>>Senators Klobuchar and Smith Support $95 Billion Foreign Aid Package
(Washington, DC) — Minnesota’s two U-S senators voted for the 95-billion-dollar foreign aid package approved Tuesday for Ukraine, Israel, and other allies. Senator Amy Klobuchar says, “It sends a message loud and clear to Vladimir Putin: the U-S will stand up for our allies and resist tyranny. ” Senator Tina Smith said on social media that she flew back to Washington, ” to stand up to Putin and protect our national security.” President Biden is expected to sign the bipartisan legislation today (Wed).
>>Minnesota Legislature Returns from Passover Break
(St. Paul, MN) — Lawmakers have much unfinished business on their plates as they return to the Minnesota Capitol from Passover break. Democrats want to pass a supplemental budget that would spend part of the additional projected 1.3-billion dollars in the surplus. They also want about a billion-dollar bonding, or borrowing, bill for public works projects, but there’s speculation Republicans could demand more money for rural emergency medical services before helping them pass it. Backers of sports betting are trying to pass a bill, but it’s less than certain whether they can garner a broad enough coalition of support. Negotiations continue on Uber/Lyft driver pay, with start of the Minneapolis ordinance pushed back to July 1st.
>>MCCL Launches Campaign Against Proposed Abortion Rights Amendment
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life is spending more than a million dollars on an ad campaign aimed at defeating a proposed abortion rights constitutional amendment. M-C-C-L’s Cathy Blaeser (BLAZE’-ur) says state law already allows abortions and this proposal is too extreme. She says, “If we put unlimited abortion up to birth in our state Constitution, we would not be able to pass any protective laws in the future. That reflect the views of Minnesotans across the state.” Blaeser says they want to stop lawmakers from placing the so-called Equal Rights Amendment on the ballot. Supporters say a constitutional amendment is needed following the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
>>Senator Mitchell Denies Burglary Accusation on Social Media
(Detroit Lakes, MN) — State Senator Nicole Mitchell is speaking out for the first time after being charged with first-degree burglary in Becker County. The D-F-L senator from Woodbury was arrested Monday morning after being found in the basement of her stepmother’s home in Detroit Lakes. Mitchell appeared in court Tuesday and was released from jail on the condition that she does not contact her stepmother. Here is the message Mitchell posted on Facebook:
“Like so many families, mine is dealing with the pain of watching a loved one decline due to Alzheimer’s and associated paranoia. Over the weekend, I learned of medical information which caused me grave concern and prompted me to check on that family member. I entered a home I have come and gone from countless times in the past 20 years, where my son even once had his own room.
Unfortunately, I startled this close relative, exacerbating paranoia, and I was accused of stealing, which I absolutely deny. Thank you to all my friends (and colleagues of both parties) for the kind words of support and for trusting my character even before I had a chance to respond. This has been a true tragedy for our family and my hope is it can return to being a private matter.”
>>American Crystal Sugar fined $350K for Air Quality Violations
(East Grand Forks, MN) — State regulators are fining American Crystal Sugar Company 350-thousand dollars for multiple air-quality violations at its sugar beet plant in East Grand Forks. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says the violations, between 2020 and 2022, include releasing more hydrogen sulfide and particulate matter than the company’s permit allows. Per state law, 40 percent of the fine collected will go to the Polk-Norman-Mahnomen Community Health Board.
>>2 Northwest Minnesota Men Arrested in Norman County Fentanyl Bust
(Ada, MN) — Two men are in Norman County Jail following a drug sting in Halstad in northwestern Minnesota. Police say Charlee Fugleberg sold 75 fentanyl pills to an undercover officer and also had fentanyl powder, meth, heroin and two replica pistols. His driver, Karl Leclair, was also arrested after admitting to smoking fentanyl before delivering the drugs to the undercover officer. Both men are being held on 750-thousand-dollars’ bond.
>>Timberwolves Top Suns at Target Center Take 2-0 Lead in Playoff Series
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Minnesota Timberwolves topped the Phoenix Suns 105-93 Tuesday night to take a two games-to-none lead in the first-round playoff series. Jaden McDaniels led the Wolves with 25 points, Mike Conley and Rudy Gobert each scored 18, and Anthony Edwards added 15 points. Minnesota trailed 51-50 at the half before rallying past the Suns at Target Center. Game 3 of the best-of-seven series is Friday night in Phoenix.
