>>Biden Signs Bill Designating Bald Eagle as National Bird of the U-S
(Washington, DC) — The bald eagle is now the official national bird of the United States. President Biden signed the bill into law Tuesday which was sponsored by Minnesota’s congressional delegation. Ed Hahn of the National Eagle Center in Wabasha says Minnesota lawmakers led it across the finish line in a bipartisan way. Hahn says the bald eagle was featured on the Great Seal in 1782 but never officially designated our national bird. Alaska has the most eagles in the U-S and Minnesota ranks second.
>>Ceremony in Mankato Honors 38 Dakota Prisoners Hanged in 1862
(Mankato, MN) — There’s a ceremony in Mankato this morning (Thurs 10am) to honor and remember the 38 Dakota prisoners who were hanged by the military on December 26th, 1862. Two more Dakota chiefs were hanged two days later. Native American riders on horseback from South Dakota and Nebraska arrived in Mankato Wednesday. The Makatoh Reconciliation Ride and the Dakota Exiles Ride replaced what used to be called the Dakota 38-plus-Two ride. A group of runners also participated in a memorial run from Fort Snelling to Mankato. The ceremony is at Reconciliation Park which was the site of the largest mass execution in U-S history.
>>Some Lawmakers Optimistic About Divide Minnesota Legislature
(St. Paul, MN) — Some legislators are optimistic about the possibility of a Democratic-controlled Minnesota Senate and a Republican majority in the House. D-F-L Representative Zack Stephenson of Coon Rapids says this session is a great opportunity for Minnesota to demonstrate that we are a place where Republicans and Democrats can work together – and we have done that in the past. The House passed Stephenson’s growler law in 2022 which allows breweries to sell more product directly to the public and his sports betting bill, but it died in the Senate. The D-F-L retained control of the Minnesota Senate, and the G-O-P may have a one-vote majority in the House to begin the session.
>>Minnesota Legislators Mourn Loss of Representative Mary Murphy of Duluth
(Duluth, MN) — Minnesota lawmakers are mourning the loss of longtime state Representative Mary Murphy of Duluth. Her family says Murphy suffered a stroke last week and had been placed in hospice. House Speaker Melissa Hortman announced that Murphy died at age 85. Murphy was the longest-serving female representative in state history. She represented the Duluth area in the Minnesota House from 1977 through 2022. Murphy also taught history and social studies at Duluth Central High School.
>>1-Year-Old Child Dies in St. Paul, Parents Arrested for Manslaughter
(St. Paul, MN) — Police in St. Paul say a couple is under arrest in connection with the death of their one-and-a-half-year-old child. Officers found the child unresponsive around 1:30 pm on Christmas Day and the toddler was taken to Regions Hospital where it died. Investigators say they believe drugs may have played a role in the child’s death. A 38-year-old man and 31-year-old woman were taken into custody on suspicion of second-degree manslaughter. No other information is being released.
>>Busiest Day of Holiday Travel Period at MSP Airport
(Minneapolis, MN) — Officials at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport are expecting around 49 thousand people today (Thurs) at the two terminals. M-S-P spokesman Jeff Lea says it will likely be the busiest day of the holiday period with crowded ticketing and baggage claim lobbies, parking ramps and roadways. Lea says a lot of people are coming home from holiday gatherings while others might be headed to a warm weather destination for New Year’s. He says drivers heading to Terminal 2 should take advantage of the new Express Lane which is an alternative option to curbside pickup and drop off inside the Purple parking ramp.
>>Timberwolves Outlast Mavericks on Christmas Day in Dallas
(Dallas, TX) — The Minnesota Timberwolves topped the Dallas Mavericks 105-99 in a Christmas Day matinee at the American Airlines Center. The Wolves had a 28-point lead in the second half and were able to hang on for the road victory. Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 26 points and Julius Randle added 23. Mavericks All-Star Luka Doncic strained his calf and left the game late in the second quarter. Kyrie Irving scored a game-high 39 points for Dallas. The Timberwolves play the Rockets Friday night in Houston.
