12/27/2024 -- New Laws Going Into Effect

💲 I am always fascinated by scam stories and this one happened right in our backyard and resulted in over $1M in money being stolen from the victim.

Government

New Laws Go Into Effect On January 1st. Here is What To Expect 📃

The new year is right around the corner which means there is new legislation that was passed in 2024 that will be going into effect on January 1st.

❯ Ticket Transparency: All-in pricing for concert tickets is now required, with sellers obligated to show the total cost upfront and provide proof of purchase within 24 hours. Learn more.

❯ Junk Fee Ban: Businesses are prohibited from adding hidden fees or surcharges to advertised prices for goods and services. Learn more.

❯ Salary Disclosure: Employers with 30 or more employees must include salary ranges and benefits summaries in job postings. Learn more.

❯ Minimum Wage Increase: Minnesota's minimum wage will be adjusted for inflation to $11.13 per hour for all employers. Learn more.

❯ Renter Protections: Landlords must offer alternative housing or lease termination if construction delays prevent tenants from moving in, and are prohibited from retaliating against tenant associations. Learn more.

❯ Gun Control Update: Binary triggers on firearms will be banned, and straw purchases of guns will become a felony.

❯ Health Insurance Coverage: Health plans must cover abortion-related services and wigs for patients experiencing hair loss due to medical conditions. Learn more.

❯ Campus Polling Places: Colleges and universities can request additional on-campus polling places for elections. Learn more.

Twin Cities

Best of 2024 Lists 🏆

As 2024 wraps up, there are plenty of “best of” lists being published. Here are a few of our favorites that you should definitely check out.

🎙 Top 20 albums sold at Electric Fetus in 2024 (Fox9)

🍝 Best new restaurants of 2024 (Artful Living)

📰 Best of breaking news (Kare11)

🍝 Best restaurants in the Twin Cities (Mpls St.Paul Mag)

🎙 Top 20 concerts of 2024 (Star Tribune)

🍝 10 biggest restaurant stories of 2024 (Eater)

📸 2024 photos of the year (Star Tribune)

📸 Top photos of 2024 (MinnPost)

❓ Oddest stories of 2024 (WCCO)

And some non-Twin Cities related lists…

📸 100 best photos of 2024 (Time)

😂 Best memes and viral moments of 2024 (Yahoo)

🏈 24 most viral sports moments of 2024 (CBS sports)

What Else We’re Reading…

MN Dept. of Transportation Shuts Down Proposals To Transform I-94 🚗

The Minnesota Department of Transportation has recommended keeping Interstate 94 between Minneapolis and St. Paul as a freeway, rejecting proposals to transform it into a parkway or boulevard. This decision comes after a year-long evaluation of 10 options for the roadway, considering public input and the needs of various interested groups. MnDOT's recommendation has sparked controversy, with advocacy groups like Our Streets accusing the agency of eliminating alternatives that could reconnect neighborhoods split by the freeway's original construction and address historical harms.

GAME: Guess The House Price 🏠 💲

The game is simple — we show you one photo of a Twin Cities house that is currently for sale and you guess the listing price.

This unique house is located in St. Paul and features 7 beds, 3 baths, and an outdoor pool, The total square footage is 4,224 ft.

➡ Answer is at the bottom of the newsletter.

Sports 🏀

🏀 The Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Dallas Mavericks on Christmas Day after losing three straight games. The Wolves led by 28 points at one point and hung on for dear life down the strentch, winning by just 6 points. Anthony Edwards was mic’d up which is always entertaining.

🏈 Gopher football has been among the most active teams in the transfer portal which has propelled them to one of the best recruiting classes in the country.

🏒 The Minnesota Wild snapped their 4 game losing streak with a win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Despite the tough stretch of games, the Wild remain toward the top of the NHL standings.

Quick hits

Headlines From Around The Twin Cities ✔

❯ It just became easier to protest outside of abortion clinics in Minneapolis (MPR)

❯ Luigi Mangione has pled not guilty to killing UHC CEO Brian Thompson (CBS)

❯ One lucky Minnesotan is missing out on millions of dollars (MPR)

❯ Two St. Paul parents were arrested after a suspected manslaughter of their 1-year-old child (Fox9)

The Final Word: White Christmas After All ❄️

After talking bad about snow, I suppose I deserved the 5 inches we received this past week which lasted long enough for a White Christmas. For all of you snow watchers out there, check out this graphic from the National Weather Service that shows the history of having snow on Christmas in the Twin Cities.

-Patrick

Guess The House Price Answer 🏠 💲

The correct answer for the St. Paul house is $599,900.

Check out the zillow listing.