>>Light Snow Expected to Fall Across Minnesota on Wednesday
(Chanhassen, MN) — Light snow is falling in parts of western and central Minnesota this morning (Wed) and will move across the state throughout the day. The National Weather Service says one to the three inches of snowfall is expected in the Morris, Glenwood, and Alexandria area of west central Minnesota. Forecasters say much of the state will receive less than an inch or a dusting on grassy surfaces. High temperatures will mainly be in the 30s and low 40s for the next week.
>>Biofuels Advocates Hope New Trump Administration is Friendly to Ethanol
(Burnsville, MN) — Renewable fuel advocates are hoping a second Trump administration is more friendly to the ethanol industry. Brian Werner of the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association says the first Trump E-P-A often sided with the oil refineries. He says,” in the years of 2016 and 2017, Trump offered about 51 exemptions to different oil companies around the country for about 1.7 billion gallons of volume from the Renewable Fuel Standard.” The R-F-S requires oil companies to blend a minimum volume of renewable fuels into their gasoline and diesel products. Werner says the Biden administration granted zero exemptions to oil refineries. President-elect Trump has nominated oil and gas executive Chris Wright to be his U-S energy secretary.
>> Xcel Energy Starts Producing Carbon-free Electricity at Sherco Plant
(Becker, MN) — Xcel Energy is now delivering carbon-free electricity from one of the country’s largest solar projects. Officials say this will benefit customers across the Upper Midwest, and it all starts at their project in Becker. Xcel says Sherco Solar will provide lowest-cost solar power to customers in Minnesota and the Dakotas. It has also created 400 union construction jobs along with 12 operations and maintenance jobs. C-E-O Bob Frenzel says Xcel will continue to invest in these innovative technologies to create power, support communities and create jobs.
>>Red Wing Man Found Guilty of Murdering Woman in Hastings Motel
(Hastings, MN) — A Red Wing man is facing a mandatory life prison sentence for the May 2021 strangulation death of a woman in a Hastings motel. A Dakota County jury found 35-year-old Kyle Williams guilty Tuesday of two counts of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and felony assault in the death of 36-year-old Kelly Kocurek. Police discovered Kocurek unresponsive on a motel room floor with marks around her neck, a bruised and bloody face, and multiple cords near her body. Kocurek was taken to a hospital and remained in a coma for five days before she died.
>>Morrison County Authorities Actively Investigating 2016 Killing of Hunter
(Little Falls, MN) — A 30-thousand-dollar reward is being offered in the case of a hunter who was killed with his own rifle in November of 2016. Forty-one-year-old Terry Brisk was fatally shot while hunting on his parent’s property east of Little Falls. Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen says they are actively seeking leads in the case and are asking for the public’s assistance with the investigation. He says, “Somebody knows something. It’s a small community. People always drive these rural roads, so we just want someone to come forward. They have the information that we need to potentially break this case.”
>>Give to the Max Day Kicks off Thursday Morning in Minnesota
(Undated) — Hundreds of Minnesota schools and nonprofits will participate in tomorrow’s (Thurs) “Give to the Max Day.” It is the state’s largest 24-hour online giving campaign. Jenna Ray of GiveMN says hundreds of organizations will compete for additional prizes like Golden Tickets. She says Give to the Max Day has raised over $300 million for over 14,000 nonprofits and schools over the first 15 years. Donations can be made at GiveMN.org.
>>Mall of America Prepares for Black Friday, Holiday Shopping Season
(Bloomington, MN) — The trees are up, the decorations are in place, and the Mall of America is just waiting for the holidays to arrive. The mall is closed on Thanksgiving and opens at 7 am on Black Friday. The M-O-A’s Jill Renslow says their surveys show that 86 percent of shoppers will shop on Black Friday, and they typically see 200 to 250 thousand people that day. They will have lots of prizes and deals on Black Friday. Renslow says the Mall of America has been tracking higher sales this year, an increase of around five percent.
