>>Twins legend Joe Mauer will join National Baseball Hall of Fame
(Cooperstown, NY) — Twins legend Joe Mauer will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame this summer. Mauer was elected today (Tues) on the first ballot by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. The St. Paul native is only the third catcher to become a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Mauer will be enshrined in Cooperstown, New York on July 21st. The St. Paul native was a six-time All-Star, three-time Gold Glove winner, the 2009 A-L M-V-P, and only catcher to win three batting titles.
>>MN Congressman Phillips trying to get traction against Biden on New Hampshire presidential primary day
(Manchester, NH) — The New York Times reports it was Minnesota Congressman Dean Phillips at one end of a middle school parking lot in Manchester, New Hampshire this presidential primary morning (Tues), while “Write in Biden” supporters waved signs at the other end. Phillips told the Times he’s “a life-long Democrat” but is considering a third-party “No Labels” run because “if it’s Biden versus Trump, we need some alternative way to draw votes from Trump and win this election.” But Hamline University analyst David Schultz says Phillips is more likely to draw votes from Biden than Trump, and if Phillips chooses a Republican as his vice presidential running mate, “it’s possible at that point that any Democrats that might have considered voting for him, he loses those — and I’m not persuaded that he’s going to move very many Republicans over to vote for him because of who he picks as vice president.”
>>Former state Rep. Jen Schultz again challenging Republican Congressman Pete Stauber in 8th Congressional District
(Duluth, MN) — A repeat challenge to 8th District Republican Congressman Pete Stauber from Democrat Jen Schultz, made official this afternoon (Tues) at Duluth’s Labor Temple. Schultz says Stauber voted against the federal infrastructure package that’s funding complete replacement of the aging Blatnik Bridge between Duluth and Superior. She says, “He voted against the people who rely on that bridge, and this isn’t the first time Pete Stauber has taken credit for local projects he voted against.” Stauber responds he’s consistently advocated for the funds to replace the Blatnik Bridge, sending several letters to the U-S transportation secretary and President Joe Biden. But Schultz says Stauber voted against the overall national infrastructure package that made the bridge replacement possible. Schultz, a former state representative, lost to Stauber in 2022, 57 percent to 43.
>>Former Alexandria Police Chief Enters Guilty Plea for Financial Crimes
(Alexandria, MN) — Former Alexandria Police Chief Rick Wyffels has pleaded guilty to gross misdemeanor charges of misconduct by a public officer after initially facing felony theft charges. The plea comes after a year-long investigation by the Minnesota BCA into alleged financial crimes. Wyffels will have to pay restitution of $65,000 to the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust, serve 120 days in jail, and pay fines and surcharges. City officials became aware of the crimes shortly after Wyffels retired in 2020 after being police chief for nearly 14 years.
>>Walz visits Duluth wastewater plant, pushing for infrastructure package
(Duluth, MN) — Governor Tim Walz visited a wastewater treatment plant in Duluth today (Tues) to spotlight his nearly one-billion-dollar infrastructure request for the fast-approaching 2024 legislative session. Walz says state bonding in conjunction with local funding is “absolutely critical.” He says, “These folks are planning decades out with their upgrades. And so as they start to do their planning — and this [is] happening in every community across Minnesota — it’s really important that the legislature have robust opportunities.” Top Republicans and Democrats in the Minnesota Senate seem to agree that the governor’s overall 982 million dollar figure for infrastructure projects is about what the state can afford, but say more of that money should go to replace aging water/sewer systems and deteriorating roads.
>>Two hospitalized after being struck by car in Willmar
(Willmar, MN) — A 37-year-old woman from Willmar and a 41-year-old man from New London were hospitalized after they were struck by a car late Monday night at an intersection in Willmar. Police say the two were walking along the edge of the street and crossed in front of a Ford Fusion making a left turn. Responding officers found them lying in the road, receiving first aid from an off-duty member of the Kandiyohi County Rescue Squad. The vehicle driver, a 19-year-old man from Willmar, was not injured and is cooperating with the investigation. The conditions of the two injured people are not available.
