>>Lt. Gov. Flanagan to Run for Sen. Smith’s Seat in 2026
(St. Paul, MN) — Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan is running for Minnesota’s newly empty Senate seat after Senator Tina Smith announced this morning that she will not seek re-election in 2026. Flanagan posted to X, “I love Minnesota, and my intention is to run for U.S. Senate and continue to serve the people of this state.” She says a formal announcement will come late this month. Smith says she has loved her job as a U.S. senator but is ready to spend more time with family and her four grandkids.
>>Bemidji Man Charged After Threatening Children with Weapons
(Bemidji, MN) — A Bemidji man is accused of threatening to kill two children while holding swords and knives. 60-year-old William Winegar is charged with felony terroristic threats after the incident Friday outside a mobile home park. He has a history of making violent threats. Winegar is scheduled to see a judge later this month and may get a mental health evaluation before further court proceedings.
>>Man Shot in Attempted Minneapolis Carjacking
(Minneapolis, MN) — Minneapolis police are searching for the suspects who shot a man during an attempted carjacking this afternoon. Officers responded to a reported shooting around 12:15. The victim had already left the scene and showed up at North Memorial Health about 10 minutes later with a life-threatening gunshot wound. Investigators learned the man was jumped in his car by two people wearing masks, attempting to rob him at gunpoint. The victim was shot after a struggle, and the two suspects fled. No arrests have been made.
>>3 Displaced After Water Main Break in Minneapolis
(Minneapolis, MN) — Three Minneapolis residents are displaced after a water main break at an apartment building this morning. Fire crews responded to a fire alarm report around 3:30, finding a large amount of water flooding out of Terzo Restaurant. The apartments above the restaurant were evacuated. All nearby homes were notified to move their vehicles so they would not freeze to the street.
>>MN Sports Betting Bill Stalls in Senate Committee
(St. Paul, MN) – Another Minnesota sports betting bill has hit a roadblock. The bill, authored by Senator Matt Klein, that would allow online sports wagering has stalled in the Senate State and Local Government Committee in a 6-6 vote. Meanwhile, a gambling bill with more protections for Minnesotans was laid over for further discussion. That bill’s author, Senator John Marty, says, “If at some point you want to move forward with sports betting, I argue we should do it with strong regulations. And yes, it won’t be as profitable as it could be.” Marty has opposed sports betting bills in the past, saying you can already gamble in Minnesota and there is no need to expand it.
>>Duluth DNR Employee Named 2024 Conservation Officer
(Duluth, MN) — Longtime Duluth-based MN DNR employee Andy Schmidt is 2024’s Conservation Officer of the Year. Starting in 2008, Schmidt has spent his entire career working in northeastern Minnesota and “works hard to connect the community with the DNR through safety training classes and routine contacts with outdoor enthusiasts.” He was honored with the award Wednesday at Camp Ripley. Schmidt was also named the 2024 Minnesota Wildlife Officer of the Year by the Shikar Safari Club International and serves on the Enforcement Division’s Honor Guard.
