Stories from November 26, 2021

Chance of flakes or sprinkles Saturday, dry Sunday
Sunday will be the brightest day of the weekend. Some areas could some flakes or sprinkles Saturday. We have your weekend forecast details plus a look at the week ahead.
Omar seeks action over House colleague's anti-Muslim remarks
Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota called Friday for House leaders to take “appropriate action" against Colorado Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert for using anti-Muslim language in describing a recent encounter she had with Omar at the U.S. Capitol.
A 5-year-old boy was shot and killed late Thursday night at a home in the northwest Twin Cities metro, in what authorities say appears to be an accident. A 13-year-old boy is in custody.
St. Paul police union sues city over vaccine mandate
The police union in St. Paul is suing the city in an effort to halt a mandate that requires city employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of the year. St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter announced the requirement for nearly 4,000 workers last month.
Canada bans foreigners who have traveled in southern Africa
Canada says it's banning the entry of foreign nationals who have traveled through southern Africa in the last 14 days. That's due to discovery of the new omicron variant of the coronavirus that has stoked worldwide fears.
Kate Bowler on how to be fully, imperfectly, gloriously human
Kate Bowler is back with another bestseller. In her new book, “No Cure for Being Human,” she asks: How do you move forward with a life you didn’t choose?
More veterans with PTSD will get help from service dogs, thanks to the 'PAWS' Act
Service dogs have long helped veterans with vision or mobility problems. Now the PAWS Veterans Therapy Act will help connect specially trained dogs to some veterans with symptoms of traumatic stress.
Snow Saturday, but holiday travel stays cooperative otherwise
After a cold Thanksgiving, milder weather is back Friday and most of the week ahead will be above average. Meanwhile, precipitation stays limited, but much of Minnesota will see at least a couple snowflakes on Saturday.
Explainer: What is this new COVID variant in South Africa?
South African scientists have identified a new version of the coronavirus this week that they say is behind a recent spike in COVID-19 infections in Gauteng, the country’s most populous province. It’s unclear from where the new variant actually arose, but it was first detected by scientists in South Africa and has also been seen in travelers to Hong Kong and Botswana. 
New omicron variant stokes world fears, triggers travel bans
The world is confronting a new coronavirus variant, and officials have named it “omicron." A World Health Organization panel has classified it as a highly transmissible virus of concern.
Yes, we are shopping way more than ever
Even the Grinch can't stop shoppers in what's predicted to be a record holiday season.
Nonprofit preserves Crow Wing County lakeshore for loons
Loss of nesting habitat is a substantial threat to loons as people develop their shoreline property with beaches, rock rip rap, docks or other amenities.