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A few months ago, Les Schrenk, a 100-year-old World War II veteran, made his first trip to Normandy, France in June. Earlier this month, he shared his thoughts on what he's calling a "once in a lifetime" experience.
A few months ago, we introduced you to Les Schrenk, a 100-year-old World War II veteran who made his first trip to Normandy, France in June. Les was a prisoner of war during D-Day and wanted to see Omaha Beach for the first time. Our John Lauritsen and photojournalist Tom Aviles met up with Les in France, and earlier this month they caught up with him back at his Bloomington home to get his thoughts on what he’s calling a “once in a lifetime” experience.
The ceremony caps off several days of remembrance and reflection at Normandy. Minnesotans have been a big part of it — that includes 100-year-old Jim Rasmussen of East Bethel.
People from around the world gathered today in Normandy for the 80th Anniversary of D-Day. That invasion put America on the path to victory in the second World War and changed the course of history. WCCO's John Lauritsen and photojournalist Tom Aviles joined Minnesota veterans, and active service members, for the ceremony to mark this milestone.
After training at Fort Des Moines, Florence Cecere became a nurse's aide at Northington General Hospital in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, taking care of the men severely injured on the front lines.
At age 22, Florence Cecere felt called to serve and joined the Women's Army Corps. Today, she's 102 years old and lives in Edina.
Thursday marks 80 years since the D-Day invasion on the beaches of Normandy, France during World War II.
One-hundred-year-old Les Schrenk doesn't have time for his usual morning water aerobics or afternoon bike rides this week. That's because the World War II veteran is more than 4,000 miles from his Bloomington home, making his first-ever visit to Normandy.
All week, WCCO's John Lauritsen and photojournalist Tom Aviles are in Normandy, France for the 80th anniversary of D-Day. They’ve been talking with World War II veterans from Minnesota who made the trip overseas. Among them is 100-year-old Les Schrenk from Bloomington. We caught up with him at Omaha Beach where the former POW honored the sacrifice of so many American soldiers who never made it home.
Virgil survived the Allied invasion, but just eight days after arriving in France, he was killed by Germans while trying to rescue a fellow soldier from a burning truck.
Virgil Tangborn is a soldier from northern Minnesota who never made it home. But as John Lauritsen and photojournalist Tom Aviles share, he left a lasting impression on the people he helped liberate.
This week marks 80 years since the D-Day invasion. It's a day many Minnesota World War II veterans will never forget. To share their stories, WCCO's John Lauritsen and photojournalist Tom Aviles traveled to France to meet up with some local veterans making the trip to Normandy 80 years later.
On Thursday, Gov. Tim Walz will attend the 80th Anniversary D-Day Presidential Ceremony, where several Minnesotans who fought in World War II will be recognized.
All week on WCCO, we'll be sharing stories from that day as reporter John Lauritsen and photojournalist Tom Aviles make their way through France, experiencing history along the way.
American paratroopers played a key role in the D-Day assault 80 years ago. Now, some U.S. congressmen are preparing to honor their sacrifice in a high-flying way.
This week marks the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion, a turning point in World War II that helped bring victory to the allies in Europe. All week, reporter John Lauritsen and photojournalist Tom Aviles will share stories from that day as they make their way through France, experiencing history along the way.
All this week, John Lauritsen and photojournalist Tom Aviles will be in France, bringing us stories of Minnesota veterans who took part in World War II. Some of those veterans will be taking part in the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion on June 6. John Lauritsen gives us a preview of the type of stories we can expect.
Three C-47 transport planes, a workhorse of World War II, dropped three long strings of jumpers, their round chutes mushrooming open in the blue skies with puffy white clouds.
Tuesday evening, family and friends gathered at the Steele County Free Fair to celebrate native son and World War II veteran Jake Larson. And if he looks familiar, there's a reason.
Larson is the lone survivor of all units that landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day.
UnitedHealthcare CEO murder suspect Luigi Mangione will return to NYC today after waiving extradition in Pennsylvania.
A second ground stop has been ordered at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Thursday morning amid a winter storm.
A NEXT Drive Alert is in place on Thursday amid the biggest snowstorm yet this season, which is making for some rough road conditions in the Twin Cities.
A winter storm warning is in effect Thursday as the biggest snowstorm yet this season hits Minnesota.
Newly released footage shows police frantically searching for the driver moments after a tragic crash killed five best friends getting ready for a wedding.
A second ground stop has been ordered at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Thursday morning amid a winter storm.
A NEXT Drive Alert is in place on Thursday amid the biggest snowstorm yet this season, which is making for some rough road conditions in the Twin Cities.
Newly released footage shows police frantically searching for the driver moments after a tragic crash killed five best friends getting ready for a wedding.
Army veteran Delphine Littlewolf and her 7-year-old son Curtis have been living in her compact car for six months.
It's the largest gift ever given to a Dakota County library.
During the first week of December, Little Falls holds Christmas tours around town. It's a chance for historic buildings to deck their halls and spread their cheer.
Kathy Ingebrand of Mahtomedi is one of the first people in the country to receive the infusion meant to slow down Alzheimer's disease by up to 35%.
Anna Bailey has made a name for herself with her unique brand of handcrafted wood art pieces.
Before Adam Fravel learned his punishment for the murder of Madeline Kingsbury, her family and friends gave emotional victim impact statements inside a Winona County courtroom, where the proceedings were filmed and livestreamed at their urging.
An 8-year-old boy is in the hospital after falling from a ski chair lift in central Minnesota.
The man was flown to a hospital in Minnesota, but the department gave no word on his condition. No one else was hurt.
Xcel says the project is intended to replace the energy that will be lost when its coal-fueled power plant near Stillwater closes in 2028.
Minnesota and Wisconsin leaders are responding to the school shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin.
Roughly 70,000 gallons of oil from a pipeline spilled into the ground in Wisconsin, officials said.
A northern Wisconsin tribe along with a coalition of groups moved Thursday to block plans to reroute an aging pipeline around the tribe's reservation, arguing state regulators have underestimated the environmental damage that construction would cause.
Army veteran Delphine Littlewolf and her 7-year-old son Curtis have been living in her compact car for six months.
It looks like any other grocery store, but when you check out at Today's Harvest in Maplewood, shoppers aren't spending a dime.
The Buck Hill slopes played host to "Carve for a Cure" on Sunday, a fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
As an equestrian with years of experience, Jen Kelly has taken a tumble or two — until a tumble in September 2020 where she broke three vertebrae in her neck and crushed her spinal cord.
A Vikings Hall of Famer is experiencing all kinds of emotions. Cris Carter is dealing with the announcement by Randy Moss of his cancer condition. Saturday night he surprised kids on behalf of the Salvation Army with a gift bag that lacked for nothing.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it will take up a challenge to a new law that could lead to a ban on TikTok in the U.S.
The House Ethics Committee voted to release its report on the investigation into former Rep. Matt Gaetz on Dec. 5, according to multiple sources.
Robyn Harbison, a recent U of M alumni, is facing a fourth-degree assault charge in connection to the takeover of Morrill Hall in October in protest of the university’s investments in Israel.
Despite popular belief, the bald eagle is not the official national bird. It may soon become official, however, thanks to a Minnesota-led bill making its way to President Biden's desk.
Herschel Walker, the former football star who unsuccessfully ran for Senate in Georgia in 2022, will be nominated to serve as ambassador to the Bahamas.
For generations, it's been an iconic part of the Twin Cities, and now it has its very own song, thanks to one of Minneapolis' own.
It looks like any other grocery store, but when you check out at Today's Harvest in Maplewood, shoppers aren't spending a dime.
Heating your home in the winter can take a toll on your pocketbook, but it doesn't have to with some easy tips to save.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans produce 25% more trash from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day.
The Minnesota-born Mexican restaurant chain Chi-Chi's is making a comeback 20 years after ending its "celebration of food."
UnitedHealthcare CEO murder suspect Luigi Mangione will return to NYC today after waiving extradition in Pennsylvania.
Newly released footage shows police frantically searching for the driver moments after a tragic crash killed five best friends getting ready for a wedding.
Erin West, 42, and Rubi Vergara, 14, were fatally shot Monday morning at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin.
An attorney for Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, says he will waive extradition at his hearing on Thursday.
A 27-year-old Hastings man is accused of producing child sexual abuse material and investigators believe there may be other victims involved.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services announced Wednesday that it had detected presumptive positive human case of H5N1 in Barron County.
Kathy Ingebrand of Mahtomedi is one of the first people in the country to receive the infusion meant to slow down Alzheimer's disease by up to 35%.
Republicans wants to extend 2017 tax cuts that expire next year and could let ACA subsidies lapse to help pay the tab, according to analysts.
It's a term that's being thrown around a lot these days. Some think it's a social thing, others a medical thing.
The Safe Drinking Water Act was the first time a national set of regulations and standards were set and followed by all public water suppliers in the United States.
Holidazzle is a free event with lights, stage performances, Santa, nearly 200 vendors and more. It runs Wednesday through Sunday.
For generations, it's been an iconic part of the Twin Cities, and now it has its very own song, thanks to one of Minneapolis' own.
Among the 25 films selected by the Library of Congress to be preserved for future generations are the Coen Brothers' "No Country for Old Men," "The Social Network," Cheech & Chong's "Up in Smoke," and "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre."
Thirty years ago on Friday, the Metropolitan Sports Center in Bloomington was demolished.
Hope Walz, daughter of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, took a swipe at influential podcaster Joe Rogan and the men among his fanbase after the host said he supported President-elect Donald Trump due to misstatements the former Democratic vice presidential candidate made about his past.
Two high-powered girls basketball teams in Delano and Centennial met on the court Friday. Plus, see how Prince and Hiawatha High School’s gym are heavily connected.
If the Vikings win their remaining three games, they're in great position to earn the No. 1 seed, regardless of what the Eagles or Lions do.
The Atlanta Falcons are turning to rookie Michael Penix Jr. as their starting quarterback and benching veteran Kirk Cousins as they fight for their first playoff berth since 2017.
The Minnesota Vikings' defense made things difficult for Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams in a 30-12 victory on Monday night.
"We love you Randy!" Jefferson shouted toward the ESPN camera as he formed the shape of a heart with his fingers in front of his chest.
Esme Murphy talks with Congressman Pete Stauber, who hopes to see President Biden’s 20-year moratorium on new mining near the Boundary Waters reversed by President-elect Donald Trump.
President-elect Donald Trump said he plans to reverse President Biden's 20-year moratorium on new mining near Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness on his first day in office.
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.
During the first week of December, Little Falls holds Christmas tours around town. It's a chance for historic buildings to deck their halls and spread their cheer.
Duluth is known for its scenic views across the city, but one location stands out from the rest.
One family's creative design in central Minnesota allows guests to sleep under the stars — at any time of year.
"Thomas Dambo, he believes the trolls really help us kind of shine a light on how we can take better care of the environment and be better to each other," said Stearns.
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.
There are a lot of reasons to get distracted this time of year and to procrastinate.
It's a term that's being thrown around a lot these days. Some think it's a social thing, others a medical thing.
Every home has a distinct smell, and chances are your home smells just as strong to other people. Why can't we notice our own home's smell but we can notice everyone else's?
An important deadline is approaching, and we're not talking about Christmas shopping. End of semester exams are coming up for students of all ages.
Jeff Wagner dives into the cold-weather dating trend that has singles looking for love with a time limit.
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.
Meteorologist Joseph Dames has the latest on Minnesota's biggest snowstorm of the season so far.
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.
NEXT Weather Meteorologist Joseph Dames has the latest on Thursday's snowstorm in Minnesota.
A winter storm warning is in effect Thursday as the biggest snowstorm yet this season hits Minnesota. Meteorologist Joseph Dames has the latest at 7 a.m.
A NEXT Drive Alert is in place on Thursday amid the biggest snowstorm yet this season, which is making for some rough road conditions in the Twin Cities.
Meteorologist Joseph Dames has the latest on Minnesota's biggest snowstorm of the season so far.
NEXT Weather Meteorologist Joseph Dames has the latest on Thursday's snowstorm in Minnesota.
A winter storm warning is in effect Thursday as the biggest snowstorm yet this season hits Minnesota. Meteorologist Joseph Dames has the latest at 7 a.m.
Minnesota is in the midst of the biggest snowstorm yet this season, says NEXT Next Weather Meteorologist Joseph Dames. Click here for the latest forecast.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says snow is starting to move into Monday late Wednesday night and more counties are under a winter storm warning.