SHAKOPEE, Minn. (WCCO) — Valleyfair opened for the season Friday with new foods and additional events for the summer. This year marks a return to normalcy for the Shakopee amusement park. The adrenaline has returned after a tempered previous season. “It felt a little different. And this year really feels like we’re getting back to that almost normal sense of fun,” said Valleyfair communications manager Kelsey Megard. Because of COVID-19, last year the park was only open five days a week with limited hours. This year, it’s back to normal. “We were really only open for an eight hour span,” said ..read more

SHAKOPEE, Minn. (WCCO) — A sure sign of spring has arrived. The first horse races of the season are Wednesday evening at Canterbury Park in Shakopee. “We can’t wait for May to arrive because it’s like a family getting back together,” said Jeff Maday with Canterbury Park. The horses ran at 5 p.m., but the day at the track begins at 4:30 a.m. when the stables open and they first get fed. Then there’s training at 6 a.m. Each horse trains differently, similar to athletes. Some gallop and some are hand-walked. A lot of work goes in at Canterbury too to prepare for the races, including getting the t ..read more

SHAKOPEE, Minn. (WCCO) — A driver crashed into a Shakopee hospital Wednesday night, hitting the building so hard the SUV broke through a wall. Officials said a Jeep went into the oncology department at St. Francis Regional Medical Center after speeding across the helipad. A hospital spokesperson said no one inside was injured, and patient care was uninterrupted. The Shakopee Police Department said the driver had minor abrasions. They are not in custody, and police do not believe the crash was intentional. Crews were on site trying to patch up the hole after midnight. It’s not clear yet what ca ..read more

SHAKOPEE, Minn. (WCCO) — The Shakopee girls’ basketball team will play Roseville in the first round of the state tournament Wednesday. How they got there is quite the ride. “I’m still kind of in shock about that it went in,” senior guard Kate Cordes said. The Sabers triumphed in maybe the toughest section in Minnesota, capped with a classic game versus Eden Prairie. “We kind of came out a little nervous. We were down by 10 early,” Cordes said. “It was a close game. I was tired. I think everyone else was tired. But I think we knew that we just had to finish it through,” senior guard Jasmyn Hale ..read more

SHAKOPEE, Minn. (WCCO) — Valleyfair is taking the scare out of its Halloween festivities. The Shakopee theme park announced Tuesday that its doing away with its annual “ValleySCARE” attraction in favor of a Halloween event that’s “all fun and no fright.” (credit: CBS) “Tricks And Treats” will give visitors two paths to take. The Land of Tricks promises “spooky (but not scary), gross and weird adventures,” while the Land of Treats features “all the nostalgia of a cozy fall festival.” The new Halloween attraction will be open on select dates from Sept. 17 through Oct. 30. Click here for more i ..read more

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Several Twin Cities school districts are joining Minneapolis Public Schools in temporarily shifting to distance learning due to rising COVID-19 cases and staffing shortages. Ten districts have announced the move so far: * Brooklyn Center Community Schools * Burnsville-Eagan-Savage Public Schools * Farmington Area Public Schools * Fridley Public School District * Minnetonka Public Schools * Osseo Area Schools * Richfield Public Schools * Rochester Public Schools * Roseville Public Schools * Shakopee Public Schools Students at Brooklyn Center Middle School and Brooklyn Cente ..read more

SHAKOPEE, Minn. (WCCO) — The Shakopee Fire Department said eight family members were evaluated at the hospital after a carbon monoxide poisoning call early Tuesday morning. All eight were conscious and alert, and mid-range levels of carbon monoxide were found in their blood. The family called 911 when three of them began feeling ill. The fire department checked and cleared the home. Officials said there were no carbon monoxide detectors in the home. The fire department reminded residents to test detectors regularly and change batteries at least once a year.   More On WCCO.com: ‘It’s Goin ..read more

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — As COVID-19 cases rise in Minnesota, one school district is extending its Thanksgiving break as a way to control the spread. Shakopee Public Schools will not have classes next Monday or Tuesday, giving students nine days away from school. While teachers will still work early next week, school leaders hope the time away for students helps bring down cases. A career fair at Shakopee High School normally brings in about 80 exhibitors. This year, only 40 were invited. “It’s good to know about different businesses that are pretty local to us, and about different opportunities w ..read more

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO)– As COVID cases rise in Minnesota, one school district is extending its Thanksgiving break as a way to control the spread. Shakopee Public Schools will not have classes next Monday or Tuesday, giving students nine days away from school. While teachers will still work early next week, school leaders hope the time away for students helps bring down cases. “It’s good to know about different businesses that are pretty local to us. And about different opportunities we have with them,” said senior Emma Hitchen. A career fair at Shakopee high school normally brings in about 80 exhi ..read more

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A Twin Cities school district says it’s extending the next week’s holiday break in response to rising COVID-19 cases. Shakopee Public Schools announced Thursday that all pre-kindergarten through 12th grade classes will be canceled on both Monday and Tuesday, with no online classes. The district’s holiday break is scheduled to start Wednesday and last through the weekend, thereby giving students nine days away from school. According to district officials, this month has seen three weeks so far with the most COVID-19 infections since the start of the school year. This comes ..read more