>>Commission Narrows New Minnesota Flag Designs Down to 3
(St. Paul, MN) — A special commission did not pick the final design for the new Minnesota flag at Tuesday’s meeting, but did narrow it down from six to three finalists. The panel is scheduled to meet again on Friday afternoon and could make its final selection. Design F-944 is Navy blue with a yellow star and blue and white waves, F-1953 has a white star with blue, white and green stripes, and design F-2100 is half blue and half green with a white star. New mockups of the designs are expected to be discussed Friday. The State Emblems Redesign Commission has to send the final flag selection to the legislature by January 1st.
>>Minnesota Celebrates National Guard’s 387th Birthday
(St. Paul, MN) — The National Guard was born on this day (12/13) in 1636 when the Massachusetts colonial legislature established the first militia regiments. There’s a 387th birthday celebration and cake cutting today (Wed 11am) at the Cedar Street Armory in St. Paul. Sergeant Major Jason Rost (rossed) says Minnesota’s National Guard was established in 1856 just before the Civil War. He says we now have nearly13 thousand National Guard citizen soldiers and airmen. Rost says Minnesota just welcomed the 133rd Airlift Wing home from the Horn of Africa and the 34th Infantry Red Bull Division is deploying to the Middle East in February.
>>Minnesota Law Enforcement Preps for Red Flag Law
(Foley, MN) — Minnesota will become the latest state to implement a so-called red flag law on January 1st. It allows the court to issue extreme risk protection orders that prevent someone from possessing or buying guns while the order is in effect. Benton County Sheriff Troy Heck says the new law will lead to some changes for law enforcement agencies in Minnesota. Heck says based on what they’ve learned from other states, they expect the order to be used sparingly and he’s not expecting a high volume of activity. He says the goal is to prevent the person from harming other people or themselves with a firearm.
>>Pickup Driver Dies in Redwood County Crash
(Redwood Falls, MN) — Authorities in southwest Minnesota are investigating a deadly crash near Lambertown. The Redwood County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a vehicle driving in and out of the ditch around 8 p-m Tuesday. The State Patrol located a pickup that appeared to have left the roadway and crashed into a field. Troopers say the driver wasn’t breathing and they attempted first aid but he died at the scene. Deputies say the victim has been identified as 54-year-old Randall Fleshner. The report indicates Fleshner wasn’t wearing a seatbelt.
>>Special Deer Hunt This Weekend to Assess CWD Spread
(Wabasha, MN) — A special hunt designed to further assess the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD) this weekend will also give hunters another chance to harvest additional deer after a dry hunting season. The D-N-R says the deer permit areas 342, 605, 643, 645, 647, 648, and 649 will be open December 15th through the 17th with an unlimited bag limit. Hunters may use any unfilled archery, firearms, muzzleloader, or landowner deer hunting license. They will be required to submit deer samples for C-W-D testing.
>>St. Louis County Sherriff’s Office Welcomes 6 New Deputies
(St. Louis County, MN) — The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office in northeastern Minnesota is welcoming six new deputies. The new sheriff’s deputies include Trevor Dowton, Nicholas Brown, Zachary Hway, Saul Jeanetta, Daniel Merrill, and Madison Sand. They are the first group hired since Sheriff Gordon Ramsay took office. A ceremony Tuesday also highlighted nine deputies who were promoted within the last year.
>>MnDOT Opens Application Process for EV Charging Stations
(St. Paul, MN) — MnDOT is now accepting applications for private and public entities to receive funding to own and operate electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The funds from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program will be used to build a national network of E-V chargers. Successful applicants will enter into a contract with MnDOT ensuring an experienced charging network provider and anyone with ownership or lease of the property will adhere to a five-year operations and maintenance period. Application instructions can be found on the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program in Minnesota webpage – www.mndot.gov/nevi/
>>Mullens to Start at QB for Minnesota Vikings at Bengals Saturday
(Eagan, MN) — Nick Mullens will be the Minnesota Vikings starting quarterback for Saturday’s game at Cincinnati. Mullens replaced Josh Dobbs in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 3-0 win in Las Vegas. He led Minnesota’s offense into field goal range where Greg Joseph nailed the game-winning kick. Mullens will be the fourth different starting Q-B for the Purple this season. He has thrown for more 51-hundred yards, 27 touchdowns and 23 interceptions in six N-F-L seasons.
