MinnPost · Farmington, MN
Running for City Council in Farmington this year, Ben Blomgren said voters asked him about data centers more than anything else. “This was the issue that everyone wanted to talk about,” he said. “When I went door to door, it was about the data center.” Blomgren had a clear position on the proposed Farmington Technology Park hyperscale data center project. He opposed it, and, if elected, would vote against it at every turn. On Election Day, the candidate earned the most votes out of six people running for two open seats. When he takes office in January, he’ll be one of a host of newly elected leaders in Minnesota bringing skeptical stances against data centers to local governments. A spike in voter turnout in Farmington and other cities linked to data centers helped these candidates win, according to data from the Minnesota Secretary of State. The data center effect Data centers became a new election issue in Minnesota this year.
Post-Bulletin · Lakeville, MN
Nearby: Lakeville, MNLAKEVILLE — John Marshall High School's Abi Tri and Mayo High School's Elise Weingarten each had nights to remember at the Section 1, Class 2A swim and dive championships on Friday in Lakeville. Tri will head to her third consecutive state meet, qualifying in three events, while Weingarten qualified in two. Tri defended her 50-yard freestyle title, placing first with a time of 24.02 seconds. She then finished second in the 100 breaststroke (1:07.35) and was a part of the state-qualifying Rockets' 200 medley relay team, joining forces with sophomores Kayla Mingo, Madilyn Keller and Janet Njeru for a state-qualifying time of 1:51.98. The top two individuals and top two relays in each event, along with the top four divers, earn automatic state berths. Any swimmer or relay who meets a pre-set time standard in each event will also qualify for the state meet.
Brainerd Dispatch · Bloomington, MN
Nearby: Bloomington, MNAfter the blockbuster trade went down earlier this week, the first comments from Kirk Cousins didn’t come from local beat reporter covering the Vikings or Las Vegas Raiders, nor did they come from a national insider working for ESPN or NFL Network. The exclusive went to Great Clips. Yes, the hair salon chain, whose headquarters is fittingly located in Bloomington, posted a YouTube Short of Cousins sitting in the chair getting a haircut while answering questions about being reacquired by the Vikings. “I understand the challenge on the football field,” Cousins said in the YouTube post shortly after greenlighting the trade to the Vikings. “There’s a lot of work to go get done. But it would be really special. If I’m going to go win somewhere and have success, I want it to be in Minnesota.” How did all of this come together?
Grand Forks Herald · Shakopee, MN
Nearby: Shakopee, MNROCHESTER — When Mike Wanchic played at the Mystic Lake Amphitheater in Shakopee in July, he had come a long way since his last visit to Minnesota. Wanchic had been dealing with declining mobility when he visited Mayo Clinic about 80 miles away. Whether he would walk again let alone join his longtime collaborator and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer John Mellencamp on stage for the 2026 tour were in question. Mayo Clinic shared the touching story of getting Wanchic back on his feet and onto the stage. Wanchic, who lives in Indiana, was initially treated for an inflammatory disorder involving his spinal cord. He was 10 months into declining motor function and was in a wheelchair by the time he visited Mayo Clinic. Brandy Welvaert describes how Mayo Clinic neurologist Samantha Banks picked up on “red flags” of Wanchic’s previous diagnosis and how his symptoms didn’t match what he was being treated for.
Post-Bulletin · St Paul, MN
Nearby: St Paul, MNST. PAUL — Fillmore Central finished third at the Class 1A state volleyball tournament after sweeping Sacred Heart 30-28, 25-17, 25-21 on Saturday at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul. The Falcons were on their third straight state run this season and were the No. 2 seed in the tournament. FC's Norah Nagel, Madi Zwart and Lauren Dahly chipped in 13, 12 and 10 kills each. Braelynn Diekes put up 26 assists in the win. Nagel added seven aces. Josiana Corson tallied 12 digs on defense for FC. The Falcons took down No. 7 seed Sleepy Eye Saint Mary's in the Class 1A state quarterfinals on Thursday to advance to the semifinals, where they fell to No. 6 seed Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa in a five-set marathon on Friday. FC finished with a total of 17 aces and seven blocks. The Falcons end the season with a 26-7 record. Fillmore Central 3, Sacred Heart 0 Sacred Heart#28#17#21 Fillmore Central#30#25#25 BOX SCORE ]]>
Grand Forks Herald · St Paul, MN
Nearby: St Paul, MNSATURDAY'S GGF SCHEDULE College hockey UND at St. Thomas, 6 p.m. Men’s basketball Montana at UND, 8 p.m. Women’s basketball UND at Detroit Mercy, 1 p.m. College volleyball UND at South Dakota, 5 p.m. Prep volleyball EGF Sacred Heart in Minn. Class A third-place match, 12:30 p.m., in St. Paul Girls swimming N.D. state meet in West Fargo Girls hockey EGF Senior High at Bemidji, 2 p.m.
Post-Bulletin · St Paul, MN
Nearby: St Paul, MNST. PAUL — During the postgame press conference, Fillmore Central head coach Travis Malley was visibly emotional while talking about his players. Malley, who took over as the Falcons’ head coach in 2014, has been present for all four of the volleyball program’s state berths. He served as an assistant coach when the Falcons finished as Class 1A state runners-up in 2013 and as head coach during their state tournament streak over the past three seasons. The bond his players share with him and with each other was evident despite a heartbreaking loss in the Class 1A state semifinals on Friday afternoon at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul. “I just love how much he cares for us,” junior setter Hannah Vaalemoen said. “There's not a single person on the team that he wouldn't do anything for. If you ask him to do something, he will always say yes. It’s such a privilege to have him care for us, and it's not even like a coach. He's like a dad to us. … I'll go to Travis for anything.” The No.
Atlanta Black Star · St Paul, MN
Nearby: St Paul, MNLionel Richie has spent much of 2026 giving his fans reasons to worry. Now the legendary singer is giving them something else to talk about. This time, it is not another trip to the hospital. The 77-year-old returned to the stage this week for the first time following a series of health issues. For months, every new performance raised questions about whether the beloved crooner was pushing himself too hard. But Richie apparently wasn’t ready to trade his microphone for a rocking chair. He looked energized and ready to remind everyone why he remains an entertainment fixture after five decades during his Nov. 11 performance. Richie made his triumphant return during his “Lionel Richie — King of Hearts” residency at Wynn Las Vegas. Before launching into his familiar catalog of hits, the former Commodores frontman grabbed the microphone. “I’m back!” he repeatedly shouted into the mic. “I don’t know where I was, but I’m back. I’m doing just fine.
Sahan Journal · St Paul, MN
Nearby: St Paul, MNTwin Cities artists of color are leaving everything on the stage this weekend. At the Fitzgerald Theater, a cast of Hmong actors and singers will bring audiences back to 1960s Laos, while three artists get experimental at the Pillsbury House and Theatre for the annual Naked Stages series. At St. Paul’s Amsterdam Bar and Hall, the second annual “Mni Sota Mystery Box” brings Indigenous drag performers, burlesque artists, poets and musicians together on one stage. Flight through Hmong history Austin Ly’s “Lee Lue The Musical” tells the story of a village teacher who became one of the first Hmong pilots recruited to fly combat missions during the Secret War in Laos. The musical follows Lee Lue’s journey through war and the mass exodus that sent thousands of people fleeing across the Mekong River into Thailand before eventually resettling in the United States. The musical began as a high school production at the Hmong American Peace Academy in Wisconsin.
MinnPost · St Paul, MN
Nearby: St Paul, MNYour daily Minnesota news roundup starts … NOW. Former Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara resigned in May amid an investigation into workplace sexual misconduct (not to be confused with the workplace sexual misconduct in the St. Paul mayor’s office) and Mayor Jacob Frey installed 31-year veteran Bill Peterson on an interim basis. Standing before the city council on Thursday, Peterson’s bid to become the permanent police chief was denied by an 8-5 vote. The driving concern among the no votes was concern about his ability to drive reform in the department. Fire gutted an apartment building on St. Paul’s Randolph Avenue on Monday and the building has already been torn down, leaving dozens of people without a place to live. Deemed unsafe by the Department of Safety and Inspections, the building was leveled without residents being allowed to retrieve any possessions. Fundraisers have been set up for some tenants. DFL State Rep. Dan Wolgamott has been arrested on a suspected DWI in St.
Post-Bulletin · St Paul, MN
Nearby: St Paul, MNST. PAUL — Stewartville is no stranger to Cretin-Derham Hall. For three straight years, the schools have met in the Class 3A girls volleyball state tournament, the Tigers prevailing each time. In 2024, they faced off in the state quarterfinals and the Tigers won in four sets. They played again in the Class 3A third-place game last year. That time, Stewartville found victory in five sets. Wednesday’s match — this one in the state Class 3A quarterfinals — combined factors from both previous meetings with Stewartville winning a five-set marathon 25-16, 25-18, 20-25, 22-25, 15-12 at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul. The No. 5-seeded and No. 8-ranked Tigers advance to the state semifinals Friday for the third consecutive year. The Tigers are at state for the third straight season and the 27th time overall. Cretin-Derham Hall (25-8) was the No. 4 seed and ranked fifth in the state. “Crazy game,” Stewartville third-year head coach Sammy Pedersen said.
Hmong Times · St Paul, MN
Nearby: St Paul, MNBy Kim Yang The sights, sounds, and traditions of Hmong culture will once again fill downtown St. Paul as the Minnesota Hmong New Year celebration returns November 28-29, 2026, bringing together families, performers, community leaders, and visitors for one of the region’s most anticipated cultural celebrations. Hosted by the United Hmong Family, the annual event at the Saint Paul RiverCentre and Roy Wilkins Auditorium is more than a holiday gathering. It is a celebration of cultural identity, family connections, and the traditions that have united generations of Hmong people. This year’s festivities promise an expanded lineup of cultural performances, traditional competitions, and special programming designed to showcase both established performers and emerging talent. For Mee Vang, President of the United Hmong Family, the upcoming celebration represents an exciting opportunity to strengthen the event’s cultural programming while welcoming participants from beyond Minnesota.
MinnPost · St Paul, MN
Nearby: St Paul, MNWASHINGTON – Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has helped his party enjoy a fantastic midterm, with Democrats flipping at least seven Republican U.S. Senate seats and coming into the new Congress with a strong majority. But Schumer’s electoral victories aren’t good enough for Sen.-elect Peggy Flanagan, who during a press call on Wednesday said she prefers someone else to lead Senate Democrats. “I am tremendously grateful for Chuck Schumer’s leadership, but I think it’s time for new leadership,” Flanagan said. Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, DFL candidate for US Senate, gives a victory speech during a DFL election night party at InterContinental Hotel in St. Paul, Minn. on Nov. 3, 2026.