>>Governor Walz Orders Flags Lowered to Honor Officer Pete Zajac
(St. Paul, MN) — Governor Tim Walz has ordered U.S. and Minnesota flags to be flown at half-staff at all state buildings tomorrow, Friday, November 7th, in honor of Officer Pete Zajac, who passed away on October 28th. “Officer Zajac (ZAY – jack) dedicated more than 15 years to supporting and serving the Farmington community,” said Governor Walz. “His compassion, steady presence, and genuine care for the well-being of those around him will be remembered. Minnesota mourns this tragic loss, and I extend my deepest condolences to his family, loved ones, and the City of Farmington.” Flags also remain at half-staff in honor of former Vice President Dick Cheney until his interment. All Minnesotans are encouraged to lower their flags in tribute.
>>State Senator Pappas Will Retire After 42 Years
(St. Paul, MN) – State Senator Sandy Pappas (pap-us) has announced she will retire at the end of the 2026 legislative session after 42 years as a state lawmaker. Pappas was first elected to the Minnesota House in 1984. She then moved to the Senate in 1990 and became Senate President from 2013-2016. She is the current chair of the Capital Investment Committee. Pappas is known for her work with workers and unions, and for being an advocate for social and economic equality for women and people of color. Pappas said, “I am proud of the work I have accomplished to help Minnesotans of all ages, backgrounds, and beliefs live healthier, safer, and more fulfilling lives.”
>>Minnesota Plans Special Election to Fill Vacant House Seats Before 2026 Legislative Session
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota will hold at least one more special election before the next legislative session begins in February. Two seats in the state House are currently vacant after their representatives won elections for other positions on Tuesday night. Governor Tim Walz announced that the primary election will take place on December 16th, followed by the special election on January 27, 2026. “The thinking on this was this gives folks time to get involved, to put together their campaign, to be able to have the time between the primary and the special to give those campaigns robust debate,” Walz said. He acknowledged the challenge of scheduling elections during the holiday season but emphasized the importance of having a full legislature when the new session opens.
>>Minnesota DNR Tracks Bear Population Growth and Early Reproduction
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is closely monitoring the state’s expanding bear range and a surprising shift in reproductive patterns. Project leader Andy Tri says bears typically don’t have their first litter until age five. But in more productive areas, some may reproduce as early as four. Now, researchers are seeing even earlier reproduction in newly expanded zones. “About 50 percent of the females in that expanded zone are actually having cubs at three,” Tri said. “It’s kind of a marked change from the past. And it’s one of the reasons we’re seeing such high expansion in the population.” The bear range now stretches from the north metro through Pine County and into northern and northwestern Minnesota.
>>Driver Injured Crashing Pickup into Redwood County Ravine
(Morgan, MN) — A man is recovering from non-life-threatening injuries suffered in a crash Wednesday night near Morgan in southwest Minnesota. The Redwood County Sheriff’s Office says the injured driver crashed his pickup into a ravine and was climbing up an embankment when deputies arrived. His truck was found submerged underwater in the ravine. The 32-year-old victim was taken to the hospital in Redwood Falls. Authorities are still investigating the incident.
>>Cottage Grove Mining Proposal Faces Strong Public Opposition
(Cottage Grove, MN) — A proposed mining project in Cottage Grove, southeast of the Twin Cities, is drawing significant community backlash. The Chicago-based company Amrize says it will exhaust its current natural aggregate material resources by 2029 and plans to begin extraction operations in the Mississippi River. Since the announcement, hundreds of public comments have poured in, many expressing concern over potential harm to Native American burial sites, local ecosystems, and the river’s natural flow. Critics also warn of the impact on recreational activities like fishing and kayaking.
