>>Spring Snow Falls in Central and Southern Minnesota
(Chanhassen, MN) — There’s late March snow on the ground this morning (Fri) in most of central and southern Minnesota where a winter weather advisory remains in effect. The National Weather Service is just starting to receive snowfall reports. Hugo in Washington County has received three-and-a-half inches and observers in Motley are reporting one-point-three inches. That winter weather advisory was upgraded to a winter storm warning Thursday night for Sherburne, Isanti and Anoka counties. Authorities responded to many accidents including a crash involving a semi near Albert Lea that closed Interstate 90. Another winter storm system is expected to move into the state late Saturday and Sunday.
>>Crashes and Spinouts on Minnesota Roads, MnDOT Snowplow Crews Busy
(Roseville, MN) — Several spinouts and crashes are reported following the state’s first spring snowstorm. MnDOT’s Anne Meyer says snowplow crews are busy at work and drivers should give them plenty of room to do their job safely. She says travel conditions could be tricky in areas that received snowfall. She recommends checking the road conditions at 5-1-1-mn-dot-org or by calling 5-1-1. MnDOT crews are expected to be busy this weekend with even heavier snow in the forecast.
>>Xcel Energy Preparing for Possible Power Outages
(St. Paul, MN) — With a second band of heavy snow moving into Minnesota this weekend, power outages could be possible. Xcel Energy’s Michelle Swanson says there are a few ways to be prepared if you do lose power. She says,” to keep your refrigerator and your freezer closed to basically retain the food, and to make sure you have some flashlights available, some batteries available. Maybe have a radio.” Swanson also says you should immediately report any outages to your energy provider. The winter storm this weekend will contain a lot of moisture and is expected to bring wet, heavy snow and possibly a rain mix on Sunday.
>>Minnesota Senate Committee to Debate Firearm Straw Purchase Bill
(St. Paul, MN) — A state Senate committee debates a bill today (Fri) that would make it a felony for someone to buy a firearm for a criminal who’s prohibited from having a weapon. Republicans tried unsuccessfully yesterday for an immediate vote on their bill, Waconia Senator Julia Coleman saying because of illegal straw-purchase of firearms, two officers and a paramedic were killed in Burnsville. Saint Louis Park Democrat Ron Latz responded, to claim that the officers and paramedic might not have died if Coleman’s bill had become law last year, “there is absolutely no way that one can stand here today and draw an absolute causal line.” Federal prosecutors allege the girlfriend of Shannon Gooden bought five firearms for him — two of which he used in the February 18th fatal shooting.
>>Minnesota House Hearing on Cannabis Business License Proposal
(St. Paul, MN) — There’s a hearing in the Minnesota House Commerce committee this morning (Fri 9:30am) on a bill that calls for using a lottery system to award cannabis licenses to businesses. Frank Ongaro of the Minnesota Marijuana Association says the trade group opposes that proposal. He says, “we don’t have a lottery to determine who gets to become a dentist. We should have qualified systems in place whether it’s requirements environmental review for projects or whether it’s requirements for licensure for cannabis operations.” Ongaro says the Minnesota Marijuana Association just a released a report on how to implement a merit-based licensing system for cannabis businesses. The committee is not expected to vote on the proposal today.
>>Authorities ID 3-Year-Old Boy from Moorhead Who Died
(Moorhead, MN) — Authorities are naming the three-year-old boy who was found unresponsive in a Moorhead apartment early Monday and later died at a Fargo hospital. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the boy as Eastyn Deronjic (dah-RON’-jik). Police in Moorhead say Deronjic and a sibling had been staying in the apartment for some time and were cared for by acquaintances of his parents. The boy’s death is considered suspicious, and the sibling has been placed with Clay County Social Services. No arrests have been made.
>>Suspect Pleads Guilty in Fatal December 2022 Mall of America Shooting
(Bloomington, MN) — One of the suspects accused in a fatal shooting at the Mall of America in December of 2022 is pleading guilty to to second-degree murder and assault. Prosecutors say 19-year-old Taeshawn Adams-Wright will be sentenced in late May for the killing of 19-year-old Johntae Hudson of Saint Paul. Bloomington police say surveillance video shows Adams-Wright and Lavon Longstreet pursuing Hudson in the Nordstrom store before firing at Hudson. He was shot eight times and died at the scene. Longstreet’s trial is scheduled to begin next month.
>>Waite Park Man Arrested, Charged with Rape
(St. Cloud, MN) — Curtis Brame of Waite Park is charged with criminal sexual assault following a reported rape earlier this month. Stearns County authorities say a woman alleged that while riding in a vehicle with Brame, he discussed drugs and guns, threatening her to keep silent or face harm to herself and others in her apartment. The complaint says Brame insisted on “hanging out” at her apartment, where he threatened her boyfriend to leave before assaulting her. was arrested at the scene and taken to a hospital, where he reportedly made threats to officers and his family while refusing to comply with orders.
>>$10K Reward for Information on 30-Year-Old Missing Person Case
(Blaine, MN) — The Blaine Police Department says a $10,000 reward is being offered to anyone with new information about a 30-year-old missing person case. Tamara Bradley was last seen leaving her job in Minneapolis on September 30th, 1994, and authorities suspect foul play. Bradley’s family and her former workplace, Federal Foam Technologies, teamed up to post the award. She’s described as a white woman, 5 foot 4 inches tall, weighing about 135 pounds, and has brown hair and hazel eyes. Bradley was last seen wearing blue jeans and athletic shoes with light reflectors on the back.
