>>Busy 24 Hours for Minnesota State Troopers
(Undated) — Drivers in parts of Minnesota had a rough morning commute following the season’s largest snowfall. Travel times were extended and snow-covered roads caused several crashes and spinouts. Statewide, troopers responded to 306 collisions between Wednesday and Thursday morning. Two resulted in serious or fatal injuries, while 21 others involved minor injuries. Troopers reported an additional 257 spinouts and 11 jackknifed semis.
>>School bus slides off road in Rush City, driver arrested on suspicion of DWI
(Rush City, MN) — A school bus driver was arrested on suspicion of impairment after the bus — with students on board — slid off a road on the way to school this morning (Thurs) in Rush City in east-central Minnesota. None of the students were injured. The Star Tribune reports investigators talked with the 59-year-old woman at the scene and observed signs of alcohol impairment. Rush City Schools Superintendent Brent Stavig says the district “will take appropriate action based on the results of its investigation,” stressing that students’ safety and security is top priority.
>>Two Suspects Charged in Coon Rapids Triple Homicide
(Coon Rapids, MN) — Two men are in custody in connection with last month’s triple homicide in the Minneapolis suburb of Coon Rapids. Officials say 19-year-old Omari Shumpert and 31-year-old Demetrius Shumpert, both of Minneapolis, are each charged with three counts of second-degree murder, and law enforcement is not looking for any additional suspects. January 26th in early afternoon, authorities went to a Coon Rapids residence on an emergency call of a possible domestic situation, where they found two men and a woman dead inside the home. Two children under age five were unharmed.
>>First court appearance for man shot by Willmar police
(Willmar, MN) — A man shot by a Willmar police officer February 4th made his first court appearance today (Thurs). 33-year-old Jerry Jones of Willmar is charged with first degree assault of a police officer, 2nd degree assault with a dangerous weapon, fifth degree assault, threats of violence and a drug charge. He was shot after threatening Police Sergeant Mike Holme with a utility knife, and hospitalized at H-C-M-C. Jones was released Wednesday and in court Thursday, bail was set at 750-thousand dollars and a judge ordered he be evaluated for mental illness and competency to stand trial. Police arrived on a report that Jones had threatened a man at an apartment and investigators say he approached Sergeant Holme with a knife, Holme told him to drop it and backed away, but fell down after firing a warning shot. Authorities say Jones then stood over the officer waving the knife and Holme shot him several times.
>>Last-minute snow for Cross Country World Cup
(Minneapolis, MN) — Organizers of the Cross Country World Cup at Theodore Wirth Park are thankful for about five inches of new snow in Minneapolis. Loppet executive director Claire Wilson says, “We are beyond excited. We were ready to go, with or without the snow. We had a great course. We had survived all the trials of the winter. So to get a little sweet snow here for the actual event, it’s a Loppet miracle.” Wilson says Jessie Diggins of Team U-S-A and skiers from more than 20 countries are on the course today (Thurs). Crews have been hauling in snow from Highland Hills ski area for several weeks. The sprint races begin Saturday and distance races are Sunday.
>>State Rep. Greenman pushing bill to prohibit restrictive employment covenants
(St. Paul, MN) — Representative Emma Greenman joined workers outside the State Office Building today (THURS) to speak out ahead of the legislative session’s first hearing for a bill that prohibits “restrictive employment covenants.” Greenman says these “shadow non-competes” exist in service contracts, operating without the knowledge of workers they impact. She says, “They depress wages, they reduce competition and they generally overall are not good practices for a state and for a country that should be investing in and ensuring the job opportunities [and] the career opportunities for workers.” Greenman says passing this bill, an addition to last year’s successful bill banning “non-competes,” would ensure workers can seek and retain employment in a given location and industry, and that service provider agreements be updated to remove or acknowledge that the provision is void.
>>Advocates want more counselors in MN schools
(St. Paul, MN) — Advocates say Minnesota students have some of the poorest access in the nation to school counselors and are asking the legislature to put the state on a path to fix that. Calli Moreau, president-elect of the Minnesota School Counselor Association, says they want counselor roles recognized in state law, plus a recommended ratio for school districts of one counselor per 250 students — with Minnesota currently over 500-to-one. Moreau says, “We just want our state legislators to be able to recognize the work we do and the value of that by having the right amount of us to be accessible to our students all across the state.” Democratic Representative Kaela (KAY-luh) Berg from Burnsville is sponsoring the bill. Moreau says it’s the first step toward more funding for school counselors at all grade levels, elementary through high school.
>>DPD Arrests Violent Offender with Help of Drone
(Duluth, MN) — Duluth Police with the help of a drone arrested a man for second-degree assault this morning (Thurs). Officers responded to a report of a man hit with a small shovel during an altercation. The department’s Drone Team located and detained the suspect, a 42-year-old Duluth man, without incident. . The victim was brought to a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. DPD notes the operation showcases how new tech can keep everyone safe while allowing officers to detain a violent offender.
>>Deadly Fire in St. Louis County
(St. Louis County, MN) – The state Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating a deadly camper fire Wednesday afternoon in Fayal Township, about seven miles south of Eveleth. Human remains were found after the fire was extinguished. An autopsy is being conducted to determine identity and cause of death.
>>Inmate Dies at Northern Minnesota Jail
(Crookston, MN) — An inmate at the Northwest Regional Correction Center in Crookston has died. Officials made the discovery Wednesday morning and the inmate, who’s identity hasn’t been made public, was later pronounced dead after being transported to the hospital. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating and has not released any further information.
>>MN State Veterans Homes Recognized for Excellence
(St. Paul, MN) – The Minnesota Veterans Home in Silver Bay has been recognized for excellence. The Minnesota Department of Veteran Affairs (MDVA) Healthcare Division honored two programs from the home, the “Stars and Stripes Mentor Program” and the “Memories of Mom Program” with “Excellence in Practice” awards at the LeadingAge MN annual conference last week.
>>Rep. Craig Announces New Post Office in New Prague
(Washington, D.C.) — Representative Angie Craig announced today (THURS) that New Prague will be getting a new U-S Post Office. Craig and other state leaders have been pressing the Postal Service for more efficient post offices and mail delivery across the state, with January’s official investigation into Minnesota post offices finding nearly 140,000 pieces of delayed mail, safety concerns, and deficiencies in property conditions. Craig says the new office in New Prague will give the city a safer, more efficient and more accessible post office, with opportunities for community members to comment or make suggestions.
