Minnesota

Push to make bald eagle national bird took flight in Minnesota

Published

2 hours ago

December 18, 2024

Push to make bald eagle national bird took flight in Minnesota

Bald Eagle could soon be national bird

The Bald Eagle is a symbol of American freedom, strength and perseverance, but did you know it was never designated the official national bird? FOX 9’s Maury Glover explains how that could soon change.

(FOX 9) – The bald eagle is poised to be officially recognized as the United States’ national bird as a bipartisan bill is on its way to President Joe Biden’s desk.

History of bald eagle as symbol of United States

The backstory: Back in 1782, Congress put the bald eagle on the national seal and since then, it has been used on everything from passports to currency. But it was never officially designated the national bird, a fact many people assumed it already was.

“Assuming something doesn’t necessarily make it so. So, this is just kind of that official overdue recognition that this is our national symbol. Let’s make it our national bird,” said Ed Hahn, the National Eagle Center director of advancement and marketing communications.

The National Eagle Center in Wabasha is home to four bald eagle ambassadors who help teach visitors about the environment and conservation. But soon the formerly endangered species could be soaring to new heights.

“It’s a very cool development and surprising to most people,” said Hahn.

Push to name bald eagle as national bird

What we know: Preston Cook, whose 40,000 piece collection of eagle memorabilia is housed at the eagle center, discovered the oversight while he was writing a book about the birds.

Cook urged Minnesota lawmakers in Washington D.C. to introduce legislation naming the bald eagle the national bird, which passed the U.S. Senate back in July and the U.S. House on Monday. The bill is now headed to President Biden’s desk to make the designation official.

“Here we are a country that doesn’t have a national bird. Now, every state, all 50 states have a state bird, but we don’t have a national bird. So it is time I felt that this should be done,” said Cook.

Dig deeper: The bald eagle bounced back from near extinction in the late 60s and 70s and the eagle center hopes giving the country’s most prominent bird a new title will help the species continue to spread its wings for years to come.

“I think any time that we’re able to elevate something like the bald eagle in high into the public eye, it raises awareness and appreciation for our natural resources, for the environment, for conservation, which are all important,” said Hahn.

The bald eagle will join the rose as the national flower, the oak as the national tree and the bison as the national mammal.

What we don’t know: While the bill has been sent to President Biden’s desk, it’s unknown when he may sign the bill into law.

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Minnesota

New York takes road win streak into matchup with Minnesota

Published

10 hours ago

December 18, 2024

Press Room

New York takes road win streak into matchup with Minnesota

Associated Press

New York Knicks (16-10, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (14-11, seventh in the Western Conference)

Minneapolis; Thursday, 9:30 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Timberwolves -2; over/under is 213.5

BOTTOM LINE: New York hits the road against Minnesota trying to prolong its three-game road winning streak.

The Timberwolves are 8-4 in home games. Minnesota is eighth in the Western Conference with 33.3 defensive rebounds per game led by Rudy Gobert averaging 7.6.

The Knicks have gone 8-6 away from home. New York ranks fifth in the Eastern Conference with 27.7 assists per game led by Jalen Brunson averaging 7.7.

The Timberwolves are shooting 45.9% from the field this season, 0.3 percentage points lower than the 46.2% the Knicks allow to opponents. The Knicks average 14.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.6 more made shots on average than the 11.6 per game the Timberwolves allow.

TOP PERFORMERS: Anthony Edwards is averaging 26.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Timberwolves.

Karl-Anthony Towns is scoring 24.8 points per game with 13.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists for the Knicks.

LAST 10 GAMES: Timberwolves: 6-4, averaging 104.6 points, 46.2 rebounds, 25.0 assists, 9.4 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 44.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 97.4 points per game.

Knicks: 7-3, averaging 114.6 points, 42.7 rebounds, 28.0 assists, 7.8 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 49.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.4 points.

INJURIES: Timberwolves: Joe Ingles: day to day (soleus).

Knicks: Ariel Hukporti: day to day (ankle), Mitchell Robinson: out (ankle).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Minnesota

NEXT Weather: 5 p.m. report for Minnesota from Dec. 17, 2024

Published

18 hours ago

December 17, 2024

Press Room

NEXT Weather: 5 p.m. report for Minnesota from Dec. 17, 2024 – CBS Minnesota

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We’ve got two rounds of snow ahead, including a system that has prompted a NEXT Weather Alert on Thursday.

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Minnesota

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

Published

1 day ago

December 17, 2024

Press Room

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.”

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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