>>Olmsted County Judge Upholds Indictment in Rochester Murder Case
(Rochester, MN) – An Olmsted County Judge has upheld a grand jury indictment in a prominent Rochester murder case. 33-year-old Connor Bowman is charged with one-count each of first and second-degree murder in the death of his wife, Dr. Betty Bowman in August 2023. Bowman is charged with poisoning his wife with a lethal dose of a medication used to treat gout. Bowman’s defense team filed a motion seeking to dismiss the grand jury indictment alleging the state committed prosecutorial misconduct when presenting the case. The judge ruled that did occur, but the defendant suffered no prejudice from it.
>>Xcel Energy Preparing for Storms
(Minneapolis) – Xcel Energy is keeping a close eye on the potential for severe storms and high heat tonight and through Wednesday afternoon across parts of western, southern, and central Minnesota. Xcel says crews will be ready across the region to restore power if outages occur. Weather forecasts say strong winds, hail and tornadoes are possible over the next two days. Xcel says if you lose power, report the outage as soon as possible so they can get to work on restoring power.
>>Senator Tina Smith Report Warns of Growing Home Insurance Crisis
(Washington, DC) — U.S. Senator Tina Smith is sounding the alarm over rising home insurance costs, releasing a new report that outlines potential solutions to what she calls a growing national crisis. Smith says homeowners across the country are facing steep premium increases and, in some cases, losing access to coverage altogether. The report notes insurance premiums have climbed an average of 45 percent nationwide since 2019, while Minnesota saw the largest increase in the country last year at 34 percent. Smith argues that more severe weather linked to climate change and industry practices are driving the problem, and warns that without action, affordable homeownership could become increasingly out of reach for many families.
>>Congressman Finstad Introduces Housing Bill
(Washington, D.C.) – Minnesota Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01) has joined a group of Representatives to introduce legislation to help home builders and manufacturers build American homes faster. The bill is called the “Build American Efficiency Act.” Rep. Finstad said this will “streamline the building process, reduce costly delays, boost efficiency allowing more Americans to buy a home. The bill is supported by several large home building groups in the country.
>>Hospital leaders applaud legislature for HCMC funding
(Undated) – Minnesota health leaders are praising lawmakers for approving major funding for Hennepin Healthcare Medical Center. The Minnesota Hospital Association says HCMC is a key part of the state’s healthcare system, with Senior Policy Director Michelle Benson warning the state’s healthcare infrastructure is under incredible stress. Benson says HCMC was the early warning sign of structural instability. Lawmakers approved $205 million dollars for HCMC this year, along with a reserve fund of up to $500 million. Benson says the hospital serves patients statewide and is the safety net of the safety net.
>>Target Field Concession Workers Set to Announce Strike Date
(Minneapolis, MN) — Nearly 500 concession workers at Target Field are expected to announce a strike date Thursday as contract negotiations continue with their employer, Delaware North. The workers, represented by UNITE HERE Local 17, say higher wages and improved health insurance coverage remain the major issues in the dispute. Last month, union members voted unanimously to authorize a strike if the two sides failed to reach an agreement, raising the possibility of a walkout during the busy baseball season.
