Cannabis license lottery suspended; Minnesota's abortion laws challenged

This is Minnesota Today for Monday, November 25th. I'm Emily Reese. Here's what's happening in Minnesota. A Ramsey County District Court Judge has ordered the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management to postpone a lottery for social equity licenses that had been set for tomorrow. Dana Ferguson reports.

Judge Stephen Smith blocked the office for moving forward with the planned lottery. The ruling came after several prospective cannabis business applicants sued because they were denied a spot in the lottery. The applicants argued they weren't given enough information about why they were turned away, and they said the process didn't give them an opportunity to appeal the decision.

Attorneys representing the Office of Cannabis Management said several applicants who were denied had been working with larger organizations that could later buy their licenses. They said that would prevent others who are more deserving of the social equity licenses from getting them. The case could be appealed to a higher court for review. I'm Dana Ferguson.

Minnesota's laws on abortion access are being challenged in federal court by a contingent of groups opposed to the procedure. Ellie Roth has more. Through prior court rulings and legislative actions, Minnesota has among the most accommodating laws granting access to abortion. A lawsuit filed late last week seeks to end those laws. It was brought by a group of plaintiffs that includes crisis pregnancy centers, anti-abortion organizations, and women who have had abortions, they say, weren't voluntary.

They argue that Minnesota's process for abortion consent is too loose and that its legal protections for medical providers are too lenient. The lawsuit seeks an injunction barring most surgical and medical abortions until the state's laws are changed. I'm Ellie Roth.

Minnesota-based Bremer Financial announced today that it's being acquired by Indiana-based Old National in a deal estimated at $1.4 billion. Bremer has 70 branches in Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. If approved by regulators and Bremer shareholders, the merger would create the third largest bank in the Twin Cities.

A Hennepin County judge has ordered a mental health evaluation for a Minneapolis man accused of harassing and shooting his neighbor. 54-year-old John Sotchak is charged with shooting and wounding Davis Maturi last month. Sotchak also is accused of racist harassment and threats going back months before the shooting.

Two Minnesota-raised turkeys were pardoned by President Joe Biden this morning in Washington, D.C. This year's turkeys, Peach and Blossom, traveled from Northfield to stand in front of the president at the White House. Biden acknowledged the turkeys roots in Minnesota with references to tater tot hot dish in the Northern Lights. Blossom weighs 40 pounds. Love these cheese curs and watch boxing. Dreams of a visit. To visit each one of Minnesota's 10,000 lakes.

lives by the motto, no foul play. Just Minnesota nice. Peach and Blossom now head back home to Minnesota where visitors can see them at Farm America in Wasica.

It's shaping up to be a chilly holiday week across Minnesota, with several shots of cold air set to follow today's snow in the Northeast. Parts of the region will see sub-zero wind chills tomorrow morning, single digits above zero in the Twin Cities. NPR News meteorologist Fence SunGuard says it'll feel even more like winter for the holiday and beyond. Colder air comes in thanksgiving. We're going to see temperatures dip even more. Looks like highs will be mostly in the 20s across the state. Could see highs only in just the teens in northwestern Minnesota.

But the good news is for traveling no big storms in our region. We're talking about just some flurries maybe on Wednesday. And then again on Thanksgiving is this second blast of even colder air moves in for the weekend. Sven says highs by Saturday and Sunday may only be in the upper teens for the Twin Cities and near 10 in northern Minnesota. In sports, the Vikings beat the Bears yesterday in overtime 30 to 27. That was in Chicago. It was John Parker Romo who hit the game winning field goal.

Vikings host the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. MLS season has come to an end for Minnesota United. The lunes were beaten yesterday in Los Angeles by the galaxy. Timberwolves lost to the Boston Celtics yesterday. The wolves host the Houston Rockets tomorrow night and the Minnesota wild hosts the Winnipeg Jets tonight in St. Paul. Your Minnesota forecast for tonight, mostly cloudy, lows in the teens statewide. On Tuesday, mostly sunny,

Highs will be in the low 20s to the low 30s. That's it for Minnesota Today. Thanks for listening. Phil Picardy will have an update for you on Tuesday morning.