>>Minnesota Candidates Make Final Push as Election Day Nears
(Undated) — Minnesota voters head to the polls tomorrow(Tues), with candidates making their final campaign stops across the state ahead of Election Day. The governor’s race between Democrat Amy Klobuchar and Republican Lisa Demuth, along with the open U.S. Senate contest between Democrat Peggy Flanagan and Republican Michele Tafoya, are among the top races drawing attention. Both parties have been crisscrossing Minnesota with statewide bus tours and rallies, making stops in Greater Minnesota, the Twin Cities suburbs and communities across the state. The final push is focused on encouraging supporters to turn out and making one last appeal to undecided voters.
>>MNsure Open Enrollment Underway for 2027 Health Coverage
(St. Paul, MN) — Open enrollment is underway in Minnesota for people looking to sign up for health insurance or make changes to their existing coverage through MNsure. Minnesotans can compare health plans, review coverage options and find out whether they qualify for financial assistance to lower their monthly premiums. This year’s marketplace includes 211 medical and dental plans, with Aspirus joining as a new health insurance carrier in northeastern Minnesota. The deadline to enroll for coverage beginning January 1st is December 15th. More information is available at MNsure.org.
>>Hermantown Approves Google Data Center Project Despite Opposition
(Hermantown, MN) — Hermantown is moving forward with a proposed Google data center despite continued opposition from residents. The City Council unanimously approved several key agreements late Friday night following hours of public comment and protests that delayed earlier votes. Opponents have raised concerns about noise, water use, electricity demand and environmental impacts. Google withdrew its request for up to 80-million dollars in property tax breaks ahead of the vote. The project still faces several lawsuits, wetland permitting requirements and Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approval of its electric service agreement before construction can begin.
>>Judges Seek Updates on Children in Red Lake Foster Care
(Bemidji, MN) – Two Beltrami County judges are seeking information about children placed in foster homes on the Red Lake reservation following a federal takeover of the tribe’s child welfare agency. The Bureau of Indian Affairs assumed control of the agency in September amid allegations of failures to protect children and cooperate with federal investigators. Beltrami County says fewer than 10 children in its out-of-home care system are placed on the reservation. Social workers have been ordered to verify the children’s placements, status and most recent in-person contact. County Attorney David Hanson says he believes the children are in safe homes and does not intend to disrupt appropriate placements
>>Hibbing Man Seriously Injured in Shooting at Iron Range Bonfire
(Buhl, MN) — A 20-year-old Hibbing man is hospitalized with a serious head injury after being shot while attending a bonfire near Buhl Friday night. St. Louis County investigators say friends heard a gunshot near his vehicle at the Scott Lake boat landing and found him lying nearby. He was taken to the hospital before being airlifted to a Duluth-area facility. Authorities say no foul play is suspected, and the circumstances remain under investigation.
>>Two Hospitalized, Two Arrested After Halloween Stabbing in Duluth
(Duluth, MN) — Two people were injured and two suspects are in custody following a stabbing in Duluth on Halloween. Police found two men, ages 36 and 33, suffering from stab wounds. Both were taken to local hospitals and are reported to be in stable condition. A 31-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman were later arrested and booked into the St. Louis County Jail on pending charges of first-degree aggravated robbery and second-degree assault. Police say the victims and suspects knew each other.
>>Man Injured in Accidental Shooting at Halloween Party in Britt
(Britt, MN) — A 22-year-old man was injured in an accidental shooting at an underage Halloween party in Britt Saturday night. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office says the intoxicated Hoyt Lakes man accidentally shot himself in the left leg with a handgun. He was taken to Virginia Regional Medical Center in a private vehicle and treated for injuries believed to be non-life-threatening. The incident remains under investigation.
>>Two Warren Men Killed in Single-Vehicle Crash in Polk County
(Polk County, MN) — Two 22-year-old men from Warren were killed in a single-vehicle crash in northwestern Minnesota Saturday morning. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says Johnny Ortiz and Devin Casares were inside a vehicle that left the road and overturned in a drainage ditch. Both men were found inside the vehicle and pronounced dead. The crash remains under investigation.
>>Man Killed in Early Morning Shooting in Duluth
(Duluth, MN) — A 36-year-old man is dead following an early Sunday morning shooting in Duluth. Police say an argument between two men escalated into gunfire around 2:45 a.m. Officers arrested a 26-year-old man at the scene who is believed to have shot the victim. The 36-year-old was taken to a local hospital, where he died from a single gunshot wound.
