>>President Biden Visiting Northfield Farm
(Washington, DC) — President Joe Biden visits a family farm in the Northfield area this afternoon (Wed about 2 pm), kicking off a national tour by his administration to promote over five billion dollars in new funding for programs in rural America. U-S-D-A Secretary Tom Vilsack says the state understands and appreciates climate-smart agriculture and, “clearly Minnesota has been a very heavy promoter of and user of the various conservation projects and programs.” He notes Minnesota was one of the first states to embrace a clean water initiative. Secretary Vilsack and President Biden will visit Dutch Creek Farms, a few miles outside of Northfield.
>>State GOP Chair Rips Biden’s Visit to Minnesota
(Edina, MN) — Minnesota Republicans say one reason the president is coming to Minnesota is to block a challenge for the Democratic presidential nomination from 3rd District Congressman Dean Phillips. State G-O-P Chairman David Hann (HAN) says he never thought he’d be writing a press release in agreement with Phillips, but they both believe Biden won’t win in November 2024. Phillips wasn’t reachable to respond, but did say last Friday, “I am the Democratic candidate who can win, who can win the 2024 election.” Republicans don’t agree with that statement, but Chair Hann says “It is becoming increasingly more obvious that both Democrats and Republicans know that if the election were held today, Biden would lose.”
>>Office of Cannabis Management Developing Rules and Regs
(St. Paul, MN) — State officials expect to receive a lot of applications when the licensing system is completed for Minnesota’s legal cannabis industry. Office of Cannabis Management interim director Charlene Briner (BRY-ner) says “There’s an extraordinarily high level of interest in the potential for (the) cannabis industry in Minnesota. We’re getting a lot of questions. Unfortunately, some of those we can’t answer other than to talk about process and timeline.” Briner says they won’t know what a cannabis business application will look like until they finish the rulemaking process. There’s more information on the Office of Cannabis Management website.
>>Commission Receives 2600 Designs for State Flag and Seal
(St. Paul, MN) — The State Emblems Redesign Commission says it received more than 26 hundred submissions for a new Minnesota flag and seal. About 85 percent of the designs are for a new state flag and 15 percent for a new seal. The commission will now narrow the list down to five finalists and submit it to the Minnesota Legislature by January 1st.
>>5-Year-Old Dies in St. Louis County Crash near Biwabik
(Markham, MN) — A five-year-old child is dead after a crash on an icy road Tuesday afternoon south of Biwabik (bih-WAH’-bick) in St. Louis County. Deputies say a vehicle on the Vermilion Trail rolled on its side and a citizen who stopped to help reported that a child was stuck under the vehicle. Paramedics and firefighters tried to save the victim, but the child died at the scene. The report says the driver and another child in the vehicle were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The roadway was packed with ice from the snowstorm.
>>2 School Buses Crash in Afton
(Afton, MN) — Authorities are investigating a collision between two school buses Tuesday afternoon in Afton. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office says a full-sized bus carrying 15 students between grades 6 and 10 was headed east when it hit a minibus occupied only by the driver at an intersection. Everyone involved in the crash was evaluated at the scene, but no injuries were reported. The students from Stillwater Area Public Schools were placed on a second bus and taken home. No charges are expected.
>>Fatal Halloween Night Shooting in Brooklyn Park
(Brooklyn Park, MN) — One man is dead and another was seriously injured in a shooting Halloween night (Tues) in Brooklyn Park. When officers arrived, they found two men who had been shot. One of the victims died at the scene and the other was transported to a hospital with serious injuries. The suspect or suspects fled the scene before officers arrived. No arrests have been made.
>>Xcel Energy Proposes Wind Energy Line Routes
(St. Paul, MN) — Xcel Energy is proposing two route options for the Minnesota Energy Connection. The 175-mile-long transmission line will connect solar and wind energy from southwest Minnesota with customers in central Minnesota. The new line will bring 4,000 megawatts of renewable energy to the area, replacing the power generated at the retiring Sherco Coal Plant. State regulators will now review the plan, the permit applications, and the certificate of need. The approval process takes 12 to 15 months and includes an opportunity for public comment.