>>Minnesota Lawmakers Prepare for Latest Economic Forecast
(St. Paul, MN) — Republicans say if today’s (Wed) economic forecast shows another state budget surplus, Minnesotans must get that money back in the form of tax cuts or rebates. Maple Grove Representative Kristin Robbins says unlike earlier this year, when Democrats promised much larger rebates than they delivered. She says people were really frustrated and complained that the checks were too small. Top Democrats weren’t available for comment before today’s economic forecast release, but earlier talked about using any additional surplus for pensions, agriculture, public works or child care.
>>Walz Continues Push for Infrastructure Projects, Bonding Bill
(St. Cloud, MN) — Governor Tim Walz continues his statewide push for infrastructure projects leading up to the 2024 legislative session. In Saint Cloud yesterday (Tues), Walz heralded what’s thought to be the only municipal wastewater facility that turns waste from local beer and food manufacturers into fuel and fertilizer. Today’s (Wed) state budget forecast will guide lawmakers on how much money is available for infrastructure projects in 2024. House Capital Investment Committee Chairman Fue (FOO) Lee says non-partisan staff has given a figure of about 880 million dollars.
>>Rosemount City Council Delays Vote on $ 700 Million Meta Data Center
(Rosemount, MN) — The Rosemount City Council is putting the brakes on a vote for the proposed 700-million-dollar Meta Data Center project in UMore Park. The delay at Tuesday night’s meeting is a result of the site’s expired Alternative Urban Areawide Review, which was last updated in 2018 and must be renewed every five years. It measures environmental impacts of large-scale developments. Rosemount senior planner Anthony Nemcek told members, “the project team agreed that a conservative approach that called for a brief pause to allow completion of the A-U-A-R update prior to the city council approving any updates for that site, would be the best course of action.” The council will take final action on the proposal at their December 19th meeting.
>>Minnesota Air Force Major Killed in Osprey Crash near Japan
(Washington, DC) — An airman from Minnesota is one of the eight victims killed in an Osprey crash last week off the coast of Japan. The U-S Air Force says 32-year-old Major Jeffrey Hoernemann of Andover was a C-V 22 instructor pilot and officer in charge of training at the 21st Special Operations Squadron at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Officials say the aircraft went down November 29th near Yakushima Island while on a routine training mission. The Air Force has recovered three of their bodies and is in the process of recovering three more and continues searching for the other two. The remains of Hoernemann haven’t been recovered.
>>Hibbing/Chisolm Hockey Retires #7 Jersey of Adam Johnson
(Hibbing, MN) — The number 7 jersey of Adam Johnson now hangs in the south side of Hibbing Memorial Arena. Hibbing High School retired Johnson’s jersey before the team’s 6-2 victory over Duluth Denfeld Tuesday night. Twenty-nine-year-old Johnson died after his neck was slashed by the blade of another player during a game in England in late October. Johnson’s 2011 state championship Hibbing-Chisolm team filled the bench and Adam’s nephew took center ice for for the ceremonial puck drop. It was emotional night as fans watched Johnson’s jersey hang up in the rafters. His parents were given a shadow box containing his sweater.
>>Redby Man Draws 12-Year Sentence in Fatal 2019 Red Lake Shooting
(St. Paul, MN) — A man from Redby will spend 12 years in federal prison for being involved in a deadly July 2019 shooting on the Red Lake Indian Reservation. Prosecutors say 32-year-old Daniel Barrett was with 22-year-old Alexia Cutbank of Bemidji when she fatally shot Daniel Johnson and seriously wounded a second victim. Barrett pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting second-degree murder in August but fled during his pretrial release and was arrested in early November. Cutbank was sentenced to 20 years for firing the gunshots that killed Johnson. Two other defendants were also sent to federal prison.
>>UMD Researchers: Lake Superior is Among Fastest-Warming in World
(Duluth, MN) — Researchers at the University of Minnesota-Duluth say Lake Superior is warming due to climate change. Data from the Large Lakes Observatory shows the lake has warmed about one-degree a year since the 1980s, making it one of the fastest-warming lakes in the world. Researchers say that the warming trend leads to a variety of problems, including large algae blooms spotted on the lake during the summer. One U-M-D official said in a recent study that if greenhouse gas emissions continue at their current rate, Lake Superior will stop freezing during the winter sometime after 2060.
>>7 MN Businesses Named 2024 Retailer of the Year by Minnesota Grown
(St. Paul, MN) — Seven grocers promoting locally-grown produce and products are named a 2024 Retailer of the Year by the Minnesota Grown Program. The award winners are judged on how MN Grown products are featured, the number of MN Grown farmers and producers that the grocer sourced from, as well as how the grocers used ads, displays, social media, and other events to promote MN Grown to customers. The winners include businesses from East Grand Forks, Sandstone, Alexandria, Waconia, Zumbrota, St. Paul, and Hugo.
>>All 2024 Minnesota Twins Tickets on Sale Wednesday
(Minneapolis, MN) — Tickets go on sale today (Wed 10 am) for Minnesota Twins’ spring training and regular season games, and TwinsFest 2024. The Twins will play 18 home games at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida in late February and March. The regular season home opener at Target Field is April 4th. TwinsFest is scheduled for January 26th and 27th. Tickets can be purchased on the Minnesota Twins website (twins.com) or by phone at 1-800-33-TWINS or 612-33-TWINS.
