More MN Cities Reject New State Flag Design

(MNN)-Another city is opting out of the state’s new “North Star” flag. The Zumbrota City Council has voted 3 to 2 to keep displaying the old 1983 blue‑and‑gold flag instead of the updated design unveiled in 2024. Champlin, Byron, Pine Island, Wadena, St. Francis, North Branch, Houston County, and Crow Wing County have already taken similar steps. The flag was changed two years ago after critics said the old design was offensive for depicting a Native American riding away as a white settler plowed a field. The new flag features a dark blue shape resembling Minnesota, a white eight‑pointed North Star, and a light blue background meant to represent the state’s waters. Supporters say the redesign is more inclusive, while critics say it doesn’t fully reflect the state’s history.