>>Walz Outlines Legislative Accomplishments in State of State Address
(Owatonna, MN) — Governor Tim Walz in last night’s (Tues) State of the State Address in Owatonna laid out the wide-ranging accomplishments of the 2023 legislative session, saying there’s a lot of work yet to do “but this window of opportunity is still open.” Walz says Democrats made the largest investment in public education in Minnesota history, expanded pre-K and affordable childcare, made a billion-dollar investment in affordable housing , and provided free public college tuition for low-income families. He pointed to a new child tax credit that’s estimated to cut child poverty by one-third in Minnesota — and says paid family and medical leave is now the law of the land. House Republican Minority Leader Lisa Demuth (DAY-muth) argues Democrats spent last year’s 18-billion-dollar surplus and raised taxes and fees by another 10 billion. Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson says recent polling shows Minnesotans overwhelmingly don’t feel as if they are better off in this generation as they were in the last.
>>MCCL Hoping US Supreme Court Restricts Access to Abortion Pill
(Minneapolis, MN) — The state’s largest pro-life group is hoping the U-S Supreme Court will order the F-D-A to restrict access to the abortion drug mifepristone (miff-uh-PRISS’-tone). Paul Stark of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life says changes made in 2021 allow the abortion pill to be mailed to a woman’s home and there’s no longer a requirement for an in-person doctor visit. He says research shows that so-called chemical abortions are four times riskier than a surgical procedure. The nation’s high court is expected to rule in June on whether the F-D-A legally approved mifepristone (miff-uh-PRISS’-tone) and expanded access to the drug.
>>House Committee to Consider Office of Cannabis Management Policy Bill
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota House Commerce Committee could vote today (Wed 1pm) on the Office of Cannabis Management policy bill. O-C-M interim director Charlene Briner says it creates a pathway for the 38 hundred current hemp-based T-H-C businesses to continue operating while they wait to receive a new adult-use license. Briner says the hemp-based industry and medical cannabis program would transition into the Office of Cannabis Management this July. The bill also calls for using a lottery to award cannabis business licenses, issuing temporary licenses to social equity applicants, and includes many other regulations.
>>Duluth City Council Rejects Resolution Supporting Gaza Cease-Fire
(Duluth, MN) — Duluth will not join other cities in Minnesota in supporting a permanent cease-fire in Gaza. The Duluth City Council rejected the cease-fire resolution in a 5-4 vote after hearing two hours of public comment on Tuesday night. Those opposing the measure stated that the council’s primary responsibility is dealing with local issues such as roads and taxes. At least five other Minnesota cities have passed resolutions calling for an end to the conflict in Gaza.
>>Shots Fired at Squad Car in Police Chase and Crash in Chanhassen
(Chanhassen, MN) — Authorities say shots were fired during a police pursuit Tuesday night before the suspect vehicle crashed in Chanhassen. The South Lake Minnetonka Police Department says the chase started when officers learned the vehicle came back with a warrant out of Illinois for assault. Investigators say shots were fired at a squad car and the suspect vehicle eventually crashed near Highways 41 and 5 in Carver County. The news release says a woman was driving the car and the incident is still being investigated.
>>Central Minnesota Woman Wanted on Drug Charges Arrested in Mexico
(Undated) — A central Minnesota woman who was wanted on drug charges in North Dakota was arrested in Mexico. The U-S Attorney’s Office in North Dakota says 33-year-old Deanna Gerads (JER’-ads) of Freeport was arrested by Mexican immigration agents and deported. Gerads has pleaded guilty to conspiring to sell and possess drugs as part of “Operation Unfinished Business II (2), an investigation into the international trafficking of methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl. She’s scheduled to be sentenced in July. Gerads had been considered a fugitive for more than a year and the F-B-I played a significant role in providing information that led to her arrest.
>>Maple Grove Police Asking for Help Locating Young Man
(Maple Grove, MN) — The Maple Grove Police Department is asking for help locating an 18-year-old man who hasn’t been seen since Saturday. Winston Drepaul, who also goes by “Dee Pee” or “Dez,” left his apartment on foot without any of his personal belongings, including his medications. Drepaul is described as 5-foot-10, weighs around 150 pounds and was last seen wearing a black puffy winter jacket, gray sweatpants and black shoes/boots. He was seen on video Saturday morning outside the Maple Grove Community Center. Anyone with information is asked to call 9-1-1 or Hennepin County Dispatch (952-258-5321).
>>USDA: Late Month Precipitation Should Help Minnesota Farmers
(Undated) — Minnesota continued to see mostly mild winter weather conditions for most of March. The U-S-D-A says that was before a late shift to colder temperatures along with snow and rain, which should help alleviate the abnormally dry to extreme drought conditions covering much of the state. Ahead of that shift, pastures were starting to green up, farmers were tilling fields and applying fertilizer, with some even getting a jump on cover crop and small grains planting. Calving and lambing are ongoing. The U-S-D-A’s weekly crop progress and condition reports resume next Monday.
>>Gopher Women’s Basketball Tops Pacific in WNIT at Williams Arena
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Golden Gopher women’s basketball team topped Pacific University 77-62 at Williams Arena Tuesday night to advance in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT). Sophie Hart scored 14 points to lead Minnesota and Mara Braun added 12 in her return from a foot injury. The U of M will host North Dakota State in the round of 16 of the W-N-I-T Friday night at the Barn. The Gophers beat the Bison 75-53 in November.
