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Southern Minnesota got hit the hardest Monday by severe thunderstorms as rains fell across the majority of the state. In Spicer, near Willmar, Minn., high winds tore docks on Green Lake apart. "Last couple of hours been pretty hectic. I mean there is a lot of lightning thunder," Trent Churchil, of Fairbault, said.
Hundreds of volunteers have been working to sandbag homes around International Falls, Minn., where Bob Anderson is mayor, to protect the homes from rising water. Anderson said the Rainy River and Rainy Lake are overflowing. "It's been about 85 years since the Rainy River has been this high," Anderson said.
Authorities have activated the State Emergency Operations Center to help communities in southwestern and northern Minnesota respond to damage from recent severe storms. The announcement says it's just a partial activation that requires officials from various agencies to determine whether state resources are needed for the recovery effort. It says no local officials have requested state resources so far.
The water has been going down in southwestern Minnesota, where officials closed all four lanes of Interstate 90 from Luverne to the South Dakota border.
Sandbagging is under way in the International Falls area of far northern Minnesota because of rising waters on Rainy Lake and the Rainy River. The Koochiching County sheriff's office says volunteers have filled about 50,000 sandbags to protect homes.
Heavy rains have caused massive flooding and major damage at a popular resort in International Falls. High water and intense winds ripped through the area near Rainy Lake. It's estimated at least 600 homes in that area are affected.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has lifted the swimming advisory on Lake Minnetonka and Dutch Lake. Residents of the city of Mound were warned to stay out of both lakes at the beginning of the month when heavy rains caused sewage water to be rerouted into drains.
Recent rains are causing problems throughout the Twin Cities. Groundwater levels are very high right now. The soft land is leading to small landslides in backyards. Tim Cowedry, a groundwater geologist with the U.S. Geographical Survey, says water is in great supply - but it's not just the water you can see.
The Twin Cities metro area was hit by so much rain over the weekend, the City of Mound is worried that sewage could back up into about 1,000 homes. So to try to keep that from happening, the city is pumping untreated sewage onto land.
One of the most popular creeks in the Twin Cities is at a major risk for flooding after heavy rain Saturday with more expected Sunday. The National Weather Service in the Twin Cities said Minnehaha Creek is at 16.88 feet, which is the highest it's been since 2011, when it was at 16.74 feet in the middle of July.
More rain on the way could create more problems for folks who live along Minnehaha Creek. One of the wettest springs on record in the Twin Cities has created dangerous conditions in the creek and an ongoing stressor for some homeowners like Chris Kellick.
Lillian Johnson has buried her husband and other family members in a tiny southeastern North Dakota cemetery that would be threatened by a flood protection project meant to save the state's largest city. The 90-year-old plans to join her loved ones someday, come hell or high water.
Lake residents in parts of east central Minnesota are hoping for drier weather soon as high water remains a big problem for many near Green Lake in Isanti County. High water is typical of many lakes in Isanti, Chisago and Anoka Counties. Heavy spring rains and snowmelt have swollen lake levels, putting a pinch in the start of the boating season.
Authorization for the Red River diversion will be included in a water projects bill negotiated between the U.S. House and Senate.
Homeowners who dealt with flooded basements from last week's wet weather may be in for it again. Carpet had to come up and furniture moved in homes across the state. The anticipated soaking can cause more problems for homeowners still trying to dry out.
Many areas of the Twin Cities have already seen several inches of rain, and with more in the forecast flooding is becoming a big concern in some areas. Some city streets are closed Tuesday morning because of flooding with the water not allowing traffic to pass through.
It's no secret, we're in the middle of a string of wet weather and in some cases it's causing headaches for homeowners in the Twin Cities. All this rain is putting many in a bad mood, but even worse, it's hitting some in the pocketbook with flooding.
Officials with the Lake Superior Zoo will seeking funding from the State Legislature after major flooding in 2012 caused significant damage to the area. Representatives from the zoo met with Duluth Mayor Don Ness and administrators late last week.
Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker has sounded the all-clear for flood danger in the southern Red River Valley. Walaker made his annual pillgramage to the Red River headwaters in northeastern South Dakota and western Minnesota Thursday to gauge possible spring flooding. The longtime mayor and former city public works director has gained notoriety for making flood predictions that often trump the National Weather Service. Walaker tells The Associated Press there's nothing that alarms him about this year's melt and he has never seen the basin south of Fargo in such good shape.
Monday's warm weather caused big problems at a church and school in south Minneapolis. Snow dripped through the roof of Trinity First Lutheran on 11th Avenue South and East 19th Street due to ice clogged drains. Water ended up all over the school.
The heat is on. WCCO director of meteorology Mike Augustyniak says that high temperatures in the Twin Cities could top 50 degrees on Monday. On Sunday, temperatures reached into the 40s.
As we move towards spring, the upcoming melt poses a flooding risk where you wouldn't expect it. Alleys and intersections in Minneapolis could be the trouble spots if there's a rapid warm up. Fifty-seven inches of snow and ice cover most of the city's 50,000 storm drains, leaving nowhere for the water to go.
With all the snow we've had this winter – and the cold temperatures that have kept it around -- it's possible we could see flooding in parts of the state.
The National Weather Service says the possibility of significant flooding remains low in the Red River Valley of eastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota. A flood outlook released Thursday shows that minor to moderate flooding is expected along the river and its tributaries.
Allow me, if you will, to speak for just about everyone who has emailed me in the past month: we're ready for spring! At this point in February, of course, spring isn't ready for us... but it is time to start thinking about the spring flood season.
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 Winnipeg Jets face the Minnesota Wild for a matchup within the Central Division Monday night.
A legal fight could stunt the growth of Minnesota's blooming marijuana market.
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.
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 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.
A recent Bethel University graduate made her mark as an athlete and in her community.
The plan is a 10-year vision for downtown Minneapolis that has several recommendations, including improvements to the skyway system, widening access to public restrooms, creating an outdoor skating rink and more.
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.
Minnesota will once again be one of the top states in the country for voter turnout.
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.
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.
President-elect Donald Trump is making his final selections for who might join him in the White House as part of his cabinet in January.
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.
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.
When cyclist Anna Moriah "Mo" Wilson was murdered in Texas, U.S. Marshals assigned to the case used a unique tactic to track down her suspected killer in Costa Rica and bring the fugitive to justice.
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.
The Winnipeg Jets face the Minnesota Wild for a matchup within the Central Division Monday night.
A recent Bethel University graduate made her mark as an athlete and in her community.
The NFL currently gives the Vikings a 98% probability of making the playoffs. So now the question becomes: is this team for real?
Gabriel Pec, Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljic each scored two goals to help the LA Galaxy beat Minnesota United 6-2 to advance to the Western Conference finals.
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.
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.
Grabbing a TV for a steal-of-a-deal is a popular move during the holiday season. This year, industry experts are expecting shoppers to go big — like really big.
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 we will chill tonight falling back into the teens.
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.
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.
NEXT Weather Meteorologist Lisa Meadows says it doesn't look like Minnesota will be dealing with any big storms during Thanksgiving week.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says we will chill tonight falling back into the teens.
As many families get ready to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner this week, more Minnesotans than ever are struggling to put food on their tables. The state is on pace to reach 9 million visits to food shelves this year. New funding should help, but as WCCO's Beret Leone explains, that one-time check won't solve the problem.
The city plans to spend nearly a quarter million dollars to breathe new life into empty storefronts. WCCO's Jason Rantala explains who's moving in and bringing their creative energy with them.
A legal fight could stunt the growth of Minnesota's blooming marijuana market. The state had hoped to start awarding the first licenses to cannabis companies tomorrow. But a judge Monday put that lottery on hold after several would-be business owners sued.
Meteorologist Chris Shaffer says temperatures will continue to fall as we approach Thanksgiving.