Good morning. And then there were six.

Amid flag mania, MPR’s Dana Ferguson sat through hours of back-and-forth over flag and seal appraisals. No detail was too small to talk through – from the size and number of points to the orientation of stars. Colors, wavy lines and flappability all got analyzed. In the end, Dana says the panel chose six flag designs that include variations of stars, ripples of water and hues of green and blue to move onto the next phase. Simplicity proved dominant over flag concepts that had too many colors or symbols. The seal selection has a clear favorite, one with a loon in the middle. It’s possible, maybe even probable, that design concepts get merged before a final flag is selected in December.

In a room next door to that meeting, an important discussion over Minnesota’s flagship teaching hospital and its partnership with a major health provider was being held. Fairview and the University of Minnesota are at odds over their long-term partnership, which might be nearing an end, or at a minimum, a renegotiation. MPR’s Estelle Timar-Wilcox writes that Fairview’s CEO told the Governor’s Task Force on Academic Health at the University that the system can’t afford to move ahead with the current arrangement. Former Govs. Tim Pawlenty, a Republican, and Mark Dayton, a DFLer, urged the two entities to work it out for the good of the state and consider mediation if necessary, according to the Star Tribune.

A moment of bipartisan agreement was on display yesterday in tiny Courtland. Minnesota leaders of all political stripes rejoiced in the completion of a stretch of highway reconstruction — U.S. Highway 14 to be precise. It’s been a roadway rife with safety concerns. So an end to the $84 million project that — at long last to local motorists — makes the highway four lanes from New Ulm to Rochester, was a moment of rejoicing that brought together DFL Gov. Tim Walz, Republican U.S. Rep. Brad Finstad and others. MPR’s Hannah Yang  shared the sights and sounds from a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Dean Phillips has been noncommittal about his 2024 plans if the presidential bid doesn’t go as he hopes. That’s created uncertainty around the race for Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District seat. Two DFLers, Ron Harris and Kelly Morrison, have already announced campaigns in the west suburban district. Axios reporters, including Minnesota powerhouse Torey Van Oot , say Phillips will decide on that over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. If he discloses his decision, it might prompt other candidates to jump in or stay away from what could be a pricey race in a potentially competitive district. 

Phillips is getting a lot of Democratic pushback over his comments about Vice President Kamala Harris. He was asked by Atlantic writer Mark Lebovich about Harris. Phillips projects the views of others about her preparedness to become president, saying “She is not well prepared, doesn’t have the right disposition and the right competencies to execute that office.” But he also tries to distinguish that he doesn’t necessarily see it that way. Democrats,  including Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, slammed him for challenging the qualifications of Harris. Phillips is quickly finding out that the scrutiny and parsing of presidential candidate comments is more intense than members of Congress typically get. 

I’m going to turn off the alarm clock for a couple of days. Catch you back here on Monday.