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Experts warn that sex trafficking happens daily in towns across Minnesota. The recent charges against GOP strategist Tony Lazzaro show it's not just an issue on the streets, but a crime finding new, young victims on social media.
The U.S. Attorney's Office says 40-year-old Charles William Dexter III "knowingly recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided, and advertised a minor victim to engage in a commercial sex act, knowing that the victim had not attained the age of 18 years."
Anton Lazzaro will remain in jail until his trial on federal sex trafficking charges, a federal judge ruled Tuesday, after a police officer testified that the top Republican donor paid underage girls for sex with cash and gifts.
The past four executive directors of the Minnesota Republican Party are asking for Jennifer Carnahan to resign. And, if she doesn't, they say they implore the state executive committee to remove her.
A now-suspended student at the University of St. Thomas who was the chair of her college's GOP chapter appeared in federal court Monday, facing charges that she conspired with a top Republican donor and activist to traffic minors for sex.
More Minnesota Republicans are calling for state party chair Jennifer Carnahan to step down due to her ties to GOP donor and strategist Anton "Tony" Lazzaro, who was indicted Thursday on federal sex trafficking charges.
The newly elected chair of University of St. Thomas' College Republicans was arrested in Florida on sex trafficking charges, according to FBI Minneapolis.
The executive committee of the Minnesota GOP will have an emergency meeting Friday night in wake of the allegations that a Republican donor "deeply involved" in party politics illegally trafficked minors for sex.
Minnesota State Sen. Mary Kunesh said that an earlier trafficking sting in February also resulted in charges against two Enbridge Line 3 employees, in Itasca County.
Two Minnesota men are among the 36 people sentenced Thursday for their roles in a "massive" international sex trafficking organization that forced hundreds of women from Thailand into sex work throughout the United States.
Each of the seven men is alleged to have responded to postings by undercover officers to arrange a meetup to participate in sexual acts with what they believed was an underage girl.
The suspects in the sting chatted with undercover agents and investigators on several websites advertising sex, and were arrested after agreeing to meet at arranged meeting places.
A 46-year-old man who owned an illegal massage parlor has been sentenced to 33 years in prison for sex trafficking two victims, including one minor.
A school superintendent in western Wisconsin was arrested Thursday on federal charges of sex trafficking of a minor and production of child pornography.
A Chinese national is accused of human trafficking in the Twin Cities.
A 52-year-old White Bear Lake woman -- nicknamed the "Massage Boss" -- has been found guilty on multiple sex trafficking-related charges.
A Saint Paul man has been charged with two counts relating to sex trafficking at hotels in Woodbury and Oakdale.
Over the summer, the city of St. Cloud agreed to tighten licensing requirements to stop sex trafficking. There will be more background checks for therapists, more inspections for businesses and ultimately more fees to pay.
A Minneapolis man accused of sexually assaulting a woman and threatening her with a syringe of Narcan, a medication used to combat opioid overdoses, has been charged with criminal sexual conduct.
Two Duluth men learned they will serve years behind bars after sex trafficking a 15-year-old girl.
Cities are tweaking their massage regulations to cut down on the problem of human sex trafficking – and St. Cloud is the latest to take those steps.
Authorities say a 50-year-old registered sex offender in Minnesota faces federal charges after being accused of traveling to Iowa to have sex with minors.
Daniel David Ellington of Brooklyn Park was charged with four counts relating to sex trafficking at hotels in Woodbury and Brooklyn Center, the Washington County Attorney's Office said Thursday.
A 25-year-old man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for multiple sex trafficking and prostitution promotion charges involving two women, including a juvenile.
From a new concession layout to enhanced entrances, Target Field will be unveiling multiple upgrades during the Twins' home opener on Thursday.
The bribe attempt surrounded the trial of seven defendants in one of the country's largest COVID-19-related fraud cases.
The Minnesota State Patrol says troopers are responding to multiple crashes Wednesday afternoon as road conditions deteriorate due to snow.
President Trump announced new reciprocal tariffs on Wednesday, which he dubbed "Liberation Day."
Three Minnesotans are among the five nominees for best Midwestern chef in this year's James Beard Awards, and the state is in competition in several other categories as well.
The bribe attempt surrounded the trial of seven defendants in one of the country's largest COVID-19-related fraud cases.
The Minnesota State Patrol says troopers are responding to multiple crashes Wednesday afternoon as road conditions deteriorate due to snow.
Three Minnesotans are among the five nominees for best Midwestern chef in this year's James Beard Awards, and the state is in competition in several other categories as well.
Mosquitoes in Minnesota — a classic yet annoying staple of the state's warm season — may not yet be top of mind for most. Experts, however, are already predicting they could be unavoidable this summer.
Glen Taylor is ceding control of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx to partners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez.
The Minnesota State Patrol says troopers are responding to multiple crashes Wednesday afternoon as road conditions deteriorate due to snow.
Minnesota drivers can start preparing for closures, detours and delays, as infrastructure officials have unveiled their planned projects for 2025.
The reduction is expected to have wide-reaching consequences for the state's public health efforts, according to MDH Commissioner Dr. Brooke Cunningham.
Distracted driving was captured more than 10,000 times in February alone by AI cameras along Highway 7 in Shorewood.
A woman is dead after a Rochester home caught fire Monday night.
Campaign funding smashed records, making it the most expensive judicial race in history.
Tuesday evening, Wisconsin's polls will close in what has become the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history.
A 17-year-old driver who allegedly struck and killed a runner on a western Wisconsin road Saturday may have been intoxicated at the time, according to authorities.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court currently has a 4-3 liberal majority, with one of the liberal justices retiring, the balance of the court is at stake.
Billionaire Elon Musk on Friday clarified his reasons for visiting Wisconsin two days ahead of its hotly contested Supreme Court election after deleting a social media post saying he planned to "personally hand over" $2 million.
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Cheap Trick and Ludacris are slated to headline Taste of Minnesota this year.
Low enrollment at Chelsea Heights Elementary School has impacted funding for music and arts programs, leaving staff to figure out how they will still deliver creative classes for students.
Avianah Drakeford was born with sickle cell disease, a genetic disorder that negatively affects how blood moves around the body. It's not life-threatening, but it is life-altering.
Yolanda Saldívar was denied parole, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles confirmed in a statement posted to its webpage.
An elementary school student used a school bus radio to get help for a driver suffering from a medical condition while on their route home from school in central Minnesota, according to officials.
President Trump announced new reciprocal tariffs on Wednesday, which he dubbed "Liberation Day."
The Senate is expected to vote Wednesday on a measure aimed at blocking tariffs on Canadian products are set to take effect.
President Trump announced the U.S. will impose a minimum baseline of 10% tariffs on goods imported from all foreign countries, along with further "reciprocal tariffs."
Federal cuts are hitting home for hundreds of employees at the Minnesota Department of Health. MDH says about 300 employees received layoff or 'at risk' notices Tuesday. The action comes after the federal government slashed more than $220 million in grant money last week. WCCO’s Kirsten Mitchell explains the latest impact.
The results are in from a historic contest in Wisconsin tonight. The most expensive judicial race in U.S. history drew so many voters that some polling locations were running out of ballots.
Artificial dyes made using chemicals and are thus regulated by the Food and Drug Administration to ensure their safety. But do we need them?
A new weed-growing operation in Prairie Island represents Minnesota's closest one to the Twin Cities. The Dakota tribe is using cannabis cultivation best practices to take their business to new highs, with a newfound pride in going green.
The sports equipment industry is no exception to the headaches being caused throughout the U.S. commercial ecosystem by the promise of 25% tariffs on Canadian imports by President Donald Trump.
Italian Eatery closed early last year, but new ownership has reopened its doors, bringing back delicious favorites and new tastes to south Minneapolis.
Minnesotans who lost a home due to unpaid property taxes could now be eligible to receive thousands of dollars.
The bribe attempt surrounded the trial of seven defendants in one of the country's largest COVID-19-related fraud cases.
A religious display outside of the Minnesota State Capitol depicting the Ten Commandments and a cross was vandalized and dismantled earlier this week, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.
A 17-year-old boy has been taken into custody in Ramsey County after authorities say they confiscated at least 10 ghost guns or handguns equipped with switch devices.
AG Pam Bondi directed federal prosecutors to pursue the death penalty against Luigi Mangione, the UnitedHealthcare CEO murder suspect.
A massage therapist from the Twin Cities who turned himself in earlier this month after being accused of criminal sexual conduct now faces an additional charge.
Artificial dyes made using chemicals and are thus regulated by the Food and Drug Administration to ensure their safety. But do we need them?
Landon McKee has played sports for most of his young life, but he's done so while battling a serious medical condition.
The reduction is expected to have wide-reaching consequences for the state's public health efforts, according to MDH Commissioner Dr. Brooke Cunningham.
For any parent, the arrival of a new baby is joyful. But for a Hanover, Minnesota, family, a prenatal checkup turned into quite a medical journey.
The right amount of protein varies for each person depending on factors like gender, age, activity level and use of weight loss medication or supplements.
Three Minnesotans are among the five nominees for best Midwestern chef in this year's James Beard Awards, and the state is in competition in several other categories as well.
A unique talent, Val Kilmer was praised as an acting chameleon who took on varied and challenging roles, and the results were often memorable.
The Van Gogh Museum says a painting purchased at a Minnesota garage sale did not come from the Dutch artist's hand, despite the claims from a New York research group.
Actor Richard Chamberlain died Saturday, March 29, in Waimanalo, Hawai'i of complications following a stroke. He was two days shy of his 91st birthday.
The iconic Sundance Film Festival will be moving from Park City, Utah to Boulder, Colorado, starting in 2027, the festival and the Colorado Governor's Office announced on Thursday.
From a new concession layout to enhanced entrances, Target Field will be unveiling multiple upgrades during the Twins' home opener on Thursday.
Glen Taylor is ceding control of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx to partners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez.
A Minneapolis teacher is helping high school basketball players get one more look from college coaches.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker hit two of three free throws with 0.1 seconds remaining and the Minnesota Timberwolves overcame a career-best 61-point performance from Nikola Jokic to outlast the Denver Nuggets 140-139 in double overtime.
Landon McKee has played sports for most of his young life, but he's done so while battling a serious medical condition.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court currently has a 4-3 liberal majority, with one of the liberal justices retiring, the balance of the court is at stake.
Tuesday’s Wisconsin Supreme Court election will determine the ideological makeup of a court likely to decide key issues in a perennial battleground state.
The Trump administration wants to reup President Trump's tax cuts of 2017, which are set to expire this year. In order to do that, U.S. Congress would have to cut Medicaid in every state.
The Trump administration wants to reup the Trump tax cuts 2017, which are set to expire this year. In order to do so Congress would have to cut Medicaid in every state. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy spoke with State Director of Medicaid John Connolly about how they plan to keep services going for Minnesotans who depend on it.
Immigration is dominating national headlines these days, but in Minnesota, there is a different debate raging: what rights, if any, should undocumented residents have?
In this week's Finding Minnesota, John Lauritsen shows how one group is unearthing a bit of history.
South of Hastings, Minnesota, there's a town without a single resident and there are businesses that don't sell a single thing. Yet people can't wait to visit, and once here, they don't want to leave.
Lovers of old-school records in the Twin Cities, listen up: you can get a record made in your own backyard.
A partnership between the American Legion and a horseshoe club is putting Becker, Minnesota, on the map.
If you've been to the University of Minnesota, you can't miss the Weisman Art Museum. It stands out in more ways than one.
Artificial dyes made using chemicals and are thus regulated by the Food and Drug Administration to ensure their safety. But do we need them?
With just a click of the mouse or tap on your phone, many have felt a rush of embarrassment.
The right amount of protein varies for each person depending on factors like gender, age, activity level and use of weight loss medication or supplements.
Tuesday is Disability Advocacy Day in Minnesota, so WCCO found out how to respectfully interact with people who have disabilities.
More than one-third of Americans have turned to apps or devices to track the quality of their sleep.
A spring snowstorm dropped several inches of plowable snow overnight in the Twin Cities and other parts of Minnesota.
Six Minnesota Vikings made the initial roster for the 2025 Pro Bowl Games, the most in 15 years.
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.
WCCO meteorologist Lisa Meadows has your latest forecast, including when the next round of storms is expected to hit.
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 Director of Meteorology Mike Augustyniak joins the live desk to break down what to expect from the remainder of the storm.
WCCO meteorologist Joseph Dames shares an update on Wednesday's weather, which includes snow, ice, cold temperatures, bluster, pestering rain, clouds, gloom and exactly what we hope will eventually bring May flowers. It had better.
As an early April storm system works its way out of Minnesota on Wednesday, areas to the north will see more snow, while the Twin Cities are in for some rain.
President Trump announced a 10% baseline tariff scheduled to go into effect on April 5. He announced higher reciprocal tariffs against the "worst offenders," which will go into effect on April 9.
Jeff Wagner has the latest updates and headlines.
WCCO meteorologist Lisa Meadows has your latest forecast, including when the next round of storms is expected to hit.
Known for his roles in TOP GUN, BATMAN and TOMBSTONE, beloved actor Val Kilmer died at the age of 65.
One of Minneapolis' most anticipated events has announced their lineup, and it does not disappoint. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Cheap Trick and Ludacris are all set to headline Taste of Minnesota. Tickets go on sale Tuesday.