>>Special commission approves final designs for new state flag and seal

(St. Paul, MN) — A special commission today approved the final designs for the new Minnesota state flag and seal, which will become official on Statehood Day next May unless the legislature intervenes. Commission member and Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon says the panel came up with “two strong, meaningful, enduring new emblems.” Simon says, “We all tried when we could to put aside our own personal tastes and preferences and think about what would suit the public.” Minority members who opposed the new state seal are preparing their own report for the legislature. Republican Senator Steve Drazkowski of Mazeppa said the public wasn’t listened to by the commission. “We put out listening devices and then didn’t follow that input and didn’t have a process that was long enough in order to fully do so,” he says.

>>Authorities looking for Dilworth man who stabbed father in chest during argument

(Dilworth, MN) — The search continues for a man from Dilworth in west-central Minnesota, accused of stabbing his father in the chest during an argument at an apartment late Tuesday night. Interim Police Chief Hunter Rawson identifies the suspect as 24-year-old Meredith Kingbird Junior. The victim was taken to the emergency department at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo and later discharged.

>>Ellison, fellow A-Gs ask U-S Supreme Court to uphold ban on firearm “bump stocks”

(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is joining attorneys-general from 21 other states and D-C, asking the U-S Supreme Court to uphold a federal rule banning “bump stocks” on firearms. Ellison says since 1934 federal law has strictly regulated fully automatic, military-grade weapons and civilians have been prohibited from owning new automatic weapons since 1986 — and Ellison contends “bump stocks” effectively convert semiautomatic firearms into illegal automatic weapons. Ellison says in response to the 2017 massacre in Las Vegas, the Trump administration issued a regulation clarifying that the 1986 law applies to bump stocks. But a federal appeals court ruled the law banning machine guns does not unambiguously encompass “bump stocks” — and so the case is now before the U-S Supreme Court.

>>Authorities looking for driver in fatal hit-and-run in Willmar

(Willmar, MN) — A pedestrian is dead after a hit-and-run crash in Willmar Tuesday night. Police say at around 8 pm, a 52-year-old man was struck by a dark colored sedan at the intersection of South 1st Street and Willmar Avenue. The car continued northbound on 1st Street and did not stop. A security guard from nearby CentraCare Clinic gave the victim first aid and an ambulance took him to Rice Hospital where he died of extensive injuries. Police ask anyone with information or video camera footage to contact police at 320-235-2244. People can remain anonymous by submitting a tip at crimestoppersmn.org.

>>Man charged for walking onto runway at MSP during busy travel day

(Minneapolis, MN) — A Minneapolis man is charged with six misdemeanors after investigators say he climbed a barbed-wire fence and walked onto a runway at M-S-P Airport late last Thursday during one of the busiest holiday travel days. The Star Tribune reports 25-year-old Roel Blanco told officers he was not a ticketed passenger or airport employee and was trying to get to a gas station. In 2020 Blanco pleaded guilty to shoplifting charges in Anoka County, but there was an active warrant for his arrest for violating terms of probation.

>>MOA Hosts 5 Gymnast Clubs Preluding the Olympic Trials in June

(Bloomington, MN) — The Mall of America is hosting some of Minnesota’s top gymnasts today (Wed) as an early kickoff for next year’s Olympic trials in Minneapolis next June. Five different clubs are performing in the Mall of America’s Huntington Bank Rotunda, including the University of Minnesota’s women’s and men’s teams.

>>Two killed in SUV-semi crash at dangerous west-central MN intersection

(New London, MN) — Two people are dead after an S-U-V and a semi collided late this morning (Wed) about four miles northwest of New London in west-central Minnesota. It happened at the intersection of Highways 9 and 71, which was closed into early afternoon while the State Patrol investigated. It’s unknown if the semi driver was hurt. The intersection, near Sibley State Park, has been the scene of many serious injury and fatal crashes. MN-DOT has attempted various safety measures including warning lights, flashing lights on stop signs and rumble strips.

>>Man Sentenced to Over 26 Years in Prison for Sexual Assault of an Infant

(Mountain Iron, MN) –A 42-year-old man has been sentenced to over 26 years in prison for sexually assaulting and filming an infant for pornographic work in October 2022 in Mountain Iron. 42-year-old Andrew Nelson pleaded guilty November 13th to two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. He also pleaded guilty with his co-defendant and girlfriend, Darla Queen, to another count of 1st-degree criminal sexual conduct, and two counts of use of minors in sexual work. Queen was sentenced August 21st to over 22 years in prison.

>>Three Injured in Rollover Crash in Sauk Centre

(Sauk Centre, MN) — Three people from Chicago, including a four-year-old, were hurt in a rollover crash in Stearns County Wednesday morning. It happened on Interstate 94 in Sauk Centre just after 8:00 a.m. The Minnesota State Patrol says an SUV was going east on Interstate 94 when the driver lost control on the icy road. Authorities say the vehicle went into the ditch and rolled over. The driver, 29-year-old Brandon Arias, and his passengers, 27-year-old Liliana Villa Senor, and 4-year-old Sebastion Arias, all of Chicago, were taken to Sauk Centre Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

 

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