Minnesota man freed after conviction overturned
Edgar Barrientos-Quintana is now out of prison after his 2008 murder conviction was vacated Thumbnail credit: Amy Anderson Photography
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Edgar Barrientos-Quintana is now out of prison after his 2008 murder conviction was vacated Thumbnail credit: Amy Anderson Photography
All mail will be rerouted out-of-state to a company that will replicate the mail before sending it back to Minnesota.
Inside Hennepin County Adult Detention Center, inmates are not only serving time but learning skills to keep them from coming back.
So far this year, the Minnesota Department of Corrections says there have been at least 70 cases of suspected overdoses in state prisons, with most leading to lockdowns that frustrate inmates, staff and their families.
Investigators have retrieved new evidence showing how prison inmates continue to smuggle narcotics, including now through books and magazines.
WCCO uncovers the new ways inmates are smuggling deadly drugs into Minnesota prisons. In July, we showed you how mail laced with synthetic drugs was getting to inmates. The inmates tear up the paper and smoke it, leading to prison lockdowns and overdoses. In this WCCO Investigation, Jonah Kaplan looks at the new method being used to beat the system.
The Hennepin County Attorney's Office announced on Wednesday it is asking the courts to adjust the sentencing of Jerome Nunn — a man originally sentenced to life in prison three decades ago — to time served in recognition of Nunn's rehabilitation.
The Wisconsin Department of Corrections has agreed to provide more help to hearing-impaired inmates as part of a settlement with federal investigators.
The recent two-day lockdown at Stillwater caused by an inmate smoking an unknown substance underscored the limits of the mail pilot program and the risks of persistent drug smuggling.
A 56-year-old man learned his fate on Monday morning for a 2023 carjacking in Elk River, where he beat up his victim before dragging her behind her SUV.
A spokesperson for the Federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed Thursday that the Waseca Federal Correctional Institution was placed on "modified operations" on Sept. 4 after nine inmates were sent to a local hospital for "exhibiting signs of drug use."
A correctional officer at a southern Minnesota prison is accused of smuggling drugs to one of the inmates earlier this month, authorities announced Wednesday.
Investigators in Wisconsin say an inmate serving time for trying to kill his mother killed his cellmate for being Black and gay.
Investigators say an inmate found dead at a maximum-security prison in Wisconsin was strangled in his cell.
The ex-Minneapolis police officer convicted of killing George Floyd has been transferred to a federal prison in Texas almost nine months after he was stabbed in a different facility.
Contraband isn't new to prisons, but investigators are warning that Minnesota's prison system is being inundated by mail laced with synthetic opioids. It's such a problem that some Minnesota prisons are changing their mailroom protocols.
A WCCO Investigation discovered that deadly drugs are getting delivered to Minnesota inmates, in plain sight. It's become such a problem, that some prisons are actually changing what happens in mailrooms. Investigative Reporter Jonah Kaplan takes us inside Faribault prison to show us how hard it can be to detect this hidden danger.
The facility has been plagued by allegations of staff-on-inmate abuse, including excessive use of pepper spray, restraints and strip searches. A court-appointed monitor is currently overseeing the facility.
Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier has spent most of his life in prison since being convicted in the 1975 killings of two FBI agents in South Dakota.
The warden of a maximum-security Wisconsin prison and eight members of his staff have been charged following investigations into the deaths of four inmates at the troubled facility over the past year.
Gerri, a concerned family member, said she's been told from inside that the lockdowns caused by overdoses have cut into meals and rehabilitation programming.
Minnesota has joined a growing list of states that plan to count prisoners at their home addresses instead of at the prisons they're located when drawing new political districts.
"It really does play major mind games," one inmate said. "I'm not able to call my wife. It does raise the stress level of everybody, and when that happens...it can really push people over the edge."
Inmates at Minnesota's largest prison explain how regular lockdowns are impacting life inside. The inmates aren't acting up, there's just not enough staff to keep an eye on them. WCCO's David Schuman learned more about the problem in Faribault.
WCCO received complaints about inmates at the Faribault Correction Facility not being able to leave their cells, attend classes or get commissary.
One person was shot in Minneapolis' Dinkytown neighborhood Thursday morning, according to the University of Minnesota, though the extent of their injuries is unclear.
President-elect Donald Trump announced Gaetz as his nominee to be attorney general last week.
A recount of a close Minnesota House race on Thursday could determine the balance of power in the chamber, which now stands at a political tie, according to the unofficial results from the election two weeks ago.
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.
The state's highest court ruled a special prosecutor's decision to re-indict Smollett violated his constitutional rights after Cook County prosecutors previously dropped charges against him.
One person was shot in Minneapolis' Dinkytown neighborhood Thursday morning, according to the University of Minnesota, though the extent of their injuries is unclear.
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.
The head coach of the University of St. Thomas' women's hockey team has resigned following an "incident," according to the school, which would not disclose the details of what occurred.
Multiple crashes have occurred on Twin Cities roads during Thursday morning's commute, with icy roadways and even some blowing snow reported as temperatures hover around freezing.
A former 3M scientist says she now believes executives knew PFAS were potentially harmful long before they shared that information.
A recount of a close Minnesota House race on Thursday could determine the balance of power in the chamber, which now stands at a political tie, according to the unofficial results from the election two weeks ago.
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.
Multiple crashes have occurred on Twin Cities roads during Thursday morning's commute, with icy roadways and even some blowing snow reported as temperatures hover around freezing.
A woman in her 60s has been charged with fatally striking a person with her car back in July near Hibbing, according to documents filed Tuesday in Itasca County.
Authorities in central Minnesota are asking for the public's help in finding a 17-year-old boy who has not been seen since April.
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.
Traffic is backed up on a major interstate in western Wisconsin Tuesday morning due to a crash.
One person was shot in Minneapolis' Dinkytown neighborhood Thursday morning, according to the University of Minnesota, though the extent of their injuries is unclear.
A warm place to live may be taken for granted, but for a veteran taking over his family home, it's a gift.
Michael Fuller and Mahesh Mathew are finding purpose on Twin Cities running paths together.
One issue veterans face is finding a job after they finish their service. They have skills, of course, but they are not always valued as work experience. The University of Minnesota Medical School is hoping to change that.
Alan Vanhoever and Brian Neidt are honored to have served the United States. Both struggled with addiction for years before giving a specialized long-term program a try.
President-elect Donald Trump announced Gaetz as his nominee to be attorney general last week.
A recount of a close Minnesota House race on Thursday could determine the balance of power in the chamber, which now stands at a political tie, according to the unofficial results from the election two weeks ago.
A woman told police she was sexually assaulted in 2017 by Pete Hegseth, according to a detailed, newly released police report. He is now President-elect Trump's choice for defense secretary.
State regulators denied two-thirds of the applications seeking one of the initial "preapproved" licenses to operate a cannabis business in Minnesota, a spokesperson for the Office of Cannabis Management said by email.
If confirmed, this will be Russ Vought's second time as OMB director. He authored a chapter of Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for a GOP administration.
"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.
The Minneapolis City Council voted 9-3 in favor of a proposal on Thursday that establishes a citywide labor standards board, a move that worries some small business owners.
One person was shot in Minneapolis' Dinkytown neighborhood Thursday morning, according to the University of Minnesota, though the extent of their injuries is unclear.
A woman in her 60s has been charged with fatally striking a person with her car back in July near Hibbing, according to documents filed Tuesday in Itasca County.
Roseville city officials say that more than 18,000 feet of copper wire was stolen.
Criminal charges have been dropped against two teenage brothers in connection to the fatal shooting of their 15-year-old cousin in Minneapolis this summer.
Police say an 18-year-old man is dead after he was shot on Tuesday night near Minneapolis' Little Earth of United Tribes housing area.
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.
Lifting weights specifically helps strengthen bones, and in Ronnie Laitnen's case, slows down her chronic disease from developing.
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.
The much-hyped fight pitting the 58-year-old Tyson against Paul, 27, shattered records but was marred by tech glitches.
With the release of part one of her new memoir, Cher talks about her relationship - on stage and off - with Sonny Bono, and why their TV partnership survived beyond their marriage.
Betty White will be honored with a stamp in 2025, the U.S. Postal Service announced on Friday.
The head coach of the University of St. Thomas' women's hockey team has resigned following an "incident," according to the school, which would not disclose the details of what occurred.
Parker Fox scored 16 points off the bench to spark Minnesota to a 58-47 win over Cleveland State.
Kirill Kaprizov scored a pair of third-period goals, and Jonas Brodin and Ryan Hartman also scored to help the Minnesota Wild beat the St. Louis Blues 4-2 on Tuesday night.
The Minnesota Vikings have been hounding quarterbacks all season and often without any extra help.
Lifting weights specifically helps strengthen bones, and in Ronnie Laitnen's case, slows down her chronic disease from developing.
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.
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.
In this edition of Finding Minnesota, John Lauritsen takes us through the long history and evolution of the Goldy Gopher mascot.
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.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is expected to have a spot in the Trump administration, feels fluoride can lead to a slew of health problems.
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 Adam Del Rosso has your latest forecast and it's a chilly one!
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.
Cold winds and clouds will linger on Thursday.
It will be a cold and windy Thursday ahead of a calm weekend, says NEXT Weather Meteorologist Joseph Dames.
Multiple crashes have occurred on Twin Cities roads during Thursday morning's commute, with icy roadways and even some blowing snow reported as temperatures hover around freezing.
WCCO meteorologist Adam Del Rosso has your latest forecast and it's a chilly one!
The Department of Justice is going head-to-head with tech giant Google as the government agency says the company has a monopoly on search engines.
Recounts in two Minnesota cities could have a dramatic effect on the outcome of the balance of power in the Minnesota House.
The total number of people who have fallen sick due to E. coli from ground beef rises to 15 in Minnesota. WCCO's Kirsten Mitchell has more.
Breaking news out of Washington, Trump-appointed nominee for Attorney General, Matt Gaetz, has officially withdrew from the appointment.