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The Topline: Snow-free Thanksgivings and lethal cantaloupes – Minnesota Reformer

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The Topline: Snow-free Thanksgivings and lethal cantaloupes – Minnesota Reformer


Welcome to The Topline, a weekly roundup of the big numbers driving the Minnesota news cycle, as well as the smaller ones that you might have missed.

Minnesota’s first snow-free Thanksgiving in nearly two decades

Satellite data from the National Weather Service shows there wasn’t a spec of snow on the ground anywhere in Minnesota on Thanksgiving this year. The latest time that happened, according to the historic data, appears to have been 2004

That was the start of an El Nino winter too, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Ditto the almost snow-free Thanksgivings of 2006 (saved by a dusting on the easternmost reaches of the Arrowhead) and 2009. Those winters were also marked by unusually low snowfall in the Twin Cities

Snow and ice lovers may want to start bracing themselves for disappointment. Remember last week, when the big federal climate report warned that warming waters would mean less ice on Midwestern lakes? We’re seeing that in action this winter with our unusually warm November. By this time last year, people were already out on the ice at Upper Red Lake.

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Plumbing the depths of Minnesota’s waters

Speaking of water, ever wonder which of the state’s 11,842 lakes is the deepest? The Star Tribune’s Curious Minnesota column tackled that question last week. Chloe Johnson found that if you use an expansive definition of ‘lake’ that includes abandoned mining pits, the title goes to the former Mahnomen #1 mine pit near Ironton, which is about 525 feet deep.

The deepest natural body of water is Loon Lake in Cook County, along the Gunflint trail, at a depth of a little over 200 feet. Fun fact: there are more than 20 different Loon Lakes scattered across Minnesota, according to the Department of Natural Resources’ lake database.

Duluth sees thousands of cruise passengers

More than 4,000 cruise ship passengers stopped in Duluth in 2023, generating hundreds of thousands of dollars of economic impact in the city, according to a report from the city’s convention center

It’s a reminder that a “Great Lakes Cruise” is a thing people pay actual money to do, visiting exotic ports of call like Milwaukee, Detroit and Cleveland. 

Cantaloupes kill two in Minnesota, sicken dozens more

A multistate salmonella outbreak linked to pre-cut cantaloupes has claimed two lives in Minnesota, according to the latest update from the Centers for Disease Control. “The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported,” the CDC writes, “and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses.” 

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The outbreak is also affecting Canada, where one person has died and more than 60 have fallen ill.

Airlines lose 2 million suitcases each year, and most of them end up at this store in Alabama

NPR News tells the tale of Unclaimed Baggage, an Alabama retail outlet that sells luggage abandoned on planes, trains and buses. It’s now one of the top tourist destinations in the state, with a million visits each year. They even have a museum housing some of their more unusual finds, including a giant puppet from the movie Labyrinth, ancient artifacts and a suit of armor.



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Goalie Nicole Hensley stars as league-leading Minnesota Frost top New York Sirens in shootout | CBC Sports

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Goalie Nicole Hensley stars as league-leading Minnesota Frost top New York Sirens in shootout | CBC Sports


Nicole Hensley made back-to-back saves in the shootout and the Minnesota Frost earned their fourth straight victory with a 4-3 win over the New York Sirens on Sunday in Newark, N.J.

It was the fourth time in seven all-time meetings that a game between the teams was decided in OT and the second this season. New York won the season opener in St. Paul, Minn.

Kendall Coyne Schofield scored two first-period goals to stake the Frost to the early lead and Taylor Heise beat Kayle Osborne, who relieved starter Abigail Levy in the New York net to start the second period, two minutes in to make it a 3-0 lead.

WATCH l Heise scores shootout winner:

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Minnesota captures shootout win over New York to remain on top of PWHL standings

Taylor Heise’s fourth round shootout goal turned out to be the difference as the Minnesota Frost defeated New York Sirens 4-3 Sunday in New Jersey.

But Osborne did not allow another goal in regulation and wasn’t seriously challenged in overtime while the Sirens staged a comeback. Brooke Hobson and Elizabeth Giguere each scored in the second period and Alex Carpenter pounced on a loose puck and lifted a shot over Hensley’s shoulder from deep in the face-off circle to tie the game midway through the third period.

Hensley was brilliant in overtime, turning away four close-in, open shots by the Sirens (2-1-1-1), two of them on breakaway chances.

Minnesota (4-0-1-0) got goals from Denisa Křížová, Grace Zumwinkle and Heise in the shootout. Noora Tulus and Carpenter each converted in the shootout for New York, but Hensley came up with a save on Sarah Fillier before stopping the final two shooters for the Sirens.

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Hensley finished with 33 saves on 36 shots to earn the win. Osborne made 18 saves on 19 shots over her 45 minutes in goal for New York. Carpenter’s two-goal effort lifted her past Coyne Schofield and into the league lead with four goals in her first five games and she now has a league-leading seven points.

WATCH l Sirens’ Fillier, Carpenter test their off-ice chemistry:

New York Sirens’ Sarah Fillier, Alex Carpenter test their off-ice chemistry

Host Anastasia Bucsis puts newest teammates and linemates to the test to determine if their chemistry on the ice, translates off it.



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Unique northern Minnesota border airport closing after 70 years

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Unique northern Minnesota border airport closing after 70 years


A northern Minnesota airport with an unusual claim to fame is closing after 70 years of operation.

The Piney-Pinecreek Border Airport near Roseau is the only airport with a paved runway crossing the U.S.-Canada border.

The border airport opened in 1953 to expedite customs processing for air travelers and was regularly used by hunters and anglers flying to Canada.

The Piney Pinecreek airport has the only paved runway crossing the US Canada border.

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Initially, the airport had a grass runway that ended at the border, but in 1978 a runway expansion added a paved runway that extended into Canada.

Customs agents would meet travelers on either side of the border.

But declining usage and significant impending repair costs led to the decision to close the one of a kind operation, said Ryan Gaug, director of the Minnesota Department of Transportation aeronautics office.

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“We know that the pavement condition has declined significantly over the years and will need a reconstruct most likely in the next one to three years,” said Gaug.

Short-term costs to bring the facility up to safety standards is estimated at $3.8 million.

Piney-Pinecreek is the only airport owned by MnDOT, and it is operated in collaboration with the Rural Municipality of Piney, Manitoba.

A Canadian official said the local government could not raise the money to pay its share of the planned improvement costs and Piney officials ended the joint operations agreement.

Gaug said an estimated 200 airplanes a year use the facility, far lower than traffic at similar sized facilities.

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There are six airports on the U.S.-Canada border, but Piney-Pinecreek is the only one with a paved runway.

“It’s always been the No. 1 fun fact that I’ve shared with friends, family, coworkers, colleagues here at MnDOT,” said Gaug.

“It’s a tough decision to close an airport ever, but the evidence was all there that now was the time,” he said.

concrete with black stripes

MnDOT officials said the runway at Piney Pinecreek border airport needs a costly reconstruction.

Courtesy MnDOT

There are no local airplanes based at the airport.

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“It’s very sad for the community to lose its airport,” said Marlin Elton, a local resident who served on the airport commission and helped maintain the facility for 30 years.

Elton said the closure hasn’t raised concerns in the community because “if you don’t fly, it won’t affect you. The ones who will be affected are the pilots who use it.”

Gaug said MnDOT reached out to pilots and aviation groups to gauge support for keeping the airport open but found “there just isn’t a strong user base for this airport and that also led to not a strong local support fighting to keep this airport.”

The final day of operations for the Piney-Pinecreek airport is Dec. 26.



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NEXT Weather: 10 p.m. report for Minnesota from Dec. 21, 2024

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NEXT Weather: 10 p.m. report for Minnesota from Dec. 21, 2024


NEXT Weather: 10 p.m. report for Minnesota from Dec. 21, 2024 – CBS Minnesota

Watch CBS News


Saturday was our last cold day for a while, with a warm-up arriving Sunday and lasting through the holiday week.

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