Kim Hyatt

2 weeks ago | startribune.com | Kim Hyatt

By Kim Hyatt Of the half dozen school districts with ballot questions, all but one are across northern Minnesota. The Minnesota Star Tribune A half-dozen school districts in Minnesota will hold special elections Tuesday asking voters to support multimillion-dollar projects and facilities upgrades. Most of the school referendums are taking place across northern Minnesota, including Nevis, Osakis, Pequot Lakes, Pine River-Backus and St. Cloud.

2 weeks ago | startribune.com | Kim Hyatt

By Kim Hyatt Vote was delayed after an environmental committee hearing at the State Capitol. The Minnesota Star Tribune An environmental committee hearing at the Minnesota State Capitol veered into religion and protecting the unborn Thursday as lawmakers discussed a bill that would grant inherent rights to the state grain. Wild rice, called manoomin in Ojibwe and psíŋ in Dakota, already has legal protections for proper harvesting, food labeling and water quality.

3 weeks ago | winonadailynews.com | Kim Hyatt

The popularity of THC beverages and gummies is bolstering Minnesota’s municipal liquor stores, with industry experts saying it’s the biggest thing to hit the market since wine coolers. “The impact that these products have made in the sales and retail alcohol industry has been major, nothing in the likes that I’ve ever seen in 40 years of being in the business,” said Mike Larson, who manages both “muni” locations of St. Anthony’s city-run liquor stores.

3 weeks ago | startribune.com | Kim Hyatt

By Kim Hyatt Minnesota has 176 city-owned liquor stores, around 20 fewer than 10 years ago. In 2023, 31 cities reported net losses, all but three of those in greater Minnesota. Only 18 of the state's munis are in the metro area, yet they account for 33% of total sales and 26% of net profits. Metro sales averaged $3.8 million, compared to average sales of $1.7 million for greater Minnesota.

3 weeks ago | startribune.com | Kim Hyatt

By Kim Hyatt Museum director Joel Baker specializes in finding and restoring old Muffler Man statues like the one that called Bemidji home since 1963. He said it's common for communities to grieve the loss of their Muffler Man. "Every town has their own story. It's always the same. You got a bunch of people that love it, they grew up with it, they want to see it stay, they're heartbroken it left," Baker said in a phone interview from his home in Colorado.