>>Smoke Damages Biwabik Township Home
(Biwabik, MN) – A home in Biwabik sustained significant smoke damage after a fire this afternoon. Emergency responders were dispatched to a structure fire outside of town, finding heavy smoke coming from the residence upon arrival. Firefighters quickly contained the fire to the basement, preventing further spread. No injuries were reported. Investigators believe the fire may have been sparked by attempts to thaw a frozen waterline inside the residence.
>>Forest Lake Man Indicted for Child Porn, Cyberstalking
(Minneapolis, MN) – A Forest Lake man faces federal charges for producing child pornography and cyberstalking. Prosecutors say 34-year-old Damien Quinn, also known as Ryan Shattuck, used fake social media accounts to pose as a teenager and solicit explicit images from minors. Investigators say Quinn targeted victims from North Branch High School and threatened women he knew. Authorities have identified 11 victims so far, six minors and five adults. The FBI believes there may be more victims and urges anyone with information to call 1-800-CALL-FBI. Quinn remains in custody pending trial.
>>Gov. Walz Says “Game’s Over” for GOP Candidates, Rep. Robbins Says Walz “Couldn’t Take the Heat”
(St. Paul, MN) – The day after announcing he would not seek re-election as governor in 2026, Governor Tim Walz had this message for Republicans moving forward: “Game’s over for them now. It was all me. I was the bad guy, whatever. Well, put up or shut up now and tell us what you’re going to do to make this state better. Answer these tough questions. Quit hiding behind this and expect for the next 11 months for me to ride you like you’ve never been ridden before.” MNN talked with one of the Republican candidates for governor, Kristin Robbins, after she landed in Washington this afternoon. When asked about Walz dropping out, Robbins says she believes the pressure was too much for him, given “He is responsible for the largest fraud in state history and perhaps the country. And he clearly would not be able to stand before the voters, so he decided to bow out.” Robbins is in D.C. to testify about fraud in Minnesota in front of the House Oversight Committee tomorrow morning.
>>Who’s on Top in the “New” Race for MN Gov.?
(St. Paul, MN) – 12 Republicans and one Independent are running for Minnesota governor, but they won’t face incumbent Governor Tim Walz in November. Carleton College political analyst Steven Schier says the GOP might have had a better chance of beating Walz than another Democratic candidate, but now, “the prospects aren’t necessarily as promising as before.” Schier says all the fraud allegations and investigations lessened Walz’s chances of winning a third term. He thinks U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar has the strongest electoral possibility to replace Walz, but adds caution, as her latest KSTP poll put her job approval at only 47%, the lowest they’ve ever recorded. The GOP hasn’t won a statewide office in Minnesota since Governor Tim Pawlenty’s re-election in 2006.
>>Rep. Bennett Announces Retirement, Run for Gov.
(Albert Lea, MN) – State Representative Peggy Bennett says she’ll retire at the end of the year and run for Minnesota governor. Bennett, a six-term Republican lawmaker and former teacher, announced her plans Monday at Albert Lea High School, just after Governor Tim Walz dropped out of the race. She says she’s advocated for term limits and believes change must start at the top, promising leadership built on respect and integrity. Bennett joins a crowded Republican field, bringing the total to 12 candidates, with one Independent and no Democrats yet in the race.
>>Minnesota Mayors Sign Letter to State Leaders with Concerns about Fraud, Economic Policies
(Undated) – The number of Minnesota mayors signing a letter to state leaders over fraud, failed economic policies, and rising property taxes has more than doubled. Crosslake Mayor Jackson Purfeerst says 241 mayors, representing more than one million residents, now support the call for greater transparency and fiscal responsibility. Purfeerst says the letter underscores a growing bipartisan demand for accountability in state government, adding: “Minnesota’s mayors are standing together to advocate for policies that protect taxpayers and strengthen local communities.”
>>MnDOT Awards $76.2 Million for Transportation Projects
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has awarded $76.2 million through three competitive grant programs to fund more than two dozen projects statewide. These investments will improve freight movement, travel time reliability, and support economic growth. MnDOT Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger says these projects will serve Minnesota for decades to come to “help people travel safely, support business growth, and make communities attractive for expansion.”
>>Golden Gopher Men’s Basketball Hosting #19 Iowa
(Minneapolis, MN) – The University of Minnesota men’s basketball team is playing number 19 Iowa tonight at Williams Arena. The Golden Gophers beat Northwestern 84-78 on the road Saturday for their fourth straight win. The Hawkeyes cruised past UCLA 74-61 on Saturday in Iowa City. Minnesota topped Iowa 72-67 last year at Carver Hawkeye Arena in the only meeting between the border rivals.
>>Active vs. Passive Screentime, How to Stop the Doomscroll
(St. Paul, MN) – A new report by YouGov, a data research and analytics group, shows more than 57% of Americans spend at least five hours a day staring at screens due to their addictive qualities. Despite this, Bethel University Professor Sherryse Corrow says good tools to help cut down screentime are already built into your phone. She suggests using the do-not-disturb function to batch your notifications, so they release at only certain times of the day, while letting notifications from certain people come at any time.“ Corrow says you can also be intentional about when and where you’re on your phone by scheduling screen-free times into your day, and screen-free places, like at dinner or in bed.
