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The National Weather Service says an EF-1 tornado touched down in Carver County early Saturday morning during a loud and windy night of severe weather throughout the Twin Cities metro. The tornado caused extensive damage to trees and homes in Watertown and neighboring Hollywood Township.
A chorus of chainsaws and generator moans defines Jack Smith's Brainerd backyard. "I know the first place you go is to Fleet Farm, get a generator and try to get back in business," Smith said.
Gov. Mark Dayton and U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan will travel to the Brainerd Lakes area on Friday to tour storm damage. Dayton and Nolan also plan to meet with resort owners, emergency managers, local officials, residents and volunteers.
Parts of a Brainerd-area resort badly damaged by Sunday's severe storms are re-opening.
Storm cleanup continues in northern Minnesota during the height of vacation season. Some of the state's most popular resorts and campgrounds have shut down, causing many vacationers to make new plans.
Check out these viewer-submitted photos of storm damage from Sept. 3 and Sept. 4.
Residents of New Brighton are waiting to find out how a broken sewer near Long Lake will affect their homes. Monday's severe winds toppled a tree that uprooted the top of a sewer line just off 16th Terrace Avenue.
The storms that moved through the metro area Monday night were quick, but they caused a lot of damage in some areas. In New Brighton, winds up to 50 miles per hour blew through. Trees were uprooted, leaving a large hole in the ground.
Residents in parts of northern Minnesota are cleaning up Tuesday after severe storms swept through the area late Monday night. The Aitkin County Sheriff's Office said that the area of McGregor was hit hard, particularly the Eagle Point Camp Ground on Big Sandy Lake.
Tim Murphy has seen his share of Minnesota spring storms over the years. But he says the one that rolled through this uppertown St. Paul neighborhood Saturday afternoon was a little different. "This was a shorter storm and it was more violent in a chunkated amount of time," Murphy said.
A tree fell onto a homeowner's garage in Richfield, Minn. Saturday afternoon due to strong winds. The house was located around 67th Street and Clinton Avenue South. Power lines were also downed in that area, knocking out power.
We're seeing the effects of all that rainfall in several spots around the metro. Strong winds and soggy ground were too much for the trees at a mobile home park in Princeton. More than a dozen huge trees fell, damaging homes and cars.
While Thursday's tornadoes stayed south, parts of the Twin Cities did suffer wind damage. Employees cleaned up the mess outside of the Lakeville Walmart. Carl Cannon says shoppers started screaming as debris flew in the store.
Move over, Florida. New numbers show that Minnesota could finish first when it comes to disaster insurance claims. Last year, Minnesota generated nearly $800 million in claims, and that's only through the third quarter. If you're wondering why your premium is going through the roof, you can blame what's falling on your roof. Hail from storms on Aug. 6 damaged roofs, windows and siding all over the south metro.
On Monday, Governor Mark Dayton signed an emergency bill into law, sending disaster aid to Minnesota counties hit hard by a week of severe summer storms in June. Eighteen Minnesota counties - including the largest, Hennepin County - were hit by high winds, torrential rains and widespread flooding during the five days of storms. Damage was heavy in the southeastern part of the state, where lawmakers - including Republican Rep. Greg Davids of Preston - thanked Minnesotans for their help.
A joint House-Senate committee is beginning the work of developing a storm disaster aid package that Minnesota lawmakers will consider in an emergency session next month. A working group for the Legislature was convening Wednesday night.
Gov. Mark Dayton is meeting with the Legislature's four top leaders as they try to agree on whether to hold a special session. Dayton and the lawmakers plan to meet Friday afternoon in the governor's office.
The largest utility serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin says it deployed more than 1,000 line workers to restore power to customers in the Twin Cities and other areas after three waves of strong storms hit the region. Xcel Energy's system was severely damaged by high winds that brought trees and branches down onto power lines before dawn Friday and on Friday evening and early Saturday. More than 500,000 of the utility's customers in Minnesota and western Wisconsin were affected at the height of the power outages
Communities across the Twin Cities are cleaning up trees and branches knocked down by three waves of heavy storms since early Friday. Minneapolis has announced plans for debris collection beginning July 1 to help people get rid of the downed wood in their yards. St. Paul plans a similar curbside pickup within the next three weeks.
It was a stressful morning for patients and staff at NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center in North Minneapolis. NorthPoint CEO Stella Whitney-West says a call to the utility company proved futile. "We immediately tried to call in to Xcel," Whitney-West said. "Of course, we couldn't get through." But the phone calls didn't stop there.
The tornado that touched down Saturday night in Burnsville was on the lowest end on the EF scale, but the damage was quite considerable.
Crews are working to clear the main streets in Rochester after a powerful storm swept through, knocked down trees, scattered debris and ignited a house fire.
Top Minnesota lawmakers say they are putting aside politics to deal with severe flooding in northern Minnesota.
Officials in Beltrami County are looking for volunteers to help with storm damage, as the area continues to deal with the aftermath of its early July storms.
Digital workers in Kenya had to sift through horrific online content to train AI, but say they were underpaid, overworked, and got inadequate mental health support. So they're fighting back.
Sam Darnold threw for 90 of his 330 yards in overtime to set up Parker Romo's game-ending 29-yard field goal, and the Minnesota Vikings outlasted the Chicago Bears 30-27 after giving up 11 points in the final 22 seconds of regulation.
A couple from Connecticut is charged with allegedly orchestrating a retail theft operation that may have cost Lululemon as much as $1 million.
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.
Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth said that Pete Hegseth is "flat-out wrong" in his view that women should not serve in the military in combat roles.
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.
The accident happened just after 10:30 p.m. Saturday near Chicago Avenue and Ninth Street South.
The shooting happened on the 1500 block of Lake Street East just before 8:30 p.m.
Inside Catholic Charities St Paul Opportunity Center, local physicians, surgeons, and lawyers gathered on Sunday to support people experiencing homelessness.
On Saturday, it was a jam packed house chamber, despite zero session. This time, filled with young adults.
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.
State championship football games are happening all day long at U.S. Bank Stadium Friday.
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.
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.
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 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.
Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth said that Pete Hegseth is "flat-out wrong" in his view that women should not serve in the military in combat roles.
Democrats say they're concerned or scared Trump will threaten their rights, but fewer than half feel motivated to oppose him.
On Saturday, it was a jam packed house chamber, despite zero session. This time, filled with young adults.
Huldah Momanyi-Hiltsley is the first Kenyan-born state legislator in the country.
Minnesota will once again be one of the top states in the country for voter turnout.
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.
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.
The shooting took place just after midnight Saturday near Lowry Avenue North and Fremont Avenue North.
The shooting happened just before 7 p.m. Thursday near 10th Street Southeast and First Avenue Southeast.
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.
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.
The much-hyped fight pitting the 58-year-old Tyson against Paul, 27, shattered records but was marred by tech glitches.
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.
Sam Darnold threw for 90 of his 330 yards in overtime to set up Parker Romo's game-ending 29-yard field goal, and the Minnesota Vikings outlasted the Chicago Bears 30-27 after giving up 11 points in the final 22 seconds of regulation.
Drew Allar passed for 244 yards and a touchdown, rushed for a score and completed a late fourth-down conversion to help No. 4 Penn State fend off Minnesota 26-25 on Saturday and stay on track for a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Rasmus Andersson scored the shootout winner and the Calgary Flames held off the Minnesota Wild 4-3 after blowing a two-goal lead late in the third period Saturday.
Justin Jefferson might be weary of all the safeties shadowing his every route and determined not to let the Minnesota Vikings go deep.
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.
Meteorologist Lisa Meadows says overnight snow and a flash freeze will make for a rough Monday morning commute.
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 National Weather Service says the metro may see half an inch of accumulation overnight, with most snow falling between 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. Accompanied by a flash freeze, conditions could "cause significant impacts to the Monday morning commute."
Meteorologist Riley O'Connor says Sunday will be quiet before it rains overnight and transitions into snow.
Sunday will be similar to Saturday, with temps in the low 40s. Starting Sunday night we have precipitation that will continue through Monday morning. Temps will drop into next week into the high 20s or low 30s. Lisa Meadows breaks down the precipitation timing and what you need to know.
Meteorologist Lisa Meadows says overnight snow and a flash freeze will make for a rough Monday morning commute.
A family is grieving after a fatal crash took the life of a father of three on Friday on a rural Hennepin County road.
The National Turkey Federation shared a video on their Facebook page of two turkeys from Minnesota arriving in Washington, D.C. so they can be pardoned by President Biden at the White House.
Meteorologist Riley O'Connor says Sunday will be quiet before it rains overnight and transitions into snow.
The Minnesota House is looking to be tied with 67 Republicans and 67 Democrats. There's a recount Monday in one St. Cloud district and another in a Shakopee wrapped up late last week. Caroline Cummings spoke with House Republican Leader Lisa Demuth about a potential power-sharing agreement in the chamber.