>>Governor Walz Gives Final State of State Address
(St. Paul, MN) — Governor Tim Walz used his final State of the State Address Tuesday night to talk about his accomplishments over the past seven years and the work that still needs to be done. Walz touted Paid Family Leave, free school meals, the North Star Promise scholarship program, a billion-dollar investment in housing, record graduation rates, and proposed a new child tax credit. Republicans cheered when Walz noted it was his last State of the Address and the governor responded, “but the things we implemented will be here for decades.” Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson said after the speech, “We are going to be living with this legacy for a long time, and folks it is not a legacy of affordability. It is not a legacy of accountability. It’s not a legacy that makes Minnesotans proud.” G-O-P House leaders say Walz didn’t talk enough about fraud.
>>Melissa Hortman’s Son Inspires Passage of Two Bills
(St. Paul, MN) — Two bills inspired by late House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman’s son have passed the Senate and are heading to the governor’s desk. Colin Hortman told lawmakers he was unable to complete the remediation of his parents’ home for eight months following the June political shootings that killed his parents, Melissa and Mark Hortman. Hortman said it was due to a lack of clarity from the city about which chemicals had been deployed and ongoing disagreements over the required level of remediation. Senator Bonnie Westlin of Plymouth authored the bills that will now require law enforcement agencies to say which chemical irritants were used in a home and require homeowner insurance policies to include coverage for this type of damage.
>>DFL Lawmakers Press for Passage of a Bonding Bill
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota lawmakers are under growing pressure to reach a bonding deal as project requests top seven billion dollars statewide. Senate Capital Investment Chair Sandy Pappas of St. Paul is pushing for a 1.4-billion-dollar package, larger than proposals from Governor Tim Walz and Republican leaders. Pappas says the needs are urgent, pointing to communities without clean drinking water and aging infrastructure. She also criticized the timing of negotiations, saying bonding bills are too often left until the final hours, despite being critical investments in the state’s economy. Republicans say they support a bonding bill but want a smaller, more targeted plan.
>>House Ethics Hearing Planned for Three Lawmakers
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota House Ethics Committee will hold probable cause hearings for three state lawmakers on Friday. A complaint against Republicans Elliott Engen of Lino Lakes and Walter Hudson of Albertville charges them with leaving in the middle of their appointed committees to go drinking. A complaint against D-F-L Representative Alex Falconer of Eden Prairie relates to outside employment for Save the Boundary Waters. Under the rules, the four-member bipartisan panel must determine whether credible evidence shows a complaint is more likely true than not. From there, the committee could hold a final hearing to consider disciplinary action. After that, the full House would vote for possible penalties of expulsion, censure, or reprimand.
>>Debate Over New Minnesota State Flag is Big Business for Flag Stores
(Rochester, MN) — The debate over the new Minnesota state flag versus the old one is big business for some flag stores. Lee Herold of Herold Flags in Rochester says the 1983 flag with the state seal on it was never popular but that is not true today. He says, “we’re probably selling in a month pretty close to what we would sell in a year.” Herold says some customers said they wanted the loon on the new flag, which is on the new state seal. The 2024 state flag has a Navy Minnesota-shaped emblem, with a north star inside it, and light blue representing water. Several Minnesota cities are flying the 1983 Minnesota state flag rather than the new one.
>>Charges Filed in Deadly Mankato Shooting, Ex-Girlfriend Assault
(Mankato, MN) — A man from Fairmont is now charged in Sunday’s deadly shooting in Mankato and the assault of his ex-girlfriend. The Blue Earth County Attorney’s Office says 44-year-old Joseph Bulfer is facing one count of second-degree murder, one count of attempted murder, two counts of assault, and three counts of burglary. Court records show Bulfer broke into the townhome of 37-year-old Rosalyn Rode and fatally shot her new boyfriend, 52-year-old Joshua Downey. Bulfer is accused of hitting Rode with a rifle and causing contusions to her head and body, a laceration to the head, a collapsed lung, and broken ribs. His bail is set a five million dollars.
>>Bomb Threat Tuesday at Rockford Highschool Not Credible
(Rockford, MN) — A bomb threat forced the evacuation of a Minnesota high school northwest of the Twin Cities Tuesday, but authorities say no explosives were found. The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office says Rockford High School received a call around 11:15 a.m. claiming the building would “explode in 15 minutes.” Students and staff were safely evacuated while deputies, K-9 units, and multiple agencies searched the campus. Officials say no credible threat was discovered, and investigators are now working to track down the caller.
>>Minnesota Wild Skate Past Dallas Stars in Game 5 of Playoffs
(Dallas, TX) — The Minnesota Wild topped the Stars 4-2 in Dallas last night to take a 3-2 lead in the first-round playoff series. Mats Zuccarello had a first-period goal in his return from an upper body injury. Matt Boldy, Michael McCarron, and Kirill Kaprizov also lit the lamp for Minnesota. Jesper Wallstedt made 22 saves for the win. The Wild can close out the best-of-seven series with a Game 6 win over the Stars Thursday night at Grand Casino Area.
>>2026 IIHF World Junior Championship Generates $71 Million in Economic Impact for Minnesota
(Bloomington, MN) — The I-I-H-F World Junior Championship delivered a major economic win for the Twin Cities, generating $71.5 million in total impact, according to a study by University of Minnesota Extension. The junior hockey tournament in late December and early January drew strong out-of-town attendance, with visitors accounting for roughly 73% of the economic activity. Those travelers spent an average of $451 per trip—nearly six times more than local attendees, boosting hotels, restaurants, and businesses, especially in downtown St. Paul. Wendy Blackshaw of Minnesota Sports and Events says the success is already sparking interest in bringing another major hockey event to Minnesota.
