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Minnesota-backed bill to make bald eagles the national bird heads to Biden’s desk

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Minnesota-backed bill to make bald eagles the national bird heads to Biden’s desk


The bald eagle could soon become the national bird of the United States after a bill backed by Minnesota legislators passed the U.S. House on Monday. The bill earlier passed the Senate, and now awaits the signature of President Joe Biden.

You’d be forgiven for thinking the bald eagle already held the title of national bird. The bald eagle is on the national seal and has been a symbol of the U.S. since the country’s founding. But the U.S. has not had an official national bird. 

Minnesota lawmakers introduced a bill to change that. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith helped lead the bill in the Senate, where it passed with bipartisan support in July.

“The bald eagle is a symbol of our country’s freedom and strength,” Klobuchar said in a statement. “With the passage of our legislation, the bald eagle will now officially be recognized as our nation’s national bird.”

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Minnesota U.S. Rep. Brad Finstad introduced the House version of the bill; the rest of the Minnesota delegation signed on as cosponsors.

A bald eagle flies high above Theodore Wirth Regional Park during the morning of the Minneapolis West Winter Bird Count on December 15, 2024.

Courtesy of Chris Boser

“More than 240 years ago, the Founding Fathers identified the bald eagle as a symbol of the strength and independence promised in our new nation,” Finstad said in a statement following the bill’s passage on Monday. “Today, we rightfully recognize the bald eagle as our official national bird — bestowing an honor that is long overdue.”

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The bill drew support from the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, where eagle aficionado Preston Cook displays part of his 40,000-piece eagle collection. He’s been an advocate for designating the eagle as the national bird.

“This is an exciting day,” Cook said in a statement following the House vote. “With this legislation, we honor its historic role and solidify its place as our national bird and an emblem of our national identity.”

Legislators said Minnesota was a logical backer for the bill — the state has the second-highest number of bald eagles, behind only Alaska. 



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What a University of Minnesota grad has done for space exploration

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What a University of Minnesota grad has done for space exploration


The successful Artemis II mission around the moon is a reminder that space exploration is built on decades of groundwork. Photojournalist Joe Van Ryn and Frankie McLister show how a University of Minnesota graduate helped pave the way for spaceflight.



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Minnesota county is investigating potential kidnapping and false imprisonment by federal officers

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Minnesota county is investigating potential kidnapping and false imprisonment by federal officers


MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota officials are planning to investigate the actions of federal law enforcement officers in one county, potentially including a kidnapping, burglary and false imprisonment.

Ramsey County Attorney John Choi and Sheriff Bob Fletcher said they planned to release more details about the investigation at a news conference later Monday. Ramsey County includes the state capital of St. Paul.

Choi and Fletcher said they will pursue information they need for the investigation from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The department has refused so far to cooperate with other state and local investigations into the killings by federal officers of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis during the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

The news conference announcement did not specify which incident is being investigated, but the county’s chief prosecutor and sheriff said they would ask the public for information about this and other incidents.

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The state and the chief prosecutor in Hennepin County, which includes Minneapolis, sued the Trump administration last month to gain access to evidence they say they need to independently investigate three shootings by federal officers in Minneapolis, including the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

The lawsuit accuses the federal government of reneging on its promise to cooperate with state investigations after the surge of around 3,000 federal law enforcement officers into Minnesota.

Minnesota and Hennepin County have also appealed to the public to share information about federal officers’ potentially illegal activities, given the refusal by federal authorities to provide evidence.

The Trump administration has suggested Minnesota officials don’t have jurisdiction to investigate those cases. State and county prosecutors say they need to conduct their own inquiries because they don’t trust the federal government.

The Justice Department in January said it was opening a federal civil rights investigation into Pretti’s killing, and two officers have been placed on leave, but the agency said a similar federal probe was not warranted in Good’s death.

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How to buy Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets NBA playoff tickets

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How to buy Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets NBA playoff tickets


With a win on Sunday night, the Denver Nuggets secured the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

The Nuggets will face the No. 6 seed, the Minnesota Timberwolves, with the first two games taking place at Ball Arena in Denver. Tickets are available now, starting at $72 for the Game 2 in the best-of-seven series.

This marks the Timberwolves’ fifth consecutive playoff trip, while it is the seventh consecutive playoff trip for the Nuggets. No matter who wins the first-round series, an NBA Finals contender will fall.

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Here’s what you need to know to buy Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves 2026 NBA playoffs first round tickets:

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets NBA playoffs tickets

The schedule for the NBA playoffs is not yet known, but tickets are available now for all potential games. Once the full schedule is released, you can check back here for an updated look at the schedule and ticket prices.

Timberwolves vs. Nuggets NBA playoff schedule

As the No. 3 seed, the Denver Nuggets will host for Game 1, Game 2, Game 5* and Game 7*. The Timberwolves’ will host Game 3 and Game 4 at home, with the potential to host Game 6* at home.

Denver Nuggets 2026 NBA playoffs first round tickets

Minnesota Timberwolves 2026 NBA playoffs first round tickets

When are the NBA Finals?

The NBA Finals are scheduled to begin on Wednesday, June 3 and could run all the way until a potential Game 7 on Friday, June 19.

Get Nuggets vs. Timberwolves NBA playoff tickets

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