The vote in the 15-member Security Council was 13 in favor and the U.S. against. The United Kingdom abstained. The U.S. has proposed its own draft, which it says would support delicate diplomacy toward releasing hostages.

Albert Lea native Jacob Schlichter spent the beginning of his new year bundled up along I-35, photographing swans. The 27-year-old photographer and business owner was awarded the southeastern Minnesota Arts Council grant in November of last year and used the funds to create a public photography exhibit showcasing southern Minnesota wildlife.

Hometown hero and Olympic gold medalist Jessie Diggins from Afton, Minn. took fourth place in the freestyle sprint and third in the women's 10-kilometer freestyle race at the COOP FIS Cross Country World Cup at Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis. But she said getting to race in front of 20,000 fans in her home state was about more than medaling.

Federal prosecutors say that Alexander Smirnov admitted to authorities that "officials associated with Russian intelligence were involved in passing a story" about President Biden's son, Hunter.