>>12-Year-Old Lydia Kaiser Returns to Class at Annunciation Catholic School
(Minneapolis, MN) — One of the students critically injured in the mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church is back in school. The GoFundMe page for 12-year-old Lydia Kaiser says she is happy to be with her friends and teachers again. Kaiser underwent three brain surgeries after being shot while shielding a younger student. Her family says Lydia will need ongoing care for the foreseeable future,” but she remains a brave little fighter and she is feeling stronger every day.” Lydia’s parents met with Vice President J.D. Vance when he visited Minneapolis.
>>Pedestrian Killed in Otter Tail County Crash
(New York Mills, MN) — A 24-year-old man from New York Mills is dead after being struck by a vehicle in Otter Tail County. Deputies responded around 8:10 p.m. on Wednesday to a report of a pedestrian hit by a pickup truck just south of New York Mills. The man was found unresponsive in the ditch when first responders arrived. Despite life-saving efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities say the 42-year-old driver of the pickup, also from New York Mills, stopped and is cooperating with the investigation. The victim’s identity has not been released. No further details have been made available.
>>State Lawmaker Says Reinsurance Program Kept Health Premiums Lower
(St. Paul, MN) – The Minnesota Department of Commerce announced health insurance premiums in 2026 will jump by more than 20%, but state lawmakers say it could have been much worse. Republican Representative Tim O’Driscoll of Sartell is co-chair of the House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee, and says without the state’s reinsurance program, the rates could have climbed as much as 40%. O’Driscoll says the reinsurance program was developed to provide stability and predictability to volatile pricing in the health insurance market. DFL Senator Matt Klein of Mendota Heights says it could have been even worse, with rates higher by 47%. The current reinsurance program is set to expire at the end of 2027.
>>Fateh Fined, DFL Endorsement Revoked Over Campaign Violations
(Minneapolis, MN) — Senator Omar Fateh’s mayoral campaign was fined $500 today for violating Minnesota campaign law by falsely claiming the DFL endorsement after it was revoked. The party pulled its support following major voting irregularities at the July convention, including missing ballots and unsecured delegate records. A party panel ruled the process was “substantially flawed.” Fateh continued using campaign materials with the endorsement, which the court says knowingly misled voters.
>>Lynx All-Star Collier Suffered 3 Torn Ligaments in Ankle, Shin
(Minneapolis, MN) — Minnesota Lynx All-Star forward Napheesa Collier is recovering from a Grade 2 tear of three ligaments in her ankle and a muscle in her shin. Collier was injured in a collision with Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas in Game 3 of the WNBA Semifinals. Her injury will require at least a six-week recovery period. No foul was called on the play, and Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve was suspended for her reaction to Collier’s injury. She’s scheduled to play for the Lunar Owls of the Unrivaled League in January.
>>Medina Man Discovers Dynamite While Fall Cleaning
(Medina, MN) — About 50 sticks of dynamite were discovered Wednesday in a garage in Medina, west of Minneapolis. A resident found the box while cleaning and called authorities around 11:30 a.m. The West Suburban Fire District issued a temporary evacuation for nearby homes, and the Minneapolis Bomb Squad was brought in. The explosives were safely removed, and the evacuation order was lifted by mid-afternoon. Officials haven’t said how the dynamite got there or how long it had been stored.
>>Xcel Energy Opens New Utility Service Center
(Waite Park, MN) — Minnesota-based Xcel Energy has officially opened its new utility service center in Waite Park, marking a significant step forward in its operational capabilities. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Wednesday at the facility. The new center is designed to support a growing workforce and enhance response times to electric and gas outages. Approximately 80 employees and 85 vehicles are now based at the site, which is expected to improve overall efficiency and service delivery in the region. Xcel Energy plans to retain the old service center property, with plans to repurpose it.
