Minnesota
Saturday marks start of Minnesota’s firearm deer season
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans will be on the hunt for a trophy buck this weekend.
Saturday just before sunrise marks the start of the firearm deer opener in Minnesota.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says overall, deer numbers are on the rise, especially in the central and southern parts of the state, thanks in part to last year’s mild winter.
DNR leaders add northern Minnesota is still suffering from several harsh winters, so it’s expected to take longer for those areas to recover.
They also said one big difference from last year is there’s no huge acorn crop, so we’re not seeing a record mast year, which means the deer movements will change a little bit.
“This year, if you can find some leftover acorns or maybe some trees that are actually producing acorns to key in on those and really focus on where those deer patterns are changing,” said Todd Froberg, big game program coordinator for the Minnesota DNR. “So, they might be a little more predictable this year.”
New this year, language was added to clarify blaze orange requirements for fabric or synthetic ground blinds only during deer hunting season. It no longer impacts spring turkey, bear, or waterfowl seasons. A person in a fabric or synthetic ground blind on public land must have a blaze orange safety covering on top of the blind that is visible from all directions or a patch made of blaze orange that is at least 144 square inches (12×12 inches) on each side of the blind.
Mandatory chronic waste disease testing is back this weekend for the opener.
Also new this year, hunters can now bring any deer harvested out of state into Minnesota so long as they bring it to a taxidermist within the first 48 hours. The same goes for removing any deer harvested in a CWD zone.
The Minnesota DNR has also added some new CWD management sites in parts of the northeast and a new site near Wabasha after a deer tested positive for CWD last fall.
“They’re there so that we can ensure that future generations have the same or better opportunities that we have today,” said Justin Frisch, DNR conservation officer. “If we’re not following the regulations, then it puts the resource at risk.”
The firearm season ends with the 16-day muzzleloader season Dec. 15.
As of Wednesday, 230,946 licenses have been sold, which is 1% higher than last year.
Minnesota
School bus company’s inspection history in question after kids hurt in Hamline University crash
Data from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety shows the company that owns the school bus that crashed into a building Tuesday at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, has failed the majority of its inspections over the last three years.
Three students from the St. Paul charter school Higher Ground Academy and their bus driver suffered minor injuries when the vehicle crashed into the Robbins Science Center on Tuesday afternoon, according to the St. Paul Police Department. All four have since been released from the hospital. About a dozen students were on board at the time.
Police say the driver “did not exhibit any signs of intoxication or impairment.” Patrick Boyle, the attorney representing the St. Paul-based bus company Pride Transportation, says the crash was due to operator error, noting the driver — who was in the midst of their first week on the job — had accidentally stepped on the gas pedal instead of the break.
State records show vehicles owned by the company, also known as PTB Services, failed most of their recent inspections:
- 2024: 52 passed, 55 failed
- 2025: 40 passed, 47 failed
- 2026: 1 passed, 6 failed
Boyle insists those failures are often corrected and reinspected on the same day.
“We also want to clarify that the inspection statistics referenced in publicly available reports do not represent the entirety of our operating fleet nor do they indicate that vehicles remained in service after failing inspections,” Boyle said. “All buses currently transporting students for PTB Services possess the required inspection certification and comply with applicable state requirements.”
Police are still investigating the crash.
With family by his side, Dennis “Bud” Peterson went to be with the Lord on the morning of June 1, 2026.
He was born at Drake, North Dakota on April 2, 1932 in the home of his parents Nick and Helen Peterson. The family moved to Duluth at the beginning of World War II.
After graduation from Duluth Central High School Bud served in the US Army in Korea during the Korean War, and received an Honorable Discharge with the rank of Sergeant. He used his GI Bill benefits to attend UMD receiving an Associate Degree, and also earned his Commercial Instrument Pilot rating.
Bud was a longtime employee of St. Louis County retiring as Supervisor of Roads and Bridges. In retirement he served as Boiler Engineer and a do it all repairman for Duluth Gospel Tabernacle. He generously devoted his time and talents as a consummate do it yourself repairman to all of his family.
Dennis is preceded in death by his parents, Nick & Helen Peterson; brother, Robert Peterson; sister, June (Don) Kruger; and infant brother and sister, James and Delores Peterson.
He is survived by his sister, Carol (Eli) Miletich; and numerous nieces and nephews all of whom he loved dearly.
At Bud’s request, his family will be holding a private funeral service. Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home 218-727-3555.
-
Louisiana3 minutes agoLouisiana among states selected to receive federal funding for rare earth projects
-
Maine10 minutes agoSix Maine food producers win Good Food Awards
-
Maryland13 minutes agoSpotted lanternflies are reemerging in Maryland. Here’s what to know.
-
Michigan18 minutes ago2 historic Michigan lighthouses to split $120K in preservation grants
-
Massachusetts25 minutes agoKaren Read files lawsuit against Massachusetts State Police and Canton Police
-
Minnesota28 minutes agoSchool bus company’s inspection history in question after kids hurt in Hamline University crash
-
Mississippi33 minutes agoFerris, West to discuss Mississippi folk artists at UM Museum – The Oxford Eagle
-
Missouri40 minutes agoAmerican Shaman agrees to suspend kratom sales in Missouri
