of a plan drafted by Republican Senator Susan Collins and credited GOP moderates. "We are friends," Klobuchar said. "Senate Republicans really came to the fore, more moderates, saying 'We want to work on a compromise,' and that's exactly what's happening today in the Senate."
Minnesota government officials say they've activated a special contingency team to assess the potential impact of the federal government's partial shutdown. Minnesota Management and Budget Commissioner Jim Schowalter took the step Tuesday.
Hundreds of thousands of federal workers won't be getting paid for the foreseeable future. That had many of you emailing, wanting to know: Do members of Congress get paid during a government shutdown?
Here's a look at where Minnesota politicians stand in regards to President Obama's plan to strike the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria.
Minnesota's congressional delegation appears deeply divided by pressure to take military action against Syria. Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen calls the President's request "too broad, too open-ended, too risky" -- so does Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar.
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar is making her way to Iowa as the keynote speaker at a local Democratic Party gathering. Friday night's appearance is the type that can signal interest in a national run. Iowa, after all, traditionally hosts the opening caucuses in presidential election years.
Dawson Garcia posted a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds and went 5 of 6 at the free-throw line in the final minute to help Minnesota fend off Central Michigan for a 68-65 win.
Ten-year-old Jaxson Shepard got to skate the "State of Hockey" flag to center ice at Monday night's Wild game against the Winnipeg Jets.
Connor Hellebuyck made a season-high 43 saves, Alex Iafallo scored two goals, and the Winnipeg Jets beat the Minnesota Wild 4-1 in a game between two of the Western Conference's best.
We're just over two weeks since Minnesota's deer opener and already hunters have harvested more than 123,000 of them using firearms. That could equal huge dollars for the state if they all took one extra step.
Drugs and crime have plagued a St. Paul supportive housing facility. Now, neighbors are urging the city council not to approve a similar building being proposed near two schools.
Ten-year-old Jaxson Shepard got to skate the "State of Hockey" flag to center ice at Monday night's Wild game against the Winnipeg Jets.
Drugs and crime have plagued a St. Paul supportive housing facility. Now, neighbors are urging the city council not to approve a similar building being proposed near two schools.
The Minnesota House is on course to be evenly split between Democrats and Republicans while Democrats are set to keep control of the state Senate.
The Anoka-Hennepin is facing a $21 million budget deficit, which the administration blame on many factors.
Flavor World is a Twin Cities-based creative hub that makes clothing, hosts events and provides services for the local art scene. It is one of five local arts organizations selected to be a part of Vibrant Storefronts.
The Minnesota House is on course to be evenly split between Democrats and Republicans while Democrats are set to keep control of the state Senate.
A woman shot in Rochester early Sunday was likely targeted, police said.
A central Minnesota deputy assisting at the scene of a crash suffered serious injuries when another driver hit his parked squad car while he sat inside it, authorities said.
The shooting happened just before 7 p.m. Thursday near 10th Street Southeast and First Avenue Southeast.
Authorities recovered multiple guns and a "significant amount of ammunition" from the home of a man accused of threatening his neighbor over her sexual orientation, charges say.
Authorities are urging a Wisconsin man accused of faking his death and fleeing to Europe to come home and spend the holidays with his wife and three children.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court is grappling with a case affecting whether the swing state's nonpartisan top elections official can remain in her post despite not being reappointed and confirmed by the state Senate.
Documents say Steven Williams resigned from the Prescott, Wisconsin police force "in lieu of termination."
An attorney representing a conservative prosecutor struggled Monday to convince Wisconsin's liberal-leaning Supreme Court to reactivate the state's 175-year-old abortion ban.
Jennie-O turkey brand will display its float at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade for the fifth consecutive year.
The cost of Thanksgiving dinner is still nearly 20% higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Union Gospel Mission is lightening the load by welcoming 10,000 families through their meal kit pick-up.
From the Twin Cities to the North Shore, here are the holiday tree lightings and parades in 2024 in the Twin Cities and in Greater Minnesota.
A group of young adults wants everyone, regardless of what suburb or rural area they live in, to know what it's really like to live in the heart of the city and to sometimes not have a place to live at all.
Inside Catholic Charities St Paul Opportunity Center, local physicians, surgeons, and lawyers gathered on Sunday to support people experiencing homelessness.
A man is expected to survive after being shot during a possible drug deal in Minneapolis' Dinkytown neighborhood Thursday morning, police said.
The Minnesota House is on course to be evenly split between Democrats and Republicans while Democrats are set to keep control of the state Senate.
A legal fight could stunt the growth of Minnesota's blooming marijuana market.
Anoka-Hennepin School District administrators blame many factors for the huge deficit. Jonah Kaplan breaks down what's at stake and the potential impact on the classroom.
Special counsel Jack Smith asked a federal judge to toss out the charges against President-elect Donald Trump in the case stemming from the 2020 election.
President Biden pardoned two turkeys, Peach and Blossom that hail from Minnesota, where they will return.
The average price for a typical turkey is about $25 this year. That's 6% cheaper than last November.
"We literally walk in and dust off the jackets because they have been sitting for a while," she said.
Thieves capture radio signals from your key fob by using a device that grabs that fob's signal, even from long distances. That signal can be stored and re-used.
The price of housing in Minneapolis rose less over the last five years compared to other metro areas around the U.S.
The Wild also partnered with community food shelves to give out Turkeys this holiday season.
Authorities southwest of the Twin Cities say a teen Fleet Farm worker is in the hospital and a man is in custody following a stabbing Sunday.
A woman shot in Rochester early Sunday was likely targeted, police said.
Erik and Lyle Menendez made a remote court appearance Monday in their bid to be released from prison. They were convicted of first-degree murder in 1997 for the 1989 killings of their parents.
A couple from Connecticut is charged with allegedly orchestrating a retail theft operation that may have cost Lululemon as much as $1 million.
The shooting happened on the 1500 block of Lake Street East just before 8:30 p.m.
Last year, Minnesota lawmakers passed new protections after a young woman testified about contamination in her community just before she died. Her sister is now carrying on the fight to protect other families.
The Minnesota Department of Health and the United States Department of Agriculture say they have confirmed a total of 15 cases of E. coli related illnesses in Minnesota.
PFAS are forever chemicals used in everyday items like nonstick pans, dental floss and food packaging that can build up in our bodies and harm our health.
A new Minnesota state law requires school districts or charter schools to adopt a policy on the use of cellphones in school by March of next year. But one nonprofit has gotten a jump start, working with students to help them find a balance between devices in and out of school.
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.
One of the most successful computer games of all time is currently being developed by Apple as a forthcoming movie.
Chuck Woolery was inducted into the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame in 2007 and earned a daytime Emmy nomination in 1978.
English hyperpop artist Charli XCX will be coming to Minneapolis on April 26, 2025.
After almost a decade of "Disney on Ice" performances, a Minnesota native is eagerly anticipating his first show at the Xcel Energy Center.
Post Malone announced Tuesday that the "Big A** Stadium Tour" will come to U.S. Bank Stadium on May 20, 2025.
Meet a student athlete from Chisago Lakes with endless drive, despite a surprise diagnosis. Plus, Becker and Totino-Grace battled at U.S. Bank Stadium for the Class 4A championship.
Dawson Garcia posted a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds and went 5 of 6 at the free-throw line in the final minute to help Minnesota fend off Central Michigan for a 68-65 win.
Ten-year-old Jaxson Shepard got to skate the "State of Hockey" flag to center ice at Monday night's Wild game against the Winnipeg Jets.
Connor Hellebuyck made a season-high 43 saves, Alex Iafallo scored two goals, and the Winnipeg Jets beat the Minnesota Wild 4-1 in a game between two of the Western Conference's best.
The Winnipeg Jets face the Minnesota Wild for a matchup within the Central Division Monday night.
In this election, Klobuchar faired much better than all other Senate Democrats — she won by a significantly larger margin.
For Democrats the postmortem continues on why Vice President Kamala Harris and her Running mate Governor Tim Walz performed more poorly with almost every demographic than Joe Biden did in 2020. In Minnesota, Senator Amy Klobuchar did much better than Harris with some of those same groups.
As Election Day nears, experts say voters in Wisconsin and other battleground states will decide the 2024 presidential election winner.
As Election Day nears, experts say voters in Wisconsin and other battleground states will decide the 2024 presidential election winner.
As Election Day nears, experts say voters in Wisconsin and other battleground states will decide the 2024 presidential election winner.
There are a lot of quirky town names in Minnesota: Embarrass, Nowthen, Clontarff, Kiester. But the people of Nimrod believe their name stands out from the rest.
Did you know that donkeys are fast, smart and can build life-long bonds with other animals and people? It's believed that donkeys are smarter than most dogs.
The Fitzgerald Theater is the oldest active theater in St. Paul — but is it also haunted?
Wisconsin bars are known for their pints and their patrons. About the last thing you'd expect to discover in such a place would be 55 feet of historic American artwork.
Did you know Minnesota has a real castle? Miller Castle, near Nisswa.
We're just over two weeks since Minnesota's deer opener and already hunters have harvested more than 123,000 of them using firearms. That could equal huge dollars for the state if they all took one extra step.
This holiday season, you might pull out a Betty Crocker cookbook to find a tried and true recipe.
Krueger is the third-generation owner of Krueger's Christmas Tree Farm. While he finds joy in knowing the evergreens will make a family happy, they might not realize the effort it took to reach these towering heights.
As President-elect Donald Trump fills out his cabinet, there's one department for which he's yet to announce a leader. That could be because he promised it wouldn't exist after taking office.
The tiny sensory organs that cover our tongue allow us to detect five basic tastes: sweet, salty, bitter, sour and umami — which is a savory, rich or meaty flavor.
Regions Hospital and Children's Minnesota share photos of their tiniest patients dressed to the nines for Halloween.
Minnesotans got a great view of the northern lights Thursday night due to the arrival of a severe geomagnetic storm.
Minnesotans got a great view of the northern lights Monday night.
Storms ripped through parts of Minnesota and western Wisconsin on Thursday evening. There were several reports of tornadoes and trees were downed in the metro and beyond, including in Cottage Grove, Anoka, Champlin and Fridley.
A powerful thunderstorm tore through the grounds of the Minnesota State Fair on Monday night, delaying Tuesday's opening.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says tomorrow will be quiet and cold with a high in the upper-20s.
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 we will chill tonight falling back into the teens.
The WCCO Next Weather team says no big storms are expected in Minnesota for Thanksgiving week.
Meteorologist Chris Shaffer says temperatures will continue to fall as we approach Thanksgiving.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says tomorrow will be quiet and cold with a high in the upper-20s.
Minnesota's deer opener began just about two weeks ago. Already, hunters have harvested more than 123,000 of them using firearms. That could mean huge dollars for the state if hunters took one extra step. What is the Hides for Habitat Program? Good Question. Jeff Wagner explains how a statewide tradition can fuel conservation efforts.
It's a tragic story that brought a boy to center ice at Monday night's Wild game. WCCO's Marielle Mohs shows us their unique connection with the Wild and the moving moment.
Authorities southwest of the Twin Cities say a teen Fleet Farm worker is in the hospital and a man is in custody following a stabbing Sunday.
Drugs and crime have plagued a St. Paul supportive housing facility. Now, neighbors are up in arms about a similar building that could start up near two schools. The same nonprofit is behind both. David Schuman spoke to neighbors pleading with the city council to listen to their concerns before the project is approved.