>>Minority Leader Files Ethics Complaint Against Speaker Hortman
(St. Paul, MN) — House Republican Minority Leader Lisa Demuth (DAY-muth) is filing an ethics complaint against Democratic Speaker Melissa Hortman, alleging she limited and cut off debate and repeatedly ignored motions from G-O-P members, sparking extended bouts of shouting in the closing minutes of the legislative session. Demuth says she doesn’t know if there will be a hearing because Democrats have the majority and the legislature is adjourned, “but at least it puts it on record of what happened and how the voice of the minority was disrespected and pushed out of the process.” Hortman says Republicans deliberately blocked progress as the legislative clock ticked, saying, “We had to take extraordinary measures, which are authorized by the (House) rules, to pass the bills.”
>>MPD Investigates Shooting that Injured Mother, Toddler
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Minneapolis Police Department is investigating a shooting Sunday that injured a mother and her toddler. Officers found evidence of gunfire in an alley in south Minneapolis around 9 p.m., where they believe a man dressed in dark clothing walked up to a vehicle in the alley and shot a mother and child inside it. The mother drove herself and her child to a local hospital, having since been transferred to HCMC. Both are in stable condition and expected to survive. No arrests have been made.
>>BCA Launches VCRU Unit
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension announced today a new unit focused on reducing violent crime. The Violent Crime Reduction Unit (VCRU) is a specialized team ready to leverage its expertise and local partnerships to target the main drivers of violent crime: guns, drugs, and criminals wanted on high-value warrants. Officers and deputies assigned to the VCRU include the Ramsey and Anoka County sheriff’s offices and the Fridley, St. Louis Park, Columbia Heights, Crystal, Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Maplewood, North St. Paul, Roseville, and Robbinsdale police departments.
>>MN BCA Searches for Missing Moorhead Woman
(Moorhead, MN) — The Minnesota BCA is searching statewide for a missing Moorhead woman. 35-year-old Vanita Abbott was last seen leaving the 3000 block of 41st Avenue in Moorhead. Vanita is described as white, 5 foot 9 inches tall, 130 pounds, with red hair and green eyes. She was last seen wearing a tan T-shirt, pink leggings, and tan sneakers. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Moorhead Police Department.
>>UMN Workers Celebrate Updated Labor Law Allowing Over 23,000 Employees to Form Unions
(St. Paul, MN) — University of Minnesota (UMN) staff, faculty, and student workers celebrate after an update to Minnesota’s Public Employment Labor Relations Act (PELRA), which allows over 23,000 UMN employees to form unions. Workers say thousands of UMN employees had been trapped in ‘gerrymandered’ bargaining units, making unionization impossible, affecting two-thirds of the UMN workforce. This frees over 10,000 workers previously denied collective bargaining rights due to winning fellowships, receiving financial aid, participating in work-study programs, or being compensated through stipends.
>>Democrat Calhoun Runs for MN House District 36A
(Lino Lakes, MN) — Lino Lakes Democrat Janelle Calhoun has announced her candidacy for Minnesota House of Representatives District 36A after receiving the DFL endorsement Sunday. Calhoun says she plans to bring over 25 years of business and leadership experience to St. Paul. District 36A includes Lino Lakes, Centerville, North Oaks, Circle Pines, and White Bear Township.
>>Owatonna Teen Dead After Multi-Vehicle Crash
(Owatonna, MN) — An 18-year-old Owatonna teen is dead after a multi-vehicle crash in Rochester Saturday. Police responded to a crash north of Apache Mall around 5:45 p.m., where three vehicles, including one state patrol squad car, had crashed. High school senior Olivia Flores and six others were brought to local hospitals for injuries. Flores’ family announced Sunday they had taken her off life support. A GoFundMe has been launched, the fundraiser reading, “Instead of planning Olivia’s graduation party and celebrating her next chapter in life, Steph and Carlos are left picking up the pieces of this tragedy.” The crash is under investigation.
>>Justin Timberlake Coming to St. Paul Halloween Night
(St. Paul, MN) –Former NSYNC (in-sync) boy band star, now solo artist and actor Justin Timberlake, is bringing his “The Forget Tomorrow World Tour” to St. Paul this fall. Visiting the Xcel Energy Center on Halloween this year, St. Paul is one of the nine new shows added to Timberlake’s later leg of the tour. Tickets go on sale to the general public Thursday at 10 a.m. on Timberlake’s website with presale opportunities to Citi cardholders and Verizon Wireless customers.
>>Minneapolis Music Teacher Suprised, Recognized Live on Good Morning America
(Undated) — A Minneapolis music teacher was given the red carpet treatment on this morning’s (MON) airing of Good Morning America (GMA). The show spotlighted exceptional educators who go the extra mile in classes, and Edward Barlow, a.k.a. The Music Man, is one of them. GMA surprised Barlow live on national TV, highlighting his over 40-year career teaching music at Minneapolis Public Schools. Barlow was given two checks for $35,000, which coworkers think will go to repairing the Anwatin Middle School’s broken piano.
