>>State Patrol Reports Hundreds of Weekend Crashes
(St. Paul, MN) – The Minnesota State Patrol says the weekend storm led to hundreds of crashes and vehicles sliding off roads statewide. Between midnight Friday and Sunday night, troopers responded to 464 property-damage crashes, 40 injury crashes, and one fatal crash. They also reported 46 spinouts, 651 vehicles off the road, and 19 jackknifed semis. Officials continue urging drivers to slow down and avoid travel during dangerous conditions.
>>Bill Banning Ghost Guns Heading to Full Senate
(St. Paul, MN) – A bill that would make it illegal to manufacture or possess ghost guns is on its way to the full Senate. Attorney General Keith Ellison testified on why Minnesota and law enforcement need this bill to become law, noting that ghost guns lack the serial numbers traditional firearms have, rendering them untraceable, and “significantly impeding law enforcement investigations.” Anna Leamy from the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus argued against the bill, saying Americans “have lawfully built firearms for personal use” for generations, which is permitted by federal law only if they are not sold. The bill passed the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee by a 6-4 vote along party lines. The bill was referred to the full Senate for the next discussion and possible vote.
>>Motley Man Suffers Life-Threatening Injuries in Morrison County Stabbing
(Motley, MN) – The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a stabbing near Motley that left a man seriously wounded. Deputies responded to the report of a man being stabbed Sunday morning in Scandia Valley Township. 53-year-old Douglas Denio was taken to the Staples hospital with life-threatening injuries and later transferred to St. Cloud. Investigators say a 23-year-old suspect was arrested and jailed pending charges.
>>Rural Otter Tail County Home Heavily Damaged by Fire
(New York Mills, MN) – A rural Otter Tail County home may be a total loss after a fire early Saturday. The Sheriff’s Office says the call came in around 5:15 a.m. for a home in New York Mills. Two residents and several pets got out safely, but the house suffered heavy damage. Officials say there are no signs the fire is suspicious.
>>Eichten Named New State CIO, MNIT Commissioner
(St. Paul, MN) – Governor Tim Walz has appointed Jon Eichten as the new Commissioner and State Chief Information Officer for Minnesota IT Services. Eichten succeeds Tarek Tomes, who led the agency for more than seven years. Eichten joined MNIT in 2012 and most recently served as Deputy Commissioner, overseeing enterprise operations and agency software services. Before that, he led government relations during the state’s IT consolidation effort. Walz says Eichten has been a trusted leader at MNIT for more than a decade, playing a key role in building the state’s technology foundation.
