Finding Minnesota: Where better to go rock climbing than Minnesota's Rock County?
In this week's Finding Minnesota, see why people come from across the country to scale the cliffs at Blue Mounds State Park.
John Lauritsen is an Emmy award-winning reporter from Montevideo, Minn. He joined WCCO-TV in late-July of 2007. Two days after he started, the Interstate 35W bridge collapsed.
Before his television career, John grew up on a farm near Milan, Minnesota and graduated from Montevideo Senior High School. He received a Master's Degree in mass communications from St. Cloud State University, and has also taught a class there as well. He credits growing up on a farm and going to school in a small town with helping him become the reporter he is today.
He began his career at KSAX-TV in Alexandria, Minn., before moving to Waterloo, Iowa, where he worked for KWWL-TV. John also worked at Channel 12 in Brooklyn Park, Minn., before coming to WCCO-TV. He has been a reporter, anchor, sports reporter, sports anchor, editor, producer, and photographer during his television career.
During his time at WCCO-TV, John has covered a variety of stories. He has reported on everything from floods to tornadoes to blizzards that have dumped nearly two feet of snow on Minnesota. You can also find John covering a crime story, a fire, a human interest story, or a sporting event.
John's favorite stories are those that highlight a special moment in someone's life. In 2008, he reported on a soldier who came home from Iraq and surprised his daughter at her volleyball game.
And though he isn't a fan of snakes, John reported on Minnesota's only poisonous snake population in southeastern Minnesota and he managed not to get bit in the process.
When he's not reporting, John can be found at the gym or playing in one of three volleyball leagues that keep him busy year-round. He also plays in a football league in the fall and is an active tennis player.
In 2009, he ran the Twin Cities Marathon for the first time. He has also tried surfing, skydiving and rock climbing, and is an avid reader whenever he can find time to sit down.
John lives in Maple Grove with his wife, Jessica, and children, Harlow and Bo.
In this week's Finding Minnesota, see why people come from across the country to scale the cliffs at Blue Mounds State Park.
As Minnesota farmers get ready for fall harvest, the USDA is forecasting record soybean yields.
Catalytic converter thefts continue to be a major problem. Thursday night, Brooklyn Park police interrupted a theft in progress and arrested two suspects.
To make up for a teaching shortage, a Minnesota school is bringing in educators from halfway around the world.
It's a state park that's full of scenic trails and waterfalls, but it also used to be the site of a town.
Seven years ago, Suzy Sukalski – who lives with Down syndrome – got the idea to sell her own corn nibblets. They were an instant hit -- and pretty soon other businesses came calling.
Yvonne Klocek's friends encouraged her to send a picture book to the queen, which she did. She received a letter back from Buckingham Palace informing her that her majesty had seen the pictures and was quite pleased.
Activists and community leaders blocked off Winner Gas Friday morning. And then, a short time later, they moved across the street to block off Merwin Liquors. They said both businesses haven't done enough to help stop gun violence.
John Lauritsen takes us to a place in western Minnesota where vintage motorcycles still rule the road.
Sitting comfortably at mile marker 1760, Egon Overgaard had a few minutes to reflect on just how far he's come. And not just the nearly 2,000 miles he's hiked, but also the grief he's trying to leave behind.
A Prior Lake man accused of killing one person and stabbing four others on the Apple River earlier this summer appeared in court Friday.
Farmers are used to dealing with different challenges from Mother Nature, but in some parts of Minnesota it's an animal that's taking over.
Land-wise, Minnesota is the twelfth-largest state. But had politicians in the 1850s gotten their way, we would be much bigger.
It's a stark contrast to life in Ukraine, where family members are constantly live in fear. Ukrainian students here as part of a youth leadership program met with Minnesota 4-H members at the State Fair on Monday.
For more than 50 years, sisters Lu McArdell, Lori Ribar, and Lynn Meadows have been working at the Minnesota State Fair. It all began at Peters Hot Dogs, which their great grandfather essentially started.