Minnetonka police launch state's first drone program
The goal, Minnetonka police say, is to cut response times, give officers more information before arriving on scene and improve community outcomes.
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The goal, Minnetonka police say, is to cut response times, give officers more information before arriving on scene and improve community outcomes.
A first-of-its-kind program is taking flight in a Twin Cities suburb Monday. Minnetonka police are dispatching drones to some emergencies before first responders even arrive on scene. As photojournalist Tony Peterson and Ubah Ali show us, police say it's about responding faster, safer, and smarter.
Red Wing police officers say four to five drones were spotted flying around a nuclear plant on Wednesday.
Alleged drone sightings have been multiplying exponentially, with more than 5,000 reported in the past few weeks. But experts say the majority of reports about unusual lights in the sky are probably anything but drones.
Mysterious reports of drone sightings have been popping up around the U.S., including areas around the Twin Cities.
President-elect Donald Trump claimed the federal government wants to "keep people in suspense" on the mystery drones.
Israel's government says a drone was launched toward the prime minister's house, with no casualties.
Dramatic new videos show a nighttime rescue of a 3-year-old boy lost in a Wisconsin cornfield.
Israel says 99% of the missiles and drones launched by Iran in an overnight assault were downed by its air defenses, with help from its allies.
Duluth police say its drone unit played a pivotal role in the arrest of an assault suspect early Tuesday morning.
The drone attack was conducted by an Iran-affiliated militant group, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said.
Flying drones has become a popular hobby in the last decade. The FAA launched the "12 Days of Drones" program this holiday season to ensure everyone is safe from the ground up.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby called the "barbaric" tactics "a symptom of how poorly Russia's military leaders know they're doing."
"All of these explosive devices are homemade, based on tutorials that can be found on the internet," Mexico's defense secretary said.
U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drones were carrying out an operation against ISIS targets when they were confronted by Russian jets for the second time in less than 24 hours, officials said.
The Kremlin present no evidence of the alleged "terrorist act," but said Putin was safe and working, with his schedule unchanged.
Military analysts are dubious of the latest wild claims from Kim Jong Un's regime, which is furious over the latest U.S.-South Korean joint military exercises.
The pilots "prevented an American MQ-9 drone from violating (Russia's) temporary airspace," the defense ministry said.
The camera view is lost briefly after the apparent collision but it comes back to show what the Air Force said was damage to the propeller from the strike.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby has said the U.S. was trying to prevent the fallen drone from getting into the wrong hands.
The U.S. military says a Russian jet collided with an American drone over the Black Sea, 75 miles southwest of the Crimean Peninsula in Ukraine. After the incident, the drone was unable to fly and crashed into international waters, where the U.S. is attempting to recover the wreckage before the Russians can get to it. CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports.
Officials say at least 8 people were killed across the country as the latest barrage of explosives-laden drones hit energy infrastructure and civilian homes.
Wednesday, Minneapolis residents can share their thoughts about the police department using drones.
Investigations from fatal or near fatal car accidents can leave roads closed for hours. But troopers say having an eye in the sky could change that.
The Minneapolis Police Department is planning to utilize unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as part of its law enforcement and training activities.
Pine trees are a common sight up north. But on a Carlton, Minnesota, road, they're joined by giant lollipops. They serve as the welcoming committee for Sweetly Kismet, one of the largest candy stores in the state.
Julius Randle had 41 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat Portland 133-109 von Wednesday night to end the Trail Blazers;′ winning streak at three.
A website run by more than 100 volunteers maps out U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement sightings across Minnesota and the U.S.
Demonstrators with the group ICE Out Now Minnesota Coalition spread across the Twin Cities on Wednesday evening, gathering outside Target stores.
For the past year, an artificial intelligence camera has captured images of people driving distracted on Highway 7 in Minnesota between St. Louis Park and St. Bonifacius. In 2024, there were five fatalities on Highway 7 alone, one of the deadliest years on record, but since the AI technology was added, there have been zero.
Demonstrators with the group ICE Out Now Minnesota Coalition spread across the Twin Cities on Wednesday evening, gathering outside Target stores.
For the past year, an artificial intelligence camera has captured images of people driving distracted on Highway 7 in Minnesota between St. Louis Park and St. Bonifacius. In 2024, there were five fatalities on Highway 7 alone, one of the deadliest years on record, but since the AI technology was added, there have been zero.
A group of Dakota County residents are pushing back on plans for a massive data center, and it's one of many such campaigns in communities across Minnesota.
A Brooklyn Park police SUV rolled over in a crash that officials said sent four people to the hospital on Wednesday afternoon.
A prayer camp is now set up at Fort Snelling near Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, where Indigenous activists say they're praying for families impacted by immigration detentions.
For the past year, an artificial intelligence camera has captured images of people driving distracted on Highway 7 in Minnesota between St. Louis Park and St. Bonifacius. In 2024, there were five fatalities on Highway 7 alone, one of the deadliest years on record, but since the AI technology was added, there have been zero.
Minnesota is in the midst of what state health officials call the nation's "largest known outbreak" of TMVII, a sexually transmitted fungal skin infection that can cause severe ringworm.
Deputies fatally shot a man after trying to pull him over for driving recklessly in Duluth, Minnesota, Tuesday night, officials said.
Police in Duluth, Minnesota, say they're actively searching Tuesday for the shooter who killed a man near the city's Goat Hill neighborhood.
January is typically a slow month at Frontiersman Sports, but employees at the St. Louis Park, Minnesota, gun shop said sales spiked 30% above normal for the month.
Three people are dead after a house fire in a small western Wisconsin town early Saturday.
John Lauritsen shares the story behind a massive snow sculpture that's now become a winter destination.
A jury has found a Wisconsin man guilty of forging threats against President Donald Trump in an attempt to get a witness against him deported.
Minnesota and Wisconsin are among the 11 states reporting their first measles cases of 2026.
Hundreds of schools in Minnesota and Wisconsin have closed or shifted to virtual learning on Friday amid dangerous cold.
The ongoing presence of ICE and federal law enforcement in the Minneapolis area has kept many immigrants at home for fear of being arrested. Now, their neighbors are crowdsourcing to cover their rent.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations aren't only happening in the Twin Cities. Federal agents are also working in smaller towns, and in some, seeing similar resistance from the community.
While Operation Metro Surge continues in the Twin Cities, Minnesota's farm country is also feeling the impact. The major concerns for farmers and the trickle-down effect it could have on consumers.
Minnesota's governor spoke out Sunday afternoon following the shooting death of Alex Pretti by federal immigration enforcement agents. "What's the plan, Donald Trump? What is the plan?" Walz said. "Fear, violence and chaos is what you wanted from us, and you clearly underestimated the people of this state and nation."
A marching protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minneapolis Friday afternoon happened as a widespread work stoppage across Minnesota, as organizers called for a day of no work, no school and no shopping.
A hearing in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday about fraud in Minnesota took a heated turn between University of Minnesota professor Eric Schwartz and Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas.
A prayer camp is now set up at Fort Snelling near Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, where Indigenous activists say they're praying for families impacted by immigration detentions.
A prayer camp is now set up at Fort Snelling in Minneapolis, where Indigenous activists say they're praying for families impacted by ICE detentions.
There was a heated confrontation on a pedestrian bridge Tuesday in Richfield, Minnesota, where a woman confronted people voicing opinions against ICE — and eventually called 911.
Attorneys are hoping new filings in court could compel federal judges to order better access to immigrants held at the Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis — and better conditions for them.
January is typically a slow month at Frontiersman Sports, but employees at the St. Louis Park, Minnesota, gun shop said sales spiked 30% above normal for the month.
Amid ongoing immigration operations in Minnesota, a local company is filling a desperate need for on-demand legal help.
Outside the governor's mansion in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Friday, demonstrators, including many students and teachers, pleaded for Gov. Tim Walz to enact an immediate eviction moratorium to help families impacted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement surge.
It's part of broader protests calling on the Minneapolis-based retailer to respond more directly to immigration enforcement.
While Operation Metro Surge continues in the Twin Cities, Minnesota's farm country is also feeling the impact. The major concerns for farmers and the trickle-down effect it could have on consumers.
At least two dozen U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement employees and contractors have been charged with crimes since 2020, and their documented wrongdoing includes patterns of physical and sexual abuse, corruption and other abuses of authority, a review by The Associated Press found.
"Because we have taken out thousands of criminals, their crime is down," the president said when speaking about Minnesota. "Not because of anybody else, it's because of us their crime is down."
Nancy Guthrie, the mother of "Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie, was reported missing on Feb. 1 and ransom notes were being investigated.
Police in Duluth, Minnesota, say they're actively searching Tuesday for the shooter who killed a man near the city's Goat Hill neighborhood.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said Tuesday that he expects the ongoing Operation Metro Surge immigration enforcement actions in the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota to last "days, not weeks and months."
Dr. Michael Osterholm and Dr. Emil Lou, faculty members with the University of Minnesota, have been recognized by TIME as two of the 100 most influential people in health in 2026.
Minnesota is in the midst of what state health officials call the nation's "largest known outbreak" of TMVII, a sexually transmitted fungal skin infection that can cause severe ringworm.
A new web page dedicated to fact-checking claims about Medicaid fraud in Minnesota has been launched by the state's Department of Human Services, officials said Wednesday.
Public health officials say a measles crisis has long been brewing in Minnesota.
Patients in Minnesota are canceling appointments and deferring critical health care needs because of fear of immigration enforcement as the federal crackdown continues, doctors say.
"Dawson's Creek" and "Varsity Blues" star James Van Der Beek has died at 48 years old.
Social media users incorrectly identified a young boy who was part of Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday as Liam Conejo Ramos.
Bad Bunny says he wants to bring his culture to his 2026 Super Bowl halftime show Sunday.
Renowned comedian Dave Chappelle is set to return to the Twin Cities later this month to perform and "show a stand with a community at the center of events that should unite all Americans," show organizers said Monday.
Complete closure of the performing arts center in Washington, D.C., will start on July 4, Mr. Trump said. It's not yet clear how extensive the changes to the building might be.
Julius Randle had 41 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat Portland 133-109 von Wednesday night to end the Trail Blazers;′ winning streak at three.
"We definitely have a little more buzz around us and more people at our games and stuff," said senior Vienna Murray. "People are taking notice thankfully which is more fun for us."
The 41-year-old American came out of retirement to compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics and crashed seconds into her downhill race on Sunday.
A Minnesotan competing at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy took a moment to address the situation closer to home in his home state, calling the practices of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents during Operation Metro Surge unconstitutional.
Social media users incorrectly identified a young boy who was part of Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday as Liam Conejo Ramos.
One Minnesota group has been leading the charge to train legal observers and document tactics used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
Even as Governor Tim Walz and state leaders hint that Operation Metro Surge may be ending, many Minnesota communities say the reality on the ground looks different. On tonight’s Talking Points, Esme Murphy speaks with a leader from COPAL Minnesota, an immigrant rights group training constitutional/legal observers, documenting ICE tactics, and providing resources for detained individuals and the families left behind.
The Republican Party endorsing convention is in May, and Demuth has said that if she doesn't win the endorsement, she will drop out, but several candidates are expected to continue to the August primary.
In a crowded field, Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth had a very good caucus night; she won the straw poll by about 32%.
The state of Minnesota is vowing to continue the legal battle after it and 12 cities were denied a temporary restraining order that would have shut down Operation Metro Surge.
Pine trees are a common sight up north. But on a Carlton, Minnesota, road, they're joined by giant lollipops. They serve as the welcoming committee for Sweetly Kismet, one of the largest candy stores in the state.
John Lauritsen shares the story behind a massive snow sculpture that's now become a winter destination.
Northland Arboretum was built half a century ago on top of what was once a city dump. But over time, nature carved its own path with a little help from a Zamboni.
St. James is a smaller town with a main street and a railroad running though. But inside a local building, the main street and the railroad are even smaller.
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.
As our weather warms, love is also in the air. Valentine's Day is this Saturday, and while we know many of the traditions, Jeff Wagner wanted to get to the heart of the holiday.
The monthslong Immigration and Customs Enforcement surge in Minnesota has sparked ongoing protests, some measured tens of thousands of demonstrators, others just a few dozen.
According to the Police Executive Research Firm, 82% of police departments in the United States equip officers with body cameras. That number comes from 2023, meaning it could be even higher by now.
With the new $2,600 stipend, DHS said the cost of a single self-deportation is $5,100. That's significantly less than the cost to arrest, detain and deport an undocumented immigrant, which DHS said costs more than $18,000.
It might be hard to believe, but it's gotten warmer outside over the past few days. The temperature is creeping above zero during the day, but the wind chill remains dangerously low. So, how is wind chill calculated?
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.
Valentine's Day in the Twin Cities will be sunny during the afternoon with temperatures in the 40s, according to NEXT Weather Meteorologist Chris Shaffer.
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 Chris Shaffer says temperatures around the Twin Cities will reach the low 40s on Thursday, with some residents to the south seeing low 50s.
Temps will break into the 40s Thursday for the first time in nearly a month, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer.
We really start to warm tomorrow. We should break into the 40s for the first time in nearly a month on Thursday, WCCO meteorologist Mike Augustyniak reports.
A Minnesota group says around 20 people against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement were arrested at the Target in Richfield on Wednesday. Uba Ali was there to hear the demonstrator's demands.
Valentine's Day in the Twin Cities will be sunny during the afternoon with temperatures in the 40s, according to NEXT Weather Meteorologist Chris Shaffer.
A northern Minnesota couple was looking for a career change, so they built a candy store. In this Finding Minnesota, John Lauritsen shows off Sweetly Kismet in Carlton where shoppers can get a taste of the past and present.
New traffic tech along a dangerous stretch of road in Minnesota is showing life-saving results. An artificial intelligence camera is catching distracted drivers by the hundreds. It's a problem the state and community members have been working on for years along Highway 7 between St. Louis Park and St. Bonifacius. Jason Rantala shows us how it works.
NEXT Weather Meteorologist Chris Shaffer says temperatures around the Twin Cities will reach the low 40s on Thursday, with some residents to the south seeing low 50s.