>>GOP Senator Abeler Denounces Trump’s Insults of Minnesota Somalis
(Anoka, MN) — At least one Republican lawmaker in Minnesota is denouncing President Trump’s insults about the state’s Somali community. G-O-P Senator Jim Abeler of Anoka wrote Trump a letter asking him not to call Somalis “garbage” and inviting him to Minnesota to meet some of his Somali friends. Abeler writes the Somalis he knows are businesspeople, drivers, hourly workers supporting their families, investors, nurses, students, and clerics – just how my ancestors turned out. He adds, “No man, woman or child is more or less in the eyes of our Lord God most high, and none of them are trash.”
>>Superior, Wisconsin Police Officer Shot During Domestic Call
(Superior, WI) — A police officer in Superior, Wisconsin is recovering from injuries suffered in a shooting early Sunday morning. Authorities were called to a potential domestic dispute and spotted the suspect vehicle. The report says the driver exited the car and discharged a firearm, striking the officer. Another Superior officer shot the suspect. The man fled the scene and crashed his van into Superior Middle School before being taken into custody. The officer was treated and released from a Duluth hospital.
>>Watkins Man Indicted for 1st Degree Murder in Killing of Coworker in Cokato
(Buffalo, MN) — A man from Watkins is now facing a first-degree murder charge in the alleged sledgehammer killing of a co-worker in Cokato last month. The Wright County Attorney’s Office says a grand injury indicted 40-year-old Bruce Delong for murder in the first degree with premeditation in the death of 20-year-old Amber Czech of Hutchinson. He’s also charged with second-degree murder. Investigators say Delong struck Czech several times with a sledgehammer on November 11th at Advanced Process Technologies. He has a court appearance today (Mon) on the murder indictments.
>>Looks Like a ‘Real’ Winter in Minnesota This Year
(St. Paul, MN) — People hoping for a “real” winter in Minnesota are getting their wish this year. Pete Boulay with the State Climatology Office says December is off to a cool and snowy start and that pattern is expected to continue the entire month. He says we’ve had the earliest below-zero temperatures since 2014. Boulay says there is a blanket of snow statewide which makes the average air temperature 11 degrees cooler. The last two winters have been mild in Minnesota.
>>Salvation Army Needs Bellringers in Minnesota
(Roseville, MN) — The Salvation Army’s annual Red Kettle campaign is in full swing in Minnesota. Northern Division spokesman Dan Furry says every dollar dropped into a kettle remains in the community where it’s collected, directly supporting local programs and families in need. Furry says there is a shortage of bellringers and thousands of shifts go unfilled every year. He says the average bellringer brings in around 85 dollars an hour and one hour of work at a kettle can feed about 170 people. For more information on volunteering, head to salvationarmynorth.org.
>>Bob Dylan Playing in Rochester in March 2026
(Rochester, MN) — Minnesota music legend Bob Dylan is bringing his Rough and Rowdy Ways tour back to his home state next March. Eighty-four-year-old Dylan is scheduled to play the Mayo Civic Center Arena in Rochester on March 24th. Tickets go on sale this Friday. He’s performing in Sioux Falls, South Dakota March 22nd and La Crosse, Wisconsin March 27th. Dylan played last April in Mankato and did five songs at Farm Aid on the U of M campus in September.
>>McCarthy, Vikings Shut Out Commanders at US Bank Stadium
(Eagan, MN) — The Minnesota Vikings blew out the Washington Commanders 31-0 at U-S Bank Stadium Sunday to snap a four-game skid. Quarterback J-J McCarthy threw for 163 yards and a career-high three touchdowns and Jordan Mason ran for a score. Minnesota’s defense had two interceptions and a fumble recovery. McCarthy led the Purple to a home victory following a 26-0 loss at Seattle last weekend. The 5-and-8 Vikings play at the 6-6-and-1 Dallas Cowboys next Sunday night.
>>Gopher Football to Face New Mexico in Rate Bowl in Phoenix
(Minneapolis, MN) — The University of Minnesota football team will play New Mexico in the Rate Bowl on December 26th in Phoenix. The Golden Gophers went 7-and-5 overall and 5-and-4 in Big Ten play. The Lobos were 9-and-3 and 6-and-2 in the Mountain West. The U of M has won eight straight bowl games including last year’s 24-10 victory over Virginia Tech in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. This is New Mexico’s first bowl selection since 2016. The game is being played at 3:30 pm the day after Christmas at the Arizona Diamondbacks’ ballpark.
