>>Minnesota House Candidates Luger-Nikolai and Buck Win DFL Primaries
(St. Paul, MN) — Two Democratic candidates for Minnesota House are moving on to the January 27th special elections following primary victories Tuesday night. Lawyer Meg Luger-Nikolai won a six-way D-F-L primary for the House District 64-A seat of former Representative and Mayor-elect of St. Paul Kaohly Her. Luger-Nikolai will face Republican Dan Walsh in the special election Shelley Buck won a three-person primary in House District 47-A to replace former Representative Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger of Woodbury, who was elected to Senate last month. Buck is a former president of the Prairie Island Indian Community. No Republicans have filed for the January 27th special election in the district.
>>Minnesota Senate GOP Leader Rips Walz Executive Orders on Gun Violence
(St. Paul, MN) — Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson claims Governor Walz’s executive orders aimed at reducing gun violence will do nothing to keep people safe. Johnson said in a statement, “addressing mental health, intervening before a crisis turns violent, and active safety protocols are real solutions that Republicans support to keep our kids safe.” The orders issued by Walz will provide more data on how much gun violence costs Minnesota, increase education about safe gun storage, and create a Statewide Safety Council. The parents of Annunciation Catholic School shooting victims support the governor’s proposals.
>>ICE Denies Pulling Over Congresswoman Omar’s Son
(Minneapolis, MN) — U-S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) says it has no record of Representative Ilhan Omar’s son being stopped by its agents. Omar claimed on Saturday that federal immigration officers pulled over her son and asked him to prove his citizenship. ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons responded, stating the agency has “absolutely zero record of its officers or agents pulling over Congresswoman Omar’s son.” Lyons also accused Omar of “unfairly demonizing our law enforcement officers.” Omar also alleged that ICE previously entered a mosque where her son and others were praying, though she said agents left without incident.
>>Police Arrest Teen for Making Online Threats to Southeast Metro Schools
(Apple Valley, MN) — A 16-year-old boy is under arrest in connection with online threats targeting high schools in the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District. The Apple Valley Police Department announced the arrest following a multi-agency investigation into the threats, which prompted heightened concern across south metro schools. No weapons were found during a search of the teen’s residence, police confirmed. The threats lead to school closures on Tuesday.
>>St. Louis County Board Approves $564 Million 2026 Budget
(Duluth, MN) — The 2026 budget approved by the St. Louis County Board on a 6-1 vote Tuesday is more than 564.4 million dollars. Officials say it ensures stability in public safety, roads and bridges, and public health and human services, while also factoring in inflation and the impacts of state and federal cost shifts. About one third of the budget is funded by the property tax levy which will increase by 12.4 percent to over 202 million dollars.
>>Red Lake Nation to Open Cannabis Dispensaries in Thief River Falls, West St. Paul
(Thief River Falls, MN) — The Red Lake Nation is expanding its cannabis business with two new dispensaries in Thief River Falls and West St. Paul. The tribe signed a compact agreement with Governor Tim Walz, becoming the latest to secure permission for cannabis sales beyond reservation boundaries. The Thief River Falls location is set to open on New Year’s Eve, while the West St. Paul store will follow in January. Minnesota’s eleven tribal nations have taken an early lead in the state’s adult-use cannabis market as state-licensed growers await their first harvest.
>>Late-Season CWD Management Hunt This Weekend in Southeast Minnesota
(Forest Lake, MN) — The Minnesota D-N-R is preparing for a late-season chronic wasting disease management deer hunt this weekend (Fri-Sun). Wildlife Supervisor Erik Hildebrand says the permit areas with C-W-D are in the southeast part of the state. He says it’s an opportunity for hunters to help reduce deer densities in those persisting infection areas and harvest additional deer. Hildebrand says there is a five-deer bag limit, but most hunters don’t take more than two.
>>Minnesota Wild Shut Out Capitals for 5th Straight Win
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Wild shut out the Capitals 5-0 Tuesday night in St. Paul for their fifth win in a row. Filip Gustavsson stopped all 25 Washington shots for his third shutout of the season. Vladimir Tarasenko had two goals and an assist, and Kirill Kaprizov, Danilla Yurov, and Matt Boldy also scored for Minnesota. The Wild swept the four-game homestand at Grand Casino Arena. They play Thursday night at Columbus.
