>>Democrats Push for Taxes to Offset Federal Cuts
(St. Paul, MN) — Both Senate and House Democrats gathered on the Capitol steps to push for taxes to offset federal cuts coming from Washington. Ending tax breaks for the wealthiest Minnesotans would protect people like Olivia Dillon, who was laid off from the Minnesota Department of Health and is worried about future care for all Minnesotans. He says, “These staff cuts will impede the state’s ability to prevent and contain outbreaks, significantly reduce support for nursing home patients, delay lab results and patient care, reduce funding for tribal public health, and so much more.” Republicans have repeatedly said they will not allow new taxes to balance the budget this session.
>>Mother of “Baby Angel” Arrested in Winona
(Winona, MN) — An arrest has been made in a high-profile infant death case. “Baby Angel” was discovered in a bag floating in the Mississippi River about seven miles south of Winona by boaters in September 2011. 45-year-old Jennifer Baechle(Beck-Lee) is believed to be the infant’s mother and has been charged with two counts of second-degree manslaughter. Winona County Sheriff Ron Ganrude says forensic genetic genealogy and DNA testing played a significant role in the investigation. He says Angel deserved better than a watery grave, and she deserved more. He said that while her mother remained hidden, the Winona community wrapped its arms around this little girl. Baechle’s next court appearance is set for July 7th.
>>Former Arctic Cat Executive Buys Company
(Undated) — A former company executive and an investment group have bought out Arctic Cat. The 1967 Thief River Falls company produces snowmobiles, ATVs, and side-by-sides. New CEO and President of the company, Brad Darling, was with Arctic Cat for 17 years before leaving in 2016. He became the CEO and president of ARGO, which is considered the worldwide leader for amphibious extreme terrain vehicles. Darling says he’s looking ahead with great excitement. Parent company Textron announced in December 2024 that it would be laying off Arctic Cat employees and ending production in its hometown and in St. Cloud on May 8th.
>>12 More Flu Deaths in Minnesota, Hospitalizations and Outbreaks Drop
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Department of Health reports 12 more flu-related deaths, but all the other indicators continue to decline. Flu complications are blamed for a total of 361 deaths this season. Hospitalizations dropped from 51 the week ending April 12th to just 27 last week. No schools or long-term care facilities reported flu outbreaks.
>>Governor Signs Bill on Medical Exception to Tinted Vehicle Windows
(St. Paul, MN) – Governor Tim Walz signed a bill into law that amends the medical exception to Minnesota’s vehicle window tint restriction. With the old law, individuals with medical conditions had to have a medical prescription from a doctor renewed every two years to qualify for window tinting. However, proponents argued that some medical conditions are permanent. Under the new law, doctors can designate a medical condition as permanent and issue a prescription without an expiration date. These patients won’t require further documentation in the future.
>>Worker Trapped in Collapsed Hole in South Minneapolis
(Minneapolis, MN) — A drain worker was saved by firefighters last night (WED) after an underground construction collapsed in south Minneapolis. Fire crews responded to a report of a worker stuck in a hole around 9:30. The victim had sand up to his waist, pinning him in a hole. Extra enforcement from rescue, street management, and the St. Paul Fire Department was needed to keep the hole from collapsing onto the man. The worker was pulled out six hours later and brought to the hospital for further evaluation.
>>Former West Fargo Elementary Principal to Plead Guilty to CSAM
(West Fargo, ND) — A former West Fargo school principal is expected to plead guilty to federal child sexual abuse charges. David George is accused of taking a 10-year-old boy to South Dakota and molesting him in October 2022. He also allegedly possessed and distributed over 600 images of child sexual abuse between January 2022 and August 2023, using the material for financial gain. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is recommending a sentence of 40 years. A change of plea hearing is on May 28th. George was the principal of Independence Elementary and resigned the day he was arrested.
