>>Minneapolis Council Members Propose Delay of Rideshare Ordinance to July
(Minneapolis, MN) — Three members of the Minneapolis City Council want to delay implementation of a controversial Uber/Lyft ordinance from May 1st until July. The council is expected to vote on the proposal at Thursday’s meeting. They say the extension “will allow any companies that want to work in the city and pay the fair wage time to set up in the event Uber and Lyft choose to leave Minneapolis instead of paying workers a living wage.” At least three new rideshare companies have submitted applications for transportation network company licenses.
>>Red Lake Man Sentenced for Violent Assault at Seven Clans Casino
(Minneapolis, MN) — A Red Lake man will serve nearly four years in federal prison for a violent assault at the Seven Clans Casino in northern Minnesota last April. Prosecutors say 55-year-old Shawn Lussier repeatedly punched and kicked a victim, causing serious bodily injury and leaving blood stains throughout a hotel room. Court records show Lussier has multiple convictions involving domestic assaults of several victims between May 2017 and December 2021. He was sentenced to one count of domestic assault by a habitual offender.
>>MN Names First Director Of MMBWG Office
(St. Paul, MN) — The state of Minnesota has picked the first director for its Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls Office. The Department of Public Safety announced the appointment of Kaleena Burkes on Tuesday. Burkes has worked in various positions with Minnesota’s Guardian ad Litem Board for the past seven years. She also has degrees in criminal justice from the University of Alabama. The office was created by a law signed by Governor Walz last year.
>>MN DOC Confirms Lockdowns At Faribault Prison Due To Staff Shortages
(Faribault, MN) — The Minnesota Department of Corrections is confirming that it has implemented temporary lockdowns at the state prison in Faribault due to staffing shortages. The DOC says rotating lockdowns are necessary to maximize the safety of staff members and inmates. The prison must hire more than 40 corrections officers to be fully staffed. While programs at the prison have been impacted, state officials say commissary items have been issued upon request, and property is distributed to the inmates within the required five-day timeline.
>>Tornado Sirens to Sound Thursday for Severe Weather Awareness Week
(Undated) — It’s Severe Weather Awareness Week in Minnesota, and tomorrow (Thurs) is Tornado Drill Day. The sirens are a test of the civil defense system but also allow schools and families to develop a plan in the event of a real tornado warning. The siren tests will be at 1:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. The National Weather Service reminds you that counties own, operate, and maintain the sirens. The National Weather Service does not activate them, but rather, it’s the counties that set their policies on when to activate them.
>>Consumer Reports Calls for Lunchables to be Removed from School Menus
(Washington, DC) — Consumer Reports has warned schools to discontinue serving Lunchables on their menus. The school cafeteria version of this popular lunch snack contains excessive sodium. Last year, Lunchables introduced two new versions of their cheese, meat, and cracker snacks, designed explicitly for school lunch programs. However, according to Consumer Reports, the turkey and cheddar school lunch versions contained almost 200 more milligrams of sodium than the store-bought Lunchables. The nonprofit group is petitioning the USDA to remove the snacks from school cafeterias.
>>Minnesota Lynx Regular Season Tickets are on Sale Wednesday
(Minneapolis, MN) — Tickets are on sale today (Wed 12pm) for 2024 Minnesota Lynx home games. The Lynx will play 20 regular season games at Target Center. The season opener is May 17th against the Seattle Storm. The number 23 jersey of Maya Moore will be retired during the August 24th game versus the Indiana Fever,\ and number-one W-N-B-A draft pick Caitlin Clark. Tickets can be purchased on the Lynx website or by calling 612-673-8400.
