Minnesota News Network

Minnesota Afternoon Report 12-1-23

>>Inmate Faces Charges in Alleged Stabbing of Ex-Minneapolis Officer Chauvin

(Tucson, AZ) — A fellow inmate is facing attempted murder and assault charges for allegedly stabbing of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin at a federal prison in Arizona. The U-S Attorney’s Office says 52-year-old John Turscak is accused of stabbing Chauvin about 22 times with an improvised knife on November 24th at the Federal Correctional Institution in Tucson. The criminal complaint says Turscak told corrections officers that he would have killed Chauvin if they hadn’t intervened. Chauvin is serving a 20-plus year sentence for the killing of George Floyd on Memorial Day 2020.

 

>>Three of Minnesota’s four U-S House Republicans vote against expelling Santos

(Washington, DC) — Just one of Minnesota’s Republican members voted “yes” today (Fri) as the U-S House expelled embattled G-O-P Congressman George Santos of New York. Eighth District Congressman Pete Stauber voted to expel Santos, while 6th District Congressman Tom Emmer, 7th District Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach and 1st District Congressman Brad Finstad all voted “no.” Minnesota Democratic Party Chairman Ken Martin says it’s “embarrassing” that Finstad voted to keep Santos in Congress “despite the scathing bipartisan ethics report confirming the overwhelming evidence of his unethical and criminal conduct.” Finstad says previous expulsions from the U-S House were for treason or criminal convictions while in office. He says while Santos’ conduct was unbefitting, today’s vote “sets an entirely new standard” for expelling duly-elected members of Congress.

>>Anonymous donor offering $10K reward in St. Paul murder cold case

(St. Paul, MN) — An anonymous donor is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the 1988 murder of Cheryl Prokop. On Thursday, December 2nd, 1988, someone entered Prokop’s St. Paul home and strangled her, leaving her body where Prokop’s four-year-old daughter would find it later that morning. The Minnesota BCA and St. Paul Police Department have been actively investigating the case for 35 years but have gotten nowhere. Now, an unnamed donor is offering the $10,000 reward in hopes it will encourage someone to come forward. If a tip is received that leads to an arrest and conviction in the case, the donor will dispense the reward in coordination with the family and law enforcement.

>>Twins say Provus will move from radio to television broadcast booth

**MEDIA REFERENCES**
(Minneapolis, MN) — Minnesota Twins radio play-by-play voice Cory Provus is moving to TV. The Twins made the announcement today. It comes a little more than a month after the announcement that long-time television announcer Dick Bremer would be transitioning into the team’s front office. Bremer will serve as an ambassador for the Twins. Provus, 45, has been calling Twins games since 2012. Pre-and post-game host Kris Atteberry will replace Provus in the radio booth.

>>MN BCA Looks for Missing/Runaway Juvenile

(Glencoe, MN) — The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) is asking for the public’s help in finding a missing juvenile runaway. 16-year-old Cheyenne Cadena has had no contact since November 27th with friends via social media and hasn’t been at her residence since November 26th. Cadena is described as 4-11, 97 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. She has friends and family in Minnesota and Nebraska.

>>Four Arrested in Major Fentanyl, Meth Bust in Duluth

(Duluth, MN) — Four men jailed in Duluth are accused of trafficking more than ten kilograms of fentanyl and 20 kilos of methamphetamine in the Twin Ports area. Authorities searched two homes Thursday in Duluth and seized nearly two pounds of fentanyl, two pounds of meth, 102 synthetic fentanyl pills, 21 thousand dollars in cash, and four handguns. The Lake Superior Violent Offender Task Force says it has evidence that the four suspects have been transporting and selling drugs for a major drug trafficking organization.

>>VA Announces Vet Center Outstation Opening in St. Cloud

(St. Cloud, MN) — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has announced a new Vet Center Outstation is coming to St. Cloud. Vet Center Outstations are community-based counseling centers that provide social and psychological services to eligible veterans, service members, and their families. The St. Cloud facility is slated to open in early 2024.

>>State Health Department monitoring three HIV outbreaks in MN

(Various) — The state Department of Health continues to monitor three ongoing outbreaks of HIV in Minnesota. MDH spokeswoman Chrissy Jones says, “Two of them are in the Hennepin County and Ramsey County areas. Those are… with individuals who are injecting drugs and those who are experiencing unstable housing. And then we also have an outbreak that we’re monitoring in the Duluth area.” There are currently 9,800 Minnesotans living with HIV/AIDS. Today is World Aids Day.

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Midday News Briefs December 1st, 2023

>>Phillips Rips Florida Democrats for Cancelling Presidential Primary

(Undated) — Minnesota Congressman Dean Phillips is blasting the Florida Democratic Party for canceling the state’s Democratic presidential primary. The 3rd District representative calls it a “power grab” and says he and other Democratic contenders will not be appearing on the Florida ballot. The campaign says all 250 state delegates will be gifted to President Joe Biden. The Phillips campaign is considering a lawsuit against the Florida Democratic Party.

>>CAIR-MN Asks MN Democratic Party to Formally Denounce Senator Latz’s Statement on Palestine

(St. Paul, MN) – The Minnesota Chapter on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN), a well-known supporter of freeing Palestine, is calling on the Democratic establishment to formally denounce Saint Louis Park Senator Ron Latz’s “Anti-Palestinian” and “Islamophobic” statement that, “Palestinian youth dream of the opportunity to achieve glory and even martyrdom by killing as many Jews as possible.” Executive Director Jayani (Jay-lawn-ee) Hussein says honestly, he’s shocked Latz would make such a statement. Hussein says, “I’m, I mean, I’m telling you I know Senator Latx I’ve worked with him before many other issues…I couldn’t believe that he said those words. I needed to actually see the video.” Latz says in a statement that he’s surprised and disappointed his D-F-L colleagues “have chosen to misrepresent and publicly attack my speech by taking one sentence out of context.” He says that sentence is preceded by information that makes it clear he is not referring to “all” Palestinian youth.

>>WI Man Dead in Single-Vehicle Crash in MN

(Ramsey County, MN) — A 60-year-old man from Hudon, Wisconsin is dead after a single-vehicle crash in Ramsey County. Minnesota State Patrol troopers responded to the crash in New Brighton Thursday night around 9:40 on Interstate 694, finding a sedan had collided with a median, coming to a stop on a ramp. The driver of the sedan died at the scene. No word on what led to the crash.

>>MN State Leaders Debate 2023 Budget Investments Into Childcare Affordability

(St. Paul, MN) – State leaders continue to discuss the impact of 2023 budget investments made in early care and learning as Minnesotans call the cost of childcare unsustainable and childcare providers say they barely get by. Senator Grant Hauschild says he often hears from businesses wanting to expand in Northern Minnesota and across the Iron Range, but they can’t because they don’t have the housing or the childcare for their workforce. “This in turn creates a cycle where more and more young people are moving away from our rural communities to the Twin Cities and larger urban centers.” Hauschild proposes families making up to $176,00 annually be provided reimbursement, give providers funding directly, and then the discount would appear on a family’s monthly invoice.

>>Armed Man in Shopping Complex Fatally Shoots Himself

(Rochester, MN) — A man threatening to shoot himself and anyone who walked past him in Rochester’s TJ Maxx Plaza Thursday is dead. Police responded to the area around 2 p.m., after the man’s threats prompted a lockdown of the shopping complex. The armed man moved to sit in a minivan parked outside the building, where he then fatally shot himself.

>>Mahnomen County Commissioners Replace County Attorney

(Mahnomen, MN) — The Mahnomen County Commission has taken action to permanently replace County Attorney Julie Bruggeman and will look to appoint a county attorney for the remainder of the term through December 31, 2026. In July, county commissioners were made aware of disciplinary action taken by the Minnesota State Supreme Court and the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility against Bruggeman. The State Supreme Court suspended Bruggeman’s license to practice law indefinitely with no right to petition for reinstatement for 90 days. The county board also learned this was the second time Bruggeman had been disciplined, and publicly reprimanded in 2018. Commissioners put her on unpaid administrative leave in July and appointed Jason Hastings as interim county attorney until a permanent county attorney can be appointed.

>>Salvation Army Collecting Toys in Minneapolis Specific for African-American, Hispanic-American Children

(Minneapolis, MN) – For the third straight year — and the second with the Salvation Army’s help — Greater Mount Vernon Church in north Minneapolis is collecting toys for its holiday drive that are culturally appropriate for African-American and Hispanic-American children: “Having toys that look like you or address your cultural history is I think really, really important.” Dan Furry with the Salvation Army’s Northern Division says they partnered with Greater Mount Vernon Church last year, received a thousand toys, and hope to exceed that this year. It’s also a statewide drive: Furry says people can go to salvationarmynorth.org to donate and, “if they’d like, add a note there that says you’d like your purchase to go towards culturally appropriate toys for kids, and we’ll make sure that happens.”

>>Lutsen Mountains Officially Opens Today

(Undated) – Lutsen Mountains on Lake Superior’s North Shore officially opens today (Fri) for the ski and snowboard season. Assistant G-M Zak Trimble says crews have been busy during a warm November. Trimble says, “Our snowmaking teams have been working around the clock just to get a few runs open for us. They’re putting a great base down on Ullr Mountain, starting to get a base down on Moose (Mountain). So we’re hopefully gonna have a few runs on Moose. A handful of runs on Ullr are going to be open.” Trimble says the big goal is to get enough snow down to start running the new Raptor Express high-speed chair lift. Lutsen is the largest ski resort in the Upper Midwest and features the Summit Express gondola.

Morning Headlines December 1st, 2023

>>US District Judge Wilhemina Wright Retiring in February

(St. Paul, MN) — The first Black woman to serve as a federal judge in Minnesota is retiring early next year. U-S District Court Judge Wilhelmina (will-uh-MEE’-nuh)Wright says she plans to step down on February 15th. Wright was appointed by President Obama and confirmed by the U-S Senate in 2016. Senator Amy Klobuchar called Judge Wright a “true trailblazer” and says in addition to serving on the U-S District Court, she also served on the Minnesota Supreme Court, Minnesota Court of Appeals and as a Ramsey County judge.

>>Minnesota National Guard Members Prep for Deployment

(Arden Hills, MN) — A group of Minnesota National Guard soldiers is gearing up for a deployment to the Middle East. On Saturday, more than 550 members of the 34th Infantry Division “Red Bulls” and their families will attend a “Family Preparation Academy” ahead of a 10-month deployment to Kuwait. The guard members will head to Fort Cavazos, Texas in early February for a month of training before heading overseas. The Minnesota troops are expected to return home in December of 2024.

>> State Legislators, Local Leaders Promote new State Housing Tax Credit

(West St. Paul, MN) — Senator Carla Nelson of Rochester and Representative Mike Howard of Richfield are other leaders who are promoting the new State Housing Tax Credit (SHTC). They are speaking at Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity in West St. Paul this morning (Fri) to remind Minnesotans of the December 13th contribution deadline for the S-H-T-C fund. The program created back in October allows individuals and corporations in the state to invest in housing needs for a tax credit up to 85% of their contribution. Twenty-eight percent of renters in the state are considered ‘extremely low income.’ The coalition estimates there is a shortage of nearly 104,000 homes for those renters in Minnesota.

>>State Medical Cannabis Program Adding Dry Herb Vaporization

(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota’s medical cannabis program is adding a new delivery method for patients. Office of Medical Cannabis Research Manager David Rak (ROCK) says dry herb vaporization will be available starting August 1st of 2024. He says it’s a method of consuming dry cannabis flower by heating it without burning it and produces vapor instead of smoke. Currently, patients enrolled in Minnesota’s medical cannabis program have three fast-acting options – tinctures, oil-based vaporizers, and combustible smoking.

>>Deadly South St. Paul Home Explosion Still Under Investigation

(South St. Paul, MN) — Fire officials are still investigating a home explosion in South St. Paul Thursday morning that left a man dead. The South Metro Fire Department says neighbors reported hearing a loud boom before the house burst into flames. Firefighters found a man dead in the garage after they put out the fire. His name hasn’t been released. Crews worked all day to determine whether anyone else was inside, but didn’t find any other victims.

>>Randolph High School Senior Killed in Dakota County Crash

(Randolph Township, MN) — A teen from the Cannon Falls area is the victim of a deadly rollover crash in Dakota County. The Minnesota State Patrol says a truck driven by 17-year-old Tayven Geiger rolled into the ditch on Highway 56 and he was ejected from the vehicle. Geiger died at the scene Wednesday morning. A GoFundMe page for his family says Tayven was a senior and baseball player at Randolph High School. The report shows the roadway was icy at the time and Geiger wasn’t wearing a seatbelt.

>>Late-Season CWD Hunt Planned in Deer Permit Area in SE Minnesota

(Wabasha, MN) — There will be a late-season chronic wasting disease (C-W-D) management hunt in a permit area near Wabasha where a deer recently tested positive for the first time. The D-N-R’s Erik Hildebrand says hunters can harvest a deer in permit area 342 the weekend of December 15th to the 17th. Hildebrand says the hunt will generate additional samples which will help assess the potential spread of C-W-D and reduce the number of deer in the zone. There are late-season C-W-D management hunts in seven permit areas that weekend.

>>Brooklyn Park Man Charged in Drive-by Murder of Semi-pro Football player

(Minneapolis, MN) — A 19-year-old man from Brooklyn Park who remains at-large is charged with murdering a semi-pro football player during a drive-by shooting last February near Loring Park in downtown Minneapolis. Clyde Lee faces second-degree murder charges in the death of 25-year-old “Mac” McClendon, originally from Georgia, who was a fullback for the Minneapolis Warriors.

>>Stearns County Man Charged With Threatening Utility Worker

(St. Cloud, MN) — A central Minnesota man faces a felony charge of making threats of violence after he allegedly damaged an electric utility truck with the worker inside Monday in St. Joseph Township in Stearns County. According to the criminal complaint, the utility worker contracted by Xcel Energy was updating gas meters in the area. The worker said a man walked up to his truck, was yelling, and began hitting the hood, mirrors, and driver’s side door with a metal bar. Authorities were able to identify the man as 66-year-old Robert Alan Anderson. Officers used a search warrant to arrest Anderson, who also allegedly yelled at them to get off his property. Deputies say they found three metal crowbars and fireworks in his home.

Minnesota Afternoon Report 11-30-23

>>Fellow Dems blasting state senator for comments about Palestinian children

(St. Paul, MN) — More than a dozen fellow Democrats are condemning Saint Louis Park Senator Ron Latz’s remarks about Palestinian children while demonstrators at the Minnesota Capitol Tuesday demanded the state divest its stock holdings in all companies associated with the Israel-Gaza war. Latz said Gaza has become “poisonous” for Israel and “Palestinian youth dream of the opportunity to achieve glory and even martyrdom by killing as many Jews as possible.”
The group of fellow D-F-L senators says Latz’s rhetoric “further foments (foe-MENTS) hate and violence” by describing Palestinian children “all as aspiring murderers” and they say it’s “irresponsible and dangerous” for someone in a position of leadership “to use dehumanizing, degrading language to describe entire populations of people.” Latz hasn’t been reachable for comment.

Minnesota Democratic Party Chairman Ken Martin says “hateful rhetoric from far-right leaders has fueled both Islamophobia and antisemitism. All DFLers should set a better example and avoid applying broad generalizations to entire groups of people.”

>>Willmar Crash Victims Names’ Released

(Willmar, MN) — The Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Department has released the names of those involved in a fatal crash south of Willmar Wednesday morning. Driver of the SUV involved, 83-year-old Ronald Lundquist, and his passenger, 76-year-old Betty Lundquist, both of Blomkest, were both killed. They were traveling northbound on County Road 5 when they were struck by a car traveling westbound on County Road 3, driven by 75-year-old Betty Retzlaff of Clara City. Retzlaff was taken to CentraCare Rice Hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

>>Cost of child care topic of day-long hearing at MN Capitol

(St. Paul, MN) — State lawmakers are discussing the impact of 2023 budget investments made in early care and learning today (THURS) as some Minnesotans call the cost of childcare unsustainable. Democratic Representative Maria Isa Perez-Vega from Saint Paul’s West Side says the majority of working families aren’t able to pay for childcare in Minnesota, and only those who meet poverty wages will get help from the state’s Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). Perez-Vega asks, “How is a family making $60,000 a year supposed to be able to pay $30,000 a year to put two children in childcare? Come on now, that’s impossible.” She says this needs to be addressed now, not in February when the next legislative session begins.

>>Becker County Woman Injured After Falling Off Horse

(Detroit Lakes, MN) — A woman from Becker County is hospitalized after falling from her horse Monday evening near Frazee (fray-ZEE). Authorities say the 23-year-old woman reported she was unable to move and suffering from back pain. She was airlifted to a Fargo hospital for treatment. No word on her current condition.

>>Milaca Woman Dies in Vehicle, Semi Crash

(Elk River, MN) — A Mille Lacs County woman is dead after the vehicle she was driving hit a semi head-on. The Minnesota State Patrol says it happened around 7:30 Wednesday morning on Highway 169 north of Elk River. 41-year-old Kimberly Woods of Milaca lost control of the vehicle on a slick road, drove through a median and into the semi. Woods died at the scene. The semi driver was not injured.

>>NDSU Tuition Award Program Funding Extension

(Fargo, N.D.) – North Dakota State University has secured funding to extend their recently announced Tuition Award Program for eligible first-year students. Students entering in fall 2024 could qualify for their first two years of tuition to be covered. The NDSU Tuition Award Program will cover base tuition and student fees for Pell-eligible North Dakota and Minnesota students who meet certain criteria and whose families earn $80,000 or less annually.

>>> Northern Lights forecast favorable for Minnesota Thursday

(Chanhassen, MN) — Keep your eyes to the sky Thursday, and you might catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights in Minnesota. According to the National Weather Service’s Space Weather Prediction Center, a strong geomagnetic storm is now “likely” for late this evening into early tomorrow morning. Per NWS, a new Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) has appeared alongside three others already active, prompting forecasters to upgrade conditions. A CME is an explosion of plasma from the sun’s corona that permeates its magnetic field. CMEs are the main cause of Aurora Borealis.

 

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Midday News Briefs November 30th, 2023

>>Minnsota Farmers Union Prioritizes Healthcare Access, Affordability 

(Undated) – Healthcare access and affordability remain priorities for the Minnesota Farmers Union. President Gary Wertish says, “Really hits rural America the hardest because as you get farther away from the urban centers there’s a larger community that’s harder to have a good hospital system and it’s harder to have an emergency ambulance service. And the more rural you are, the more you’re at risk for that stuff.” Wertish says farmers now being able to buy into the MinnesotaCare health insurance program is a step in the right direction. Wertish says, “Along with that too, we need to ask for increasing the Medicare rates, which also hits the rural hospitals hard. So as you see some of the hospitals struggling financially, a lot of that is because their Medicare reimbursement rates aren’t high enough either.” Other top priorities include curbing monopoly power and protecting competition, investing in climate resilience, addressing the shortage of veterinarians, and passing a comprehensive farm bill.

>>One Dead in St. Paul Home Fire, Explosion

(South St. Paul, MN) — At least one person is dead after a house fire this morning in South St. Paul. South Metro Fire responded to a home around 6:18 a.m. on the report of “several booms, then a fire.” Officials say putting the fire itself out relatively quickly, the time-consuming work will come from looking through the rubble. Neighbors say 3 people could have been in the home, one with disabilities. Only one person is been found deceased so far.

>>1963 MN Presidential Pardon Up for Auction 

(Undated) – The official document from a rare 1963 presidential pardon — signed by both President John F. Kennedy and his brother, Attorney General Robert Kennedy and granting clemency to a Minnesota man — is up for auction.  Laura Kirk with Nate D. Sanders Auctions says, “This one is the latest signed example before his death.  It’s dated only eight days before the assassination.” Kirk says a Minneapolis man, Ted Barto, was wrongly accused after the flight school he worked for submitted false claims to the government for G-I flying lessons  — but he appealed to the president and Kennedy granted a full pardon. Barto’s family is offering the document at an online auction which runs through 7 p.m. central time tonight.

>>Feline Rescue, AHS Partner Reminds People 

(St. Paul, MN) – Feline Rescue and the Animal Humane Society are reminding Minnesotans to not abandon animals outside rescue or shelters this winter. Feline Rescue Executive Director Sara Post says if you do see a stray cat outside, “As long as they are healthy and appear uninjured, they’re probably okay and they’re probably close to their home. In general, it’s just best to leave where they are and they will find their way back.” Post says if you see a clearly abandoned or pet cat, or any cat who is injured, it’s best to reach out to an organization and/or bring them to a vet clinic.

>>Golden Gophers Football Duo Invited to Senior Bowl

(Minneapolis, MN) — Golden Gophers Defensive back Tyler Nubin and tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford will appear in the 75th-annual Senior Bowl, the fifth straight season a U of M player has landed an invite. The Senior Bowl, played in Mobile, Alabama, showcases the top NFL draft prospects who have exhausted their college eligibility. Nubin earned All-Big Ten First Team honors this season and holds the program record for career interceptions, while Spann-Ford finished his career with over 1,000 yards receiving. This season’s Senior Bowl kicks off at 12:00 p.m. CT on February 3, 2024.

Morning Headlines November 30th, 2023

>>House Republicans Push to Stop $730 Million State Office Building Renovation

(St. Paul, MN) — Democrats said “no” as Republicans again tried (Wed) to halt a planned renovation of the State Office Building in Saint Paul, which now could cost more than 50 percent over the original estimate of 500 million dollars. Maple Grove Representative Kristin Robbins says, “to spend 730 million dollars on renovating this building that is open full-time five months a year? I can’t fathom we are really gonna go ahead with this.” House Democratic Majority Leader Jamie Long responded, “Representative Robbins, your motion was not submitted before the hearing and was not a part of the agenda, so I’m finding your motion out of order.” Republicans objected that there’s no requirement to pre-file motions, but Majority Leader Jamie Long then adjourned the meeting.

 

>>DNR Confirms 23 CWD Cases in Deer This Season

(Forest Lake, MN) — The Minnesota D-N-R continues its chronic wasting disease (CWD) surveillance efforts this deer season. Wildlife health supervisor Erik Hildebrand says hunters submitted just over 12 thousand samples to be tested for C-W-D. He says many cases are still pending but so far “we’re are sitting 23 confirmed positive deer and we have 13 additional suspects on top of that.” Hildebrand says most of the confirmed cases are in the southeast corner of the state but there are two in northwest Minnesota and one in the Grand Rapids area. There were 33 positive C-W-D cases in hunter harvested deer last year.

 

>>NDSU Tuition Award Program Funding Extension

(Fargo, ND) — North Dakota State University is extending its program that offers free college tuition to first-year students from that state and Minnesota. Students with families earning 80 thousand dollars or less are eligible for the N-D-S-U Tuition Award Program. It will cover base tuition and fees. It is North Dakota’s response to the new North Star Promise program in Minnesota which offers free tuition to certain students. N-D-S-U officials expressed concern that students from Minnesota would remain in their home state under the new program.

 

>>2 Killed in Kandiyohi County Crash near Willmar

(Willmar, MN) — Two people are dead and another person seriously injured after a crash Wednesday south of Willmar. The Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Department says an S-U-V driven by a 75-year-old Clara City resident collided with another vehicle driven by an 83-year-old from Blomkest on County Road 5 and both ended up in the ditch. Deputies says the driver and passenger in that vehicle died of their injuries. The S-U-V driver was taken to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The victims’ names haven’t been released.

 

>>Milaca Woman Dies in Vehicle, Semi Crash

(Elk River, MN) — A Mille Lacs County woman is dead after the vehicle she was driving hit a semi head-on. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened around 7:30 Wednesday morning on Highway 169 north of Elk River. 41-year-old Kimberly Woods of Milaca lost control on a slick road, drove through a median, and into the semi. Woods died at the scene. The semi driver was not injured.

 

>>Becker County Woman Injured in Fall From Horse

(Detroit Lakes, MN) — A woman from Becker County is hospitalized after falling from her horse Monday evening near Frazee. Authorities say the 23-year-old woman reported she was unable to move and suffering from back pain. The victim was airlifted to a Fargo hospital for treatment. No word on her current condition.

 

>>Hotel in Proctor Evacuated After Chlorine Gas Release

(Proctor, MN) — Guests and staff at the AmericInn in the Duluth suburb of Proctor were evacuated late Wednesday morning and no injuries were reported after chlorine gas was released from apparent mixing of cleaning chemicals in a drain. The Proctor and Duluth fire departments ventilated the building and officials say at no time did chlorine levels reach the unsafe range. Crews left the scene by early afternoon.

 

>>Holy Angels Hockey Player Released Early After Traumatic Brain Injury

(Richfield, MN) — The Holy Angels hockey player hospitalized November 18th for a traumatic brain injury after getting hurt in a scrimmage has been released days before expected. Mason Garcia, after being injured so badly he couldn’t move his arms or legs, was released from Regions hospital Wednesday, three days earlier than the December 1st discharge date from doctors. The Holy Angels hockey team has created a GoFundMe site to help cover Garcia’s medical bills.

Minnesota Afternoon Report 11-29-23

>>Minnesotans remembering as Rosalyn Carter is laid to rest in Plains, Georgia

(Washington, DC) — Minnesotans are among those remembering Rosalynn Carter, as the former first lady is laid to rest today (Wed) on the grounds of the home she and former President Jimmy Carter built in Plains, Georgia. Senator Amy Klobuchar says Rosalynn Carter was “a national treasure” with a “special heart” for Minnesota because the 1976 Carter-Mondale ticket was “grits and Fritz” but also Rosalynn and Joan. Klobuchar says, “When Jimmy Carter was picking a running mate, many of the people who interviewed for vice president said “ROZ-a-lin” instead of “ROSE-a-lin,” and Jimmy Carter told me personally that he noticed that Walter Mondale had done his homework and knew how to say her name.” Klobuchar says after the White House, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter went on to build houses throughout the world with Habitat for Humanity, and did much to eradicate disease around the globe.

>>Protesters at MN Capitol demand state divest stock in all companies associated with Israel-Gaza war

**PRONOUNCERS**
(St. Paul, MN) — Protesters at the Minnesota Capitol today (Wed) demanded the state divest its stock holdings in all companies associated with the Israel-Gaza war. Lina Jebara with the Minnesota Anti-War Committee says,”We don’t want to be sending money to companies that are complicit or actively aiding Israel’s apartheid regime.” Shai Avny with the Minneapolis Jewish Federation responds Israel has the right to defend itself after the October 7th terror attacks by Hamas. He says, “If you can live with the fact that children have been kidnapped… by the cruelest and the most barbaric terrorists who imitate the Nazis and Isis, and you don’t understand why Israel is at war, you should check your moral compass.” Backers of Israel warn the “Boycott, Divest, Sanctions” (BDS) movement will contribute to that nation’s destruction. Anti-War Committee’s Jebara responds the goal is that everyone in Palestine — including Israeli people — be free and have equal rights.

>>Coon Rapids Business Owes Former Employee Nearly $100K After Firing Her for Pregnancy

(St. Paul, MN) — A Coon Rapids business will have to pay a former employee three years’ worth of wages, around $97,500, and create a workplace inclusive for pregnant employees after the Minnesota Department of Human Rights found it in violation of civil rights law for firing Christina Vescio-Holland, due to her pregnancy. MDHR’s investigation found that PL Dental fired Vescio-Holland days after she told superiors she was pregnant with twins and that her doctor recommended she begin parental leave earlier than anticipated. The company later provided her with a termination letter claiming performance shortcomings, which were found to have no credible evidence.

>>UMD Football Player Suddenly Dies

(Dultuh, MN) — The University of Minnesota Duluth is mourning the sudden death of a football player. Senior defensive lineman 22-year-old Reed Ryan died yesterday (Tues) of cardiac arrest. UMD officials and football team say Ryan was known for his football career, playing at NDSU for four years before coming to UMD, as well as his impressive academic career. A memorial wake for Ryan will be this Friday from 3-7 p.m. at Blackhawk Church in Middleton, Wisconsin. His funeral is Saturday, with a 10 a.m. wake followed by an 11 a.m. service at Blackhawk Church.

>>Rochester Man Indicted on Federal Gun, Drug Charges in Wisconsin

(Madison, WI) — A Rochester man is facing federal firearms and drug charges after an arrest last month in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Prosecutors say 24-year-old Jayvon Jones-Shields was caught with a loaded .22 caliber revolver, a large amount of crack cocaine, T-H-C wax, and nearly 400 pills, 100 of which tested positive for fentanyl. Jones-Shields has a felony conviction and is prohibited from having a gun. He’s also charged with multiple felonies in La Crosse County for the October 18th arrest.

>>Latest field crop trial results available from U-of-M

(Falcon Heights, MN) — The University of Minnesota has published its latest field crop trials — unbiased information to help farmers make seed choices to improve profitability. Scientist Tom Hoverstad says they always try to put crops in a position to do as well as they can, eliminating as many yield-limiting factors as possible. He says for this year’s corn crops, “On every trial, we pretty much had pretty good corn yields for the rain we got. And I think most corn farmers across the state — except for where the drought was exceptionally bad in the southeast part of Minnesota — …were pretty pleased with the corn yields they received.” Trial results for all eight of this year’s crops — barley, canola, corn grain, oats, soybeans, spring wheat, winter rye, and winter wheat — are at varietytrials.umn.edu/2023.

>>Meeting scheduled for public comments on two hospital proposals in Ramsey County

(Ramsey County, MN) — The Minnesota Department of Health will hold a public meeting next Wednesday (Dec. 6) to gather public comments on a pair of planned hospitals in Ramsey County. Nobis Rehabilitation has proposed a freestanding 60-bed inpatient rehab facility in Roseville, while Regency Hospital has requested to open a second campus of their Golden Valley long-term acute care facility. Currently, there is a moratorium in Minnesota on adding new hospitals or beds. The MDH says the review, which “assesses whether the proposal is in the public’s interest” is required by law for a legislative exception to the moratorium. No loss of medical services is expected as a result of the proposed additions. The meeting is open to the public.

>>Multiple People Displaced in Eagan Apartment Complex Fire

(Eagan, MN) — Residents of 12 to 16 units are displaced from an Eagan apartment complex after a fire early this morning (WED). Fire crews found the roof of the three-story building collapsed and flames throughout. The Red Cross will help the displaced families find resources. No word on the official cause of the fire.

>>Minnesota chocolate shop wins international awards in Italy

**MEDIA REFERENCE – 2ND LINE**
(Florence, Italy) — A chocolate shop in Marine on Saint Croix in the far northeast metro has won two international awards at a competition in Florence, Italy. The Star Tribune reports Saint Croix Chocolate Company’s “Burnt Cinnamon and Bourbon” bar took a silver award at the International Chocolate Awards, and the shop’s “Macadamia Bon Bon” won a bronze. Proprietor Robyn Dochterman said in a statement, “It’s a huge achievement to compete on this level and excel. …We will always work hard to make sure our fine chocolates are among the very best in the whole world.”

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Midday News Briefs November 29th, 2023

>>Gov. Walz, Mayo Clinic Officials Unveil $5B Expansion in Rochester

(Rochester, MN) – Mayo Clinic officials say a five-billion-dollar expansion in downtown Rochester will allow parts or even entire floors of new clinical buildings “to shift from patient room to the operating room, to diagnostic imaging suite as needs change over time.” Governor Tim Walz, among dignitaries in Rochester for Tuesday’s announcement, gave “a huge thank-you” to Mayor Kim Norton, the city council, and state lawmakers. Leaders say, “…to a unified delegation at the State Capitol, who bring one unified voice about the importance of Rochester and this facility to the State Capitol, to make sure things like Destination Medical (Center) get done, and to make sure that those investments are permanent.” Minnesota Nurses Association union President Mary Turner says, “A shiny new facility with state-of-the-art technology is great news, but only if that facility is staffed safely for both its nurses and patients.” In the final hours of the last legislative session, lawmakers dropped a measure that would have formed committees including nurses to set staffing levels, after Mayo threatened to send billions of dollars in projects to other states and a number of other Minnesota hospitals also objected.

>>Multiple People Displaced in Eagan Apartment Complex Fire

(Eagan, MN) — 12 to 16 units of people are displaced from their Eagan apartment complex homes after a fire early this morning. Fire crews responded to a three-story townhome building in Eagan around 2:30 a.m., finding the roof collapsed and flames throughout the building. The Red Cross will help the families displaced find resources. No word on the official cause of the fire.

>>New MPS Tech Helps 911 Telecommunicators Find, Speak to Patients

(Undated) – The Minnesota Department of Public Safety is highlighting new technology that’s helping public safety telecommunicators to reach patients. Dakota 911 Former Telecommunicator Jessica Stanton says she once got a call from a patient’s concerned family member, but they didn’t know their location. Through this new tech, she still found exactly where they were. Stanton says, “I had the opportunity to get the phone number of the patient, and with that, I could send a text message saying, ‘This is 911, click this link to share your location,’ and within two to three seconds we had that updated location.” Stanton said she could even attach a screenshot of where the person was located and send/hand that out to officers and paramedics; something that proved fruitful as the patient was found unable to speak or move due to their medical condition.

>>Avian Flu Continues to Hurt MN Turkey Farms

(Undated) – Highly pathogenic avian influenza continues to harm poultry operations and farms in Minnesota. Jenny-O Turkey Store president and National Turkey Federation chair Steve Lykken says it didn’t have a great impact on Thanksgiving turkeys, but it’s tough on the producers in the state. Lykken says, “We don’t see any supply-related issues. It has been a frustrating year. The hardest part about high-path avian influenza being a global animal challenge is that it’s just really hard on our people.” Bird flu was detected in a Kandiyohi County breeder hen operation last week, a flock of turkeys tested positive in Otter Tail County, and another flock was infected in Brown County. It’s being spread mainly by waterfowl during fall migration.

>>Most of MN to Continue to See High Temps

(Chanhassen, MN) – Most of the state will continue to see high temperatures in the 30s and 40s. National Weather Service Meteorologist Ryan Dunleavy says this is abnormal weather for late November and early December. Dunleavy says, “We can basically credit that to the ongoing El Nino going on in the Pacific, keeping our temperatures very seasonably warm for this time of year. The Climate Prediction Center definitely has us at least the next eight to 14 days looking well above normal.” Dunleavy says there are chances of precipitation over the next couple weeks but no major snowstorms are expected in Minnesota.

Minnesota Afternoon Report 12-1-23

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>>Inmate Faces Charges in Alleged Stabbing of Ex-Minneapolis Officer Chauvin (Tucson, AZ) — A fellow inmate is facing attempted murder and assault charges for allegedly stabbing of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin at a federal prison in Arizona. The U-S Attorney’s Office says 52-year-old John Turscak is accused of stabbing Chauvin about 22 times […]

Twins announce plans for new TV and radio roles

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The Minnesota Twins today announced the club’s new lead television and radio broadcast talent: Cory Provus will be the new television play-by-play voice, with Kris Atteberry taking over lead radio play-by-play duties on the Treasure Island Baseball Network. Provus, the team’s lead radio play-by-play broadcaster since 2012, transitions to be the Twins’ television voice. Atteberry, […]

Midday News Briefs December 1st, 2023

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>>Phillips Rips Florida Democrats for Cancelling Presidential Primary (Undated) — Minnesota Congressman Dean Phillips is blasting the Florida Democratic Party for canceling the state’s Democratic presidential primary. The 3rd District representative calls it a “power grab” and says he and other Democratic contenders will not be appearing on the Florida ballot. The campaign says all […]

Two Gophers chosen to take part in Senior Bowl

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University of Minnesota standouts Tyler Nubin and Brevyn Spann-Ford were invited to compete in the upcoming Senior Bowl, which will be played on Feb. 3, 2024, in Mobile, Ala. Nubin, who was recently named All-Big Ten First Team, made 53 tackles this year and had five interceptions and four pass breakups. He has played in […]

Morning Headlines December 1st, 2023

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>>US District Judge Wilhemina Wright Retiring in February (St. Paul, MN) — The first Black woman to serve as a federal judge in Minnesota is retiring early next year. U-S District Court Judge Wilhelmina (will-uh-MEE’-nuh)Wright says she plans to step down on February 15th. Wright was appointed by President Obama and confirmed by the U-S […]

Minnesota Afternoon Report 11-30-23

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>>Fellow Dems blasting state senator for comments about Palestinian children (St. Paul, MN) — More than a dozen fellow Democrats are condemning Saint Louis Park Senator Ron Latz’s remarks about Palestinian children while demonstrators at the Minnesota Capitol Tuesday demanded the state divest its stock holdings in all companies associated with the Israel-Gaza war. Latz […]

Midday News Briefs November 30th, 2023

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>>Minnsota Farmers Union Prioritizes Healthcare Access, Affordability  (Undated) – Healthcare access and affordability remain priorities for the Minnesota Farmers Union. President Gary Wertish says, “Really hits rural America the hardest because as you get farther away from the urban centers there’s a larger community that’s harder to have a good hospital system and it’s harder […]

Morning Headlines November 30th, 2023

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>>House Republicans Push to Stop $730 Million State Office Building Renovation (St. Paul, MN) — Democrats said “no” as Republicans again tried (Wed) to halt a planned renovation of the State Office Building in Saint Paul, which now could cost more than 50 percent over the original estimate of 500 million dollars. Maple Grove Representative […]

Minnesota Afternoon Report 11-29-23

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>>Minnesotans remembering as Rosalyn Carter is laid to rest in Plains, Georgia (Washington, DC) — Minnesotans are among those remembering Rosalynn Carter, as the former first lady is laid to rest today (Wed) on the grounds of the home she and former President Jimmy Carter built in Plains, Georgia. Senator Amy Klobuchar says Rosalynn Carter […]

Midday News Briefs November 29th, 2023

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>>Gov. Walz, Mayo Clinic Officials Unveil $5B Expansion in Rochester (Rochester, MN) – Mayo Clinic officials say a five-billion-dollar expansion in downtown Rochester will allow parts or even entire floors of new clinical buildings “to shift from patient room to the operating room, to diagnostic imaging suite as needs change over time.” Governor Tim Walz, […]