With most of the state's corn harvest now complete, University of Minnesota Extension corn agronomist Jeff Coulter says things were mostly smooth for Minnesota corn growers: "I thought it went very well. We had good yields, better than expected in a lot of the state. Moisture levels weren't super high, we were able to get a lot of the field work done, although we had some snow which caused some challenges and stuff, but for the most part, things progressed pretty nicely." The U-S-D-A estimates 99-percent of the state's corn crop is now in the bin.

Heading into the rest of the holiday season, there will be extra law enforcement on the roads looking for impaired drivers. Mike Hanson with the Department of Public Safety says this is among the deadliest time on the state's roads... "When it comes to impaired driving the message remains the same, plan ahead and drive smart, never put yourself in that position where you have to make that decision to get behind the wheel when you should not." Hanson is urging Minnesotans who need to be on the road to stay sober, buckle up, slow down and put away the distractions.

DNR officials are urging caution around the ice this winter. Spokeswoman Lisa Dugan says no ice is 100-percent safe, and ice seldom freezes uniformly. That's why she recommends... "Make sure you're measuring new ice for yourself--there's a lot of information that can be found online, or if you're going out to an area that you're unfamiliar with--make sure you're checking for yourself." Dugan says ice should be at least four inches thick to walk on and up to seven inches thick to ride a snowmobile or ATV on.

It's Black Friday and many of us will be looking for deals online. The Better Business Bureau's Bao Vang says scams are on the rise this time of year and she recommends: "Research before you buy, 57% of those who didn't research the website or business, using an independent source, like BBB.org or other places before aking the purchase, well 81% of them lost money, don't be one of them." Consumers are predicted to spend just under $1,000 each this holiday season on friends and loved ones, according to the National Retail Federation. And due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most consumers [...]

The governor is pushing for a deal with lawmakers on state aid for restaurants and bars that are again shut down due to the COVID pandemic, plus an unemployment benefits extension for workers. Walz hasn't committed to a dollar amount but says next week's economic forecast... "That will give us a better idea, what the pay-for will look like, how we will do it and what our capacity is." Walz says he wants to call a special session as soon as there's a deal with lawmakers, hopefully, next week.

The C-E-O of a major food bank says one in eight Minnesotans -- including one out of five children -- don't know where their next meal will come from: "That means moms and dads are watering-down milk to stretch a gallon. That means parents are skipping meals so their kids can have more." Allison O'Toole of Second Harvest Heartland is asking the governor and legislature for assistance to families hurt by the COVID pandemic. She says because of distance learning, many kids are no longer receiving all-important meals at school. Walz and lawmakers are working on a relief package for struggling [...]

Many of us will be shopping online this holiday season. "The retail experts predict that we'll each spend about a thousand dollars this holiday season and a lot of us will be spending these dollars online, especially during this pandemic." Bao Vang with the Better Business Bureau of Minnesota says online purchase scams are on the rise and she's urging consumers to do their research before buying online--and she says if a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Willmar-based Jennie-O Turkey Store will have a float in today's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Marketing V-P Nicole Behne: "The parade's always led off by a turkey -- that's their number-one float that goes through there -- but there's never been a turkey company that has been a sponsor of the parade, and we're really excited about that." Behne says it's the first time in the parade's 94-year history that a turkey product company has been a sponsor.

Making a Thanksgiving meal doesn't have to be a drag on your energy use. One tip from Allison Trouy with Minnesota Energy Resources, don't dawdle getting bakes in the oven. "You want to make sure that that green bean casserole is ready for baking by the time the oven is done pre-heating. Heating the oven for longer than needed is just going to waste energy and that's going to waste your money." Trouy says once something is in the oven, don't peek by opening the door because that can drop the temperature by more than 25 degrees, costing you time, and [...]

The head of the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association says the COVID-19 pandemic has really held everybody hostage this year including turkey farmers, executive director Sarah Anderson: "It has obviously put some challenges in place and making sure we get birth to market, managing the whole network of everything that goes into getting the turkey from the farm to your dinner tables." Minnesota is the number one turkey producing state in the country.