>>Minnesota in spotlight as Democratic National Convention kicks off in Chicago
(Chicago, IL) — The Democratic National Convention is under way in Chicago, less than a month after President Joe Biden announced he would not seek a second term. Senator Amy Klobuchar says since Biden’s endorsement of V-P Kamala Harris, the grassroots movement has become a crucial part of the campaign. She told delegates today (Mon), “I just want you to get out there, volunteer, help; it’s a lot of fun right now, and people are listening. People who weren’t gonna vote, are voting.”
Delegate Latonya Reeves of Minneapolis says she works to engage folks who are sometimes disenfranchised and do not feel like they’re being heard. Reeves says, “We’re trying to change the game. With Kamala going to the top of the ticket that has really been influential for us. People say they’re energized, they really want to get involved. They see themselves at the top of the ticket which has been a long time coming.”
Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan has been named one of four co-chairs for the Democratic National Convention, and says the spotlight is on Minnesota. Flanagan says, “We know a thing or two about developing great vice presidents here in Minnesota [Hubert Humphrey and Walter Mondale], and we will have one more vice president that we send to Washington D-C, in Governor Tim Walz.”
President Biden addresses the convention tonight. Walz will officially accept the vice-presidential nomination Wednesday night.
>>Browerville Man killed while attacking West Fargo man
(Fargo, ND) — A 25-year-old central Minnesota man was fatally shot after attempting to illegally enter a church in Fargo on Saturday morning. Police say Austin Strom of Browerville — whose family says he just recently joined Prairie Heights Church — was confronted by another church member, 66-year-old Kent Hodges of West Fargo. Police say Strom was attacking Hodges in the parking lot when 53-year-old Donald Baron of Moorhead saw what was happening and shot Strom once with a handgun. Strom died at a Fargo hospital. Hodges was hospitalized with serious injuries. No charges are pending at this time and the results of the investigation will be forwarded to the Cass County State’s Attorney’s Office for review.
>>Rochester Man Faces Felony Sexual Conduct Charges for Relationship with Teen
(Rochester, MN) — A Rochester man faces two felony sexual conduct charges after allegedly having a sexual relationship with a teenage girl. The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office says deputies initially responded July 12th to a missing person report in Stewartville. The father of the 15-year-old victim told them his daughter left home with a man he knew as 20-year-old Jordan Simar-Hall. Deputies later found the couple together in Stewartville. The victim told deputies she and Simar-Hall had sex on July 9th in Chatfield after she met him on Snapchat in the spring, admitting to meeting him throughout June and July. Simar-Hill’s phone revealed messages of their relationship and sexually explicit images they had sent to each other. His next court appearance is in October.
>>Man Faces Criminal Vehicular Homicide Charges in Fatal Lake Elmo Crash
(Lake Elmo, MN) — A 47-year-old man involved in a Lake Elmo crash that killed 5-year-old Morgan Petersen has been charged. Jeffrey Alexander Junior faces two counts of criminal vehicular homicide, one alleging D-W-I and the other that he was driving in a “grossly negligent manner.” Authorities responded to a report of a crash around 8:45 p.m. on January 20th where a stalled Ford Focus was hit from behind by Alexander. The girl was pronounced dead at the hospital. Investigators say Alexander had both alcohol and clonazepam in his system and was speeding at the time. He is not in custody.
>>Man Sustains Life-Threatening Gunshot Wound in St. Paul Shooting
(St. Paul, MN) — A man suffered life-threatening wounds in a shooting in St. Paul Sunday. Police responded to a report of shots fired around 11 a.m., finding a crashed car with blood around it and evidence of a shooting. Shortly after, a man went to Regions Hospital with a critical gunshot injury. No arrests have been made.
