>>Push to End Remote Voting
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy urges Senate Republicans to reconsider their stance on remote voting. She emphasizes the importance of accommodating members facing health challenges, such as Senator Kari Dziedzic (DEED-zic), who is battling ovarian cancer after a recurrence. Republicans moved a series of proposals in a Senate Committee Friday to effectively end remote voting for members not physically present in a committee room or the Senate chamber. Mazeppa (muh-ZEP-uh) Senator Steve Drazkowski says what’s termed “proxy voting” “many of us believe is not constitutional. We did it as a result of COVID.” …which Drazkowski reminds us, is over. If only in-person voting was allowed and Dziedzic couldn’t be at the Capitol, Senate Democrats and Republicans would be tied at 33 votes each. Murphy reminds members of the significance of remote voting by referencing the late Senator David Tomassoni, who continued to participate remotely after being diagnosed with ALS.
>>School Resource Officer Bill Clears Another Senate Hurdle
(St. Paul, MN) — After hours of debate, a law governing the use of force by school resource officers was amended with bipartisan support, stipulating that SROs can intervene on matters of personal safety or destruction of property. The bill now heads to the Conference Committee.
>>Minnesota Now Alleging Fleet Farm Violated State Gun Control Act
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota is suing retail chain Fleet Farm and has adjusted its lawsuit to include allegations that the company violated the state’s gun control law. The lawsuit claims that Fleet Farm repeatedly sold firearms to straw purchasers who then provided the weapons to felons, who are not permitted to own them. The state is seeking civil penalties for each violation of the Gun Control Act and the public nuisance statute, which can range up to $25,000 per violation.
>>Benton County Phone Scam
(Foley, MN) — The Benton County Sheriff’s Office alerts residents to a phone scam in which the caller imitates a sheriff’s deputy. Authorities say they began getting calls from people contacted by someone claiming to be Sergeant Brown from the Benton County Sheriff’s Office. The caller said they had civil process papers that needed to be served. Sheriff Troy Heck says the victims quickly realized it was a scam and hung up before giving any financial information. Authorities remind you that they will never ask you for bank information. If someone unexpectedly contacts you, hang up and notify the sheriff’s office immediately. Only give out your personal information over the phone if you initiate the call.
>>MN Vikings Quarterback Signs 4-Year Deal with Atlanta Falcons
(Minneapolis, MN) — Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback Kirk Cousins has secured a four-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons, marking a significant move as the NFL’s Free Agency period begins. With Cousins out, the Vikings have designated Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall as their quarterbacks for the 2024 NFL roster.
