>>Incoming U-of-M president will be paid about $1.1M per year

(Minneapolis, MN) — Incoming University of Minnesota President Rebecca Cunningham will be paid close to 1.1 million dollars a year and start work this summer, under a five-year contract the Board of Regents unanimously approved today (Fri). Regent Robyn Gulley says “I sometimes struggle with these very expensive employment agreements” but “there was a lot of care taken for it to be right-sized.” Gulley says she felt like the terms “were a fair negotiation of what our incoming president asked for and also what we needed as a university.” Cunningham will receive 975-thousand dollars in annual base pay plus 120-thousand dollars coming in retirement contributions. Officials say her total compensation is in the top quarter for leaders of Big Ten schools.

>>Minneapolis mayor vetoes Uber, Lyft pay hike, city council could override

(Minneapolis, MN) — Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey today (Fri) as promised vetoed a pay hike for Uber and Lyft drivers that the city council approved just yesterday (Thurs). Backers of the wage increase say they have the votes to override the mayor’s veto. Frey has called a special city council meeting for next Thursday, saying he wants a swift override to prepare the public for the potential departure of the rideshare companies from the city — and possibly the state — on May 1st when the ordinance would take effect. City council supporters of the measure say Lyft and Uber are bluffing. Mayor Frey says he believes they will leave.

>>St. Cloud Cathedral, Hermantown Advance to Class A Boys Hockey Final

(St. Paul, MN) — St. Cloud Cathedral and Hermantown will play for the Class A Boys State High School Hockey championship tomorrow (Sat 12pm) at the Xcel Energy Center. Cathedral rallied past Warroad 4-3 in overtime to win today’s (Fri) first semifinal. Hermantown knocked off defending state champion Mahtomedi 7-6 in O-T late this afternoon. The Class 2-A semifinals feature Chanhassen against Cretin-Derham Hall at 6 pm and Edina versus Grand Rapids in the late game in St. Paul.

>>Three juveniles arrested in connected with robbery sprees in Minneapolis

(Minneapolis, MN) — Minneapolis police have arrested three juveniles in connection with a series of robbery sprees. A 15-year-old boy, 16-year-old boy with seven outstanding warrants, and a 17-year-old girl are in custody for alleged carjackings, robberies and auto thefts in February and March. MPD Chief Brian O’Hara credits excellent work of his team and willingness of the suspects’ family members to share information.

>>MN Senate Repubs want remote voting eliminated during floor sessions

(St. Paul, MN) — Some Minnesota Senate Republicans are continuing their push to no longer allow members to vote from remote locations during floor sessions. Mazeppa Senator Steve Drazkowski says what’s termed proxy voting, “many of us believe is not constitutional. We did it as a result of COVID.” And Drazkowski says COVID is over. He presented the proposal at a subcommittee meeting today (Fri) with debate and a vote left for later. An obvious factor is former Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic who has a recurring cancer diagnosis. 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.

>>Walz celebrates National School Breakfast Week, says millions more meals served in free school meals program

(Fridley, MN) — Capping this National School Breakfast Week, Governor Tim Walz at Fridley Middle School this morning (Fri) announced that the free school meals program served nearly 4.3 million more breakfasts and 4.5 million more lunches to Minnesota students last fall compared to the same period in 2022. Walz says, “That’s a 37% increase that students start the day with a full belly, ready to learn, better able to control their emotions, better able to get in that classroom and learn.” State lawmakers approved the Free School Meals Program during the 2023 legislative session, reimbursing schools for serving meals to students who do not qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

>>Two People Arrested in St. Cloud Search Warrant

(St. Cloud, MN) — Two people are in custody after law enforcement obtained a warrant to search a home in Saint Cloud. The Central Minnesota Violent Offenders Task Force was investigating heroin and fentanyl distribution in the area. Investigators allegedly found suspected heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and meth — and arrested a 44-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman, both from St. Cloud.

 

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