Here's the latest news from across the state to start your day. ☕
WEATHER
🧊 After a nine-day streak of above-average temperatures, colder air will finally make its way back into the region. Tuesday will see highs below freezing in the metro area — around 30 degrees.
⛄ New Year's Eve looks cold, breezy and quiet. Northwest Minnesota will experience chilly single-digit highs while other areas will see highs in the teens. At midnight, the wind chill will make it feel below zero in northwest Minnesota.
Minnesota will close out this election year with control of the Capitol in a temporary state of upheaval. Two special elections are scheduled for Jan. 28. One is a tiebreaking race in the Senate and another is for a House seat that could solidify or break a temporary advantage for Republicans.
Throughout 2024, MPR News and the Native News team covered Indigenous stories ranging from government policies to the arts. Let’s look at the year in photographs, highlighting some of the reporting.
📚 These were the most-borrowed books from U.S. public libraries in 2024. Many of the most-borrowed books in 2024, including ‘romantasy’ titles and memoirs, also appeared on public library lists in 2023. 🥾 Fresh air and snowy sights to kick off the New Year. In Minnesota, guided hikes will be held at Afton, Blue Mounds, Fort Snelling, Jay Cooke, Lake Bemidji, Maplewood, Minneopa, Nerstrand-Big Woods, Tettegouche, Sibley, Whitewater and Wild River state parks.
🚌 What to know about Minnesota’s public transportation schedules and fares on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Metro Valley Transit Authority will be offering free rides on New Year’s Eve after 6 p.m. on fixed bus routes. Metro Transit will not be providing free rides.
🌌 Northern lights could be visible in Minnesota on New Year's Eve. There's a chance solar storms may bring northern lights to several northern U.S states just in time for the new year.
🕯️ Child dies after accidentally shooting himself in Otter Tail County. The 3 1/2-year-old boy was taken to a hospital in Wadena, where he later died. Authorities on Monday did not offer further details on how the child got hold of the gun, or who else was there at the time of the shooting.
🎧 Minnesota’s only new U.S. House representative Kelly Morrison prepares to swear in. Former DFL state Sen. Kelly Morrison won the 3rd Congressional District seat by double digits in November’s election. Morrison will be sworn in on Friday, Jan. 3. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about her priorities for the upcoming term.
