Minnesota
Submissions now open for MnDOT’s latest Name a Snowplow contest
Brush off your best puns and defrost your pop culture references, because the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s Name a Snowplow contest is back.
Submissions for the 2025 contest are open through noon on Dec. 19. MnDOT staff will review and whittle down the submissions, then open the process to a public vote in January. Eight names will be chosen, one for each of MnDOT’s districts.
There are a few rules for submissions: one per person, no vulgarities, no political names and no past winners. They’re also limited to 30 characters.
Last year’s winners are below.
- We’re Off To See The Blizzard
- Snowtorious B.I.G.
- Plowabunga!
- Anthony Sledwards
- You’re Welcome
- Don’tcha Snow
- Skol Plow
- I Came, I Thaw, I Conquered
Other past winners include Blader Tot Hotdish, Beyonsleigh and Ctrl Salt Delete. This is the sixth year of the contest.
MnDOT has about 800 snowplows across the state.
Minnesota
Miinesota’s common loons are genetic cousins to penguins
See how the bald eagle’s story shows its enduring symbolism
As the U.S. celebrates 250 years, the bald eagle endures as North America’s native sea eagle and national bird.
The common loon, Minnesota’s state bird, is more closely related to a penguin than a duck.
Despite loons predominantly living in the northern hemisphere and penguins mostly living in the southern hemisphere, researchers consider them to be genetic cousins. Taxonomic analyses placed them in an evolutionary cluster tracing back 40 million to 50 million years ago, along with herons and pelicans.
While loons and ducks share habitat on Minnesota lakes, they aren’t close relatives. Ducks are closer cousins to geese and swans.
After sharing a common ancestor, penguins and loons developed distinct characteristics. Loons can fly, but struggle to move on land; penguins can’t fly, but waddle on land. Penguins use flipper-like wings to swim; loons use webbed feet for underwater propulsion.
They have some similar features, however, including dense bones to help dive underwater and their tuxedo coloring.
MinnPost partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.
Minnesota
Hundreds of Canada wildfires prompt US air quality alerts as smoke spreads south
Fires in the past burned more frequently in western Canada, but recent years have seen that trend migrate eastward, with large fires now burning in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic provinces, Prof Chasmer said, leading to more noticeable smoke in densely populated cities like Toronto and New York.
Minnesota
Minnesota United Statement on International Friendly | Minnesota United FC
Minnesota United, the Liberia Lone Star National Football Team and SARX today announced that the international friendly against the Liberia National Team, scheduled for July 26, 2026, has been canceled.
While we were looking forward to welcoming the Liberia National Team and celebrating the strong ties between Minnesota’s Liberian community and our club, circumstances outside of our control have made it necessary to cancel the match. We appreciate the understanding of our supporters and wish the Liberia National Team all the best.
Fans who purchased tickets to the match will be refunded within approximately 3-10 business days.
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