>>Fallen Hero Procession in Honor of Army Sgt. Cade Wolfe
(Mankato, MN) — A procession to honor fallen Army Sergeant Cade Wolfe is set for today (Thurs) in Mankato, ahead of Friday’s celebration of life. Twenty-four-year-old Wolfe was one of five service members killed in a Black Hawk helicopter crash over the Mediterranean Sea on November 10th. The Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office says the “fallen hero procession” saluting Wolfe will run between 12:30 and 1:15 pm. The route will start at the Mankato Regional Airport, pass by his alma mater, Mankato East High School, and end at the Northview Mortuary in North Mankato. A public celebration of life for Sergeant Wolfe is planned for Friday at 3pm at the Mankato National Guard Armory.
>>Lt. Gov. Flanagan Highlighting New Tenants’ Rights Laws in MN
(Undated) — Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan will be among state officials today (Thurs 1pm) spotlighting new tenants’ rights laws that took effect January 1st in Minnesota. Among them: From October 1st through April 30th, a landlord must provide heat of at least 68 degrees in residential units when it’s less than 60 degrees outside. Tenants are allowed to petition for emergency repair in certain cases, including loss of running water or sanitary facilities, no heat or a broken refrigerator. All non-optional fees must be disclosed in the lease, including on the first page a total of rent and fees. Landlords must offer an initial inspection of a unit to identify deficiencies, and landlords can only enter between 8 a-m and 8 p-m with at least 24-hour notice.
>>Mother, 6 Kids Still Critical After St. Paul House Fire
(St. Paul, MN) — At last report a mother and six children remain in critical condition after a house fire early Wednesday morning on Saint Paul’s East Side. Fire officials say all seven victims were unconscious when rescued from the home and paramedics began performing C-P-R outside. They continue investigating, but don’t believe the fire was suspicious and say there were working smoke detectors in the home. A statement issued by Regions Hospital on behalf of the family thanks the Saint Paul Fire Department and other first responders for their selfless and brave efforts.
>>Science Museum of Minnesota Receives $6.5 Million Gift, Largest Ever
St. Paul, MN) — The Science Museum of Minnesota is welcoming a six-and-a-half-million-dollar gift from the estate of the late U of M Doctor William D. Wells, the largest gift in the museum’s history. It will be used to fund the Chair of Science position, which heads up the Science Museum’s Center for Research and Collections. President Alison Rempel Brown says they are “proud and honored” to be the recipient of Doctor Wells’ historic gift. She says, “at the Science Museum, our work is driven by our mission to create and deliver powerful, bold STEM experiences so more people can use science to improve lives.”
>>Record Average Temperature and Precipitation in December
(St. Paul, MN) — Last month will go down as the warmest ever December in Minnesota. State Climatologist Kenny Blumenfeld (BLOOM’-en-feld) says it crushed the old average temperature record set in 2015 by about five degrees. He says the average temperature for December is going be somewhere around 30 degrees, might be a little more, might be a little less, and the old record was right around 25 degrees. He called it a “very, very warmest December on record for Minnesota.” Blumenfeld says it also set the record for the state’s wettest December with around two-and-a-half inches of precipitation. The data still need to be finalized by N-O-A-A (NOH’-uh).
>>Vehicle Restrictions Continue on Upper Red Lake
(Waskish, MN) — Motor vehicle restrictions will remain in place at least through this weekend on Upper Red Lake in northern Minnesota. The Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office says there are still significant ice cracks that have resulted in several ice flows moving into the water. No snowmobiles, A-T-Vs and other motorized vehicles will be allowed on the ice until conditions improve. Beltrami County authorities, D-N-R officers and Red Lake Nation officials met Wednesday with resort operators and guide services. They will be allowed to use vehicles to service their customers. Deputies say the next check of ice conditions won’t be conducted until Monday.
>>Minnetonka’s Klondike Dog Derby Race Pushed to 2025
(Excelsior, MN) — Another Minnesota winter event is being moved to next year due to the unusually warm weather this year. Minnetonka’s Klondike Dog Derby was scheduled for February 3rd but it now set for February 5th, 2025. While the 40-mile sled dog race n Lake Minnetonka is cancelled, some of the event’s staples will continue, including the cutest puppy contest. The 300-mile John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon was also cancelled this year with no snow along the North Shore.
>>Alexandria Police Seek Public’s Aid in Locating Shooting Suspect
(Alexandria, MN) — Police are seeking 27-year-old Joshua Robles (ROH’-blays) of Alexandria, a suspect in a shooting incident involving a stolen firearm. Robles self-reported a gunshot wound to his hand at Alomere Hospital Tuesday morning. Officers discovered he shot himself with a reported stolen gun. The firearm was found in a vehicle, and SWAT Team members, entered the residence with a search warrant. Robles left the hospital without proper discharge, and an arrest warrant has been issued. Last seen in St. Cloud, he frequents Alexandria and Fergus Falls. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Alexandria Police Department.
>>Rural Burglaries Under Investigation in Clay County
(Kragnes, MN) — The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is investigating recent burglaries in and around Kragnes north of Moorhead. The thief or thieves got in through shop and garage doors. Some of the stolen items include power tools, keys and other property from inside vehicles. The sheriff’s office is asking residents to check camera systems and outbuildings for anything suspicious.
