Connect with us

Kare11

MN postal worker and wife gifted free Vikings tickets by stranger

Avatar

Published

on



Alissa Postal turned to Twitter for a last-ditch effort to get tickets to the Vikings game on Christmas Eve. She was shocked when someone offered her tickets.

HERMANTOWN, Minnesota — Postal workers and delivery drivers are the backbone of helping people celebrate the holidays this time of the year. When a wife wanted to try to surprise her husband, who’s a mailman, she turned to Twitter for help. 

Jake Postal, yes that’s his real last name, has been working for the United States Postal Service for 6 years, but he’s been a Vikings fan his whole life. 

“Jake and I are big Vikings fans,” Alissa said. “We are both pretty active on Twitter. It’s a fun Vikings community.” 

She posted on Tuesday that she was looking for tickets to the Christmas Eve game and didn’t expect it to go anywhere. 

“I figured I’d just shoot my shot and ask!” Alissa said. 

Within a day, a Santa in a purple suit replied. Andy Sowle is a season ticket holder. He offered the family his tickets since he wasn’t using them. 

“I didn’t know Andy before this,” Alissa said, “he told me Jake’s hard work doesn’t go unnoticed.” 

Little did the couple know the tweet would go viral. Since Tuesday, it has had more than a thousand likes and led to more people jumping in. 

Former Viking QB, Kyle Sloter got them pregame sideline passes after he saw some fans tweeting harsh comments to the couple.

“The generosity of these people that came together to make this memory for us; we will have memories for a lifetime,” Alissa said. 

Alissa popped a question on social media, which has them returning to where her husband popped THAT question. 

“I proposed in 2018 at US Bank Stadium,” Jake said. 

It’s coincidentally the last time the couple has been to a game They have been busy with two toddlers at home. 

“Just feeling so lucky and appreciative of everyone,” Jake said. 

The Vikings’ official clothing partner UNRL connected with Alissa and has sent them gear they can wear to the game which is “white out” themed. 

Watch the latest local news from the Twin Cities and across Minnesota in our YouTube playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries





Read the original article

Leave your vote

Continue Reading

Kare11

Minnesota voters approve extending lottery funds to environment

Avatar

Published

on



Voters first approved the constitutional amendment back in 1988.

ST PAUL, Minn. — Voters in Minnesota overwhelmingly said yes to a constitutional amendment that renews the use of proceeds from the Minnesota Lottery for environmental projects and causes across the state. 

The Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund was up for renewal in the 2024 election. About 77.5% of constituents voted yes, renewing the source of funding until 2050 and additionally, increasing the dollars that can be spent annually from this fund, according to the Associated Press. 

With 99% of the vote reported, only 16.2% of voters said no to the amendment. 

Minnesota voters first approved the constitutional amendment in 1988, opting to dedicate a portion of lottery proceeds to the fund. Each year since the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources has worked to help disperse that funding for projects that reflect Minnesota’s love of the outdoors and preservation of the environment. 

Those projects have included research on drinking water, wastewater and air quality. They have also helped fund new parks, trails and campsites; supported loon and bison populations; and fostered outdoor activities. Lottery proceeds have provided more than $1 billion since 1988. 



Read the original article

Leave your vote

Continue Reading

Kare11

Special election gives control of Minnesota State Senate to Dems

Avatar

Published

on


DFL Sen. Kelly Morrison resigned her seat to run for Congress, prompting a special election.

MINNETONKA, Minn — The stakes were high in west metro suburbs going into this election. Voters in Senate District 45 had a special election to determine the balance of power in St. Paul. 

Voters in the district chose DFLer Ann Johnson Stewart with 52.43%% of the vote, over Republican Kathleen Fowke, according to the Minnesota Secretary of State.

This was the only Senate District with an election Tuesday. The other 66 districts won’t be in play until 2026, because senators currently serving were elected to four-year terms back in 2022. But DFL Sen. Kelly Morrison resigned her seat to run for Congress, prompting a special election to replace Morrison in SD45 the same day as the November 5 General Election.


Morrison’s departure left the chamber deadlocked at 33 Democrats and 33 Republicans. Now, when lawmakers come back for the 2025 Session, the DFL will have a one-seat advantage. 

Johnson Stewart is a civil engineer who served a two-year term in 2021-2022 Legislature. As a result of redistricting in 2022, she ended up in the same district as Morrison, who won the DFL endorsement in SD45. 

She told KARE 11 in an October interview she wants to solve the water supply and wastewater treatment issues in the district, which wraps around Lake Minnetonka.



Read the original article

Leave your vote

Continue Reading

Kare11

Minnesota college students excited to vote for the first time

Avatar

Published

on



Steve Simon visited a polling location at the Lakeville Water Treatment Facility on Tuesday morning.

LAKEVILLE, Minn. — Leading up to Election Day, Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon said he’s hopeful for two things: high voter turnout and low drama. Speaking from a polling place in Lakeville Tuesday morning, Simon said that’s exactly what he’s seeing at polling locations across the state.

When polls opened at 7 a.m. on Election Day, Simon said more than 1.2 Minnesotans had already voted absentee and by mail.

“It’s a good day to be a Minnesotan,” he said. “We were number one in America for three out of the last four elections including the last presidential election, and we want to get back to number one, back to that top spot, today.”

As of Tuesday morning, the Secretary of State’s office said about 128,000 absentee ballots had not yet been returned. Simon urged anyone who has not returned their absentee ballot to deliver it in person or have someone they trust to deliver it on their behalf.

Dakota County Director of Elections Michelle Blue said roughly 40% of voters in the county voted early. 

Still, the line to vote at the Lakeville Water Treatment Facility was constant and steady Tuesday morning. Despite a soggy start to Election Day, many people stepped outside to cast their ballots — some for the very first time.

“This is my first time voting, so it’s really exciting,” St. Olaf College student Rylan Nakamura said. “We have a polling place at St. Olaf College, so it made it really accessible and easy, and it was really exciting.”

St. Olaf is a campus well-known for encouraging civic engagement. On Oct. 28, the Secretary of State recognized the school for having the highest voter turnout of any college in Minnesota during the previous election.

Simon reiterated that Minnesota’s election results should be readily available by Wednesday morning. However, that is likely not the case for several other states. 

“It’s no surprise that in those battleground states, they will be counting into tomorrow and the next day and maybe the next day,” Simon said. “It’s not a sign that someone did anything wrong. It’s not a sign that there’s any unlawful activity. It’s a sign that they’re following their state laws, and I just want to condition everyone and talk about that in terms of expectations.”

RELATED: How to watch KARE 11’s live coverage on Election Night 2024



Read the original article

Leave your vote

Continue Reading

Copyright © 2024 Breaking MN

Log In

Forgot password?

Forgot password?

Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password.

Your password reset link appears to be invalid or expired.

Log in

Privacy Policy

Add to Collection

No Collections

Here you'll find all collections you've created before.