Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Monday called special elections for St. Paul and Woodbury House seats left vacant after two state representatives were elected to new offices this month.

State Rep. Kaohly Her, DFL-St. Paul resigned from the House on Monday as she prepares to take on her new role as mayor of St. Paul. Her defeated two-term incumbent Melvin Carter in the Nov. 4 election.

Rep. Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger, DFL-Woodbury, is leaving House District 47A for Senate District 47 after winning a special election to the upper chamber earlier this month.

Special elections for Her’s District 64A and Hemmingsen-Jaeger’s former district are scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 27, three weeks ahead of the 2026 legislative session. Special primaries are scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 16, if multiple candidates file to run for one party’s nomination.

Last year’s election gave the state its most closely divided government ever: a House tied 67-67 between Republicans and DFLers and a Senate split 34-33 with the DFL holding the advantage.

The departure of two DFLers means Republicans are technically at a two-seat advantage, but the Legislature is not in session and bills require 68 votes to pass. DFLers also are favored to win the two vacant seats, which would mean the return of a tied House before lawmakers reconvene on Feb. 17.

District 64A, which Her had represented since 2018, includes the Union Park, Macalester-Groveland and Summit-University neighborhoods. It leans heavily Democratic.

Hemmingsen-Jaeger’s district includes the city of Woodbury and southern Maplewood. It had been without a senator since the July resignation of state Sen. Nicole Mitchell following her conviction on felony burglary charges.

House District 47A has strongly favored Democrats in recent years. Hemmingsen-Jaeger won the seat with more than 60% of the vote in 2022 and 2024.

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Hemmingsen-Jaeger is scheduled to be sworn into the Minnesota Senate, along with Republican Sen.-elect Michael Holmstrom, in a ceremony in Senate Chambers on Tuesday morning.

Minnesota has seen an unusually high number of special elections this year due to deaths, criminal cases and a candidate residency dispute.

So far, there have been six special elections in 2025. The last time there were that many was 1994, according to the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library.

“Weird Al” Yankovic is the first act announced for the 2026 Minnesota State Fair Grandstand series.

Tickets for his Aug. 28 show — which will be the seventh time the pop parodist has played the Grandstand — are priced from $89.25 to $54 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday through Etix and by phone at 800-514-3849. Puddles Pity Party opens.

Yankovic, 66, began playing the accordion at the age of seven and grew up listening to Elton John, Spike Jones, Allan Sherman, Stan Freberg and Frank Zappa. When he was 16, radio DJ and Minneapolis native Dr. Demento spoke at his high school and Yankovic gave him a cassette recording of a song he wrote about his family’s Plymouth Belvedere. Dr. Demento played it on his syndicated comedy show, which Yankovic credits as the launch of his musical career.

While studying architecture at California Polytechnic State University, Yankovic began writing parody songs starting with “My Bologna,” a riff on the Knack’s hit “My Sharona.” He continued to get played on Dr. Demento’s radio show and, in 1981, joined the DJ’s stage show on tour. The following year, he signed a deal with Scotti Brothers Records.

Yankovic’s self-titled debut album arrived in 1983 and featured the parody singles “Another One Rides the Bus,” “Ricky” and “I Love Rocky Road” alongside seven original songs. He broke to a wider audience with his follow-up, “ ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic in 3-D,” thanks to his hit Michael Jackson parody “Eat It.” MTV put the video into heavy rotation and aired a series of specials starring Yankovic.

While it seemed like Yankovic’s shelf life would be short, he continued releasing albums through 2014’s “Mandatory Fun,” his first to hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts. He has said that’s his final record, although he has since issued a series of singles. Yankovic has won five Grammy awards out of 17 nominations and stands as the biggest-selling comedy artist in history.

In 2018, Yankovic embarked on what he called the Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour. On it, he scaled back his multimedia concerts to a more intimate series of theater shows with a set list filled largely with his original songs, not the parody numbers that made him famous. It turned out to be a hit with his fans, and he revisited the concept in 2022.

Last year, Yankovic returned to his large-scale set list and stage, with a giant video wall, multiple costume changes and an eight-piece ensemble featuring his original band. More than 500,000 fans attended 75 concerts across 67 cities. Next year’s tour is even bigger and will hit 90 cities. It includes numerous other stops in the region, including Rapid City (June 24), Duluth (June 26), Sioux Falls (June 30), Cedar Rapids (July 1), Grand Forks (Aug. 29) and Green Bay (Oct. 16).

The 2026 Minnesota State Fair will run Aug. 27 through Labor Day, Sept. 7.

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This weekend’s big game is the ultimate border battle for me — I was born in Green Bay and most of my family lives there.

Like a good Wisconsin girl, my allegiance remains with the Packers even though I’ve lived in Minnesota far longer than the 18 years I spent in the land of cheese.

I’ll be at the game this weekend, and I’m pretty sure there will be a lot of purple in the stands — there always is. Let’s face it, Lambeau Field is a mecca for football: If you’re a fan, you really should go at least once. (My grandfather was an original season ticket holder, and our family still has those excellent seats.)

Because I’m there so often, I thought I’d give readers who are headed to Green Bay some ideas about where to eat. My list is mostly spots off the beaten path, but also my favorite eatery near the stadium.

For those attending the game, enjoy the ultimate football experience, and Go Pack Go!

Union Hotel

The dining room at Union Hotel in De Pere, Wis. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)

This historic hotel and restaurant in downtown De Pere dates to the late 1800s, and though it’s been updated over the years, it definitely feels like stepping back in time to walk into the dining room. I especially love the red-and-pink landscape wallpaper and red carpeting.

The eatery is a proper supper club, offering a relish tray, salad and potato or vegetable with each entree. If you haven’t been to a Wisconsin supper club before, by all means make a reservation, but go early to have a drink in the cozy bar before you’re seated.

Spinach and hot bacon salad at Union Hotel in De Pere, Wis. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)

This brings up something out-of-towners should know. Eastern Wisconsin is known for its own version of an old-fashioned, and ordering one is a bit of a puzzle. First, you choose your booze: Whiskey, bourbon or brandy (specify the brand if you wish). Then, your wash: Sweet (usually white soda), sour (sour soda or sour mix added), press (a mix of seltzer and white soda), or my preference, seltzer, which makes for a less-sweet, dangerously refreshing drink. I also like mine with olives instead of cherries, because it’s like a free snack! So my old-fashioned order is as follows: Canadian Club old-fashioned, seltzer, with olives. Order it like that, and they’ll think you’re a local!

The meat- and fish-heavy menu here is all fabulous, and quite affordable, especially if you’re used to big-city prices. The portions are also generous, which is honestly the standard in this neck of the woods. If you’ve never had sweet-sour-smoky hot bacon salad dressing, I highly recommend upgrading to the spinach and hot bacon salad. It brought back all the memories of special occasions at home growing up, when my mom would shake up her version of the dressing in a quart-sized mason jar.

Union Hotel & Restaurant: 200 N. Broadway, De Pere, Wis.; 920-336-6131; unionhoteldepere.com

Iron Duck

The gluten-free cheese curds at Iron Duck in Green Bay, Wis., are delicious. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)

If you’re looking for more contemporary dining options, this restaurant, composed of train boxcars stuck together, is one of my favorites.

Locally sourced meats, cheeses and produce (they even use stuff from their own on-site garden) are front and center on their menu. Since several of my family members are gluten-free, the fact that they have a separate fryer for their fabulous gluten-free cheese curds and other options makes it especially appealing. And their craft cocktails are as good as any I’ve had in the Twin Cities. I especially love their clarified Post Modern Margarita, which they sell in convenient to-go bottles if you need to impress your tailgating buddies.

We like to make a meal of the appetizers here, but the entrees, including one of my favorite steak cuts, the hard-to-find teres major, which is tender, beefy and a very generous portion, are delicious, too.

I’ve also heard their breakfast burritos are out of this world, but I haven’t had the chance to try one yet. If you do, let me know if it’s worth an early morning trek.

Iron Duck: 2525 Velp Ave., Green Bay; 920-510-4550; ironduckrestaurant.com

Hinterland

The pulled pork sandwich at Hinterland in Green Bay, Wis. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)

Located within the stadium complex, Hinterland is a brewery serving excellent craft beers (including my sister’s favorite gluten-free beer, Saving Gracie), but also pizzas, sandwiches and entrees.

My sister loves the gluten-free fish sandwich or fish fry, which has a shatter-crisp beer batter, made possible by the aforementioned beer. I recently tried the pulled pork sandwich, which was decent, but I regretted my decision when I saw the wood-fired pizzas coming out of the kitchen.

Hinterland is enormous, so even though it’s in the shadow of Lambeau Field, it’s usually possible to at least find a place to stand and drink a beer (or cocktail, because Wisconsin doesn’t have our weird liquor laws surrounding what a brewery can serve) or grab a bite.

Hinterland: 1001 Lombardi Ave., Green Bay; 920-438-8050; hinterlandbeer.com

Kropp’s Supper Club

If a super old-school supper club and a short drive through the beautiful Wisconsin countryside sounds fun, Kropp’s is your place.

The building, with its white front porch and half-circle flag buntings, was built in 1904 and still looks like it would be at home on a dirt road made for horse and carriage traffic.

Like many of the most traditional supper clubs, you are given your menu when you walk through the door. You are expected to order a drink at the bar, where you’ll order from your server. That server will retrieve you from the bar and lead you to your table when your food is ready, and not before. It’s a way to turn tables faster and ensure that everyone gets a drink or two — kind of an ingenious business model, but one that is fading.

The menu includes the usual suspects — steak, chops and fish — but also excellent fried chicken, all supplied from Maplewood Meats, which is near my parents’ house and was Aaron Rodgers’ favorite butcher shop when he lived in Green Bay.

Kropp’s is open only Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, so keep that in mind before you make the trek.

Kropp’s Supper Club: 4570 Shawano Ave., Green Bay; 920-865-7331; kroppssupperclub.com

Kroll’s East

You’ll see the giant sign for Kroll’s West near the stadium, and the massive lines to get in for these delicious butter burgers, served on hard rolls.

But one of Green Bay’s best-kept secrets (at least to outsiders) is Kroll’s East, which is about five miles away, and, coincidentally, walking distance from my grandparents’ old house. It’s the original, opened in 1935, and still looks exactly the way it did when I was a kid. It’s still family-owned, too.

There’s a dining room and a bar, which is where I prefer to eat. The dining room consists of two rows of hard, wood booths.

I can’t really tell you about much on the sizeable beyond the fabulous cheeseburger, crisp, house-made onion rings and Midwestern chili (you can order it on spaghetti if you’re one of those weirdos), but you should definitely have all three. And wash it down with a beer or a Wisconsin old fashioned.

Also, the single cheeseburger (which is plenty for people with a normal appetite) is just $5.05.

Kroll’s East: 1658 Main St., Green Bay; 920-468-4422; krollseast.com

The Pancake Place

A blueberry and pecan pancake at The Pancake Place in Green Bay, Wis. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)

Fans of Al’s Breakfast should definitely make a stop here — the buttermilk pancakes are superb, and one is definitely enough to keep you full until dinner.

I like mine with blueberries and pecans, with a side of bacon or sausage to balance out the sweet. They serve them with real maple syrup and a generous scoop of whipped butter.

The stuffed hashbrowns — options include benedict, gyro, chili cheese and more — are also excellent. Fair warning that a full order can feed a family of four. Thankfully, they offer a half order. If I were there with my sweetie, I’d order a half order and a pancake and split them both.

Also, the parking lot will look busy, and there might be a line, but they move people quickly, so don’t let that deter you.

The Pancake Place: 143 South Military Ave., Green Bay; 920-499-2221; eatpancakeplace.com

Redwood Inn

Unfortunately, I do not have any pictures from here, because as soon as my fish fry arrives, I dive in with abandon.

But suffice it to say, if you’re in town for Friday fish fry and are looking for the real deal, this is your place. Order the lightly breaded perch and thank me later. And I know this is starting to sound like a theme, but the old-fashioneds are good here, too.

It’s also not a secret, so if you want to beat the crowds, get there early, and by that I mean 4 p.m. I’ve also had luck getting there after the first rush, around 7:30 p.m. or so.

Redwood Inn: 3230 Main St., Green Bay; 920-863-6315

River’s Bend

A perch fish fry at River’s Bend in Green Bay, Wis. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)

My parents live close to this steakhouse, so it is the place I visit most in Green Bay.

It’s named for the spectacular view of the river, especially from the four-season porch windows. When you make a reservation, you can ask to sit in that room.

The menu is sizable, but I usually stick to one of three items: Tender New York Strip with sauteed mushrooms, lemon butter Norwegian salmon or the perch fish fry if we’re there on a Friday. Like at any fancy Midwestern joint, your meal comes with a trip to the salad bar and a starchy side — my favorite is the twice-baked potato.

And guess what I order to drink? If you’re not an old-fashioned person, they do have a good wine list and a few specialty cocktails as well.

River’s Bend: 792 Riverview Drive, Green Bay; 920-544-986; riversbendgb.com

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By GERALD IMRAY

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — South Africa’s foreign minister on Monday criticized a plane that arrived in the country with more than 150 Palestinians on board as part of a “broader agenda” to clear out Gaza and the West Bank through a network of chartered flights.

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Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola did not say who South Africa believed had organized the chartered plane that arrived in Johannesburg on Thursday with 153 Palestinians, but his comments were seen as accusing Israel of being behind a campaign to remove people from the Palestinian territories and send them to other countries.

“Indeed, we are suspicious as the South African government about the circumstances surrounding the arrival of the plane and the passengers that were in the plane,” Lamola said. “It does look like it represents a broader agenda to remove Palestinians from Palestine into many different parts of the world and it’s a clearly orchestrated operation because they are not only being sent to South Africa. There are other countries where such flights have been sent.”

The Israeli authority responsible for implementing civilian policies in the Palestinian territories said the Palestinians on the chartered plane to South Africa left the Gaza Strip after it received approval from a third country to receive them as part of an Israeli government policy allowing Gaza residents to leave. It didn’t name the third country.

Israel’s government has previously embraced a pledge by U.S. President Donald Trump to empty Gaza permanently of its more than 2 million Palestinians in a plan rights groups said would amount to ethnic cleansing. At the time, Trump said they would not be allowed to return.

Trump has since backed away from that plan and brokered a ceasefire between Israel and the militant group Hamas that allows Palestinians to remain in Gaza.

Israel held discussions with South Sudan earlier this year about the possibility of resettling Palestinians there from Gaza as part of a wider Israeli effort to facilitate mass emigration from the territory. It also floated resettlement plans for Palestinians with other African governments.

Saed Mahmoud, 42, reinforces his tent after it was damaged by a storm at a temporary camp on the beach in Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said there will be an investigation by intelligence services into who was behind the plane carrying Palestinians that arrived at Johannesburg’s main O.R. Tambo International Airport from the Ramon Airport in southern Israel via a stopover in Kenya.

“We do not want any further flights to come our way because this is a clear agenda to cleanse out the Palestinians out of Gaza and the West Bank,” Lamola said.

South African authorities said the Palestinians — who included families with children and a woman who was nine months pregnant — did not have the correct documents to travel to South Africa or proper exit documents from Israel. They were ultimately granted entry after being blocked from disembarking the plane by immigration officials and held onboard on the airport tarmac for around 12 hours in a move by South African authorities that was fiercely criticized by rights groups.

South Africa has long been a supporter of the Palestinians and a critic of Israel.

Palestinians move along a street flanked by the rubble of residential buildings destroyed in Israeli strikes in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood of Gaza City, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

Lamola’s comments followed accusations made by South African civic groups that a Jerusalem-based organization called Al-Majd organized the charter to South Africa and has ties with Israel. The groups offered no evidence for their claims of Israeli ties.

An Israeli military official, speaking anonymously to discuss confidential information, said Al-Majd arranged the transport of about 150 Palestinians from Gaza to South Africa and acquired proper travel documents for them.

A South African NGO said that the chartered plane that arrived in Johannesburg last week was the second from Israel in recent weeks following a flight that landed on Oct. 28 with more than 170 Palestinians on board.

Follow AP’s Africa coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/africa