>>Wright County deputy shoots armed man at store in Montrose
(Montrose, MN) — Authorities are investigating the shooting of armed man by a Wright County sheriff’s deputy this afternoon at a store in Montrose. The sheriff’s office says deputies tried to arrest the suspect on outstanding warrants outside the Dollar General, but he refused to comply and brandished a firearm. Investigators say the man continued to resist arrest after less-than-lethal measures were deployed and a deputy shot him. The suspect was treated by deputies at the scene and taken to the hospital. No other injuries were reported.
>>Red Flag Warning in 13 Southwestern Minnesota Counties
(Undated) — A Red Flag warning continues for 13 counties in southwestern Minnesota through 8 p-m tonight (Mon) due to increased fire risk. National Weather Service forecasters say fires can spread quickly and easily get out of control with strong winds and low humidity. Residents should not burn yard waste or debris while the warning is in effect, and check recent burning to ensure the fire is completely out. The affected counties are Brown, Cottonwood, Jackson, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Rock, Watonwan and Yellow Medicine.
>>Family of Rick Cobb suing state trooper who fatally shot him
(Minneapolis, MN) — The family of Ricky Cobb the Second announces Wednesday morning (4/17) that they’re suing Ryan Londregan, the state trooper who fatally shot Cobb during a traffic stop on I-94 in north Minneapolis. Attorneys for the family point out the state Public Safety Department has said “at no point on available video” is Cobb holding a gun. Trooper Londregan is charged with second-degree murder, second-degree manslaughter and first-degree assault. In late March, Minnesota House Republicans demanded the immediate resignation of Hennepin County chief prosecutor Mary Moriarty, who critics allege “cherry-picked” information from her chosen use-of-force expert, hurting Londregan’s case. The Cobb family’s attorneys asked Governor Tim Walz to put “justice before politics” and let Moriarty “bring this prosecution without any further interference.”
>>Pro-Palestinian protesters gathering at Sen. Klobuchar’s downtown Mpls office
(Minneapolis, MN) — Protesters converge on Senator Amy Klobuchar’s downtown Minneapolis office this afternoon (Mon 5pm) to demand “no attacks on Iran by the United States or Israel” and that President Biden stop arming Israel “while its genocidal offensive on Palestinians in Gaza escalates and threatens to expand the regional war.” It comes after Klobuchar posted that “Iran is an authoritarian regime that… denies Israel’s right to exist and threatens the stability of the entire region” and she says the U-S and allies “are working to defend against Iranian aggression.” G-7 countries, including the U-S, unanimously condemned Iran’s attack saying they stood ready to take “further measures.” But President Biden has reportedly told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Washington would not participate in any offensive action against Iran. Fifth District Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is calling for what she terms “de-escalation, restraint, and lasting peace” and says, “I condemn the attacks by the Iranian military on Israel, as well as Israel’s military attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria that further escalates tension in the region.”
>>MN Repubs issue Tax Day warning about Dems’ plans for rest of legislative session
(St. Paul, MN) — Republicans are using Tax Day 2024 to warn about additional tax increases they say Democrats are proposing — most notably, increasing the state sales tax three-eighths of a percent to support home ownership and other housing programs. Waconia Representative Jim Nash says it comes on the heels of taxes “for a lot of other things.” Nash says, “They blew through an 18-billion-dollar surplus, came up with another 10 billion [in new taxes], and the insatiable appetite has been on display in the Housing Committee on a regular basis.” Senate Democratic Majority Leader Erin Murphy and Tax Committee Chair Ann Rest say changes passed last session have produced a tax system with the lowest burden in the nation on low- and middle-income earners. They point to a tax credit helping nearly 400-thousand children, elimination of state tax on Social Security benefits for over 300-thousand Minnesota seniors, and property tax relief.
>>Walz signs bill naming new Highway 169 bridge in honor of fallen MnDOT worker Michael Gau
(Plymouth, MN) — A bill signed into law by Governor Tim Walz today (Mon) names a new bridge on U-S Highway 169 in Plymouth in honor of a MnDOT worker killed on the job. Fifty-four-year-old Michael Gau of Belle Plaine was fatally struck by a dump truck while the bridge was under construction last summer. The new span will now be called the Michael Gau Memorial Bridge. Gau was a 23-year veteran of the Belle Plaine Fire Department and worked for MN-DOT for 14 years.
>>MN Senate Dems vote down GOP plan to extend free-tuition program to private school students
(St. Paul, MN) — A Republican proposal to have Minnesota’s free tuition (North Star Promise) program also include students at private schools met heated opposition from the Democratic majority in the state Senate, who say Minnesota has an obligation to support its public institutions. Mazeppa Republican Steve Drazkowski opposes the entire program, saying if a student’s parents make less than 80 thousand dollars a year, “you are given a free education by the hard-working taxpayers of Minnesota, who may themselves already have paid off their student loans.” And Drazkowski says the current program “blatantly” discriminates against private school students. Saint Cloud Democrat Aric Putnam fired back that Drazkowski “ironically enough, is arguing to expand a program he despises…. What you’re talking about is an amendment that would make this program bigger.”
