Minnesota
Medcalf: Walz’s emergence a chance to tell a new story about Minnesota
Years ago, I hopped into a pickup truck — I’d never been in a pickup truck before — with two friends on a trip to Walmart in Mankato shortly after I’d started my freshman year at Minnesota State Mankato. I wanted a DVD, “Along Came a Spider,” but I needed cash, so I asked an employee to point me toward the nearest time machine.
I’d only been in Minnesota for a few weeks, and I had not realized that some of the lingo from my hometown might not make sense here. In Milwaukee, we called the ATMs “time machines” because they were actually made by a company named “TYME.”
The young staffer working at Walmart that night stared at me for a moment before he lowered his head, shrugged and said, ‘No … No, we don’t have any time machines.’” That may have been his last shift.
More than 20 summers later, I no longer call them time machines. But I still haven’t had a hot dish and the only Jucy Lucy I ever tried did not convince me that I should order another one. I’ve enjoyed a lot of great food on a stick at the State Fair, where I’ll gladly wait in a line for an hour or longer to get a bucket of Sweet Martha’s cookies this weekend. And — at age 41 — I’m known in my household for a weekly rant about disruptive construction projects in the Twin Cities. I won’t call myself a full-fledged Minnesotan, but this is my home.
This state we all call home will undergo another examination in the months ahead as Gov. Tim Walz continues his tour of America as the Democratic Party’s vice presidential nominee. Walz resembles the image of what America believes represents Minnesota: a lot of folksy white people.
That notion, which denies the presence of this state’s immaculate Black and brown movers and shakers, is only partly true. But with a national spotlight on Minnesota yet again, I hope the full story of the state and the experiences of its diverse communities receive the attention they deserve.
Four years ago, the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder showcased the significant hurdles faced by marginalized communities in Minnesota, a state with a problematic history it had to confront before it could begin to move forward. It’s a place that often secures multiple spots on those “Best Places to Live” lists, but in that moment, the country learned that Minnesota ain’t always the best place to live for everybody.
Yet, the politicized national narrative about Minnesota — embraced by opportunists who’d hoped to falsely cast Minneapolis in particular as a dangerous cesspool that people should avoid — also stripped those diverse communities of their chance to tell the world that we should be acknowledged and heard, too.
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The Minnesota Golden Gophers and Virginia Tech Hokies will face off in Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Friday with a mayonnaise bath for the winning coach on the line.
Will Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck or Virginia Tech head coach Brent Pry receive a head full of Duke’s mayonnaise?
The Hokies (6-6) will be without over a dozen starters who either entered the transfer portal, opted out of the bowl game or suffered injuries following the team’s 37-17 win over Virigina, including starting quarterback Kyron Drones and RB Bhayshul Tuten, the Hokies’ season rushing leader. Pry said the Hokies will showcase many young players that will offer fans “a good look at what our team can be in the fall” next season.
The Gophers (7-5) are coming off a 24-7 win over Wisconsin in late November.
This marks the first matchup between Minnesota and Virginia Tech. Here’s everything you need to know:
When is the Mayo Bowl between Minnesota and Virginia Tech?
The Duke’s Mayo Bowl game between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Virginia Tech Hokies kicks off at 7:30 p.m. at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
How to watch Minnesota and Virginia Tech in the Mayo Bowl
The Duke’s Mayo Bowl game between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Virginia Tech Hokies will be televised nationally on ESPN.
Live streaming is available on Fubo, which has a free trial.
Watch Minnesota take on Virginia Tech with a Fubo subscription
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FOSSTON, Minn. — Police detained an 11-year-old after a gun was located at the elementary school in Fosston, Minnesota.
According to a report from the Fosston Police Department, the incident occurred on Thursday, Jan. 2. Fosston is a town in northwest Minnesota, approximately 45 miles west of Bemidji and 70 miles east of Grand Forks.
When police arrived at the school, a weapon was located and seized and the male suspect detained.
The release said the incident is under investigation.
Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of “staff.” Often, the “staff” byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.
Sicknesses on the rise among Minnesotans
Norovirus outbreaks, also known as the flu, doubled in Minnesota in December over 2023, while cases of COVID-19 and RSV also remain steady.
(FOX 9) – The holidays are behind us, but one thing you still want to be vigilant about is the rise in illnesses after spending time with loved ones.
Sickness outbreaks
What we know: Health experts are keeping an eye on COVID-19, the Flu and RSV.
Meanwhile, they’ve noticed an outbreak of norovirus, also known as the stomach flu.
“We’re at about 60 outbreaks reported, and that means more than 1,200 people were sick,” said Amy Saupe, Senior Epidemiologist with the Minnesota Department of Health.
While that’s a small portion of all the illnesses in the state at the time, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) says it’s seen twice as many outbreaks reported as it typically would see for the month of December.
“We’re seeing the test positive rates and the total positive tests in these large laboratory systems increasing,” said Dr. Frank Rhame, Infectious Disease Physician with Allina Health.
What you can do
Sickness prevention: Experts say the best way to protect yourself from getting unwanted vomiting and diarrhea, is by doing the basics.
“Always wash your hands 20 seconds, soap and water before eating anything, just in case you’ve touched something that might have norovirus on it,” said Saupe.
Experts also say if you’re sick – don’t prepare food for others.
As for respiratory illnesses like COVID-19, RSV and the Flu?
“We are lower now than we were at this time last year,” said Melissa McMahon, Epidemiology Supervisor with the Minnesota Department of Health.
But lower doesn’t necessarily mean your chances are lower.
MDH says COVID-19 has been fairly high, but steady in the last month. The flu and RSV are both on the rise just in the last two to three weeks.
“It is kind of common to see that increase right after the holidays, people tend to travel a lot. They get together in big groups,” said McMahon.
Health experts add they don’t expect the rise in illnesses to end until at least March. But they do expect an uptick in the next couple of months.
The Source: Minnesota Department of Health officials
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