>>Residents Return to Raymond, Train Derailment Investigation Continues

(Raymond, MN) — Residents in the Kandiyohi County town of Raymond are back home after being evacuated Thursday morning following a train derailment and fire. The evacuation order was lifted Thursday afternoon. MnDOT hasn’t determined when it will lift the detour on Highway 23. The train was pulling more than 22 tankers cars containing ethanol and corn syrup when it went off the tracks and four caught fire. No other hazardous chemicals were spilled and no one was injured. U-S Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith and Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach are visiting Raymond later this morning (Friday 10:55am).

>>Minnesota House Passes $40 Million Disaster Assistance Bill

(St. Paul, MN) — Forty million dollars would go to replenish the state’s Disaster Assistance Account, under a bill the Minnesota House passed Thursday on a unanimous vote. Representative Gene Pelowski of Winona says, “when we restore this account, if there is a disaster and we are not in session, the governor or the president of the United States can declare a disaster and we will get aid to that area right away. There will be no special session.” The Disaster Assistance Account was established in 2014 and expedites assistance to communities with damage to public property and infrastructure such as roads, utilities, and public buildings.

>>Minnesota Politicians, Parties React to Trump Indictment

(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota political leaders are reacting to a grand jury in Manhattan indicting ex-President Trump on charges involving payments during the 2016 campaign to an adult film actress. Fifth District Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, who has repeatedly sparred with Trump says it’s up to everyone to “follow the facts where they lead” and Omar adds “political interference in a criminal investigation, up to and including incitement of violence, are hallmarks of democratic decline.” Republican Party of Minnesota Chairman David Hann says “It is disconcerting to see our justice system used to pursue partisan ends. A Democrat district attorney is busy tying up time and resources to go after a political opponent instead of cracking down on lawlessness in New York…”

>>Former Congresswoman Gifford Push for Gun Safety in Minnesota

(St. Paul, MN) — Former Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, who was shot in the head by a would-be assassin in 2012, has been in Minnesota helping Governor Tim Walz push for gun safety measures. Giffords told supporters at a State Capitol news conference Thursday, “Progress is possible — the world is possible — but change doesn’t happen overnight and we can’t do it alone. Join me. Let’s move ahead together.” Bills for universal background checks on gun purchases and a “red flag” law cleared a key Minnesota House committee Thursday. S

>>Deer River Woman Gets 36 Years for Fatal Stabbing, Camper Fire

(Grand Rapids, MN) — The sentence is 36 years in prison for a northern Minnesota woman who fatally stabbed a man and set his camper on fire near Ball Club. Crystal Wilson of Deer River pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and arson in connection with the July death of 59-year-old Bradley Reymann. Wilson told Itasca County deputies that she was using meth when she stabbed Reymann with scissors multiple times and lit a fire in his camper.

>>2 Teens Arrested for Shooting at Cars in Cass County

(Cass Lake, MN) — The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says two teens are in juvenile detention after shooting at a car Thursday in rural Cass Lake. Deputies and Leech Lake Tribal officers met two juvenile males who reported they were in a vehicle when two boys on the roadway shot at them and several rounds struck the car. The teens were not wounded. Officers used a K-9 team, drones, snowmobiles, and an A-T-V to track down the suspects, and weapons were recovered. Several Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Offices and facilities and Cass Lake Indian Health Services were placed on lockdown during the incident.

>>Brooklyn Park Felon Sentenced for Possessing Semi-Automatic Pistol

(St. Paul, MN) — A Brooklyn Park man will spend more than seven years in federal prison for possessing a semi-automatic pistol as a felon in September of 2021. Prosecutors say 27-year-old Marlin White had the nine-millimeter handgun in downtown Minneapolis and ran to place it in a planter when he saw police officers. Investigators later recovered the pistol from a planter near a hotel and he was arrested. White pleaded guilty in December.

>>Minnesota Twins , Lopez Win Season Opener at Kansas City

(Kansas City, MO) — The Minnesota Twins topped the Kansas City Royals 2-0 on Opening Day Thursday afternoon at Kaufmann Stadium. New Twins starter Pablo Lopez gave up just two hits over five-and-a-third scoreless innings and reliever Reliever Jhoan  Duran picked up the save. Minnesota scored both its runs in the sixth inning. The teams are off today (Friday) and resume the season-opening series on Saturday.

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