Good morning, Minnesota. Let's start this Monday off right.
Here's the latest news from across the state to start your day. ☕
WEATHER
☀️ We’ll crawl out of our deep freeze today as the arctic air retreats. After a frigid start, temperatures will be considerably warmer than Thursday though still below normal. Highs will mostly be in the teens.
🌨️We could see a wintry mix of precipitation Friday night into Saturday. Freezing rain, sleet and snow are all possible across southern Minnesota, including the Twin Cities. Get the latest weather news on Updraft.
“I don’t have to smoke weed or drink whiskey. I get high off the sound I’m creating,” says Maurice Skogen, a throwback musician in Otter Tail County known for building old-school amplifiers that generate a “spiritual sound.“
He traces his fascination with electronics to elementary school when he dismantled a flashlight to learn why the bulb lit up.
In 10th grade, he told the school counselor he wanted a career in electronics.
“He goes, ‘Nobody in 10th grade knows what they want to do.’ I go, ‘I do. I have a deep interest in figuring this stuff out,’” recalled Skogen. “I went to college to figure out how my tube amp worked."
The 40,000-square-foot museum, currently under construction next to Camp Ripley near Little Falls, is expected to open in 2026. Visitors will hear the stories of the roles Minnesotans have played in military conflicts from the Civil War to the present day.
NEWS ROUNDUP
👨🏻⚖️ Trial begins in Shakopee over Minn. House race that could swing control of chamber Republicans challenged the election result arguing that a 14-vote margin between the DFL representative who won and his GOP opponent could be made up in a pool of 20 ballots that were accidentally tossed.
🏈 Vikings secure playoff spot after Packers win Sunday. Vikings' passing attack is as potent as ever with Addison's surge as Bears prepare for a rematch. The Minnesota Vikings put Jordan Addison to work when the Chicago Bears were busy keeping Justin Jefferson quiet last month. The Bears will face another test in their rematch in Minnesota on Monday night. The Vikings are 11-2 and on a six-game winning streak. The Bears are 4-9 with seven consecutive losses.
🌿 Department of agriculture asks for public input on state aquaculture plan. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is looking for public input on its new draft state aquaculture plan— the first update to the plan in more than 35 years.
💰 Trump's tariffs threat is dividing business owners across the country. Businesses are divided over Trump's plan to impose sweeping tariffs. Some companies welcome the protection from foreign competition, while others worry about rising costs and retaliation. 🛢️ Enbridge pipeline spills 70,000 gallons of oil in Wisconsin. State officials say the Pine City Public Schools violated the Minnesota Human Rights Act by failing to stop the racial harassment of a middle school student during the 2020-21 school year.
⛷️ New 100-kilometer ski race scheduled for northern Minnesota this winter. The new 100-kilometer Ski North Ultra scheduled for later this winter along the North Shore of Lake Superior will be the longest race specifically for cross country skiers in the region.
🔴 Will the FDA finally ban Red No. 3? A decision could come soon. The food colorant has been linked to behavioral problems in children, including inattention and hyperactivity. California passed a law to ban it last year.
🎧 Making cookies this season? You might want a few tips from famed cookie extraordinaire ‘Zoe Bakes.’ The holidays are often an excuse to eat more cookies than any other time of year. Many people have family traditions where they gather to make sweet treats. Zoë François may have your next cookie recipe.
