Watch: Rising Prices Threaten Minnesota’s Meat Raffles

Meat raffles, a longstanding local tradition in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and New York state, are typically held at community bars or veterans’ organizations like the American Legion and VFW. Participants pay a small fee to potentially claim a variety of meat items, including ground beef, hot dogs, or chicken. These events support charitable causes, but increasing costs for meat are now challenging their sustainability in the state.

The BBC accompanied the Rangers during the final stages of their expedition into Canada’s remote northern regions as they asserted their presence in the area. Meanwhile, the Artemis II crew, who set a new record for distance from Earth, have returned after a 10-day mission. Their achievement surpassed the Apollo 13 benchmark of 248,655 miles (400,171km) and marked the farthest humans have traveled in history.

Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman’s wife passed away from cancer in 2020 at age 46. The four astronauts, who recently completed their third day of orbiting the Moon’s far side, shared video messages with loved ones. When communication was reestablished, astronaut Christina Koch expressed:

“It is so great to hear from Earth again.”

Meanwhile, in Tampa, police responded to a homeowner’s call after discovering a nine-foot alligator in his pool. The animal was later removed by specialists. Back in the US, the sentencing of Jasveen Sangha for drug-related deaths of actor Matthew Perry drew attention, while Rex Heuermann pleaded guilty to the murder of eight women on Long Island between 1993 and 2010.

The Canadian prime minister joined the Ottawa Charge team on the ice alongside the Finnish president during their first formal diplomatic meeting. The BBC’s Science Editor Rebecca Morelle spoke with the Artemis II crew ahead of their likely splashdown on Saturday. As the US aims to be the first nation to land humans on the Moon again by 2028, questions remain about the purpose of this mission.