>>American Experiment Offers Reward for Information that Leads to Arson Arrest
(Golden Valley, MN) — The Center of the American Experiment is offering a 15,000-dollar reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the individual or individuals involved in starting arson fires that gutted their building on January 28th. John Hinderaker, (HIN-duh-ROCK-er) President of Center of the American Experiment says the offices of two other conservative organizations Upper Midwest Law Center (UMLC) and Take Charge were also targeted in the fire. He says the free flow of ideas does not work when one side resorts to violence. The FBI and ATF are now assisting Hennepin County with the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact authorities.
>>Body Recovered from Camper Fire in Moorhead
(Moorhead, MN) — The Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office, along with Moorhead Fire and Police investigators, are investigating a camper fire where a man’s body was recovered in the truck. Firefighters responded shortly after 6 this morning to a parking lot next to Churches United homeless shelter on a report of a pickup fire with a mounted camper on it. Fire crews entered the camper where they discovered the body of the man inside. The body will be transported to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy. The cause of the fire and the cause of death are still under investigation. No further information is available.
>>Royalton Man Headed to Prison on Child Porn Charges
(Minneapolis, MN) — A Royalton man has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for producing child pornography. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says 35-year-old Andrew Groen contacted a minor victim using a texting app and coerced the child into sending sexually explicit photos. Court records show Groen posed as a 19-year-old man named Tyler and sent the victim obscene images, and links to pornography, and encouraged the minor to have sex with an adult man identified in messages. The case was a result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Willmar Police Department.
>>Legislative Push for Passage of North S.T.A.R. Act
(St. Paul, MN) — Ahead of the 2024 Legislative session, D-F-L lawmakers Representative Sandra Feist and Senator Omar Fateh (fuh-TAY) are pushing for the passage of the North S.T.A.R. Act – legislation that aims to protect immigrant rights by halting collaboration between local police and federal immigration. José Garcia, a DACA recipient, is a researcher for the North S.T.A.R. Alliance. He says that allowing immigrants, like me, to fully participate in our economy and society, will strengthen the state for generations to come. The proposed bill would also give Minnesota ‘sanctuary state’ status. There are currently 11 such states in the U-S.
>>Foreign Aid Bill Clears First Senate Hurdle
(Washington D.C.) — A foreign aid funding bill to provide tens of billions of dollars for Ukraine and Israel cleared its first procedural hurdle in the Senate today. Senator Tina Smith says the bill doesn’t include border and immigration provisions. Republicans blocked the border bill in a 49-50 vote Wednesday afternoon, with just four GOP senators voting in favor. Republicans say it wouldn’t do enough to combat record-high migrant crossings at the southern border.
>>Cocaine Distribution Lands Minneapolis Man in Jail for 10 Years
(Minneapolis, MN) – A Minneapolis man has been sentenced to a decade in prison for cocaine possession. 37-year-old Luis Fernando Cervantes was charged with possession with Intent to distribute cocaine. He was arrested in April 2023 after police found seven kilograms of cocaine and a firearm in his home while executing a search warrant. Cervantes will also serve five years of supervised release following his prison sentence.