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DFL leaders already on board with Harris ticket
Most of Minnesota’s top DFL leaders are now backing Vice President’s run for the White House.
MINNEAPOLIS — All of Minnesota’s top Democrats have now said they’re on board with Vice President Kamala Harris’ quest for the White House, only a day after President Biden chose to remove himself from the race.
Governor Tim Walz, who co-chairs the Democratic National Committee‘s rules committee, threw his support behind the Vice President. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith also endorsed Harris already, as have three of Minnesota’s four Democrats in the U.S. House — Rep. Angie Craig, Rep. Betty McCollum, and Rep. Ilhan Omar.
Rep. Dean Phillips, who challenged Biden in the primary, tweeted that Harris is qualified to be president. But favors setting up a straw poll of delegates before outright nominating the vice president as the Democratic candidate for president.
Attorney General Keith Ellison, State Auditor Julie Blaha, and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan are also in the Harris camp. Secretary of State Steve Simon, as the state’s top elections official, doesn’t endorse candidates.
Abou Amara, an attorney and Democratic strategist, said it’s understandable why so many people have acted so quickly to line up behind Harris.
“We’ve got about 100 days until Election Day. We don’t have much time to consolidate, or spend time bickering among ourselves,” Amara said.
“And then there’s a lot of structural reasons why Kamala Harris should be the candidate – whether it be the money or the current infrastructure of the Biden Campaign.”
Amara said it’s essential that Harris make her running make pick soon, to broaden her base of support.
“The Democratic Party is a party of coalitions, and she has a part of that coalition, which is important, but there are other areas that are less enthused. And so, that vice presidential pick, although it normally doesn’t matter as much as we think, in this context I think it’s going to have a huge impact on bringing other folks on board.”
He said that pick needs to be someone who will enhance the ticket and provide counterbalance to former President Trump’s running mate, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance. While Gov. Walz has been mentioned as a possible running mate, most analysts are pointing to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.
Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan said she received so many texts and calls Sunday afternoon after Biden’s announcement that her phone almost melted.
“The best conversation I had was with my daughter. She said, ‘Mom, I’m excited!’ I am too. This is historic,” Flanagan said.
Lt. Gov. Flanagan was in Arizona Monday night headlining a fundraiser for Harris with Native American tribal leaders. She said the energy generated by Harris’ sudden move to the head of the ticket will translate to grassroots efforts in Minnesota.
“I’m so moved, and I think there are so many people across the state of Minnesota and across the country who woke up this morning hopeful, who are ready to get to work, who have contributed, who will sign up for volunteer shifts.”
Monday afternoon the DFL party announced they’d broken a fundraising record for a 24-hour period, raising more than $100,000 in one day, mostly from small donors.
MINNEAPOLIS — How much do you know about your grandma’s upbringing?
“The Stories From My Grandmother’s Hands” is a book that aims to show young Black children how their grandmas lived through beautiful illustrations and descriptions.
KARE 11 News at Noon shared more on Thursday about the impact that this book will have.
Gary Peterson and his friends are collecting donations to help people in their community.
ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. — A St. Louis Park pumpkin display is raising money for their local food shelf.
Gary Peterson started carving and painting three pumpkins over a decade ago. It’s now grown to over 100.
“I’ve heard people say they’ve come from Hutchinson,” he said.
Peterson along with two of his neighbors have spent the last 14 years growing their display, turning it into a neighborhood event.
“It’s been incredible, I just can’t believe how much this has expanded,” he said. “We did it just because we like to and then people were asking to give us money to cover the cost.”
The trio refused to take people’s money, but then one of them had an idea.
“My neighbor, Steve Leensvaart, just mentioned how about we just do it for the STEP program and the STEP program is our local food shelf in St. Louis Park,” he said.
So, they started to collect donations to help families in need. They’ve raised hundreds of dollars and donated hundreds of pounds of food over the last few years, carving for a cause.
“It is more gratifying every year,” Peterson said.
He estimated they have over 100 unique pumpkins in their yard. They’ve created the displays and come up with new family-friendly concepts for people to enjoy. Peterson said about 30 of their neighbors carved their own pumpkins to be put on display, and it’s been a big hit.
“It’s great. In the last couple of years, it’s turned into more of a neighborhood event,” said Sarah Durch.
“We love this Halloween display, we come every year to see it. We love that the whole community gets involved to craft and carve the pumpkins,” said Jami Gordon-Smith.
“The shading and the details are unbelievable,” said Elizabeth Hanson.
Hanson hopes to take her 2-year-old son trick or treating for the first time but is worried the cold temperatures might keep them indoors.
“We’re going trick or treating hopefully,” she said. “He’s going to be a firefighter, but we’re probably going to have sweatshirts maybe like two pairs of sweatpants underneath. We’re going to be bundled up.”
Gordon-Smith said her family will be out Halloween night no matter the weather.
“Halloween only comes once a year, so you really have to take advantage and enjoy the evening no matter what the weather brings,” she said. “Guess it’s not totally unheard of in Minnesota to have a cold Halloween, but we are going to try and modify and do a lot of layers underneath our costumes and then we might add some hats and maybe some warmer socks.”
Durch also isn’t surprised they’re in for another chilly night.
“Well, what would Halloween be without Minnesota cold? I feel like every time you plan a costume you have to plan for how you can make this work if it’s snowing,” she said.
Peterson said they will have a bonfire and some hot chocolate and cider on Halloween to keep trick-or-treaters warm while they look at their pumpkins.
Click here to learn where you can see the pumpkins and how you can donate.
Jeremy Jourdain was 17 when he was last seen on Halloween 2016.
BEMIDJI, Minn. — The search for Jeremy Jourdain, who was last seen on Halloween in 2016, continues now eight years later.
Jourdain was last seen at a family member’s house in Bemidji, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior Indian Affairs. He left the residence near the 500 block of Wood Avenue after midnight and while people followed him, no one was able to find him.
Jourdain was 17 at the time.
Officials said he was wearing a blue and grey sweatshirt, and blue jeans when last seen. He is Native American and is described as 6 foot 5 and 175 pounds.
If you have any information on his whereabouts, you can contact the Bemidji Police Department at (218) 333-9111. Tips can also be sent to 1-833-560-2065, or you can email ojs_mmu@bia.gov.
