>>Minnesota Republicans Condemn Piker Appearance
(Washington, D.C.) –Minnesota’s four Republican members of Congress are criticizing political commentator Hasan Piker’s planned Minnesota appearance Monday with Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and State Senator Omar Fateh (Fah-Tay). Congressman Tom Emmer and Representatives Pete Stauber, Michelle Fischbach and Brad Finstad issued a joint statement citing past remarks by Piker about the September 11th attacks, Hamas and the Republican Party. They say elected Democrats should condemn his rhetoric. Piker is a progressive online political commentator who has faced criticism over his statements about Israel and U.S. foreign policy.
>>Police Investigate Fatal Highway 169 Crash
(St. Peter, MN) — A 79-year-old semi-truck driver from Lester Prairie is dead after being struck by a pickup truck along Highway 169 in Nicollet County. The Minnesota State Patrol says the man was standing outside his parked semi on the northbound shoulder when a northbound pickup struck him. The pickup driver, a 52-year-old Texas man, was not injured. The crash remains under investigation.
>>Prescription Drug Take Back Day
(Undated) — Minnesotans can safely dispose of unused and expired prescription medications today (Sat) during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) The program helps prevent medication misuse, accidental poisonings and drug diversion. Tablets, capsules, patches and properly sealed liquid medications will be accepted, but needles and syringes will not. Find a nearby collection site at DEATakeBack.com.
>>Mayo Clinic Tops Global Smart Hospital Rankings
(Rochester, MN) — Mayo Clinic is once again ranked the world’s top smart hospital. Newsweek placed the Rochester-based facility first on its 2027 World’s Best Smart Hospitals list, recognizing advances in artificial intelligence and other digital technologies used in health care. Three other Mayo locations also made the global top 50: Arizona ranked 11th, Florida 21st and Eau Claire, Wisconsin, 46th. All four were recognized for leadership in AI innovation.
>>MSP Airport Prepares for Winter Weather
(Bloomington, MN) — Before the snow flies, crews at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport are gearing up testing winter equipment, MSP averages 51 inches of snow annually, making it the snowiest among the nation’s 25 largest metro-area airports. The training helps ensure crews and equipment are ready to keep airport operations running safely during winter storms.
