Minnesota
A brighter Sunday; flake chances far northern Minnesota
It’s been fun to watch the morning satellite loop, which shows big gaps in the cloud cover in central and southern Minnesota.
At mid-morning, clouds lingered over much of the northern third of Minnesota plus most of western Wisconsin.
Flake chances north
North-central and northeastern Minnesota, plus portions of northwestern Wisconsin, have a chance of patchy light snow showers or flurries this morning.
A low pressure system could spread some light snow showers into northwestern Minnesota late Sunday afternoon. That chance of light snow showers expands over much of the northern third of Minnesota Sunday evening and patchy light snow could linger into early Monday in northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin.
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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s North American Mesoscale Forecast System model shows the potential precipitation pattern from 3 p.m. Sunday to noon on Monday:
You can hear updated weather information for Minnesota and western Wisconsin on the MPR News network.
Mild temps
The average Twin Cities high temp is 27 degrees this time of year. Metro area highs are expected to be around 40 degrees Sunday afternoon, with a few spots in the metro topping 40.
Much of Minnesota and western Wisconsin will see Sunday highs in the 30s, with lower 40s in west-central and southwestern Minnesota:
Parts of far northern Minnesota will see highs in the upper 20s.
Wind gusts
Sunday afternoon wind gusts will be generally in 15 to 20 mph range, with the higher gusts in western Minnesota:
Update
A new Updraft will be posted around 10:40 a.m. today. It’ll include a look at the week ahead.
Programming note
You can hear my live weather updates on MPR News at 7:35 a.m., 9:35 a.m. and 4:39 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.
Minnesota
Family of Minnesota woman sentenced for drug trafficking says she got caught up with cartel after getting stuck in Mexico
ST. CLOUD, Minn. — Several events in Minnesota have had ties to the Sinaloa Cartel, including a Minnesota woman who was sentenced to more than 26 years in prison.
“Obviously, she messed up… but she does not deserve to sit that much time,” said Tanja Tilleskjor, mother of Macalla Knot.
Friends and family of Knott, or “Calla,” say she’s not what you think after Knott pleaded guilty to distributing nearly $10 million worth of drugs from Mexico to the upper Midwest.
“I understand there are consequences for her actions, but I have seen people’s lives transformed,” Ashley Schlichting, a longtime friend of Knot, said.
Knott moved south of the border in March 2020 after being laid off. Her family says she tried to come back but didn’t have a passport to do so.
“I think it went dark really fast, went downhill very quickly and was stuck in a situation she couldn’t get out of,” Schlichting said.
Former CIA Agent Jack Rice explained how this can happen.
“Imagine what happens when somebody says, ‘How would you like $100,000?Look how easy this will be. It’s a couple of hours work. It’s nothing.’” Rice said.
Knott’s sentencing happened just days before three were charged in a Cartel-related kidnapping in St. Paul.
“They are much more difficult to actually control than smaller organizations in the Twin Cities and elsewhere. These are powerful multi-national operations with huge resources” Rice said. “The cartel is here to make money. The cartel is here to make profit.”
Minnesota
‘Attempted coup’: Chaos reigns in half-empty Minnesota House
ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – Minnesota appears to be in a constitutional crisis on day one of the legislative session.
Constitutional crisis
What we know:
The war over control of the House saw its first air strikes on Tuesday, with Democrats staying away and Republicans seizing control.
A half empty House greeted Secretary of State Steve Simon as he launched the 2025 session.
But after a roll call, Simon said there weren’t enough members to do any business.
“There being 67 members present, there is no quorum as required by the Constitution of the state of Minnesota,” the Secretary of State said. “The House may not conduct any further business and the House of Representatives is adjourned.”
“The House is not adjourned,” interjected Rep. Harry Niska, (R-Ramsey). “You do not have authority over the House of Representatives.”
‘Attempted coup’
Dig deeper:
As Simon walked away, Republicans took over and ran the day’s session as if nothing had happened.
They cast a unanimous vote for Rep. Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Spring) as Speaker of the House, which would make her the state’s first person of color in the role.
The DFL caucus watched it happen from 30 miles away.
“What we saw today was an attempted coup,” said Rep. Jamie Long (DFL-Minneapolis).
Dozens of members made Shakopee headquarters for the day.
They called the Republican session a sham, but they recognize people across the state may have strong feelings when they see video of their empty seats.
“I would imagine that Minnesotans are irritated with both of us,” said Rep. Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park). “I would imagine that they’re irritated with us for not being there. And I would imagine they’re irritated with Republicans for wanting to throw out a duly elected member, especially on the day that the courts ruled that he clearly won.”
Room for agreement?
Big picture view:
Democrats have offered to give Republicans majority control until they’re no longer a majority, likely in February, instead of for a full two years.
Republicans say every offer they’ve heard is unreasonable.
“What we are offering is to come in,” said Rep. Demuth. “I am the Speaker of the House, and we look forward to working with them over the next two years in a reasonable way.”
What’s next:
Republicans say they intend to come every day and go about House business.
Democrats started their day in Shakopee with a judge ruling in favor of Rep. Brad Tabke.
Despite the ruling, Republicans are still threatening to vote not to seat Rep. Tabke.
Democrats will now go to the Supreme Court to stop Republicans from blocking Rep. Tabke and from ruling the House while they’re not around.
They’re hoping a ruling could come within a couple of weeks.
Minnesota
NEXT Weather: Minnesota forecast from Jan. 14, 2025
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