John Lauritsen

John Lauritsen is a 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, Minn. 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.

In 2009, John received an Emmy for a story he did on a high school wrestler who survived the Cottonwood bus crash. He was also nominated for an Emmy in 2011 for a story about a Fairmont police officer who survived an ambush.

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 and daughter, Harlow.

most recent stories2 John Lauritsen

Northland Still Rebuilding After Devastating Floods

One year ago, Minnesota’s northland experienced some of the worst flooding it had seen in years. Heavy rain came so fast that roads washed away, creating large sinkholes. More than 3,000 homes were damaged. One year later, Duluth and the surrounding areas are still rebuilding.

7 hours ago

After 50 Years, Olivia HS Golf Coach Steps Away

When John Johnston started coaching boys golf at Olivia High School, Lyndon B. Johnson was President. After 50 years, he just retired this week as the head coach of BOLD High School. “Not in any stretch of my imagination did I think I’d be doing this for that long,” Johnston said.

2013/06/14

‘Everybody Wishes They Had A Father Like Mark Weber’

Friends and family are mourning the death of a beloved soldier, author and family man as Lt. Col. Mark Weber died Thursday after a three-year battle with cancer. He was 41 years old.

2013/06/14

Proposed Gun Range Would Be A Couple Blocks From Osseo HS

In a matter of months, the city of Osseo could open a gun store and indoor shooting range in the middle of town. It’s being discussed among city leaders right now, and many feel it could bring a lot of new business to Osseo.

2013/06/13

Ex-Mpls. Cop Accused Of Sex Assault Now Working At Mall

Prosecutors want a former Minneapolis police officer accused of sexually assaulting girls to be thrown back in jail.

2013/06/13

Corn Crop Hindered By Wet Weather

Ed McNamara has been farming in Goodhue County for 36 years. As the old saying goes, he’s used to seeing corn knee-high by the Fourth of July. This year, he may not see it at all. “We’ve had wet periods but we’ve always been able to get a crop in. This is the first time that we’ve ever not been able to get the whole crop in,” McNamara said.

2013/06/10

After Recovering From Drought, Farmers Now Reeling From All The Rain

Wet weather has put some farmers way behind schedule. Corn and soybeans have been a struggle this year, so has alfalfa.

2013/06/07

Want To Help Turtles Cross The Road? Just Pay Attention

It’s the time of year when turtles of all shapes and sizes are on the move. Many, including the Blandings Turtle, cross busy roadways to lay their eggs. The Blandings is a protected species in Minnesota, and some in the south metro worry it’s even more at risk in their neighborhood.

2013/06/06

Terminally Ill Nat’l Guardsman’s Book To Sons Hits Shelves

At the height of his military career in 2010, Lt. Col. Mark Weber was forced to face a different kind of life and death battle. He was diagnosed with cancer and given just months to live. “Doctors have told me they can’t understand how I’m still alive. I have damage to my liver that is incomprehensible,” Weber said. That was November of last year, just before Weber’s book was self-published. “Tell My Sons: A Father’s Last Letters” sold 10,000 copies in three months.

2013/06/03

$1,700 Reward For Info On ‘Heinous’ Beheading Of Hibernating Bear

Reward money has now been tripled for information leading to the arrest of those involved in illegally killing a black bear. The bear was shot while hibernating in a culvert near Star Prairie, Wis., in February.

2013/05/31

Lawnmower Service Industry Trying To Catch Up After Long Winter

Our late snow and cloudy, wet spring is doing a number on the lawn service industry. Already this May we’ve seen 4.75 inches of rain. That’s nearly two inches above normal.

2013/05/28

Think Gas Prices Are Bad For Boaters? Race Car Drivers Have It Worse

The national average for a gallon of gas has gone up 17 days in a row. But here in the Twin Cities, gas has dropped three cents to an average of $4.17 a gallon.

2013/05/24

After Passing Away, Teen Lights Up Scoreboard Again

A St. Louis Park teenager who died after a battle with leukemia is being remembered in a very special way. Eighteen-year-old Derrick Keller was a stand-out high school baseball player and was offered a scholarship to Southwest Minnesota State University. But before he could go to college, he was diagnosed with leukemia and passed away last summe

2013/05/23

Snowy, Wet Spring Delaying SE MN Farmers, Could Hurt Yields

While it’s only May, some Minnesota farmers are already nervous about this year’s crop outlook. The weather has pushed planting back by weeks in southeastern Minnesota.

2013/05/22

Archer From Minn. Aiming For Olympic Gold

Almost before he could even hold his own bow, Jeremiah Cusick was setting his sights on a bull’s-eye.

2013/05/17

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