❄️ Some southern Minnesota school districts are starting classes two hours late on Monday morning in the wake of freezing rain, sleet and snow overnight. That wintry mix has
left roads and sidewalks icy from Ortonville to Willmar to the Twin Cities, and points south. The Minnesota Department of Transportation was advising no travel on some highways early Monday between the Twin Cities and Mankato, including parts of U.S. Highway 169.
✈️ One of the busiest time for air travel at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is coming up this week.
The most hectic times in the days ahead will be on Friday — the day after Christmas — and next Sunday. More than 763,000 people are projected to pass through MSP security screening checkpoints in the next couple of weeks. Add in arriving and connecting passengers, and that number jumps to about 1.8 million travelers.
🏒 The Wild had a mixed bag this weekend. They beat the Oilers on Saturday 5-2, but then lost to the Avalanche Sunday 5-1. The Wild next take on the Predators Tuesday in St. Paul.
🏒 The Minnesota Frost also notched a win and a lost this weekend.
The Frost beat the Boston Fleet 5-2 on Friday before falling to the Ottowa Charge Sunday in overtime 3-2.
🏀 The Timberwolves beat the Thunder Friday night 112-107 in Minneapolis. The Wolves also notched a win against the Bucks Sunday 103-100. The Wolves next play the Knicks Tuesday.
Weather
☁️ Monday: Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of light freezing rain. Highs in the mid-20s to lower 30s northwest, to mid-30s southeast.
☁️ Monday night: Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow, slight chance of light freezing rain. Lows 9 to 15 north, to lower 20s to lower 30s south.
🌤️ Tuesday: Partly sunny. Highs 15 to 21 north, to upper 20s to mid-30s south. Temperatures falling into the upper teens in the afternoon.
The trail opening Sunday at the Northland Arboretum in Baxter winds through snow-covered pine trees and fields in a loop just under half a mile long. Unlike a frozen lake or smooth rink, there are curves, hills and occasional bumps.
Across the state, local government officials have been hearing plenty from constituents about increases in property taxes. Those taxes must be finalized by next week.
NEWS ROUNDUP
🐦 These Minnesotans with binoculars aren’t casing your house. They’re just doing the Christmas Bird Count. The annual volunteer-conducted bird census kicked off Dec. 14 and runs until Jan. 5. Christmas Bird Counts have been growing in popularity, giving researchers more tools to work with.
🚨 Use-of-force incident reported between federal agent and civilian in St. Paul. An ICE agent
shot at a man who they say hit two agents with his car on Sunday. No one was struck by the bullets and the agents had non-life threatening injuries
🎄 From 'Grinchmas' to chestnut roasts, these rural towns make the holidays central to their economy. With more people shopping online, holiday events are key to pulling people
away from their screens and into stores.
🪧 Thousands join anti-ICE march, rally for immigrants in Minneapolis. A diverse coalition of 46 organizations co-hosted the rally and march
, which included indigenous drumming and dance. Demonstrators marched down Lake Street from Mercado Central to Karmel Mall, hubs for Latino and Somali businesses.
🚿 Private well owners in Minnesota encouraged to test for arsenic, other contaminants. A group of nonprofits are holding free water screening clinics throughout the state for private well owners to test their water supplies.
🪖 A man’s remains were found along I-90 a decade ago. They’ve finally been identified as a WWII veteran.Other mysteries remain unsolved, including how, when and why the man ended up in Minnesota and how he died.
🥾 Commission recommends $11 million for parks and trails projects. The grant money comes from the voter-approved Legacy Amendment
, which distributes sales tax revenue to arts and culture, outdoor recreation, clean water and similar needs around the state.
📈 St. Cloud sees surge of drug overdose deaths in 2025. St. Cloud Police Chief Jeff Oxton says 21 people have died of drug overdoses in the city so far in 2025. That ties a previous high number of overdose deaths in 2023.
🚌 Anoka-Hennepin district teachers vote to authorize strike.
The teachers union for Minnesota’s largest school district says its members voted overwhelmingly to authorize a possible strike as they pursue a new contract. The authorization does not mean that a strike will happen.
❄️ Solstice: Winter transition brings sacred teachings and family traditions. Ojibwe author James Vukelich Kaagegaabaw shares how
the transition into winter is a culturally significant time for family groups to prepare for winter and share sacred teachings, songs, and stories.
🐺 U.S. House passes bill to remove wolves from endangered species protection list. If it passes, it would return wolf management to states, including Minnesota —
which could decide to authorize wolf hunting seasons. Minnesota is the only state in the lower 48 where wolves were never completely exterminated.
🎵 Minneapolis Sound legend Jellybean Johnson remembered for his music and love. After a career spanning over 45 years, Garry George “Jellybean” Johnson was
celebrated for his contributions to the music community as a skillful producer, songwriter, guitarist and drummer.
🚒 Lawsuit alleges City of Fargo earned tax revenue from illegally annexed land. Southern Valley Fire and Rescue says that annexation has cost it close to $7 million
in lost tax and fee revenue. The lawsuit states Fargo never filed any petition with the Cass County auditor over its expansion.
MUST LISTEN
🎧 As Minneapolis Council member Andrea Jenkins retires, she reflects on ‘tumultuous’ time in office.Council member Andrea Jenkins has called her time in office “tumultuous” — most notably in 2020 during the pandemic and the upheaval after the murder of George Floyd in the ward.
🎧 Flu season is here, and experts say it's not too late to get vaccinated.
Karen Martin, an epidemiologist supervisor with the Minnesota Department of Health, said school closures from illness are expected this time of year.
