Stories from November 27, 2024

Minnesota Republicans say it's impossible to definitively say who won a pivotal state House race after officials detailed an absentee ballot mishap. Scott County officials disclosed today that 20 absentee ballots were accidentally discarded in October and are unlikely to be retrieved. That's more than the 14-vote margin for the declared winner, Democrat Brad Tabke, over Republican Aaron Paul. And the Minnesota Court of Appeals is the next stop for a challenge to the Office of Cannabis Management's handling of social equity license applications.
Southeast corner of Minnesota remains chronic wasting disease hotspot 
Early chronic wasting disease (CWD) testing results from this year’s firearms deer hunt shows the always-fatal infection has not spread to other parts of the state but remains high in places which were already a concern.
Northern lights may be faintly visible across parts of the U.S. this Thanksgiving
Pale auroras may be seen Thursday and Friday across northern states including Montana, Minnesota and upper New York — as well as much of Minnesota, Montana, Wisconsin and Michigan.
Triple threat: Rosemount’s Ramlall sisters make up a basketball powerhouse family
As high school basketball season tips off, Amisha, Arshia and Ashna Ramlall have the eyes of fans, coaches and college recruiters alike. One sister already has committed to the Gophers and the other two have Division I offers.
Sniffles? Cough? Just a little cold? How to keep yourself and others healthy this holiday
While it’s too late to get the benefits from a vaccine for Thanksgiving, there is ample time for them to work ahead of other holidays, like Christmas and New Year’s Eve. For now, the basics of washing your hands and covering coughs and sneezes are a good start.
‘Don’t hesitate, just come:’ Stigma around food shelves is a barrier for food insecure people
While many people spend the week of Thanksgiving worrying about getting the feast together, about one in every eleven people in Minnesota worry about where their next meal is coming from every day.
Scott County official says 20 absentee ballots in close House race were likely tossed
The missing ballots are at the heart of a court challenge from Minnesota House Republicans who have said a 14-vote win for a DFLer there is clouded. The race will dictate House control.
The National Dog Show explained: How a dog contest became a Thanksgiving tradition
Football isn't the only thing Americans like to watch on Thanksgiving. The National Dog Show continues its decades-long run, this time with a brand new breed. Here's what to know and how to watch.
‘Realization of community dreams’ — Minneapolis arts center breaks ground on major expansion
Pillsbury House + Theatre broke ground on the Pillsbury Creative Commons, a South Minneapolis expansion featuring artist housing, a theater tech training scene shop and a new KRSM Radio studio, set to open in July 2025 as a long-awaited community investment.
Rockets beat Wolves 117-111 in OT to clinch NBA Cup group
Alperen Sengun had 22 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, Fred VanVleet added 27 points and 11 assists, and the Houston Rockets pulled out a 117-111 overtime win against the Minnesota Timberwolves in an NBA Cup game.
A judge this week denied a former St. Paul police officer's request for early release from federal prison. And tensions bubbled between a Red Lake tribal official and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources last week over how to combat invasive species at Upper Red Lake. 
After turkey, take a trot. A little post-meal walk can be a big boost for health
Among the latest health hacks to go viral on TikTok is the idea of short post-dinner "fart walk" to aid digestion. Turns out, the science on this trend is solid, and so are the health benefits.
New book tells how the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe defended its reservation and sovereignty
“They Would Not Be Moved: The Enduring Struggle of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe to Keep their Reservation” by historian and anthropologist Bruce White was published earlier this year by the Minnesota Historical Society Press. The book details the nearly 200-year fight by the tribal nation to maintain their land.
PWHL’s success inspires young girls to dream of pro hockey career
The Steve Carroll Goalie School has been training young athletes — no matter their gender — for nearly three decades. Now, with the success of Minnesota’s professional women’s hockey team, girls at Carroll’s camp are able to dream bigger than they have before.
Red Lake Nation and Minnesota DNR disagree on how to combat zebra mussels
Until 2018, Upper Lake and Lower Red Lake remained the only large walleye lake in the state still free from zebra mussels. That year the DNR announced it had found zebra mussel veliger — the tiny larvae — in Upper Red Lake. The small mollusks are known to filter out algae from lake water, a vital walleye food source. 
Trump turns to critic of COVID mandates to run NIH
Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a Stanford health researcher, is in line to lead the National Institutes of Health. Early in the pandemic he argued against lockdowns and focusing on people at highest risk.