>>Winter storm warnings, advisories posted for parts of MN
(Chanhassen, MN) — Winter storm warnings are in effect for the southwest corner of the state through tomorrow (Tues) morning and for the far southeast through Tuesday night — and winter weather advisories are posted for parts of west-central and south-central Minnesota through Tues morning. Ryan Dunleavy with the National Weather Service says portions of extreme western and southwestern Minnesota could see those anywhere from six to eight inches of snow. He says the I-90 corridor in southern Minnesota could get three to five inches. One to three inches of accumulation is forecast for the Twin Cities and St. Cloud areas.
>>Cousins not saying whether he’ll stay with Vikings
(Eagan, MN) — Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins is a free agent this offseason and there’s a chance he won’t be back with the team, and Cousins said today (Mon) going to a place where he can “win football games” is his highest priority. Cousins says that could be Minnesota, where he previously said he’d like to finish his career — but says he’s at peace with whatever happens — using his free agent experience in 2018 when he signed with the Vikes, for example. Cousins says, “Let the Lord lead, He’s guided me this far. He hasn’t failed me yet.” Cousins missed the final nine games of the season with an Achilles injury. He says he is “on schedule” in his recovery.
>>Walz, Flanagan weighing in after U-S Supreme Court ruling on Idaho’s abortion ban
(St. Paul, MN) — Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan are spotlighting their support for reproductive health care, after the U-S Supreme Court allowed Idaho’s abortion ban to go into effect and will hear an appeal in April. Doctor Sarah Traxler with Planned Parenthood North Central States told Walz and Flanagan that her heart goes out to Idaho providers being forced to ignore medical emergencies. “This will have dangerous consequences,” Traxler says. “Health care decisions should not be made by politicians and judges, but by patients and their expert providers.” Pro-life groups weren’t immediately reachable for comment. The only exception to the Idaho ban is when an abortion is “necessary to prevent the death of the pregnant woman.”
>>Woman Seeks to Withdraw Guilty Plea in Death of her Daughter
(Paynesville, MN) — A Paynesville woman who pleaded guilty to murdering her disabled daughter is now trying to withdraw her guilty plea. In a motion filed in Stearns County District Court, 38-year-old Elise Nelson’s new lawyer says she was coerced into signing the plea petition and didn’t have adequate time to review the document. Her attorney also argues she had ineffective counsel, was fully expecting to go to trial, and was too shocked to speak up. Nelson’s child had chronic respiratory failure and severe developmental delay from the loss of oxygen at birth. According to the criminal complaint, Nelson was alone with her daughter over four days in June 2020, disabled an oxygen monitoring device, and deprived her of medical care.
>> Lawsuit charges Department of Corrections with “discriminatory” cancellation of prison program
(Golden Valley, MN) – The Upper Midwest Law Center (UMLC), along with True North Legal, filed suit today (MON) against the Minnesota Department of Corrections for its cancellation of a Christian prison rehabilitation program. According to the lawsuit, the ‘Quest for Authentic Manhood’ program was a voluntary, Christian-based program that was open to inmates at the St. Cloud Correctional Facility. UMLC alleges the program was “abruptly” canceled in July 2023, citing an email DOC Assistant Commissioner Jolene Rebertus that stated the program was in conflict with the DoC’s diversity and inclusion values. Corrections Department officials say they’re not commenting on pending litigation.
>>Iowa House speaker blasts Minnesota Democrats on opening day of Iowa legislative session
(Des Moines, IA) — A top leader is firing volleys at Minnesota Democrats as Republicans in neighboring Iowa open their 2024 legislative session. House Speaker Pat Grassley at a fundraising breakfast today (Mon) in Des Moines urged Republicans to counter what he calls “liberal creep” in Minnesota. “We cannot become complacent. Again, talk to your neighbors to the north. One election, it turn[ed] it upside-down,” Grassley said. He promised to “explore policies that further incentivize businesses currently stuck in states like Minnesota – who take their policy cues from California – to bring their businesses and employees here to Iowa where they will have the freedom to thrive.” Minnesota House Speaker, Democrat Melissa Hortman, declined to comment. Minnesota’s legislative session begins February 12th.
>>Rep. Gene Pelowski, longest-serving MN House member, not running for re-election
(Winona, MN) — The longest-serving member of the Minnesota House, state Representative Gene Pelowksi, says he won’t run for re-election after 38 years at the legislature. Pelowski, a Democrat from Winona, says the most significant legislation he worked on was to establish a Disaster Contingency Fund. He says with it, “a governor could declare a disaster, we would have a fund in place, you wouldn’t have to call a special session, and we could get help to them immediately.” Pelowski also pushed for investments in higher education and legislative reform.
