>>Luigi Mangione Makes NY Court Appearance
(New York, NY) — It’s a wrap on Luigi Mangione’s first court appearance of the year in New York City. The 26-year-old accused of killing Minnesota-based UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Midtown in December arrived in Manhattan Criminal Court this afternoon in shackles, under heavy guard, and wearing a bulletproof vest over a green sweater. Cheers greeted Mangione and his defense from dozens of supporters outside the courtroom. Inside, his lawyers and prosecutors gave updates on the case’s status. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to murder and is being housed at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center until he goes to trial.
>>2 More Arrested in NY Murder of Trans MN Man
(Ontario County, New York) — Two more people have been arrested in the “beyond depraved” New York murder of 24-year-old Sam Norquist, a transgender man from Minnesota. The suspects, a man, 21, and a woman, 29, join five others in custody, all facing charges of second-degree murder. Officials say Nordquist was killed between January 1st and February 2nd at a motel in Hopewell, New York. Ontario County deputies found his body in a cornfield on February 13th, describing it as “the worst homicide they’ve ever seen.”
>>Delta Faces 1st Lawsuit in MSP-Toronto Crash
(Toronto, Ontario) — Delta faces its first lawsuit in an upside-down crash in Canada just two days after offering $30,000 to each of the 76 passengers onboard. The flight left the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport on Monday, crashing in Toronto, Ontario, and hospitalizing 21 people. A Texas man is suing for more money, stating he suffered “significant injuries to his head, back, knees, and face.” Delta has not commented.
(Note Nature)
>> Fifth-Grade Teacher Accused Of Sexually Touching Girls
(Maple Grove, MN) — A Twin Cities fifth-grade teacher is accused of sexually touching girls in his class. Wayne Clifford has been charged with five gross misdemeanor counts of fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct. He allegedly committed the crimes while working at Basswood Elementary School in Maple Grove during the 2022 school year. Wallace is no longer with the school district. He was charged by summons and is due in court on March 11.
>>Flu Hospitalizations, School and Long-Term Care Outbreaks Decline in Minnesota
(St. Paul, MN) — The weekly report from the Minnesota Department of Health shows that flu statistics are declining in the state. Flu-related hospitalizations fell from 588 two weeks ago to 356 patients last week. Five schools reported flu outbreaks compared to 16 on February 8th, and outbreaks in long-term care facilities dropped by 50 percent. There were 36 more deaths, increasing the total to 238 so far this season.
>>Warroad Tops Orono in Triple OT at Girls State Hockey Semifinal
(St. Paul, MN) — Defending three-time champion Warroad outlasted Orono 2-1 in triple overtime today (Fri) in the Class One-A semifinals of the Girls State Hockey Tournament. Lindsey Lorenson scored the game-winning goal for the Warriors just over a minute into the third O-T. The Orono Spartans had 62 shots, but Warroad goaltender Payton Rolli made 61 saves. Dodge County and Academy of Holy Angels are playing the other One-A semifinal at the Xcel Energy Center this afternoon. The Class Two-A semifinals feature Rosemount against Hill Murray and Edina vs. Holy Family Catholic tonight.
