2013 In Review: Top Minnesota News Headlines
[Jan.-Feb.] | [March-April] | [May-June]
[July-Aug.] | [Sept.-Oct.] | [Nov.-Dec.]
In 2013, Minnesota lawmakers ushered in a new era of marriage equality and butted heads over such issues as the MNsure health insurance exchange and funding for the proposed Vikings stadium, which ultimately broke ground in December.
But elsewhere, Minnesotans' acts of kindness captured our attention, from the Dairy Queen manager whose generosity after a blind customer was robbed of $20 earned him Warren Buffet's commendation, to the man who threw $1,000 into the Mall of America rotunda on Black Friday ... and was subsequently arrested.
We reported with heavy hearts unimaginable tragedies, such as when a mother's car plunged into a pond, killing 2 of the 5 children inside.
However, from some tragedies sprung new hope, as when "Clouds," the song young Zach Sobiech wrote when he found out he had terminal osteosarcoma, climbed Billboard and iTunes' charts following his death.
Controversies raged from many corners -- after high schoolers were disciplined for shooting their own "Harlem Shake" viral videos, after Adrian Peterson stated that he was "not with" gay marriage, after a lesson on structural racism chided some students.
But, in the end, many of the stories that will endure from 2013 highlighted that quintessential Minnesota character.
This is, after all, the land where a 4-year-old can become the world's cutest mayor, where kids can enjoy a snow day in May, and where a Prince sighting is always a potential soundcheck away.
Here are some of the top headlines from 2013 as WCCO originally reported on them:
Top 2013 Headlines: January & February
January 3: Water Main Break In Minneapolis Leaves Hennepin Avenue Underwater
"Our values now for the condos are going to go up, 'cause we got ocean view, so I think the prices are going to just soar," resident Mike McKinley said.
January 15: Buyers Of Foreclosed Homes Finding Disturbing Surprises
In Minnesota, when you buy from a regular homeowner, they're legally required to disclose anything they know about the home. But when you buy a bank-owned property, the bank doesn't have that history, so you won't know.
January 15: Prince's Much-Hyped Dakota 'Soundchecks' Already Sold Out
"If you know a thing about music, or even if you don't, he's a bucket list musician for everybody," Jake Nyberg said.
February 14: Food Fight Turns Into Melee At Mpls. South High
"My lunch was third lunch," Symone Glasker said. "There was fight after fight after fight. People couldn't breathe…It was very scary. I know it's a pride thing between Muslims and black people," she said. "They want their pride back for something. I don't know."
February 18: Stillwater Student Faces Life-Threatening Cancer With Song
Music is Zach's release, and he began playing guitar when he was 12. But when Zach was 13, he was diagnosed with a life-threatening form of cancer, osteosarcoma. Doctors then told him the outlook was getting worse. The cancer had spread to Zach's lungs, and they gave him until this May to live.
February 22: 'Harlem Shake' Video Led To Season's End For Mound-Westonka
Friday night marked an unfortunate end of the season for the Mound-Westonka boys hockey team. The players were allegedly involved in the making of a "Harlem Shake" video in the school's cafeteria.
February 26: Kira Steger's Husband Arrested
On Tuesday, Trevino's 39-year-old husband, Jeffery Trevino, was arrested for probable cause murder. Kira Trevino's family was told of Jeffery Trevino's arrest at the St. Paul Police station.
[Next]
[Jan.-Feb.] | [March-April] | [May-June]
[July-Aug.] | [Sept.-Oct.] | [Nov.-Dec.]
In 2013, Minnesota lawmakers ushered in a new era of marriage equality and butted heads over such issues as the MNsure health insurance exchange and funding for the proposed Vikings stadium, which ultimately broke ground in December.
But elsewhere, Minnesotans' acts of kindness captured our attention, from the Dairy Queen manager whose generosity after a blind customer was robbed of $20 earned him Warren Buffet's commendation, to the man who threw $1,000 into the Mall of America rotunda on Black Friday ... and was subsequently arrested.
We reported with heavy hearts unimaginable tragedies, such as when a mother's car plunged into a pond, killing 2 of the 5 children inside.
However, from some tragedies sprung new hope, as when "Clouds," the song young Zach Sobiech wrote when he found out he had terminal osteosarcoma, climbed Billboard and iTunes' charts following his death.
Controversies raged from many corners -- after high schoolers were disciplined for shooting their own "Harlem Shake" viral videos, after Adrian Peterson stated that he was "not with" gay marriage, after a lesson on structural racism chided some students.
But, in the end, many of the stories that will endure from 2013 highlighted that quintessential Minnesota character.
This is, after all, the land where a 4-year-old can become the world's cutest mayor, where kids can enjoy a snow day in May, and where a Prince sighting is always a potential soundcheck away.
Here are some of the top headlines from 2013 as WCCO originally reported on them:
Top 2013 Headlines: March & April
March 8: Minn. Officials Warn Against Using TurboTax
"It ruined my day. It really put a damper on my afternoon," Erin Darsow said. "That just made my stress level go even higher, knowing something could be wrong in the calculations."
March 17: Eyelash Drug May Hold Baldness Cure
The makers of Avodart say that after just six months, they found hair count increased by an average of 96 hairs per 1-inch diameter. Now they're getting ready to market it specifically for baldness.
March 20: 12-Year-Old Student In Custody After New Prague 'Hoax' Shooting
"It's just frustrating that we have to be so on-edge about our schools and our children now," said Todd, a parent.
April 1: Authorities ID Woman, 2 Kids Found Dead In Zimmerman
"I was trying to explain it to my daughter that, you know, bad things happen to good people," Elisa Ploof said. "The children went to heaven and God's going to make them better and kind of get through the whole thing."
April 17: Snatching Your Neighbor's Recycling In Mpls? That's Illegal
The thefts are a growing problem in many communities, but are especially bad in Minneapolis where many recycling bins are left in back alleys. The back alleys shield thieves from being spotted by passing pedestrians or motorists.
April 30: A Prom To Remember: McDonald's And 2 Special Dates
The dress, dinner and dance may not be as fun on prom night without the perfect date. So when it came time, two Minnesota girls knew just who to ask. Their prom dates were part of the special education program at Litchfield High School.
[Previous] | [Next]
[Jan.-Feb.] | [March-April] | [May-June]
[July-Aug.] | [Sept.-Oct.] | [Nov.-Dec.]
In 2013, Minnesota lawmakers ushered in a new era of marriage equality and butted heads over such issues as the MNsure health insurance exchange and funding for the proposed Vikings stadium, which ultimately broke ground in December.
But elsewhere, Minnesotans' acts of kindness captured our attention, from the Dairy Queen manager whose generosity after a blind customer was robbed of $20 earned him Warren Buffet's commendation, to the man who threw $1,000 into the Mall of America rotunda on Black Friday ... and was subsequently arrested.
We reported with heavy hearts unimaginable tragedies, such as when a mother's car plunged into a pond, killing 2 of the 5 children inside.
However, from some tragedies sprung new hope, as when "Clouds," the song young Zach Sobiech wrote when he found out he had terminal osteosarcoma, climbed Billboard and iTunes' charts following his death.
Controversies raged from many corners -- after high schoolers were disciplined for shooting their own "Harlem Shake" viral videos, after Adrian Peterson stated that he was "not with" gay marriage, after a lesson on structural racism chided some students.
But, in the end, many of the stories that will endure from 2013 highlighted that quintessential Minnesota character.
This is, after all, the land where a 4-year-old can become the world's cutest mayor, where kids can enjoy a snow day in May, and where a Prince sighting is always a potential soundcheck away.
Here are some of the top headlines from 2013 as WCCO originally reported on them:
Top 2013 Headlines: May & June
May 1: Fighting Like A Girl ... Saved Her Life
For the first time, 28-year-old Angela Champagne-From is talking about the horrifying moments last spring when she was somehow able to fight off her attacker, call 911, and save her life before things went dark.
May 2: Some Schoolchildren Get Rare May Snow Day
Schoolchildren in Minnesota and Wisconsin got a rare May snow day Thursday as a storm dropped up to 16 inches of sticky snow across a beleaguered region that was just starting to enjoy spring.
May 8: Minn. Farmer 'Shocked' After Horses Put Down By State Patrol
Suzette Clemens didn't even realize her quarter horses, Roper and Frenchie, had escaped when a tree fell on her electric fence, until a Rice County deputy showed up at her door in the middle of the night. He told her the horses had to be euthanized.
May 9: Meet The World's Youngest (And Cutest) Mayor
No one is more excited for the summer season than Dorset Mayor Robert Tufts. Oh, and he's 4 years old.
May 10: Police: Two Officers Shot In South Minneapolis, Suspect Killed
Also on Friday, a squad SUV responding to the shooting collided with a motorcycle near the intersection of Blaisdell Avenue and 26th Street South. Two people were on the motorcycle when the collision happened, and one, a man, was killed in the crash.
May 14: Minnesota Gov. Dayton Signs Gay Marriage Bill
"I thought it would happen someday, but I didn't know I would be able to be here to be part of it," Rep. Karen Clark said Tuesday, a few hours before the ceremony. Clark can now marry her partner of 24 years, in the only state she's ever lived.
May 22: 1 Dead, 2 Injured, 1 Missing After Field Trip At Lilydale Park
Crews first responded to the scene at Lilydale Regional Park around 1 p.m., where two fourth grade classes from Peter Hobart Elementary were on a field trip, Zaccard said. The kids were in a group exploring a hillside, looking for fossils, when the ground gave way. The rock slide created a sinkhole, which then quickly filled with water and sand.
May 27: Adrian Peterson Says He's 'Not With' Gay Marriage
Peterson made his comments in a recent interview with Sirius/XM NFL radio. He was asked his thoughts on the Vikings cutting longtime punter Chris Kluwe, an outspoken advocate for gay rights and gay marriage.
June 11: Looming MN Cigarette Tax Hike Spurs Buying Frenzy
Gardner and other customers are buying enough cigarettes to last them months. The simple explanation is starting July 1, the Minnesota cigarette tax will jump by $1.60 per pack.
June 19: Minnesota Author Vince Flynn Dies At 47
Best-selling author Vince Flynn, who wrote the Mitch Rapp counterterrorism thriller series and sold more than 15 million books in the U.S. alone, died Wednesday in Minnesota after a more than two-year battle with prostate cancer, according to friends and his publisher. He was 47.
[Previous] | [Next]
[Jan.-Feb.] | [March-April] | [May-June]
[July-Aug.] | [Sept.-Oct.] | [Nov.-Dec.]
In 2013, Minnesota lawmakers ushered in a new era of marriage equality and butted heads over such issues as the MNsure health insurance exchange and funding for the proposed Vikings stadium, which ultimately broke ground in December.
But elsewhere, Minnesotans' acts of kindness captured our attention, from the Dairy Queen manager whose generosity after a blind customer was robbed of $20 earned him Warren Buffet's commendation, to the man who threw $1,000 into the Mall of America rotunda on Black Friday ... and was subsequently arrested.
We reported with heavy hearts unimaginable tragedies, such as when a mother's car plunged into a pond, killing 2 of the 5 children inside.
However, from some tragedies sprung new hope, as when "Clouds," the song young Zach Sobiech wrote when he found out he had terminal osteosarcoma, climbed Billboard and iTunes' charts following his death.
Controversies raged from many corners -- after high schoolers were disciplined for shooting their own "Harlem Shake" viral videos, after Adrian Peterson stated that he was "not with" gay marriage, after a lesson on structural racism chided some students.
But, in the end, many of the stories that will endure from 2013 highlighted that quintessential Minnesota character.
This is, after all, the land where a 4-year-old can become the world's cutest mayor, where kids can enjoy a snow day in May, and where a Prince sighting is always a potential soundcheck away.
Here are some of the top headlines from 2013 as WCCO originally reported on them:
Top 2013 Headlines: July & August
July 15: Judge Gives Aaron Schaffhausen 3 Consecutive Life Sentences
Aaron Schaffhausen, 35, had admitted he killed 11-year-old Amara, 8-year-old Sophie and 5-year-old Cecilia at their River Falls home in July 2012 to hurt his ex-wife, but argued he had a mental defect that kept him from knowing it was wrong. A jury disagreed and found last April that he was sane when he slit the girls' throats, tucked them into bed, then tried to set the house on fire to cover his crime.
July 18: Sheriff: 2-Year-Old Boy's Body Was Found In Trunk
"Why didn't they look?" said one volunteer Thursday who had searched for Isaiah. "That's all I can say. Why didn't they open that trunk up and look."
July 18: Schoep The Dog Passes Away At Age 20
We first met Schoep after a photo of him and his owner, John Unger, went viral last year. The two were captured floating in Lake Superior — a typical routine for a dog owner who wanted to find joint pain relief for his beloved four-legged friend.
July 22: Thinking Of Renting Out Your Home? Don't Get Stuck With These Tenants
The housing turnaround has many Minnesotans looking to upgrade. But if you're thinking about buying a new home and renting out your old one, this story should serve as a warning. We found one family moving into rentals across the metro and living for free for months at a time. WCCO-TV also found out how these renters have been able to skirt the system for so long and what they did to at least one property that has them in even more trouble.
August 6: MN Now Has One Of Its First Same-Sex Divorces
It wasn't just same-sex marriage that became legal last week, so did same-sex divorce. Tuckner and her ex-partner were married in Canada in 2004. Three years ago, her partner left her and their 7-year-old son.
August 19: Not Everyone Loving MNsure's Paul Bunyan-Themed Ad Campaign
More than a million people are expected to sign up for MNsure online and Republican critics don't expect it to go smoothly. In fact, instead of Paul and Babe, GOP Rep. Peggy Scott is suggesting another Minnesota legend might be a better fit. "I'm thinking go back to Bob Dylan. He's a folklore guy, right? And he has a song called 'Everything Is Broken.' I think that might be more appropriate," Scott said.
August 23: Booth At State Fair Accused Of Being Backed By 'Hate Group'
State Fair general manager Jerry Hammer says even if you don't agree with the message the group is promoting, it's a matter of free speech. "We'll have between 1.7 to 1.8 million people at the fair this year. I guarantee every one of them will find something somewhere they disagree with," he said.
[Previous] | [Next]
[Jan.-Feb.] | [March-April] | [May-June]
[July-Aug.] | [Sept.-Oct.] | [Nov.-Dec.]
In 2013, Minnesota lawmakers ushered in a new era of marriage equality and butted heads over such issues as the MNsure health insurance exchange and funding for the proposed Vikings stadium, which ultimately broke ground in December.
But elsewhere, Minnesotans' acts of kindness captured our attention, from the Dairy Queen manager whose generosity after a blind customer was robbed of $20 earned him Warren Buffet's commendation, to the man who threw $1,000 into the Mall of America rotunda on Black Friday ... and was subsequently arrested.
We reported with heavy hearts unimaginable tragedies, such as when a mother's car plunged into a pond, killing 2 of the 5 children inside.
However, from some tragedies sprung new hope, as when "Clouds," the song young Zach Sobiech wrote when he found out he had terminal osteosarcoma, climbed Billboard and iTunes' charts following his death.
Controversies raged from many corners -- after high schoolers were disciplined for shooting their own "Harlem Shake" viral videos, after Adrian Peterson stated that he was "not with" gay marriage, after a lesson on structural racism chided some students.
But, in the end, many of the stories that will endure from 2013 highlighted that quintessential Minnesota character.
This is, after all, the land where a 4-year-old can become the world's cutest mayor, where kids can enjoy a snow day in May, and where a Prince sighting is always a potential soundcheck away.
Here are some of the top headlines from 2013 as WCCO originally reported on them:
Top 2013 Headlines: September & October
September 6: Jim Kowalski Dies After Falling Into Plane Propeller
Kowalski, 67, founded Kowalski's Markets back in 1983. He was on the trip with a friend. Kowalski was standing outside the plane atop the floats as the plane made its approach. Police say Kowalski lost his balance when the plane reached the shore. He fell off the floats and into the propeller, which was still running.
September 18: Hopkins Dairy Queen Manager's Act Of Kindness Goes Viral
Prusak said while working the register on Sept. 10 he saw the blind man he was helping drop a $20 bill. Prusak simply thought the woman was going to hand it back to the man as he struggled to put his cash and debt card back in his pocket. That's when Prusak asked her to return the money. She refused saying it was hers and that she dropped it by accident.
October 3: They Thought It Was Patriotic, The School Saw It As Suspendable
More than a dozen students are suspended for drawing on doors and windows and scattering small American flags outside their high school. It took place Monday at Red Wing High School as part of Homecoming Week, but it's a back-and-forth that's gone on for weeks.
October 6: Boy Boards Plane To Vegas At MSP Without Ticket
The flight was not full, and the flight crew became suspicious mid-flight because the boy was not on their list of unattended minors. The crew contacted Las Vegas police, who met them upon landing and transferred the boy to child protection services. Minneapolis Police went to his residence. Parents told officers they "hadn't seen much of him today."
October 7: WCCO Discovers Pricing Problems At Walgreens
Pricing problems WCCO-TV uncovered at Minnesota's largest drugstore chain will likely have you looking a lot closer at your receipts. Walgreens is accused of overcharging customers all across the country. One state is already suing over the same problem. So we went shopping there.
October 11: Sioux Falls Police: Adrian Peterson's Son Has Died
"This is a private matter, and I ask y'all to please respect my privacy and not ask at all about the situation at hand," Peterson said. "The good Lord never gives you more than you can bear, can handle — so I'm built tough."
October 14: After Life-Changing Accident, 11-Year-Old Adjusts With Grace
"When I got to the emergency room, Kate said something to me I'll never forget. She said 'Dad, I hope you won't be mad at me.' And that's kind of the type of person Kate is," Jim said.
[Previous] | [Next]
[Jan.-Feb.] | [March-April] | [May-June]
[July-Aug.] | [Sept.-Oct.] | [Nov.-Dec.]
In 2013, Minnesota lawmakers ushered in a new era of marriage equality and butted heads over such issues as the MNsure health insurance exchange and funding for the proposed Vikings stadium, which ultimately broke ground in December.
But elsewhere, Minnesotans' acts of kindness captured our attention, from the Dairy Queen manager whose generosity after a blind customer was robbed of $20 earned him Warren Buffet's commendation, to the man who threw $1,000 into the Mall of America rotunda on Black Friday ... and was subsequently arrested.
We reported with heavy hearts unimaginable tragedies, such as when a mother's car plunged into a pond, killing 2 of the 5 children inside.
However, from some tragedies sprung new hope, as when "Clouds," the song young Zach Sobiech wrote when he found out he had terminal osteosarcoma, climbed Billboard and iTunes' charts following his death.
Controversies raged from many corners -- after high schoolers were disciplined for shooting their own "Harlem Shake" viral videos, after Adrian Peterson stated that he was "not with" gay marriage, after a lesson on structural racism chided some students.
But, in the end, many of the stories that will endure from 2013 highlighted that quintessential Minnesota character.
This is, after all, the land where a 4-year-old can become the world's cutest mayor, where kids can enjoy a snow day in May, and where a Prince sighting is always a potential soundcheck away.
Here are some of the top headlines from 2013 as WCCO originally reported on them:
Top 2013 Headlines: November & December
November 1: Sauk Rapids Graphic Artist Challenges National Security Agency
It was Edward Snowden's revelations of domestic spying by the National Security Agency that hatched the idea — graphic artist Dan McCall would take the NSA's emblem and create a new look with a funny twist. Soon, he was having T-shirts emblazoned with the NSA logo accompanied by the slogan, "peeping while you're sleeping." Under the parodied emblem was the statement, "the only part of government that actually listens."
November 2: Skydivers Jump To Safety After 2 Planes Collide Over Wis.
Authorities say the two planes were carrying a group of nine skydivers for a tandem jump. But when the planes reached 12,000 feet, the trail plane came over the top of the lead plane and got caught up in its turbulence. The planes then collided, and the lead plane lost its wings and started on fire, the report said.
November 12: WCCO Radio Newsman Attacked, Robbed On Way To Work
"I think the scariest thing was that they didn't say anything," said 830 WCCO morning news anchor Steve Murphy, recalling last week's incident.
November 20: Controversy At MCTC Following Lesson On Structural Racism
"Those students were trying to undermine my authority from the get go," she said. "I tried to say, like, 'OK, you guys are taking it personally, this is not a personal attack. I'm not talking about all white people, you white people in general. We're talking about whiteness as a system of oppression.'"
November 20: For-Profit Colleges Under Fire: 'They're Selling A Dream'
Heidi Weber worked for a year as dean of Globe's medical assistant program. "They're selling a dream, not an education. And that's something they'd say quite often," Weber said.
November 21: 2 Children Die Following Pond Crash; 3 Others In Hospital
Two children have died after being trapped in a car underwater anywhere from 25 to 45 minutes in a pond following a crash Thursday morning in St. Louis Park. The deceased children were two of five kids unable to get out of the sunken car until emergency workers pulled it from the frigid pond. The car's driver, who is mother and stepmother to the children, made it away safely.
November 30: Man Cited After Tossing $1,000 Into MOA Rotunda
Serge Vorobyov — who goes by the YouTube handle "Serge the Car Hauler" — threw $1,000 in dollar bills from the fourth floor of the Mall of America rotunda as a choir performed "Let it Snow" on the ground floor below. Serge said the reason he surprised everyone and tossed out the cascade of cash is because he's had a rough year and just wanted to help other people on Black Friday.
December 5: Minn. Archdiocese Reveals Accused Priests' Names
"The disclosures made today are not intended to be final," Archbishop John Nienstedt wrote in his Thursday column in The Catholic Spirit newspaper. "We are currently engaged in a comprehensive review of clergy files, and the list will be updated as additional announcements are made."
