LAKEVILLE, Minn. (WCCO) — From the wacky to the wild, there’s a place in Lakeville that has it all. Movie props and discarded junk have turned Hot Sam’s Antiques into a photographer’s paradise. There’s a dignified-looking pheasant perched high above Interstate 35 in Lakeville. But this is no ordinary bird. The pheasant and the parrot next to it are gatekeepers to one of the most interesting places in Minnesota. “Me being a sucker for a piece of junk, I kept buying these crazy things that we could bring on the property and set up,” said Jake Hood. At Hot Sam’s Antiques and Foto Park you’ll find ..read more

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A 21-year-old Farmington man faces charges in a high-speed crash that killed a 16-year-old girl in Burnsville over the weekend. According to Dakota County court documents, Alejandro Jesus Saavedra is charged with criminal vehicular homicide and criminal vehicular operation resulting in great bodily harm – both felonies – in connection with the Saturday incident. Alejandro Jesus Saavedra (credit: Dakota Co. Jail) Burnsville police say they were investigating a noise complaint at 6:30 a.m. at the Best Western Inn on Nicollet Avenue. When they arrived, they saw three people ..read more

Originally published April 11 BURNSVILLE, Minn. (WCCO) — Friends are remembering 16-year-old Sydney Kohner, who they say had a bubbly high energy that brought people together. The Lakeville North High School sophomore died in a single car crash early Saturday morning. Burnsville police say they were investigating a noise complaint at the Best Western Inn on Nicollet Avenue. When they arrived, they saw three people get in a car a drive off at a high speed. They caught up with the car after it crashed into a ramp about a half-mile away. Those who love Kohner made a makeshift memorial under the r ..read more

LAKEVILLE, Minn. (WCCO) — A Lakeville police officer died over the weekend following a battle with cancer. The Lakeville Police Department says that officer Adam MacDonald died Saturday after a “tremendously courageous battle with cancer.” According to the department, MacDonald was sworn in as an officer in 1999 and served the force as a patrol officer, field training officer, detective, crisis negotiator, and crime scene unit member, among other titles. Adam MacDonald (credit: Lakeville Police Department) “Adam touched so many lives inside of our organization, and countless more outside of ..read more

BURNSVILLE, Minn. (WCCO) — School officials have identified the teenager killed in a weekend crash in Burnsville as a Lakeville North High student. A Lakeville Area Schools spokesperson said sophomore Sydney Kohner died in the Saturday morning crash near Nicollet Boulevard and Grand Avenue. (credit: CBS) “We extend our deepest sympathy to the Kohner family,” the spokesperson said. “This is an especially difficult time for our Lakeville North students and staff, and our community as a whole.” Two other teenagers were severely hurt in the crash and taken to Hennepin Healthcare. They have not y ..read more

LAKEVILLE, Minn. (WCCO) — Three Minnesota natives are on a magical Cinderella run in this year’s March Madness college basketball tournament. Lauren Jensen from Lakeville hit a game winner last weekend to beat powerhouse Iowa, and send underdog Creighton to the Sweet 16. The Lakeville North High School graduate has played on big stages before. “The bigger the moment, the better she is,” said Lakeville North girls’ basketball coach Shelly Clemons. Now, Jensen has been launched into the national spotlight after her 19 points Sunday against two-seed Iowa. “I was on my feet the whole time,” Clemon ..read more

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A Minneapolis man is in trouble with the law after he allegedly stole a car and tried to hide it at the home of two retired police officers. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reported Friday that Alexander John Thompson was charged Jan. 31 with auto theft in Dakota County. According to police, Thompson stole a car in Lakeville the morning of Jan. 30. He parked the car in a pole barn at a Greenvale Township home later that afternoon. The home is owned by a retired Prior Lake police officer and her husband, a retired New Mexico police officer. The couple saw Thompson and handcuff ..read more

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A Montana man has been charged in connection to an assault at a Lakeville Walmart that left a man in the hospital this past October. David Gene Beckett, of Corvallis, Montana, faces one count of third-degree assault in Dakota County. He was charged on Dec. 21, 2021. The criminal complaint says the assault took place behind a Walmart on Oct. 27, 2021. A man was driving with his mother in law, and when he exited Interstate 35, he noticed a Jeep Grand Cherokee following him extremely closely. When he parked in the handicap parking spot, the driver of the Jeep, identified ..read more

Originally published Dec. 18, 2021 MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A Minnesota fox rescue group is getting national attention Saturday night after one of their videos goes viral. SaveAFox group says their phone is ringing off the hook. A lot of people are inquiring about making the foxes one of their pets. “We’ve had a few videos go viral and every time they do we get an influx of e-mails and messages,” said Ethan Frankamp, who works with SaveAFox in Lakeville. The rescue group takes in domesticated foxes that aren’t fit to be released back into nature. “All the foxes here are domesticated but some of th ..read more

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A Minnesota fox rescue group is getting national attention Saturday night after one of their videos goes viral. SaveAFox group says their phone is ringing off the hook. A lot of people are inquiring about making the foxes one of their pets. “We’ve had a few videos go viral and every time they do we get an influx of e-mails and messages,” said Ethan Frankamp, who works with SaveAFox in Lakeville. The rescue group takes in domesticated foxes that aren’t fit to be released back into nature. “All the foxes here are domesticated but some of them are pretty wild,” Frankamp said ..read more