MINNEAPOLIS — Some love it, while others hate it. But in 15 days the new Minnesota state flag will be raised across the state.
The Minnesotan behind the design, Andrew Prekker, spoke with WCCO on Wednesday about the achievement.
“It is such a privilege and an honor and I’m so excited to be able to be a part of such an important process,” Prekker said.
Answering your new Minnesota state flag questions
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The Luverne native doesn’t have a design background but says he did a lot of studying.
“Vexillology research, which is about experts in flags,” he said. “Polling on different websites to see what people wanted to see on the flag, and I also did a lot of research into Minnesota history and culture.”
Andrew Prekker
WCCO
Prekker’s original design was modified by the the State Emblems Redesign Commission, which kept the North Star and abstract shape of Minnesota, but nixed the stripes and opted for all blue, which Prekker says represents water.
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It’s gotten pushback from some who wanted more of a say on the new flag. Prekker says he doesn’t take the criticism personally.
Mugs, hats and shirts: Items you can already buy featuring new Minnesota state flag
“For me, it’s an important change that is necessary to be inclusive to all people in Minnesota, especially our Indigenous communities and tribal nations,” he said.
Right now, Minnesota’s flag shows a White settler tilling land as an Indigenous man rides off on horseback. Many consider the imagery racist.
The redesign commission spent four months considering more than 2,100 submissions from the public. Flag expert Ted Kaye, secretary of the North American Vexillological Association, told WCCO in December he gives the final design an A+.
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“It’s different from all other U.S. state flags and actually most flags that I’ve seen,” Kaye said. “This special stylized form of the state is a very unusual flag design element.”
YouTuber’s critique of Minnesota state flag finalists draws 1 million views
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He compared the backlash in Minnesota to the fierce debate in Canada in the 60s when it adopted its now-iconic maple leaf flag.
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“People went crazy,” he said. “And now it’s considered one of the best flags in the world, so I have a feeling Minnesota with some time, they’re going love this new flag.”
READ MORE: Could Minnesota lawmakers change the new state flag and seal designs?
Some Minnesota Republican lawmakers announced earlier this month they want to halt the new flag’s rollout and give Minnesotans a chance to provide more feedback on the design.
“Minnesotans deserve the right to vote for what represents them. If that flag is this one or if that flag is the new one, it’s a Minnesotan’s right to vote,” said Rep. Bjorn Olson, R-Fairmont.
Republicans introduced three flag-related bills, including one pushing for a referendum on the design that would be put to voters.
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READ MORE: Crow Wing County Board plans to take concerns over new flag design to Minnesota governor
Olson, and Democratic Gov. Tim Walz, both agree a referendum would be a “longshot.”
“Our current flag is problematic. I think we all know that. We’ve evolved into a more diverse state and I think it’s more reflective of that,” Walz said. “While Republicans are talking about this, I am going to be making sure our kids are eating and we’re creating job creation. So they can debate it in the legislature, we will see where it goes.”
The new flag makes its official debut on Flag Day, May 11.
Minnesota state flag and seal submissions: The good, the bad, and the loony
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60 photos
Stephen Swanson
Stephen Swanson is a web producer at WCCO. A 20-year station veteran, Stephen was a floor director for a decade before moving to the newsroom, where he focuses on general assignment reporting.
Crosby-Ironton four-star guard Tori Oehrlein verbally committed to the Gophers in November and it looks like they will have a future star when she arrives on campus in 2026. She has absolutely dominated to begin her junior campaign.
Oehrlein has been putting up unbelievable numbers all season, averaging 29.8 points, 16.7 rebounds, 9.5 assists and 7.3 steals per game — and her performance on Tuesday night might’ve been her most impressive.
The 5-foot-11 guard broke the Minnesota high school girls basketball state record with 21 assists in a 113-33 victory over Hinckley-Finlayson. She ended Tuesday night’s game with a ridiculous box score of 30 points, 21 assists, 12 rebounds and 12 steals, marking her third quadruple-double of the season.
Oehrlein is only a junior this year, so head coach Dawn Plitzuweit and the Gophers will have to wait more than a year until she’s able to play for Minnesota. Crosby-Ironton is a perfect 14-0 this season and Oehrlein looks like one of the best players in the state regardless of class.
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According to ESPN’s recruiting rankings, Oehrlein ranks No. 43 nationally in the class of 2026. The only high schooler in Minnesota who ranks high in 2026 is Kentucky commit Maddyn Greenway, who ranks 18th nationally.
Greenway, the daughter of former Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway, is averaging 31.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 4.8 steals per game at Providence Academy.
Another high school phenom who has been offered by the Gophers is Duluth Marshall ninth-grader Chloe Johnson. The class of 2028 recruit is averaging 28.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 3.8 steals per game for the Hilltoppers.
Stay up to date on all things Gophers by bookmarking Minnesota Gophers On SI, subscribing to our YouTube Channel, and signing up to receive our free Gophers newsletter, which will enter you into a drawing for the EA College Gameday 25 video game (you choose between PS5 or Xbox).
Memphis Grizzlies (24-14, third in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (20-17, seventh in the Western Conference)
Minneapolis; Saturday, 8 p.m. EST
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BOTTOM LINE: Minnesota heads into a matchup with Memphis as winners of three games in a row.
The Timberwolves are 16-10 in conference matchups. Minnesota is third in the Western Conference at limiting opponent scoring, giving up just 107.2 points while holding opponents to 45.4% shooting.
The Grizzlies are 11-11 against Western Conference opponents. Memphis ranks second in the league scoring 56.9 points per game in the paint led by Jaren Jackson Jr. averaging 12.1.
The Timberwolves average 15.1 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.5 more made shots on average than the 13.6 per game the Grizzlies allow. The Grizzlies average 13.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.4 more made shots on average than the 12.5 per game the Timberwolves give up.
TOP PERFORMERS: Anthony Edwards is averaging 25.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists for the Timberwolves.
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Jackson is scoring 22.6 points per game with 6.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists for the Grizzlies.
LAST 10 GAMES: Timberwolves: 6-4, averaging 107.5 points, 46.0 rebounds, 23.8 assists, 6.7 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 45.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.0 points per game.
Grizzlies: 5-5, averaging 122.8 points, 49.5 rebounds, 28.8 assists, 9.1 steals and 5.6 blocks per game while shooting 46.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.0 points.
INJURIES: Timberwolves: Rob Dillingham: out (ankle).
Grizzlies: Cam Spencer: day to day (thumb), Marcus Smart: out (finger), Vince Williams Jr.: out (ankle), GG Jackson II: out (foot ).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
The final game of the NFL’s Wild Card weekend is set to take the Minnesota Vikings to LA to face the NFC West champion Rams Monday night at SoFi Stadium. The game is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET, and tickets are still available to catch the action live.
How to get Vikings vs. Rams NFC Wild Card tickets: Seats are available for the NFC Wild Card matchup between the Vikings and Rams on secondary sites Vivid Seats, StubHub, SeatGeek and Viagogo.
As of Jan. 9, the starting prices were as follows:
Vivid Seats starting at $87
StubHub starting at $92
SeatGeek starting at $92
Viagogo starting at $91
#5 Minnesota Vikings (14-3) at #4 Los Angeles Rams (10-7)
NFC Wild Card Playoffs
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When: Monday, Jan. 13 at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT)
Where: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, Calif.
The Vikings had a shot to win the NFC’s top seed in Week 18, but fell short against the Detroit Lions, losing the NFC North Division and slipping to the No. 5 spot instead for a road matchup on Wild Card weekend. They are listed as 1-point favorites against the Rams after finishing the regular season with a 14-3 record and nine straight wins prior to last weekend’s 31-9 loss in Detroit. Though all the ingredients are in place for the Vikings to make a run, just three of their 14 victories this season came against playoff teams and one of their three losses came to the Rams (30-20) back in Week 8.
Minnesota Vikings vs. Los Angeles Rams NFC Wild Card tickets: Vivid Seats | StubHub | SeatGeek | Viagogo
The Rams found their way through an injury-marred start to the season and closed it out strong with five straight wins before resting starters in a Week 18 loss to the Seattle Seahawks (30-25). The highlight of that stretch and their season as a whole was a 44-42 shootout win over the Buffalo Bills that was fueled by two Kyren Williams touchdown runs and a big day from the receiving duo of Puka Nacua (12-162-1) and Cooper Kupp (5-92-1). The same combination of playmakers around quarterback Matthew Stafford are central to LA’s path to victory against Minnesota.
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