>>Crews Rescue One Man Search for Another in Minnesota Lake
(Longville, MN) — Authorities have rescued one man and are searching for another after an ATV went through the ice. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says the incident happened just before 6:00 p.m. on Monday on Blackwater Lake near Longville. Responders and deputies arrived and found a 20-year-old man in the water. He was rescued and transported to shore, where he was treated by EMS for exposure and hypothermia and airlifted to a St. Cloud Hospital. The search continues for the second man, an 18-year-old.
>>Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management to Announce Licensing Steps Wednesday
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management will hold a news conference Wednesday morning(10 a.m.) to announce the next steps to launch the state’s cannabis industry. The OCM had to pivot after a Ramsey County judge halted the cannabis license pre-approval lottery originally scheduled for November 26th. The state remains committed to launching an equitable, sustainable, and responsible cannabis marketplace in Minnesota.
>>Bearson Murder Case Remains Top Priority for Retiring Police Chief
(Moorhead, MN) — Chief Shannon Monroe is retiring after 30 years with the Moorhead Police Department. Monroe began his law enforcement career as a deputy with the Mahnomen County Sheriff’s Office in 1992. Monroe says the case of NDSU student Tom Bearson still haunts him. The Sartell (MN) freshman was last seen at a house party near the campus in September 2014. His body was found in the parking lot of an RV dealership in Moorhead. With advances in DNA technology and investigative techniques, Monroe says he remains hopeful that the case will be solved. It is a top priority for the department. Fargo Police Department, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and FBI continue to work on the case. Bearson’s family receives updates on the status of the investigation regularly.
>>Body Found in Cannon Falls Confirmed to be Missing Man
(Cannon Falls, MN) — The Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner’s Office is confirming the body found in Cannon Falls on Saturday is 60-year-old Christopher Dobson. Police asked the public for help finding Dobson, who went missing on December 2nd after leaving his house to walk his dog along the Cannon River. The river’s edge found foottracks, and Dobson’s dog was wet and alone at a neighbor’s house.
>>First-Come, First-Served Seats to be Offered for 2025 DNR Roundtable
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has opened the registration window for its annual roundtable discussion. The roundtable brings stakeholders and conservation leaders together to discuss important topics like fisheries, water resources, and wildlife. The 2025 Roundtable will be held on Friday, January 10th, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Bloomington. Registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis. More information can be found on the DNR’s website.
>> Minnesota Senators Announce New Clean Energy Projects
(Minneapolis)—Minnesota U.S. Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar have announced 130 new clean energy projects across rural Minnesota. The senators say the $15.6 million investment will save farms and rural small businesses more than $18 million on their energy bills per year while simultaneously reducing harmful carbon emissions. Smith said she wants Minnesota to lead in clean energy and savings. The projects are expected to produce and conserve enough energy to power nearly 16 thousand homes.
>>Car-School Bus Crash in Olmsted County Injures 1 Child
(Stewartville, MN) — A young child suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a car crashed into a school bus Monday in Olmsted County. Deputies responded to the crash around 7:15 a.m. Children were loading the bus when a passenger car rear-ended the bus. A small child in the car was brought to a local hospital for a check-up. None of the five children on the bus were injured. The car driver, a woman, was cited for careless driving.
>>Dismissal of Doctor Lawsuit Against HHS Reversed by Court of Appeals
(Minnetonka, MN) — The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals reverses a Minnesota Federal District Court dismissal of a complaint filed against Hennepin Healthcare System. The Upper Midwest Law Center filed a suit on February 6, 2022, on behalf of Dr. Tara Gustilo, a Filipino American doctor who chaired the OBGYN Department at HHS. Gustilo opposed Critical Race Theory (CRT), an ideology HHS supports. The lawsuit claims HHS removed Gustilo from her role as OBGYN Department Chief on April 29, 2021, and because of this, her pay decreased.
>>The Mankato Brewery Closing After 12 Years
(Mankato, MN) — The Mankato Brewery is closing after 12 years of business. Owner Tim Tupy posted to Facebook that the brewery and taproom will close at the end of January 2025 or as soon as final pints and merchandise have been sold. Tupy thanked the Mankato and North Mankato communities and invited the public to “visit, relive favorite moments, and join in honoring the passion and love put into every drop of beer.”
