>>MN Repubs await convention speech by V-P candidate J-D Vance while Dems blast him

(Milwaukee, WI) — Republicans at their national convention in Milwaukee are anxiously awaiting tonight’s (Wed) speech by vice-presidential candidate J-D Vance, as Democrats held their own “counter convention” this morning about a mile away. Governor Tim Walz says, “I read Hillbilly Elegy. I read it because I come from a town of 400…. It’s decades of policies of people like him and venture capitalists and others that gutted many of our small towns.” But R-N-C delegate and former state Representative Kelly Fenton from Woodbury says about Vance, “I read his book. I really enjoyed it. He is a true American story. He came from nothing and built and made what he has today.” Fenton says she likes Vance’s youthfulness and “that’s the future of the party.” She adds, “His energy matches Trump.”

>>Walz, fellow Dems at “counter convention” in Milwaukee spotlight abortion rights

(Milwaukee, WI) — Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and fellow Democrats at their “counter convention” in Milwaukee are focusing on what they call Republicans’ assault on reproductive rights. Amanda Zurawski says her pregnancy had catastrophic complications, but Texas’ near total abortion ban required she wait until her life was endangered — and then she went into septic shock. Zurawski says, “What I went through was nothing short of barbaric, and it didn’t need to happen — but it did, because of Donald Trump.” Governor Walz says, “If you are not moved and clearly heard what Amanda said, that’s as clear as it gets.” But R-N-C delegate and incoming Republican National Committeeman for Minnesota A-K Kamara says, “This fearmongering that somehow Republicans across the entire nation were going to completely ban and outlaw abortion, everywhere, all the time — …that’s just not true.” Minnesota D-F-L Party Chairman Ken Martin responds there’s no doubt if a national abortion bill came to President Trump’s desk that he would sign it.

>>Walz letter reportedly eases some Dems’ fear that party will rush through Biden nomination

(Milwaukee, WI) — A letter from Governor Tim Walz, co-chair of the Democratic National Convention’s rules committee, has reportedly quieted some Democrats’ concerns that their party might try to rush through the nomination of President Biden before the end of this month, amid persisting doubts about his ability to beat former President Donald Trump. Walz said today (Wed) in Milwaukee that Friday’s meeting has been scheduled for many months and “it was never meant to be the virtual roll call…. That virtual vote won’t happen before the first of August, and we just need to get it done by the 15th of August.” Democrats have been planning a virtual roll call the first week in August to ensure Biden appears on the ballot in Ohio. Axios reports House Democrats after Walz’s letter called off plans to tell the Democratic National Committee they opposed any virtual vote earlier than that.

>>MN Supco Rules State Patrol Can be Sued Over K-9 Attack

(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Supreme Court is allowing a woman to sue the State Patrol after a K-9 allegedly attacked her in March 2019. Christina Berrier of Owatonna filed a lawsuit against the State Patrol, claiming she suffered severe and permanent injuries in an unprovoked K-9 attack at her workplace. A trooper was stopping at the car dealership Berrier worked at when his K-9 Diesel allegedly bit her. Today’s (WED) filing reverses an earlier decision by the State Court of Appeals, by ruling the State Patrol has no immunity under Minnesota’s dog bite statute. Berrier’s case was sent back to district court, where she seeks a sum not less than $50,000, including interest, court costs, and additional expenses.

>>Three Twin Cities Men Sentenced to Prison for Trafficking Machineguns Over Snapchat

(St. Paul, MN) — Three Twin Cities men have been sentenced to prison for trafficking machine guns over Snapchat in 2023. Prosecutors say 19-year-old Rafael Wesley, 22-year-old Kyrees Johnson and 21-year-old Avont Drayton used the group to traffic machineguns, firearms and controlled substances, including blue fentanyl pills, in and around the Twin Cities. An undercover officer posted a picture of a prop firearm to the group and conversed with Wesley about trading guns and switches, which turn firearms into machine guns. Undercover officers engaged in controlled buys of switches and other firearms from Wesley, Johnson, and Drayton about half-a-dozen times. All three defendants pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of machine guns. Johnson was sentenced to 7.9 years in prison, Wesley to 14 months and Drayton to 2 years.

>>MN State Patrol Investigates Burnsville Hit-and-Run

(Burnsville, MN) — The Minnesota State Patrol is working to identify a suspect in a hit-and-run crash early this morning (WED) in Burnsville near Highway 13. The victim, a 24-year-old man from Shakopee, is expected to survive. Information isn’t available about whether he was on foot or inside another vehicle. No arrests have been made.

>>Willmar Man Pleads Guilty in Drug Overdose Death

(Willmar, MN) — A man from Willmar has pleaded guilty to third-degree murder in the drug-related death of another man in Willmar earlier this year. 19-year-old Xavier Soto, will be sentenced October 29th and could face a prison term of 6 to 9 years. Investigators say Soto in late January sold pills to the victim which contained a lethal dose of fentanyl.

>>Man With Outstanding Warrants Threatened to Jump From Roof

(Redwood Falls, MN) — A man from Belview in west-central Minnesota threatened to jump off a building in downtown Redwood Falls on Tuesday. Police Chief Jason Cotner says 29-year-old Joshua Panitzke had outstanding arrest warrants in Sibley and Hennepin counties and officers found him and his crew working on a roof. Panitzke’s supervisor informed him of the presence of law enforcement and asked him to come down, but Panitzke refused and, when officers went up to the roof, he became agitated and threatened to jump off. After several hours of negotiation, Panitzke voluntarily came down and was taken to Centra Care-Redwood Hospital.

>>Minnesota Lynx beat Atlanta Dream in Target Center matinee

(Minneapolis, MN) — The Minnesota Lynx topped the Atlanta Dream 86-79 this afternoon (Wed) at Target Center. All-Star guard Kayla McBride scored 30 points for Minnesota in the final game before the W-N-B-A All-Star break. Lynx forward Napheesa Collier missed her fifth straight game today with a foot injury and was selected to play in the All-Star Game Saturday night. No word on her status for the match-up between the U-S Women’s National Team and Team W-N-B-A in Phoenix.

 

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