Eric Henderson
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Articles by Eric Henderson
Treasury Secretary Bessent to make war on fraud announcement in St. Cloud after VP Vance cancels
U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, along with other federal officials, will be making an announcement on the Trump administration's "War on Fraud" in St. Cloud, Minnesota, Friday afternoon. Vice President JD Vance was originally scheduled to make the announcement , but the Justice Department later confirmed he would not attend and canceled the event.
VP Vance's planned "War on Fraud" announcement in St. Cloud is canceled
Vice President JD Vance's planned press conference on fraud in St. Cloud on Friday has been canceled, the U.S. Justice Department confirmed Thursday. A representative of the Justice Department's press office in Minnesota confirmed the cancellation in an email to WCCO. The email did not say why the event was canceled or whether it will be rescheduled. WCCO has asked the White House for comment.
Treasury Secretary Bessent to make "War on Fraud" announcement in St. Cloud after VP Vance cancels
U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, along with other federal officials, will be making an announcement on the Trump administration's "War on Fraud" in St. Cloud, Minnesota, Friday afternoon. Vice President JD Vance was originally scheduled to make the announcement, but the Justice Department later confirmed he would not attend and canceled the event.
Transgender teenager sues Essentia Health after 5 years of care abruptly ends
A 16-year-old transgender boy and his mother are suing Essentia Health, alleging the health system broke Minnesota law when it abruptly ended gender-affirming care for its minor patients, according to the advocacy group Gender Justice. Gender Justice and the law firm Robins Kaplan LLP filed the lawsuit on behalf of the teen and his mother, who are identified in court documents as John and Jane Doe. The suit argues the decision violates the Minnesota Human Rights Act.
Minnesota's 80 measles cases this year are the most since 1990, health officials say
Minnesota has recorded 80 measles cases this year, the most since 1990, as the count in Todd County has tripled in recent weeks, state health officials said Thursday. The Minnesota Department of Health said it has found 63 new cases in the past month. Todd County, home to roughly 25,000 people, accounts for 57 of the 80 cases. The county had 19 cases in mid-October. Everyone who has gotten sick so far has been unvaccinated, the department said.
Protesters again keep Hermantown council from Google data center vote: "Shut it down"
A Hermantown City Council meeting on a Google data center was canceled again Tuesday, a day after protesters kept the council from a vote that would clear the way for the project. Officials said they did not want to disrupt early voting taking place at City Hall. Plans to reschedule the meeting have not been announced. Protesters chanted "shut it down" at Monday night's meeting. Police declared an unlawful assembly and asked them to leave after two hours. The council did not vote.
Protesters again keep Hermantown council from Google data center vote: "Shut it down"
A Hermantown City Council meeting on a Google data center was canceled again Tuesday, a day after protesters kept the council from a vote that would clear the way for the project. Officials said they did not want to disrupt early voting taking place at City Hall. Plans to reschedule the meeting have not been announced. Protesters chanted "shut it down" at Monday night's meeting. Police declared an unlawful assembly and asked them to leave after two hours. The council did not vote.
Angered over a.m. WNBA Finals tip-off, Chicago bar owner opens early to fans anyway, to "cause a ruckus"
Babe's Sports Bar, a Chicago bar that shows only women's sports, is calling the WNBA's 11:30 a.m. weekday tip-off for Game 6 of the Finals "disrespectful and out of touch," and it's opening early Thursday to host fans anyway. The bar, in Logan Square, will open at 9 a.m. as "Babe's Café" for the game between the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries. The bar shows only women's teams.
Obama urges Minnesotans to vote for Peggy Flanagan in Senate race
Former President Barack Obama is backing Democratic Senate nominee Peggy Flanagan, urging Minnesotans to vote for her in a video message her campaign posted Monday. "As an organizer, I learned that real change starts from the ground up," Obama says in the video. "Peggy Flanagan did too." He says she was an organizer on his first presidential campaign. Obama credits Flanagan with leading the fight to raise Minnesota's minimum wage and pass paid family leave.
Ex-Eminem employee pleads guilty to selling rapper's unreleased music for about $50,000
A former Eminem employee pleaded guilty to selling unreleased songs by the rapper, music that ended up on streaming platforms and was accessed more than 8 million times, the Justice Department said Joseph Strange, 48, of Holly, Michigan, pleaded guilty in federal court in the Eastern District of Michigan to criminal infringement of a copyright. He faces up to five years in prison.
SeatGeek's first volleyball partner is the Minnesota Forge in a multiyear deal
SeatGeek is the founding partner of the Minnesota Forge, a multiyear deal that puts a national brand behind the women's professional volleyball team ahead of its debut in January 2027, the team and company announced. SeatGeek is also the Forge's official ticketing partner and will power ticketing for all home matches at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul. It is the first partnership of its kind in Major League Volleyball history, according to the announcement.
Ex-Eminem employee pleads guilty to selling rapper's unreleased music for about $50,000
A former Eminem employee pleaded guilty to selling unreleased songs by the rapper, music that ended up on streaming platforms and was accessed more than 8 million times, the Justice Department said. Joseph Strange, 48, of Holly, Michigan, pleaded guilty in federal court in the Eastern District of Michigan to criminal infringement of a copyright. He faces up to five years in prison.
Omar says she can't keep living in home federal agents searched
Rep. Ilhan Omar said she can't keep living in the Washington, D.C., home that federal agents searched , because its address is now public and she is facing death threats. The Minnesota Democrat described the search and its aftermath in an interview Wednesday night with MS NOW's Chris Hayes . She said she is working out where to move and doesn't want people tracking her children, who visit on and off. Omar said she is leaning on her faith.
Ilhan Omar says she can no longer live in D.C. home searched by federal agents, citing death threats
Rep. Ilhan Omar said she can't keep living in the Washington, D.C., home that federal agents searched, because its address is now public and she is facing death threats. The Minnesota Democrat described the search and its aftermath in an interview Wednesday night with MS NOW's Chris Hayes. She said she is working out where to move and doesn't want people tracking her children, who visit on and off. Omar said she is leaning on her faith.
After 75 years serving Monticello and Buffalo, Stellis Health plans to join CentraCare
Stellis Health plans to become part of CentraCare, the two organizations announced. They have a goal of completing the change with the arrival of the new year. For now, Stellis clinics and team members will continue operating as usual, and patients can keep seeing their current providers, the organizations said. Stellis shareholders have voted to move forward. The organizations still need to complete final agreements and get required regulatory review and approval.
Rep. Ilhan Omar says Trump is trying to intimidate her before midterms: "We're not gonna be silenced"
Rep. Ilhan Omar says she is not backing down after federal agents searched her home, vowing in a new Instagram video to keep campaigning in the weeks before the midterm elections. "We're not gonna be intimidated. We're not gonna be silenced. We're not gonna be scared," the Minnesota Democrat said.
Trump presents $10,000 check to Nick Shirley, the YouTuber behind Minnesota day care fraud furor
President Trump handed Nick Shirley, the conservative YouTuber behind viral fraud videos filmed in Minnesota, a $10,000 check from the Oval Office as the White House launched a program that pays people who report suspected government fraud. Mr. Trump and Vice President JD Vance announced the $25 million Whistleblower Incentive Program, known as WHIP. Anyone can submit a tip at Fraud.gov, and the Justice Department will lead the program.
Asked about Muslim Brotherhood, Abdul El-Sayed tells man "it's you who needs to understand the Constitution"
A man at a town hall Saturday in Caro, Michigan, asked Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed whether he would disavow the Muslim Brotherhood. El-Sayed said "absolutely," then questioned the man in return. El-Sayed is running to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters. He asked the man why he was asking. The man, who gave his name as Tommy, said the Muslim Brotherhood is "a terrorist group" and that he had not heard El-Sayed disavow it.
Dakota and Ojibwe language archive survives Minneapolis fire, group says
The Dakota and Ojibwe language archive that leaders feared was lost in a Minneapolis fire survived, and it is being moved to the basement vault of an old bank building. The fire began Sunday afternoon at Franklin Dollar City Plaza, a convenience store connected to the tribe's building. It drew nearly 60 firefighters in a three-alarm response, and two firefighters were hospitalized with minor burns. As of Monday, fire officials said the cause was still under investigation.
Banana Ball returns to Target Field in June 2027, and the ticket lottery is open for business
Banana Ball is returning to Target Field next June, and fans can enter a lottery for tickets now. The Party Animals will play the Firefighters in two games on Friday, June 4, and Saturday, June 5, 2027, the Minnesota Twins announced. The teams are billed as the "Greatest Party" and "Hottest Team" in sports. Tickets are available only through a lottery. Fans can join the Ticket Lottery List at bananaball.com/tickets through Oct. 31 for a chance to buy tickets.
DOJ sues St. Paul and Portland, Oregon, over mask and ID requirements for federal officers
The Justice Department has sued St. Paul and Portland, Oregon, over local ordinances that bar federal officers from wearing masks and require them to identify themselves, calling the rules "unconstitutional attempts to regulate federal law enforcement officers," the department said in a news release. The department filed two lawsuits, one against each city.
Rep. Ilhan Omar's office calls home search "an authoritarian move to silence an opponent"
Rep. Ilhan Omar's office is accusing President Trump of using a federal search of her Washington, D.C., home to silence a political opponent weeks before the election. In a statement, a spokesperson for the Minnesota Democrat said the search was "politically motivated" and an escalation of Mr. Trump's "personal vendetta" against her that has lasted more than a decade.
Small Minnesota school mourns 3 current and former students in a matter of days
Three current and former Dawson-Boyd students have died in a matter of days, leaving a small school community in far western Minnesota grieving a football player who died in a crash and a graduate who was a South Dakota deputy shot and killed in the line of duty. Senior Carter Monaghan was the football player. Katherine Frank, a 2018 Dawson-Boyd graduate, was a Minnehaha County deputy. The third was Aaron Gebur, a graduate whose mother previously served students at the school as a paraprofessional.
Minneapolis rally planned Monday in support of Rep. Ilhan Omar after feds search her home
A rally in support of Rep. Ilhan Omar is planned for 4 p.m. Monday in Minneapolis, hours after federal agents searched her Washington, D.C., home, according to a Facebook post from the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). The post bills the event as "Stand with Ilhan" and invites people to gather at Powderhorn Park Recreation Center, 3400 15th Ave. S. It lists the site as a new location but doesn't say where the rally was first planned.
Illinois State Police seek dashcam footage, witnesses after apparent shooting on I-290
Illinois State Police are investigating a reported shooting on Thursday night on westbound I-290 near Austin Avenue that shut down all westbound lanes for about three hours overnight. Troopers with Illinois State Police Troop 3 responded at about 10:48 p.m. Thursday to a call about a shooting on the expressway, police said. No injuries were reported at the scene. All westbound lanes near Austin were closed at about 2:37 a.m. Friday for the investigation, state police said.
Nobel Peace Prize winner to be announced Friday. Minneapolis was floated as a possibility for the prize.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee is set to announce this year's Nobel Peace Prize winner Friday, and some are speculating that the collective residents of Minneapolis-St. Paul might have a shot at the honor. The Nation magazine, earlier this year, nominated the city of Minneapolis, an unusual bid for a city rather than an individual or organization.
7-month-old girl dies after being kicked by pony pulling wagon near Harmony
A 7-month-old girl died after a pony pulling a wagon kicked her in the head Tuesday afternoon near Harmony, in southeast Minnesota, the Fillmore County Sheriff's Office said. Fillmore County Sheriff's dispatch received a 911 call at 1:56 p.m. about the girl at a home north of Harmony. An initial investigation found that the girl and an adult family member were riding in a wagon pulled by the pony when it got spooked and kicked her, the sheriff's office said.
Illinois measles cases hit 23 in 2026, most from Douglas, Moultrie counties outbreak
Illinois has confirmed 23 measles cases so far this year, most of them tied to an outbreak among unvaccinated people in central Illinois, and state health officials are urging residents to make sure they're vaccinated. Sixteen of the cases are part of an outbreak in Douglas and Moultrie counties that began in August, the Illinois Department of Public Health said. The people infected were unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination history.
From Data to Dialogue: How S&P Global Energy Made Its Structured Data Estate Conversational with Databricks Genie Agents and MCP
S&P Global's goal was to fundamentally improve how customers discover and consume insights across our data and research products. While AI powered search and summarization are important, the larger business value comes from enabling faster decision making through natural language access to trusted data, richer cross-commodity analytics, and the ability to connect insights that traditionally exist in separate business lines.
Russian national who came to U.S. on au pair visa 2 decades ago charged with illegal voting
A Russian national who came to the U.S. more than 20 years ago on an au pair visa voted in person in the 2024 presidential election even though she never became a citizen, federal prosecutors in Detroit allege. Victoria Aquilina, 43, was charged Sept. 18 with illegally voting in the election, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan said. The specific charge, voting by an alien, was filed in a criminal information.
St. Clair Shores woman sentenced to 100 weekends in jail for fatal driveway crash
Stephanie Holt, 32, of St. Clair Shores, was sentenced Tuesday to two years of probation and 100 weekends in the Macomb County Jail after pleading no contest to leaving the scene of a driveway crash that killed 76-year-old Mary Hulswit last year, the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office said. Holt's jail term totals 365 days, all of it to be served on weekends. She is due to report to the Macomb County Jail for the first time Friday at 5 p.m. Judge Jennifer M.
University of Minnesota to cut $225 million from its budget over next 2 years
The University of Minnesota plans to cut $225 million from its budget over the next two years, President Rebecca Cunningham told the campus community in a letter Thursday, as the school moves to a longer-term budget planning process. The reduction equals 12% to 15% of the university's allocated operating revenue, according to the letter. Cunningham's letter said final numbers will depend on external factors.
St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry sues Mayor Kaohly Her, alleges harassment
St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry is suing Mayor Kaohly Her and the city, alleging she sexually harassed him for months and that city officials retaliated against him after he reported it.
St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry sues Mayor Kaohly Her, alleges harassment
ST. PAUL, Minnesota (WCCO) -- St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry is suing Mayor Kaohly Her and the city, alleging she sexually harassed him for months and that city officials retaliated against him after he reported it.
St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry sues Mayor Kaohly Her, alleges harassment
St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry is suing Mayor Kaohly Her and the city, alleging she sexually harassed him for months and that city officials retaliated against him after he reported it.
Fairmont girl's Holocaust remembrance bracelet campaign earns her a national young hero award
A 12-year-old Minnesota girl who has handed out more than 100,000 anti-hate bracelets is one of this year's Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes winners. Natalie Flaherty, of Fairmont, founded I Stand With Anne, a campaign that aims to turn Holocaust remembrance into everyday action.
Vikings will turn to Carson Wentz again, this time as the starter in Chicago Sunday
Carson Wentz will start at quarterback Sunday when the Minnesota Vikings visit the Chicago Bears, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell announced Friday, and J.J. McCarthy will back him up. Head Coach Kevin O'Connell announces that Carson Wentz will start Sunday at Chicago and J.J. McCarthy will serve as the team's backup. pic.twitter.com/SgyaKkE466 — Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 18, 2026 O'Connell's announcement did not address Kyler Murray's status.
F-16 from Texas crashes in Michigan, evacuation order lifted
An F-16 fighter jet crashed in Grand Traverse County, Michigan, on Thursday, triggering an evacuation order along part of County Road 633, the county's emergency management said. Grand Traverse officials said the plane went down near County Road 633 and Blair Townhall Road and that traffic in the area was shut down. Blair Township Supervisor Nicole Blonshine said she did not believe anyone on the ground was hurt or that any homes were damaged.
Rain is soaking Minnesota on Friday. State law says your headlights should be on, even during daylight.
Rain is falling across much of Minnesota on Friday, and under state law, that means your headlights belong on, at noon as much as at midnight. The headlight requirement is broader than many drivers assume.
F-16 from Texas crashes in Michigan, evacuation order lifted
An F-16 fighter jet crashed in Grand Traverse County, Michigan, on Thursday, triggering an evacuation order along part of County Road 633, the county's emergency management said. A spokesperson with the 149th Fighter Wing of the Texas National Guard confirmed that the pilot ejected and is in stable condition. They are currently receiving medical treatment. Michigan State Police, which is assisting the Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office, says no other injuries were reported.
F-16 from Texas crashes in Michigan, evacuation order issued
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F-16 from Texas crashes in Michigan, evacuation order issued
An F-16 fighter jet crashed in Grand Traverse County, Michigan, on Thursday, and an evacuation order is in effect along part of County Road 633, the county's emergency management said. A spokesperson with the 149th Fighter Wing of the Texas National Guard confirmed that the pilot ejected and is in stable condition. They are currently receiving medical treatment. Michigan State Police, which is assisting the Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office, says no other injuries were reported.
‘Bitter Christmas’ Review: Pedro Almodóvar’s Navel-Gazing Confession and Creative Plunder
Pedro Almodóvar’s Bitter Christmas commits a strange act of creative trespass: turning what appears to be a close friend’s real pain into fodder for a film. Coming right after the galvanizingly honest Pain and Glory, in which Antonio Banderas played a version of the filmmaker, Almodóvar’s latest emerges as a disappointing retreat—less self-examination than self-pity, and it arguably feels like outright theft from the lives of people close to him.
‘Bitter Christmas’ Review: Pedro Almodóvar’s Navel-Gazing Confession and Creative Plunder
Pedro Almodóvar’s Bitter Christmas commits a strange act of creative trespass: turning what appears to be a close friend’s real pain into fodder for a film. Coming right after the galvanizingly honest Pain and Glory, in which Antonio Banderas played a version of the filmmaker, Almodóvar’s latest emerges as a disappointing retreat—less self-examination than self-pity, and it arguably feels like outright theft from the lives of people close to him.
First-ever adult Tyrannosaurus rex trackway discovered in North Dakota badlands
Updated: 6:23 PM EDT Sep 11, 2026Editorial Standards ⓘ MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO via CNN Newsource) — Paleontologists have discovered the first known trackway made by a full-grown Tyrannosaurus rex: four connected footprints found in the badlands of southwestern North Dakota, not far from the Montana border. The find is described in a new paper published this week in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. Before it, only two isolated adult T.
Michigan remembers: 42 with Michigan ties among those killed in the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks
Forty-two people killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks had Michigan connections, according to the Michigan Remembers 9-11 fund.
First-ever adult Tyrannosaurus rex trackway discovered in North Dakota badlands
Paleontologists have discovered the first known trackway made by a full-grown Tyrannosaurus rex: four connected footprints found in the badlands of southwestern North Dakota, not far from the Minnesota border. The find is described in a new paper published this week in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. Before it, only two isolated adult T. rex footprints had ever been confirmed anywhere in the world, one in New Mexico and one in Montana. Neither showed how the animal was moving.
Half of St. Louis County's Flock cameras were stolen. Now the county is dropping the contract
The St. Louis County Sheriff's Office in northern Minnesota has ended its contract with Flock Safety, following the city of Duluth, which cut its own contract with the company earlier this month. Flock's cameras are automated license plate readers that photograph every vehicle that passes by and use AI to process the information they capture.
Court rejects Mike Lindell's recount request for GOP primary in Minnesota governor's race
Minnesota's highest court on Saturday denied Mike Lindell's request for a recount in the Aug. 11 Republican primary for governor after the MyPillow founder said he would personally pay for a hand recount and audit of every paper ballot cast in the race. Lindell finished second to Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth in the race. A week after the primary, Lindell announced he would pay an estimated $825,000 for the recount.
2026 Minnesota State Fair has already set a new attendance record — on the very first day
The Minnesota State Fair kicked off its 2026 run in record-breaking fashion, as 155,185 people passed through the gates on Thursday, smashing the previous single-day mark for the fair's opening Thursday. The new figure blows past the old daily record of 138,875, set in 2024, by more than 16,000 visitors. It's also a jump of roughly 18,000 from last year's opening-day crowd of 137,148. The turnout continues a trend that's been building for years.
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