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Minnesota state legislators are struggling with how to craft new laws that would effectively combat the growing use of synthetic drugs. Several state House committees met Wednesday to strategize how to address problem that medical and law enforcement officials say is rapidly getting worse.
Minnesota leaders are taking stock of state departments that work in tandem with the federal government to determine those most at risk in the shutdown.
Two-year union contracts providing Minnesota state workers three percent annual raises are up for review by a panel of legislators. The Subcommittee on Employee Relations is deciding whether to ratify the deals.
A special session is expected to get underway today at the Minnesota State Capitol. Lawmakers are expected to deal with disaster relief after last June's storms.
Starting Monday, Minnesota's tax on tobacco is the sixth-highest in the country. The tax just jumped to $2.83 from $1.60, making the average pack of cigarettes in Minnesota now $7.51. Lawmakers who upped the tax said they did it not only to raise money, but to get people to quit.
Pressure is building for thousands of college students who could soon be paying more for school loans -- a lot more, if Congress doesn't act soon.
A Minnesota group that formed to defeat a gay marriage ban, and successfully lobby for legalizing same-sex marriage, is taking another political step today: Defending lawmakers who voted yes on gay marriage.
There was a lot of debate at the Capitol this year about pay raises for Minnesota lawmakers. But a WCCO investigation found soaring salaries are actually going to state employees who work as staff members.
Minnesota state lawmakers promised when the legislative session began that their top priority was setting a new state budget. To that end, they produced a $38.3 billion two-year spending plan that hikes taxes on top income earners and on cigarettes, and distributes hefty spending increases to public schools, freezes tuition at state colleges and steers new money to job-creation programs.
Top Minnesota lawmakers purposely delayed the start of a new sales tax on warehousing services until next April in case they need to revise or undo it before then. The storage service tax, which doesn't apply to mini-storage rentals, became a point of dispute.
The final pieces of Minnesota's next two-year, $38 billion budget were falling into place Sunday as state lawmakers clocked long hours and held a succession of late-night debates at the Capitol.
The final pieces of Minnesota's next two-year budget were falling into place Sunday amid a time crunch for lawmakers to get it all approved. The House went all night before finally recessing a little after 7 a.m. Sunday. Up for debate but still awaiting a final vote is a controversial bill that authorizes a union organizing drive for home daycare providers and care attendants to the elderly and disabled.
With the session officially ending on Monday, state lawmakers have been debating for the last 16 hours trying to wrap up some of the most contested issues this year.
When Minnesota lawmakers finish their session Monday, they'll have a full nine months to cook up plans for next year's session. Legislative leaders on Saturday set their return date. It's Feb. 25.
On Wednesday, lawmakers who took a risk by supporting the bill are getting some political help. A political action committee has formed just for them, as lawmakers who voted yes might need help to get re-elected -- some admitted the vote might have hurt them back home.
The Senate was scheduled to open debate on the bill at noon Monday, then vote. The House approved it last week, and Gov. Mark Dayton has said he'll sign it as early as Tuesday.
Members of the Minnesota Senate will decide whether to require drug tests for lawmakers to qualify for their pay and benefits.
Minnesota's House and Senate are busy passing a series of bills funding state agencies as lawmakers set the stage for end-of-session budget talks.
There's a fight over the money troubles surrounding the new Minnesota Vikings stadium, that's supposed to cost about $975 million.
Pay raises for Minnesota lawmakers won approval Tuesday from the state Senate, but the plan to boost salaries of the governor, Legislature, agency commissioners and other elected officials faces a taller climb in the state House.
Lawmakers' plans to improve Minnesota's background check system for gun sales would cost the state almost $1.1 million.
Minnesota lawmakers would get their first pay boosts since the late 1990s under a budget proposal rolled out Tuesday in the Senate that also includes salary increases for the governor and top agency leaders.
Minnesota state lawmakers waded back into details of the Vikings stadium project Tuesday, amid building concerns about the reliability of tax revenue from gambling to pay the state's share.
For Minnesota lawmakers, spring break is over and the required end of the 2013 legislative session is not far around the corner.
A group of Minnesota restaurants is pushing the Legislature to factor tips into their proposal to boost the state's minimum wage.
The story behind the St. James Hotel is simple: 11 business owners needed a place for people to stay when they came to town. Likely none of them envisioned their establishment would one day end up on the National Register of Historic Places.
Until 2018, for more than five decades, drivers on Highway 10 got glimpses of the 30-foot statue standing high above the city of Mounds View. Seven years later, it's out of storage.
Leftovers are in the fridge and the presents under the tree are unwrapped. But what if Santa didn't get your wish list just right?
Dozens of people gathered at the Market Square of Mendota Village to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah by lighting the first candle.
St. Paul police say narcotics may have played a role in the death of a toddler on Christmas.
Until 2018, for more than five decades, drivers on Highway 10 got glimpses of the 30-foot statue standing high above the city of Mounds View. Seven years later, it's out of storage.
Dozens of people gathered at the Market Square of Mendota Village to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah by lighting the first candle.
St. Paul police say narcotics may have played a role in the death of a toddler on Christmas.
The LGBTQ+ bar located in the Loring Park neighborhood closed on March 23 after a garbage truck hit a power pole that landed on the building, sparking flames.
Going to the movies has become a Christmas Day tradition for some Minnesotans.
A great gray owl and a snowy owl are being treated by experts after being rescued by a northern Minnesota woman.
Here's a look at the most clicked WCCO.com stories from each month in 2024.
An 18-year-old man is facing a second-degree murder charge after a fatal shooting in Mankato Saturday.
It's been a weather year of extremes in Minnesota, with a warm winter, floods and a drought to cap off the summer.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension says Breana Sandoval was last seen in the area of 1800 Park Avenue Northwest in Bemidji around 3:10 p.m. on Dec. 13.
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has finally selected a new leader for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
The Centers for Disease Control says no person-to-person transmission has been detected and the risk to the general public remains low.
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.
Volunteers at St. Paul's Union Gospel Mission served up hundreds of Christmas Day meals during a free lunch on Wednesday.
The Salvation Army says it's a proven fact that donations decline when the bells aren't ringing. Fewer volunteers mean fewer rings and fewer dollars raised.
Dan Reed is on a campaign to get more people to become donors. The more people he can register, the higher up he gets on the transplant list.
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.
President Biden signed legislation Christmas Eve to make the bald eagle officially the U.S. national bird.
Jason Rantala looks at the changes several Twin Cities restaurants are making in response to a new Minnesota law taking effect on New Year’s Day.
Former President Bill Clinton remains in "good spirits," a spokesman said.
The House Ethics Committee released its highly anticipated report on former Rep. Matt Gaetz, detailing allegations of sexual misconduct, drug use and obstruction. He denies wrongdoing.
From Gov. Tim Walz becoming the Democratic nominee for vice president to the whirlwind conclusion of Minnesota's legislative session, 2024 was packed with political highlights in the state.
Leftovers are in the fridge and the presents under the tree are unwrapped. But what if Santa didn't get your wish list just right?
The Mega Millions jackpot is valued at $1 billion for the drawing on Christmas Eve
The rush was on Tuesday as shoppers grabbed last-minute essentials at Mall of America, just hours before Christmas Day.
Twin Cities Starbucks baristas joined a nationwide strike Tuesday afternoon.
Most grocery stores will be open on Christmas Eve but will have reduced hours.
St. Paul police say narcotics may have played a role in the death of a toddler on Christmas.
Agents found 30 brick-like packages of cocaine inside the backpacks, located in a wooded area in Washington near the U.S. border with Canada.
An 18-year-old man is facing a second-degree murder charge after a fatal shooting in Mankato Saturday.
The appeal had asked the court to reinstate charges, including involuntary manslaughter, against Alec Baldwin.
A 40-year-old Sartell woman has pleaded guilty in connection with a fraud scheme that cost two loan companies over $9 million.
According to the Minnesota Department of Education, only 46.5% of third graders in the state are reading proficiently.
Health experts are offering tips on creating a more nutritious diet as new year's resolutions are put into action.
Mental health is a topic that some might feel uncomfortable talking about. In St. Louis Park there's one event trying to change that.
Minneapolis has softened an ordinance that prohibited obstructing entrances and driveways to abortion clinics after anti-abortion activists sued to challenge it on free-speech grounds.
Under the new law, aerosol dusters will need to be kept behind store counters, and can only sold to people 21 or older starting Jan. 1, 2025.
Going to the movies has become a Christmas Day tradition for some Minnesotans.
Netflix will have one of its biggest days Wednesday since the site launched in 1998 when it airs two NFL games for the first time.
The appeal had asked the court to reinstate charges, including involuntary manslaughter, against Alec Baldwin.
The lawsuit lays out Blake Lively's allegations against Justin Baldoni during their time working on "It Ends with Us."
Holidazzle is a free event with lights, stage performances, Santa, nearly 200 vendors and more. It runs Wednesday through Sunday.
Watch an unforgettable moment during an Alexandria football game that brought the crowd to tears. Plus, a tough battle in boy’s basketball between Rockford and Zimmerman.
Anthony Edwards scored 26 points, and the Minnesota Timberwolves held on for a 105-99 Christmas Day victory over Dallas after Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic left the game with a strained left calf.
From deep playoff runs to disappointing seasons and superstar contracts to broken business deals, it's been a noisy, chaotic and occasionally celebratory year for Minnesota sports.
The Boston Red Sox continued to rebuild their pitching staff, acquiring left-hander Jovani Morán from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for catcher and infielder Mickey Gasper.
Netflix will have one of its biggest days Wednesday since the site launched in 1998 when it airs two NFL games for the first time.
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.
The story behind the St. James Hotel is simple: 11 business owners needed a place for people to stay when they came to town. Likely none of them envisioned their establishment would one day end up on the National Register of Historic Places.
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 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.
WCCO meteorologist Lisa Meadows says rain will move in late Thursday and stick around into the weekend.
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 Lisa Meadows says tomorrow will be even warmer with highs in the upper 30s.
WCCO meteorologist Lisa Meadows says freezing fog is possible tonight and could create some slick roads in parts of the state.
Meteorologist Adam Del Rosso says some precipitation is in the forecast.
WCCO meteorologist Lisa Meadows says rain will move in late Thursday and stick around into the weekend.
Over the years, presidents and famous musicians have stayed at the St. James Hotel in Red Wing. In this week’s Finding Minnesota, John Lauritsen shows us how the historic hotel is getting ready to celebrate 150 years in business.
A north metro icon is preparing for her return after being removed nearly a decade ago. WCCO's Kirsten Mitchell and Photojournalist Nick Lunemann share how the city of Mounds View is trying to restore the famous mermaid.
Owners had hoped to reopen for New Year's Eve but said construction and inspections are taking a bit longer than anticipated.
St. Paul police say narcotics may have played a role in the death of a toddler on Christmas.