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With the long, cold winter we all endured, we weren't sure this day would ever come. The Freshwater Society and the Hennepin County Sheriff's Water Patrol officially made the call Thursday morning that the ice is now officially out on Lake Minnetonka.
Soon the lakes will be completely ice free, and we will see lots of people out on canoes. But there is one canoe in the west metro that will definitely not be going back into the water. That's because archaeologists have just determined it is nearly 1,000 years old.
A 37-year-old man had to be rescued from Lake Minnetonka on Saturday after his snowmobile went through the ice, according to the Carver County Sheriff's Office. Authorities received several 911 calls just before 9 p.m. that a snowmobile and its rider had fallen through the ice at the southern end of Smithtown Bay on Lake Minnetonka.
A million dollar home on Lake Minnetonka burned to the ground Thursday morning. The fire started around 9:30 a.m. at a home on Old Beach Road in Orono, Minn.
Team WCCO braved the elements Saturday for a pair of charity pond hockey games on Lake Minnetonka. The team ranged in age from 14 to 62, and happily accepted the help of former Wild player Mark Parrish as a ringer. "This is awesome," Parrish said. "It takes you right back. This is where it all began for all of us." The wind chill on Lake Minnetonka was minus 15, but it was all for a good cause.
The view of Lake Minnetonka from the house that Jimmy Jam built is breathtaking. This 22,000-square-foot property sits on 3.5 acres, complete with 300 feet of Lake Minnetonka shoreline. WCCO was the first to show viewers inside the home before it went up for sale last summer. Scott Stabeck of the Stabeck Group at Lakes Sotheby's Realty in Wayzata is the listing agent.
It may have been cold, but it was still a good morning for many to take a swim, as Minnesotans took part in the 24th ALARC Ice Dive. The annual New Year's Day tradition took place at Lake Minnetonka, where morning temperatures were below zero degrees.
As many as 1,000 people are expected to welcome the new year by diving into a hole in the ice of Lake Minnetonka. The 24th annual ALARC Ice Dive gets underway at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 1 at Bayview Event Center in Excelsior.
The father of a baby girl who died after the family's SUV plunged through the ice on Lake Minnetonka has been sentenced for one count of criminal vehicular homicide.
If you've been on Lake Minnetonka, it's a house you've most likely seen. In fact, it's hard to miss the nearly 23,000-square-foot property. And it's going for a comparative steal.
State health officials said Friday at least three people have been diagnosed with E. coli from swimming near Big Island on Lake Minnetonka over the Fourth of July holiday. Health officials said the illnesses happened with young adults that were all within the seven-county Twin Cities metro.
Two collided on Wayzata Bay on Lake Minnetonka Sunday morning, resulting in a two-year-old boy being knocked overboard. According to the Hennepin County Sheriff's office, two boats – both approximately 22-feet-long – struck each other while traveling the in the same direction 200 feet from shore before 10 a.m. One boat was described as a runabout, and the other a deck boat. The runabout had four passengers, including the boy who was thrown in to the lake on impact. He was wearing a life jacket, and was pulled from the water by his father.
Brandon "Tollie" Tolliver had been wake surfing on Lake Minnetonka for years before most people knew what it was. After enough friends and water enthusiasts alike asked him to show them how to surf on the lake, Surf Tonka was born.
This holiday weekend, lakes and rivers around the state will be packed with boaters who are finally getting the chance to enjoy summer. But, a day off for most Minnesotans means a busy day for the Department of Natural Resources patrolling the water for those who are drinking and boating.
A frustrating Fourth of July is in store for some Twin Cities families. Several lakes and rivers have dangerously high water levels in addition to storm debris floating on or just below the surface. The water is moving so fast that the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis and near Minnehaha Park has been off limits to all boaters for the last ten days. The locks for commercial barges just reopened Wednesday, but recreational boating is still prohibited.
High water has Minnesota officials urging boaters to slow down and use caution as the Fourth of July holiday weekend approaches. A no-wake zone is in effect on the St. Croix River from Taylors Falls, Minn., to Prescott, Wis.
Authorities say there were no injuries in a fire that destroyed a boat on Lake Minnetonka Sunday.
We can all dream about having that big luxury home one day when we win the lottery or get that big pay raise, right? Thanks to a tour this weekend, you can actually visualize that dream. Some of the most beautiful homes in the metro are going on tour this month.
The national average for a gallon of gas has gone up 17 days in a row. But here in the Twin Cities, gas has dropped three cents to an average of $4.17 a gallon.
Brooke Welch is out on Lake Minnetonka, enjoying a boat ride that's been months in the making. "It's been a long winter, really cold so we are happy to be out on the water," Welch said. Unfortunately for most boaters enjoying the weekend on water, gas prices in Minnesota are third highest in the nation – right behind Alaska and Hawaii.
In what officials are calling one of the latest dates ever recorded, Hennepin County declared an official "ice out" on Wednesday.
Jonathan Smith of Concept Landscaping is not going to wait any longer to start working on Lake Minnetonka.
Unseasonably chilly weather could make for a historically late ice-out date on Lake Minnetonka. And businesses along Minnetonka's shoreline have been squeezed by our unusual cold.
When responding to ice accidents, the Hennepin County Sheriff's office says they want more resources.
Jonathan Markle turned himself in to authorities to face possible legal punishment. But according to Markle's attorney, Joe Friedberg, the felony charge of criminal vehicular homicide pales in comparison to the regrets and guilt he's already feeling.
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.