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2014 In Review: Top Minnesota News Headlines

[Jan.-Feb.] | [March-April] | [May-June]
[July-Aug.] | [Sept.-Oct.] | [Nov.-Dec.]

 

In 2014, Minnesota Vikings players often rushed into headlines, though not necessarily for their on-field accomplishments. Defensive tackle Linval Joseph was downed by a stray bullet that hit him in the calf at a Minneapolis nightclub. Quarterback Christian Ponder earned goodwill when he footed the bill for a grieving family's shopping spree. And, most notably, star running back Adrian Peterson was indicted on child abuse charges after "whooping" his son with a switch.

The cold weather was unrelenting this year. Climatologists warned in January against "life-threatening" wind chills. Lake Mille Lacs residents coped with creeping walls of feral ice as late as May. In June, icebergs were spotted on Lake Superior. And a mid-November storm dumped four feet of snow on one Wisconsin town.

In the midterm elections, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton handily won a second term, as Republicans won control of the House. Dayton's gubernatorial neighbor to the east, Scott Walker of Wisconsin, eked out a victory in a closer race.

The state's sublimated racial tensions surfaced in 2014. University of Minnesota students organized in opposition to using racial descriptions in crime alerts. And continued rallies over racially tinted police brutality drew hundreds of protesters and shut down roads.

Minnesota proved home to horrific crimes and inexplicable tragedies: a pet cat skinned and baked with onions, a 6-year-old girl found dead in the Bemidji snow, two lives lost when a plane plunged from the sky into a Sauk Rapids home, a toddler high on methamphetamine.

But in the midst of the terrible, heroes emerged. A Good Samaritan chased down a robber who had punched a boy and stolen his iPad. A man didn't even stop to put on shoes before rushing to help a police officer save lives in a fiery car crash. A passerby used his pocket knife to deliver a fawn after a pregnant deer was killed by a car.

Here are some of the top headlines from 2014 as WCCO originally reported on them:

Top 2014 Headlines: January & February

January 2: PETA's Lettuce-Wearing Ladies To Brave Cold Temps

Two ladies wore bikinis made from iceberg lettuce outside during a day when the high temperature was expected to stall out at zero degrees.

January 6: 'Life-Threatening' Wind Chills Sweep Into Minnesota

"Whether it's human skin or a car engine, the wind pushes away the warmth being generated and replaces it with cold," said Mark Seeley, a climatologist for the University of Minnesota.

January 7: Driver Survives Truck's Plunge From Bridge In East Metro

A MnDOT traffic video captured the truck flying over the guard rail, twisting in mid-air and landing on the holding pond near the southbound lanes of I-35E.

Cody Alexander Mann
(credit: Wright County Attorney's Office)

January 8: Man Accused Of Skinning, Baking Pet Cat With Onions

A Monticello, Minnesota, man with a history of drug abuse and mental illness skinned and baked his pet cat on because "he wanted to try cooking it with onions," the charges stated.

Black Student Forum
(credit: CBS)

January 29: 'U' Students Want Crime Alerts To Avoid Using Racial Descriptions

"In addition to causing Black men to feel unsafe and distrusted, racial profiling is proven to inflict negative psychological effects on its victims," read a statement released by black student and facility organizations.

February 3: Heroin Is A Public Health Crisis, Experts Say

In the aftermath of the death of actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, some experts said that the heroin problem is an epidemic -- both nationally and in Minnesota.

February 26: Minn. Mom Ends Cancer Treatment To Be Home With Boys

"I may not see my 40th birthday, I may not see next year's birthday, but I will have the last three months, if that's what I'm given, where I get to run around with my three boys," Lynn Acker said.

February 28: Police: Girl, 6, Found Dead In Extreme Cold In Bemidji

The little girl had been found lying outside -- fully dressed with gloves, a coat and a hat -- but it wasn't enough to survive the cold.

[Next]

[Jan.-Feb.] | [March-April] | [May-June]
[July-Aug.] | [Sept.-Oct.] | [Nov.-Dec.]

 

In 2014, Minnesota Vikings players often rushed into headlines, though not necessarily for their on-field accomplishments. Defensive tackle Linval Joseph was downed by a stray bullet that hit him in the calf at a Minneapolis nightclub. Quarterback Christian Ponder earned goodwill when he footed the bill for a grieving family's shopping spree. And, most notably, star running back Adrian Peterson was indicted on child abuse charges after "whooping" his son with a switch.

The cold weather was unrelenting this year. Climatologists warned in January against "life-threatening" wind chills. Lake Mille Lacs residents coped with creeping walls of feral ice as late as May. In June, icebergs were spotted on Lake Superior. And a mid-November storm dumped four feet of snow on one Wisconsin town.

In the midterm elections, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton handily won a second term, as Republicans won control of the House. Dayton's gubernatorial neighbor to the east, Scott Walker of Wisconsin, eked out a victory in a closer race.

The state's sublimated racial tensions surfaced in 2014. University of Minnesota students organized in opposition to using racial descriptions in crime alerts. And continued rallies over racially tinted police brutality drew hundreds of protesters and shut down roads.

Minnesota proved home to horrific crimes and inexplicable tragedies: a pet cat skinned and baked with onions, a 6-year-old girl found dead in the Bemidji snow, two lives lost when a plane plunged from the sky into a Sauk Rapids home, a toddler high on methamphetamine.

But in the midst of the terrible, heroes emerged. A Good Samaritan chased down a robber who had punched a boy and stolen his iPad. A man didn't even stop to put on shoes before rushing to help a police officer save lives in a fiery car crash. A passerby used his pocket knife to deliver a fawn after a pregnant deer was killed by a car.

Here are some of the top headlines from 2014 as WCCO originally reported on them:

Top 2014 Headlines: March & April

March 7: Big Gym Fight Has Police Hoping LA Fitness Beefs Up Security

"People were actually throwing two-and-a-half, five-, 10-pound weights within the building," said Police Lt. Lorne Rosand.

Joseph Ray
(credit: Ramsey County)

March 11: Charges: Toddler Gets High On Meth After Dad Takes Him To 'Dope House'

The boy was lethargic and unresponsive when he was brought to the hospital by medics and had a positive screen for the presence of amphetamine in his system.

March 12: Good Samaritan Chased Down 'Scum Of The Earth' Who Punched Boy, Stole His iPad

"This is the scum of the earth," said Mohammad Armeli, the man who chased down the robber. "You cannot hit a child like that. Don't hit him for his iPad, or for anything."

March 14: Man Doesn't Even Put On His Shoes Before Rushing To Help Cop In Fiery Crash

"At that time, I jumped on top of the vehicle and pulled her son out. He was 12, and her daughter was in there. I pulled her out," said Ryan Smith, a 26-year-old Good Samaritan.

April 8: Digital Bracelet Company May End Up In Court After Rash Reports

"I just want to know what chemical entered my system to cause this kind of reaction," said Sue Megrund, a Fitbit Force customer.

April 10: Canoe Found Near Lake Minnetonka Turns Out To Be Nearly 1,000 Years Old

The canoe was discovered in Lake Minnetonka in 1934, when Gustave Gunnarson and his sons were extending their dock.

April 26: Jack Jablonski Heads To Prom With ESPN2's Michelle Beadle

As a 38-year-old getting ready for prom, she wrote, "my hair will be slightly smaller and my bum slightly bigger."

April 29: Lake Mille Lacs Residents Dealing With Walls Of Ice

Lake Mille Lacs residents were dealing with large piles of ice being blown onto shore – and creeping towards their homes.

[Previous] | [Next]

[Jan.-Feb.] | [March-April] | [May-June]
[July-Aug.] | [Sept.-Oct.] | [Nov.-Dec.]

 

In 2014, Minnesota Vikings players often rushed into headlines, though not necessarily for their on-field accomplishments. Defensive tackle Linval Joseph was downed by a stray bullet that hit him in the calf at a Minneapolis nightclub. Quarterback Christian Ponder earned goodwill when he footed the bill for a grieving family's shopping spree. And, most notably, star running back Adrian Peterson was indicted on child abuse charges after "whooping" his son with a switch.

The cold weather was unrelenting this year. Climatologists warned in January against "life-threatening" wind chills. Lake Mille Lacs residents coped with creeping walls of feral ice as late as May. In June, icebergs were spotted on Lake Superior. And a mid-November storm dumped four feet of snow on one Wisconsin town.

In the midterm elections, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton handily won a second term, as Republicans won control of the House. Dayton's gubernatorial neighbor to the east, Scott Walker of Wisconsin, eked out a victory in a closer race.

The state's sublimated racial tensions surfaced in 2014. University of Minnesota students organized in opposition to using racial descriptions in crime alerts. And continued rallies over racially tinted police brutality drew hundreds of protesters and shut down roads.

Minnesota proved home to horrific crimes and inexplicable tragedies: a pet cat skinned and baked with onions, a 6-year-old girl found dead in the Bemidji snow, two lives lost when a plane plunged from the sky into a Sauk Rapids home, a toddler high on methamphetamine.

But in the midst of the terrible, heroes emerged. A Good Samaritan chased down a robber who had punched a boy and stolen his iPad. A man didn't even stop to put on shoes before rushing to help a police officer save lives in a fiery car crash. A passerby used his pocket knife to deliver a fawn after a pregnant deer was killed by a car.

Here are some of the top headlines from 2014 as WCCO originally reported on them:

Top 2014 Headlines: May & June

May 2: Waseca Superintendent Credits God For Foiling Teen's Murderous Plot

"While some might say it was blind luck, I think God was looking over us," Waseca Public Schools Superintendent Tom Lee said.

May 13: 1-Year-Old Expected To Survive After 11-Story Fall

"I was really happy to see the baby was at least crying," a neighbor said.

May 14: New Developments Revealed In Jacob Wetterling Abduction Case

WCCO learned that a cluster of at least six unsolved sexual assaults on boys were never looked at as a possible lead in Wetterling's case.

May 20: Minnesota Man Delivers Fawn After Pregnant Deer Killed By Car

"It was just nice to see how he came right out, nice and smooth," Bill Schulte said, "and I just worked the neck, because his neck came out first."

Lake Superior Icebergs
(credit: Wis. DNR)

June 7: DNR Warden Spots Icebergs On Lake Superior

"There was this big iceberg along with other ice packs and bergs floating around backside of Madeline Island area east towards Saxon Harbor," Amie Egstad said.

June 21: 2 People Dead After Plane Crashes Into Sauk Rapids Home

"Truly, it's a freak accident," said Police Chief Perry Beise. "It's not something that we normally see."

June 23: MDA: Potentially Deadly Weed Growing In Minnesota

It's called Grecian foxglove and there's concern the leafy portions could be mistaken for lettuce.

June 23: Thief Forgets To Log Off Facebook After Burglarizing Home

"I started to panic," the homeowner said. "But then I noticed he had pulled up his Facebook profile."

[Previous] | [Next]

[Jan.-Feb.] | [March-April] | [May-June]
[July-Aug.] | [Sept.-Oct.] | [Nov.-Dec.]

 

In 2014, Minnesota Vikings players often rushed into headlines, though not necessarily for their on-field accomplishments. Defensive tackle Linval Joseph was downed by a stray bullet that hit him in the calf at a Minneapolis nightclub. Quarterback Christian Ponder earned goodwill when he footed the bill for a grieving family's shopping spree. And, most notably, star running back Adrian Peterson was indicted on child abuse charges after "whooping" his son with a switch.

The cold weather was unrelenting this year. Climatologists warned in January against "life-threatening" wind chills. Lake Mille Lacs residents coped with creeping walls of feral ice as late as May. In June, icebergs were spotted on Lake Superior. And a mid-November storm dumped four feet of snow on one Wisconsin town.

In the midterm elections, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton handily won a second term, as Republicans won control of the House. Dayton's gubernatorial neighbor to the east, Scott Walker of Wisconsin, eked out a victory in a closer race.

The state's sublimated racial tensions surfaced in 2014. University of Minnesota students organized in opposition to using racial descriptions in crime alerts. And continued rallies over racially tinted police brutality drew hundreds of protesters and shut down roads.

Minnesota proved home to horrific crimes and inexplicable tragedies: a pet cat skinned and baked with onions, a 6-year-old girl found dead in the Bemidji snow, two lives lost when a plane plunged from the sky into a Sauk Rapids home, a toddler high on methamphetamine.

But in the midst of the terrible, heroes emerged. A Good Samaritan chased down a robber who had punched a boy and stolen his iPad. A man didn't even stop to put on shoes before rushing to help a police officer save lives in a fiery car crash. A passerby used his pocket knife to deliver a fawn after a pregnant deer was killed by a car.

Here are some of the top headlines from 2014 as WCCO originally reported on them:

Top 2014 Headlines: July & August

July 1: Lawsuit Exposes Southern Minnesota Religious Group

"I have no good memories of being there for 35 years except for my children," Suzanne Solum said.

July 7: Good Samaritan Feels Punished For Doing A Good Deed

A month after bringing a car crash victim to the ER, Lauren Radziejewski was billed $900 by Regions Hospital.

July 22: Family Asked To Leave Southwest Flight After Tweet

A flight attendant said "her safety feels threatened at this point because of what I tweeted," Duff Watson said.

August 5: Minn. Restaurant Charging Customers Minimum Wage Fee

"You're essentially blaming customers for the increase when you charge for it the way you do," one customer wrote on Facebook.

August 9: Viking Among Shooting Victims At Mpls. Nightclub

Defensive tackle Linval Joseph was hit in the calf by a stray bullet.

August 12: Suspect On The Loose In Gas Station Shooting Is Victim's Ex

Ty Hoffman, a former owner of Lush Food Bar, was wanted in the killing of his ex-boyfriend, Kelly Phillips.

August 19: Black Helicopters Over Twin Cities Have Some Asking Questions

A military training exercise had some in downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul looking to the skies and asking questions.

August 19: Jet Ski Explodes, Breaking Woman's Back

"Knowing I could move my hands and my feet, I knew it wasn't going to be too serious, but I didn't know how bad it was going to be," Nicole Montez said.

[Previous] | [Next]

[Jan.-Feb.] | [March-April] | [May-June]
[July-Aug.] | [Sept.-Oct.] | [Nov.-Dec.]

 

In 2014, Minnesota Vikings players often rushed into headlines, though not necessarily for their on-field accomplishments. Defensive tackle Linval Joseph was downed by a stray bullet that hit him in the calf at a Minneapolis nightclub. Quarterback Christian Ponder earned goodwill when he footed the bill for a grieving family's shopping spree. And, most notably, star running back Adrian Peterson was indicted on child abuse charges after "whooping" his son with a switch.

The cold weather was unrelenting this year. Climatologists warned in January against "life-threatening" wind chills. Lake Mille Lacs residents coped with creeping walls of feral ice as late as May. In June, icebergs were spotted on Lake Superior. And a mid-November storm dumped four feet of snow on one Wisconsin town.

In the midterm elections, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton handily won a second term, as Republicans won control of the House. Dayton's gubernatorial neighbor to the east, Scott Walker of Wisconsin, eked out a victory in a closer race.

The state's sublimated racial tensions surfaced in 2014. University of Minnesota students organized in opposition to using racial descriptions in crime alerts. And continued rallies over racially tinted police brutality drew hundreds of protesters and shut down roads.

Minnesota proved home to horrific crimes and inexplicable tragedies: a pet cat skinned and baked with onions, a 6-year-old girl found dead in the Bemidji snow, two lives lost when a plane plunged from the sky into a Sauk Rapids home, a toddler high on methamphetamine.

But in the midst of the terrible, heroes emerged. A Good Samaritan chased down a robber who had punched a boy and stolen his iPad. A man didn't even stop to put on shoes before rushing to help a police officer save lives in a fiery car crash. A passerby used his pocket knife to deliver a fawn after a pregnant deer was killed by a car.

Here are some of the top headlines from 2014 as WCCO originally reported on them:

Top 2014 Headlines: September & October

September 1: Shorewood Man Builds Concrete Castle With Homemade 3D Printer

I can print a house in like a couple months," Andrey Rudenko said.

Man Pleads Guilty To Ejaculating Into Co-Worker's Coffee
(credit: Ramsey County Sheriff's Office)

September 3: Charges: Minn. Man Ejaculated In Co-Worker's Coffee

The Ramsey County Attorney's Office later dropped the charges because the legal definition of "sexual contact" does not include contact by sperm of seminal fluid of other clothes or possessions of an unwilling person.

September 9: Wayzata High School Opts Out Of Federal Lunch Program

"We certainly did see an increase in waste," the district's food supervisor said, "because it had to be there, or had to be on the tray."

September 12: Adrian Peterson Indicted For Child Abuse, Turns Himself In

Peterson's son said he got a whooping with a switch--a wooden rod or tree branch used for punishment.

October 14: Vikings' Ponder Gives Shopping Spree To Grieving Family

"After a while, my daughters had the whole store in a bag," their father said. "So I decided to say, 'You're not getting all those clothes.' I allowed them to get one outfit."

October 20: MN Family Wants Change In Delivery Of Down Syndrome Diagnoses

"She was like, 'just enjoy your baby, enjoy your baby.' I was rattled. I didn't know what was going on," Chris Carroll said.

October 26: Barn Fire Kills Thousands Of Animals, Workers Devastated

No employees were hurt in the incident, but roughly 4,000 sows and 6,000-7,000 piglets were killed.

[Previous] | [Next]

[Jan.-Feb.] | [March-April] | [May-June]
[July-Aug.] | [Sept.-Oct.] | [Nov.-Dec.]

 

In 2014, Minnesota Vikings players often rushed into headlines, though not necessarily for their on-field accomplishments. Defensive tackle Linval Joseph was downed by a stray bullet that hit him in the calf at a Minneapolis nightclub. Quarterback Christian Ponder earned goodwill when he footed the bill for a grieving family's shopping spree. And, most notably, star running back Adrian Peterson was indicted on child abuse charges after "whooping" his son with a switch.

The cold weather was unrelenting this year. Climatologists warned in January against "life-threatening" wind chills. Lake Mille Lacs residents coped with creeping walls of feral ice as late as May. In June, icebergs were spotted on Lake Superior. And a mid-November storm dumped four feet of snow on one Wisconsin town.

In the midterm elections, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton handily won a second term, as Republicans won control of the House. Dayton's gubernatorial neighbor to the east, Scott Walker of Wisconsin, eked out a victory in a closer race.

The state's sublimated racial tensions surfaced in 2014. University of Minnesota students organized in opposition to using racial descriptions in crime alerts. And continued rallies over racially tinted police brutality drew hundreds of protesters and shut down roads.

Minnesota proved home to horrific crimes and inexplicable tragedies: a pet cat skinned and baked with onions, a 6-year-old girl found dead in the Bemidji snow, two lives lost when a plane plunged from the sky into a Sauk Rapids home, a toddler high on methamphetamine.

But in the midst of the terrible, heroes emerged. A Good Samaritan chased down a robber who had punched a boy and stolen his iPad. A man didn't even stop to put on shoes before rushing to help a police officer save lives in a fiery car crash. A passerby used his pocket knife to deliver a fawn after a pregnant deer was killed by a car.

Here are some of the top headlines from 2014 as WCCO originally reported on them:

Top 2014 Headlines: November & December

November 4: Wisconsin's GOP Gov. Walker Wins Re-Election

"The bottom line is people elected me to get the job done in Wisconsin," Walker said.

November 4: Minnesota Democratic Gov. Dayton Wins Second Term

"Let's begin again to build a better Minnesota beginning tomorrow," Dayton told supporters.

November 12: Teen Shares Sexting Story, Tells Parents 'Don't Be Naive'

"I thought we loved each other. He just used me for what he wanted," a Woodbury teen told WCCO.

snow wisconsin NWS
(credit: National Weather Service)

November 14: Season's First Storm Dumps 4 Feet Of Snow On Wisconsin Town

Due to lake-effect snow from Lake Superior, communities in northern Wisconsin saw up to 4 feet of snow.

November 25: Minneapolis Ferguson Protests Draw Hundreds, Car Hits Protester

There was a scary moment in the protest when a car struck one protester and then burst through a pack of other protesters when they quickly surrounded it.

December 3: Torii Hunter Gets Pointed Over Gay Marriage Question

Hunter had vitriolic language for a reporter who asked him about his stance on gay marriage.

December 4: Protesters March To Mpls. City Hall, Bringing I-35W To Halt

Two racially charged cases garnering national attention prompted protesters to fill the streets of Minneapolis.

Brooke Baures
(credit: Winona State University)

December 9: Wisconsin Student Killed By Dumbwaiter Suffered Crushing Injuries To Head

The body of Brooke Baures, of Chetek, Wisconsin, was found in a food elevator at WingDam Saloon and Grill in Fountain City.

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