>>16-Year-Old Arrested in Fatal Austin Shooting
(Austin, MN) — A 16-year-old boy is in custody for the Austin shooting this weekend that killed one and injured another. Charges have yet to be filed. Officers say they found a man injured Saturday afternoon. Despite lifesaving aid, he died at the scene. Another victim was taken to the hospital by private vehicle.
>>MPLS Delta Flight Crashes in Ontario
(Toronto, ON) — A Delta flight from the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport has crashed upside-down in Canada. Toronto Pearson International Airport posted to X that they are aware of the crash and emergency teams are responding. All passengers and crews are accounted for. No other information is available.
>>Faribault Couple Charged with Child Sexual Abuse
(Faribault, MN) — A Faribault couple faces child sexual abuse charges. Court documents allege 39-year-old Jordan Schoen and 34-year-old Katrina Doneux sexually abused a 9-10-year-old girl about five years ago at a Faribault school. The victim says the abuse began after she asked them about sex. She adds Schoen apologized to her, claiming he had multiple people in his head, including a boy who had a crush on her. The couple denies touching the victim. Schoen told police he has dissociative identity disorder and that he doesn’t remember the alleged abuse. Schoen and Doneux are due back in court in April.
>>Bill to Prohibit State-Funded Health Services to Undomuented Citizens Moves Forward
(St. Paul, MN) – A House bill that would prohibit state-funded health services to undocumented citizens has passed a committee vote. Bill author Republican Isaac Schultz believes “people who broke the law to come here to benefit from our public programs” shouldn’t have to “pay less than a working family living paycheck to paycheck.” He argues this bill could cut nearly $100 million from the budget, but Democrats like Senator Erin Maye Quade say it’s the wrong thing to do. She states, “If Republicans want people to be sick and hurt, and unhealthy in the state of Minnesota, at least they’re saying it out loud.” The bill passed the House Health Finance and Policy Committee by an 11-10 vote.
>>Reproductive Freedom Caucus Shares Concerns Over Federal Actions
(St. Paul, MN) – The Minnesota Reproductive Freedom Caucus shared their priorities for the legislative session, worried the federal government will impose a federal ban on abortion. Democratic Senate Caucus Chair, Erin Maye Quade of Apple Valley says the group is “fighting to ensure Minnesota is a place where every person can decide to have a child, not have a child, raise children and families in safe and sustainable communities and have gender freedom and bodily autonomy.” The Reproductive Freedom Caucus is the largest in the Minnesota legislature.
>>Duluth Duplex Total Loss to Fire
(Duluth, MN) — A vacant building in Duluth is a total loss after a fire last night. Fire crews responded to a two-and-a-half-story side-by-side duplex in heavy flames and smoke around 10:20 p.m. Firefighters have not yet been able to enter the structure due to the fire’s severity and instability. The duplex lost parts of its roof, and its upper structure collapsed. The fire is under investigation.
>>Mount Kato Closes for Skiing and Snowboard in Extreme Cold
(Mankato, MN) — Mount Kato Ski Area in Mankato is closed today and tomorrow due to the extreme cold. Officials say they’re prioritizing the safety of guests and staff. The Mount Kato website says they will continue to monitor the weather and provide updates on re-opening soon. High temperatures in the single digits above zero are expected Wednesday and Thursday before a warmup this weekend.
