>>Sports betting backers have key agreement with charitable gaming interests but other hurdles remain
(St. Paul, MN) — A key state lawmaker says Allied Charities of Minnesota has agreed to drop its opposition to e-pulltab laws passed last year, in exchange for 40 million dollars in tax cuts financed by a tax on proposed sports betting. State Representative Zack Stephenson from Coon Rapids says charitable gaming is a “key stakeholder” as backers push to legalize sports betting — but interests of many groups still must be satisfied — from charitable gaming to horse track racing to problem gambling, to the impact on colleges and universities — plus Native American tribes and pro sports teams. Stephenson says “we’ve made significant progress but we’re not all the way there.” He puts chances at about 50-50 of a sports betting bill getting to the governor’s desk this legislative session.
>>Twins will honor fallen Burnsville officers, paramedic during April 4th home opener
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Minnesota Twins plan to honor the three Burnsville first responders killed in the line of duty during their home opener April 4th. Twins spokesman Matt Hodson says the purpose is “not only [to] take time and remember and pay tribute to those three brave individuals who tragically lost their lives, but to also honor and celebrate the heroic men and women that every day are risking their lives.” Hodson says there will be a video and moment of silence for Officers Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge and Firefighter/paramedic Adam Finseth. First responders from Burnsville, Dakota County and Minneapolis will be on the field during player introductions.
>>Repubs asking Dems to delay new school mandates three year, citing districts’ budget crunch
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota Senate Republicans are asking the Democratic majority to give school districts up to three years to implement dozens of new mandates included in last year’s education funding bill, plus any new ones this year. Hibbing Senator Rob Farnsworth says despite historic funding, districts are laying off teachers because of the cost of state mandates ranging from curriculum to mascots. Farnsworth says, “A 600-thousand dollar cut from a small school district like Deer River is an enormous cut.” Pine City Senator Jason Rarick says one year isn’t enough for districts that must change their mascots. He says for one school district he represents, “950-thousand dollars is what they’re projecting the cost would be for them to change everything in their school that’s affiliated with that mascot, and that would come directly out of their general budget.” Rarick says he has “no illusions this is gonna pass this year, but it is something we have to talk about.”
>>League of Ireland team in St. Paul for first match-up with M-L-S team in either league’s history
(St. Paul, MN) — St. Patrick’s F-C, a professional soccer club based in Dublin, Ireland, faces Minnesota United F-C Wednesday in an exhibition ‘friendly.’ St. Pat’s are the first-ever League of Ireland side to play an M-L-S team in either league’s history. Defender Anto Breslin says “everyone’s well aware of the M-L-S and how well it’s doing, and we know how good of a standard it is.” Wednesday’s match at Allianz Field kicks off at 7 P-M.
>>> N-B-A blocks private equity financing for purchase of Timberwolves
(Minneapolis, MN) — The N-B-A has rejected a private equity financing plan to fund the sale of the Minnesota Timberwolves. AXIOS reports equity firm Carlyle had agreed to invest through a $2.3 billion structured plan with Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore to facilitate their purchase of the franchise from current majority owner Glen Taylor, but that plan was denied today (MON) by the league office. The N-B-A’s denial means Rodriguez and Lore must fund the entirety of their purchase by the end of the month. The pair agreed to buy both the T-Wolves and Lynx in 2021 via a multi-step agreement, with the duo announcing plans to acquire majority ownership last season.
>>FBI Returned “Oz” Ruby Slippers To Owner In Secret Ceremony Last Month
(Grand Rapids, MN) — The F-B-I has disclosed that it recently returned a pair of ruby slippers stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids to their original owner. The world-famous slippers appeared in the 1939 classic movie “The Wizard of Oz.” The F-B-I kept the February 1st ceremony secret due to an ongoing investigation. The slippers were stolen from the museum back in 2005 and recovered by the agency in 2018. One man has pleaded guilty to the theft while a second appeared in federal court last week on related charges.
