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Benjamin Franklin wanted a turkey for the National Bird. The 40-pound bruiser tom hailing from a McCleod County farm that hopped atop the table Tuesday at the State Capitol probably thought the Founding Father was talking about him. “Ahh-yeah,” cheered Gov. Tim Walz, in a laid-back sweater vest and blazer, at the annual Thanksgiving ceremony in the oil-painting-adorned reception room. “If you speak at the Worthington Turkey Day event...you have to kiss the turkey.” No one dared get any closer. Tuesday marked the return of Minnesota farm country’s favorite anticlimactic moment: when state officials recognize, but don’t spare, a turkey from his seasonal dinner-plate fate. Unlike the two lucky birds from Northfield that flew to Washington D.C. this week for high-thread-count sheets at the Willard Intercontinental and a Monday morning pardoning by President Joe Biden at the White House, the turkey named “Tom” by his FFA handler, Paisley VonBerge, and who spread wide his wings for a couple emphatic sweeps before staring down First Lady Gwen Walz, will accept a more traditional turkey fate. “After today, this turkey will go back to my farm to be enjoyed the way turkeys were intended to be enjoyed,” Paisley said. It’s unclear the origin of this Minnesota Nice tradition , though it’s prized in a state with more turkey producers, and processors, than anywhere across the country. Still, Tuesday’s ceremony had added political weight, as the governor, who just weeks ago drew the white-hot spotlight of a U.S. presidential race, continues to return to the ordinary, sometimes mundane ceremonies of running a state. “They do it differently in D.C.,” Walz said, referring to Biden’s pardon. “Here in Minnesota we know turkeys are delicious.” Walz appeared jovial, joking about racing turkeys in Worthington and alluding to a lake near Hutchinson where he and his wife were married. For the second consecutive day, the state’s chief executive, who campaigned since early August as running mate to Vice President Kamala Harris in her ultimately foiled bid for the presidency, took questions from the press behind a podium. Topics ranged from a judge who halted Minnesota’s cannabis business license lottery to mining in northern Minnesota to whether he was regretful for joining Harris. “No regrets,” he said, noting the Harris-Walz ticket campaigned on a message “that 75 million Americans liked, but not quite enough.” On Monday evening, President-elect Donald Trump announced on social media his plan to impose tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China, a move that could draw retaliation. Speaking beside Walz on Tuesday, Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner Thom Peterson noted 74% of the state’s agriculture exports are to Mexico. “Our main partners are always Mexico and Canada,” Petersen said. Asked whether the DFL losing full control of the state House was a verdict on DFL governance, Walz said, “I see a very close and divided country.” It’s also a country that largely comes together for Thanksgiving, for football, a balloon parade in New York City, and turkey, even if the red-wattled, strange-footed, flightless bird never scaled to the heights of the bald eagle.
Gap lifts guidance, touts optimism ahead of crucial holiday shopping season
DETROIT — Mitch Marner's third career hat trick spoiled Todd McClellan's Detroit coaching debut as the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the struggling Red Wings 5-2 on Friday night. David Kampf scored his first goal of the season in his 500th career game and Nicolas Robertson also scored for the Maple Leafs. John Tavares had two assists and Joseph Woll made 23 saves. Derek Lalonde was fired by Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman on Thursday and replaced by McClellan, who previously coached San Jose, Edmonton and Los Angeles. Lucas Raymond and Simon Edvinsson had third-period goals for Detroit, which has lost four straight. Cam Talbot started and gave up five goals on 21 shots, and Alex Lyon started the third period and finished with two saves. Marner scored two at even strength and another on a power play, all in the first two periods. An upper body injury sidelined Maple Leafs star forward Auston Matthews for a third consecutive game. Takeaways Maple Leafs: Their potent offense allowed them to bounce back from home losses to the New York Islanders and Winnipeg. Toronto has scored at least five goals in each of its last four victories. Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitch Marner (16) celebrates with center John Tavares (91) after scoring a goal against the Detroit Red Wings during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in Detroit. Credit: AP/Duane Burleson Red Wings: In Lalonde's last game as head coach, they were booed off the ice in a 4-0 loss to St. Louis on Monday. They didn't get an immediate jolt from the coaching change. Key moment Tavares provided the highlight play when he collected a rebound and delivered a behind-the-back, between-the-legs pass to set up Marner's first goal. That gave Toronto a 2-0 lead at 8:16 of the first period. Key stat Tavares has 54 points in 39 career games against the Red Wings. Up Next Maple Leafs host Washington on Saturday, and Red Wings host Washington on Sunday.