Good morning, Minnesota. Happy Wednesday!

Here's the latest news from across the state to start your day. ☕

WEATHER

🥶 It’s cold and it’s going to get colder. We’ll see highs range from the teens in southeast Minnesota to subzero in the northwest Wednesday. It'll be even colder Thursday.

🌡️ We’re in for a pretty quick warmup though with near-20-degree temperatures returning for southern Minnesota Friday.

Get the latest weather news on Updraft.

Data centers spark opposition from residents, concerns over energy use

Data centers consume a lot of electricity. It is needed to power servers and equipment and keep them cool. And their growth coincides with a nationwide push to electrify vehicles, home heating and appliances, sparking concerns about whether utilities can meet the increased demand for power.

Minnesota’s holiday stages offer a mix of joy, history and soul

Minnesota’s holiday theater offerings this year range from the soulful traditions of “Black Nativity” and the whimsical charm of “The Nutcracker Fantasy,” to a comedic take on Scrooge at the Guthrie, a kid-approved Grinch at the Children's Theatre Company and the feminist and historical journey of “I Am Betty” at History Theatre.

NEWS ROUNDUP

🏛️ ‘Waste, fraud and abuse’ are words that will ring through Minnesota Capitol in 2025. Most of Minnesota’s budget — about 70 percent — goes to schools and major social service programs. But within those categories and across the rest of the budget lawmakers will be looking for places to pull back.

💰 Minneapolis invests millions in new affordable housing projects, including Native clinic. The Native American Community Clinic on Franklin Avenue is one of those 11 projects. Roughly $1.15 million will support the new construction of 83 rental units in a mixed-use project with an expanded clinic on-site.

🎙️ 'So many emotions:' Local Syrian woman feels hope for her country after Assad flees. Shoreview resident Rihab Naheel was born in Aleppo, Syria. She says she looks forward to finally visiting her home country again.

🏢 Hennepin County opens new domestic abuse services space. The center has a new location, with a bigger space to serve a growing number of clients. Staff help clients file orders for protection, find legal representation and get outside services, like counseling and housing assistance.

🧑🏽‍⚖️ As session nears, status of a Minnesota lawmaker facing criminal charges remains a flashpoint. The renewed calls come as lawmakers prepare to share custody over the Minnesota House and Democrats hold a one-vote edge in the Senate. Hearings and a possible trial could coincide with the early days of the legislative session.

☃️ Name a Snowplow contest: MnDOT issues annual call for a flurry of ideas. MnDOT says people can submit “their most witty, unique and Minnesota- or winter-themed snowplow name ideas” from now through noon on Dec. 20 .

🏘️ Developers break ground on $500 million Duluth hilltop housing development. The first building to be constructed is a 70-unit condo building located on the former high school football field. It’s scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2026.

🧊 One rescued, one missing after ATV breaks through ice on northern Minnesota lake. Despite recent cold weather, authorities have been warning of dangerous early-season ice conditions on lakes across the state.

🚓 Authorities find body of missing Cannon Falls man. Authorities said the body of 60-year-old Christopher Dobson was found in the river by searchers on Saturday. He was reported missing after he failed to return home from walking his dog on the evening of Dec. 2.

MUST LISTEN

🎧 After CEO slaying, vitriol toward health care insurers goes viral. Is it unprecedented? At a news conference Monday night following Mangione’s arrest, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro called the online celebration of the alleged shooter “deeply disturbing.”

🎧 On International Human Rights Day, a look back at a key Minnesota-born protocol. A powerful tool used around the world to gather evidence and hold governments accountable for violating those rights was created by a group of Minnesotans in the 1980s. It’s called the Minnesota Protocol.

🎧 Listen to today's headlines on our Minnesota Today podcast.

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