>>Busy Holiday Travel Period at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
(Minneapolis, MN) — Christmas Eve (today) is expected to be one of the quieter days of the holiday week at Minneapolis-St.Paul International Airport. M-S-P spokesman Jeff Lea predicts passenger volumes will peak on Thursday. He says they’re expecting nearly 49 thousand travelers to pass through the security checkpoints on the day after Christmas. Lea says it will be fairly busy and consistent through the first week of January. Lea says 45 thousand passengers passed through terminals to kick off the holiday travel period on Friday.
>>Walz Administration Announces Surge in Minnesota Exports
(St. Paul, MN) — More Minnesota-made products are being sold around the world. Governor Walz and the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced Minnesota exports increased to $6.7 billion last quarter. That is 11 percent higher than the same period last year. Among the leading exports, mineral fuel and oil jumped 369 percent, plastics were up 27 percent, and aircraft and spacecraft were up 33 percent. Minnesota’s two largest markets, Canada and Mexico, drove up much of the growth over the last quarter.
>>Department of Health Reporting More Than 40 Norovirus Outbreaks
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Department of Health is reporting more than 40 outbreaks of norovirus in December which is almost twice the usual number. The foodborne illness causes vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramping. Senior Epidemiologist Amy Saupe says, “norovirus can mutate over time; people can have some short-term immunity to it, and then they won’t get it for a little while before they might get a different strain again.” She says it looks like this season might be a really big one for norovirus. Saupe recommends consistent handwashing to prevent exposure and contamination as some noroviruses can survive hand sanitizer.
>>Minnesota Housing Invests $191 Million in Affordable Housing Projects
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Housing Board of Directors is investing more than 190 million dollars in affordable housing projects across the state. Commissioner Jennifer Ho says they selected 76 applications for this round of funding for a total of 2,276 homes that will be created or preserved. State officials say these projects represent more than 480 million dollars in development and will support 44-hundred jobs. They include multifamily rental housing, single-family homeownership, and manufactured homes.
>>State Patrol Searching for Pickup That Failed to Stop for School Bus
(Virginia, MN) — The Minnesota State Patrol is looking for a driver who failed to stop for a school bus near Virginia on the Iron Range. Troopers say the pickup went around the school bus stopped on the right side of Highway 169 with its amber lights flashing Friday afternoon. The suspect vehicle is believed to be a white Dodge Ram one-ton dually, four-door pickup. The report says the truck hit a mailbox as it went around the school bus and never stopped. Anyone with information about the incident should contact the State Patrol.
>>Charges Filed in Deadly Mankato Shooting
(Mankato, MN) — Eighteen-year-old Guenther Boone Junior is now charged with second-degree murder in the shooting of 31-year-old Darious Johnson of Mankato. Witnesses told police in Mankato that Johnson was trying to buy marijuana vape cartridges when he was fatally shot by Boone early Saturday. Investigators say Boone later admitted to the shooting. He’s also facing weapons charges and is being held on one-million dollars bond.
>>2 Men Caught with Fentanyl & Meth in Red Lake Indicted on Federal Charges
(Minneapolis, MN) — Two men are facing federal charges in connection with a September drug bust on the Red Lake Indian Reservation. The U-S Attorney’s Office says 46-year-old Bobby Donnell and 29-year-old Jordan Lussier were indicted for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl with intent to distribute. Prosecutors say Donnell and Lussier were stopped by state troopers and a search of the vehicle led to the seizure of more than 40 grams of fentanyl and 50 grams of meth. Their arraignment hearings are set for January 24th.
>>71st Anniversary of Rochester’s 1953 Xmas Eve Tragedy
(Rochester, MN) — Today (Tues) marks the 71st anniversary of Rochester’s Christmas Eve tragedy, where three people drowned. Residents are encouraged to visit Silver Lake Park at 9 a-m for the annual ceremony. On December 24th, 1953, Rochester firefighters Ambrose Riley and Stanley O’Brien responded to Silver Lake on a report that nine-year-old John Stephenson had fallen through the ice. Riley and O’Brien found John but couldn’t grab him before he slipped under the surface. The two firefighters dove after him, but no one resurfaced. They were recovered shortly after but could not be revived.
>>Vikings vs. Packers Game at US Bank Stadium Flexed to 3:25 Sunday
(Minneapolis, MN) — The N-F-L is moving Sunday’s Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers game from noon to 3:25 p-m at U-S Bank Stadium. Minnesota improved to 13-and-2 with a 27-24 win over the Seahawks Sunday in Seattle. The 11-and-4 Packers shut out the Saints 34-0 Monday night at Lambeau Field. The Vikings and Lions are tied for the best record in the N-F-C and will meet January 5th at Ford Field in Detroit.
>>Minnesota Wild Top Blackhawks to Snap 4-Game Skid
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Wild snapped a four-game losing streak with a 4-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks at the Xcel Energy Center. Brock Faber, Jared Spurgeon, Kirill Kaprizov, and Marcus Foligno lit the lamp last (Mon) night for Minnesota. Goaltender Filip Gustavsson made 28 saves for his 15th victory. The Wild return from the holiday break Friday for a road game at the Dallas Stars.
>>Mega Millions Jackpot Climbs
(Roseville, MN) — Christmas could come early for a lucky Mega Millions player, or players. The lottery’s jackpot has grown to an estimated 970-million dollars for the Christmas Eve (tonight’s) drawing. That comes with a cash option of just shy of 440-million. If someone matches the winning numbers tonight, it would be just the second time a Mega Million jackpot has been won on Christmas Eve.
