>>Senator Wants Ghost Guns to Have Serial Numbers
(St. Paul, MN) – One day after the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that Minnesotans can possess ghost guns without serial numbers, a state Senator says he will fight it with legislation. DFL Senator Ron Latz of St. Louis Park says he will introduce a bill in the next session that aligns with federal and state law that requires serial numbers on ghost guns in the state. Latz said, ” As Wednesday’s decision lays out, it is up to the legislature on how we regulate guns and I will introduce legislation closing this loophole.” As of November 2024, 15 states have laws in place requiring unique serial numbers for ghost guns.
>>Boelter Pleads Not Guilty to Killing Hortmans and Shooting Hoffmans
(Minneapolis, MN) — Vance Boelter (BELL’-tur) is pleading not guilty to federal charges in the killings of Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband and the shootings of Senator John Hoffman and his wife. Fifty-eight-year-old Boelter made a brief court appearance this morning and waived the reading of the six-count indictment. Convictions on two of the counts carry the possibility of the death penalty but prosecutors haven’t said whether they’ll seek a capital sentence. No trial dates were set during the plea hearing.
>>St. Paul Police Investigating Homicide
(St. Paul, MN) – St. Paul Police are investigating the city’s latest homicide. Just after midnight, police and Metro Transit officers responded to a shooting outside the Midway Saloon on the 1500 block of University Avenue West. A man was found with a gunshot to the chest. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital. A suspect was taken into custody at the scene and is being held at the Ramsey County Jail. This is the 7th homicide this year in St. Paul.
>>St. Paul Man Charged with Murder After Assault Victim Dies
(St. Paul, MN) — A St. Paul man faces increased charges after the man he allegedly assaulted last month succumbed to his injuries this week. Twenty-year-old Daniel Moua was originally charged with first-degree assault but now faces an additional charge of second-degree murder. Police responded to an assault report around noon on June 13th, finding a man with a large laceration to his head. He was brought to Regions Hospital, where he remained until he died on Sunday (8/3). The Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office is working to identify the victim and cause of death. This is the sixth homicide in St. Paul this year.
>>State Senator Concerned About Capitol Changes
(St. Paul, MN) – Republican State Senator Rich Draheim of Madison Lake is concerned with the new security changes at the capitol and how they could affect access for Minnesotans with mobility challenges or disabilities. This week, capitol security limited access to the capitol to two public entrances with four doors and parking inside the Senate Building parking ramp. That ramp has 20 parking spots for people with disabilities. Draheim says he supports making the capitol safer, but wants everyone to think carefully when it comes to disabled Minnesotans and their access to the capitol complex. Draheim says he will continue to look into ways of improving disability parking around rhe capitol.
>>3 Victims Saved, 10 Suspects Arrested for Sex Trafficking
(St. Paul, MN) — Three female sex trafficking survivors are free, and ten people face felony charges after an undercover operation in St. Paul. The Minnesota B-C-A (Bureau of Criminal Apprehension) and St. Paul Police say the operation occurred on July 30th and 31st. Undercover agents and investigators spoke with the suspects through text and phone, posing as minors and sex buyers. The suspects were arrested as they arrived at the arranged meeting place for a sexual encounter and booked into the Ramsey County Jail. Formal charges are pending. The three victims were recovered from a potential sex trafficking situation. Officials ask anyone to report a known or suspected trafficking situation to the B-C-A at 877-996-6222.
>>Minnesota Power Proposes 45-Turbine Wind Farm in North Dakota
(Mercer County, ND) — Duluth-based Minnesota Power plans to develop a new wind farm in North Dakota. The Longspur Wind Project would include 45 wind turbines in Mercer and Morton counties in south central North Dakota. Minnesota Power officials say they hope to break ground next year and have the wind farm operational in late 2027.
>>State Representative Frazier May Seek Hennepin County Attorney’s Job
(Minneapolis) – One day after current Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced she will not seek reelection, DFL state Representative Cedrick Frazier of New Hope says he is considering a run for the job. Frazier says before confirming his decision, he wants to talk it over with his family and meet with residents across Hennepin County to talk about the community and see how he could be effective as the next county attorney. Frazier is in his third term in the Minnesota House of Representatives and has served as vice-chair on the Public Safety and Judiciary committees. Frazier says he will make his formal decision in the coming days.
>>SMG Union Members Reach Strong Tentative Agreement
(Stillwater, MN) — Union healthcare workers at Stillwater Medical Group (SMG) have reached a strong Tentative Agreement (TA) with their employer just days after announcing an overwhelming vote to authorize an open-ended Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike. The bargaining team says they’re unanimously recommending a yes vote to ratify the agreement in the coming week and “are proud of the gains they won for the frontline healthcare workers who make HealthPartners S-M-G run.” Highlights include ten-point-five percent raises over the three-year life of the contract, increased longevity bonuses and differentials when members pick up open shifts, and new nondiscrimination language.” The S-M-G group is made up of over eighty workers.
