>>Red Lake Woman Charged with Murder, Arson, Child Neglect
(Duluth, MN) — A Red Lake woman has been charged with murder, arson, and child neglect following the death of two young children. Court documents say 35-year-old Jennifer Stately attacked and killed Minor A and B on March 15th. Stately allegedly slashed both minors with a knife or other sharp object before setting fire to the residence. Minor A was fatally stabbed; while Minor B suffered a non-fatal stab wound, they ultimately died of smoke inhalation due to the fire. Stately fled in her vehicle with Minor C. Law enforcement recovered Minor C from her later that night around 9 p.m. after an AMBER alert was issued and Minor C showed visible signs of child neglect. Stately faces one count each of premeditated murder, murder in the course of committing child abuse, murder in the course of committing arson, arson, and felony child neglect.
>>Bill to Include ERA, Abortion Rights on 2026 Ballot Passes Important MN House Committee
(St. Paul, MN) – Minnesotans would vote in 2026 on a proposed E-R-A (Equal Rights) and abortion rights constitutional amendment, under a bill that awaits a vote in the Minnesota House after clearing a key committee today. College student Carrena Falls says prohibiting discrimination based on pregnancy is not an accurate summary of the proposed constitutional amendment, and asks legislators to “Say the quiet part out loud: It tries to enshrine abortion — a stance 68 percent (of) Minnesotans oppose, unlimited abortion — into our constitution by taking us as fools.” Sponsor of the bill, Saint Paul Democrat Kaohly Vang Her, responds, “For anyone who believes that women are already protected right now, you are sorely mistaken. We have one of the highest disparities when it comes to the economic outcome for women when it comes to income disparities.”
>>Minneapolis Reaches a Rideshare Driver Pay Deal, Uber States They Don’t Support It
(Minneapolis, MN) – Legislative leaders say they have a deal on rideshare driver pay, but Uber’s lobbyist says they weren’t consulted and “don’t support it.” And a Lyft spokesperson says if those statewide rates pass, “we would be forced to shut down across all of Minnesota, not just Minneapolis.” Under the agreement, the statewide minimum wage for ridesharing drivers would be $1.27 per mile and 49 cents per minute — lower than what’s in the Minneapolis ordinance. The Star Tribune reports drivers’ groups say they’re willing to accept the compromise.
>>Former President Trump to be Keynote Speaker at MN Republican Party Dinner
(St. Paul, MN) – Former President Donald Trump will keynote the Republican Party of Minnesota’s annual Lincoln Reagan Dinner, on May 17th at Saint Paul’s Rivercentre. Minnesota GOP Chairman David Hann says there are indications from the Trump campaign that they consider Minnesota a battleground state. He states the polling is “very, very close — within the margin of error.” Trump has vowed to win Minnesota this fall. In March he said, “I thought we won it last time, I’ll be honest. And I think we did win it.” D-F-L Party Chairman Ken Martin says “Minnesota voters have repeatedly rejected Donald Trump and his efforts to ban abortion, take away their health insurance, and attack our democracy. Republicans up and down the ballot will have to answer for why they are abandoning Minnesota values and kissing Donald Trump’s ring.”
>>MNA Condemns North Memorial Hospital’s Recent Cuts to Mental Health, NICU
(Robbinsdale, MN) – Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) members are condemning North Memorial Hospital after its recent announcement to cut neonatal and mental health care from their hospital and outside clinics. MNA Nurse and mother Jen Martinson says in normal circumstances, a new baby is recommended to stay in the room for breastfeeding, attunement, and bonding. Now, Martinson says, if a baby is born in Robbinsdale and needs intensive care after May 25th, there will be no NICU nurses to requisite that infant. She adds most people use public transit to arrive at North Memorial, meaning decreased accessibility as well as visitors having to choose between visiting the mother or visiting the baby at another hospital.
>>Law Enforcement Communities Mourn Eagan, Eden Prairie Firefighter Fatally Shot in Minneapolis While Off-Duty
(Minneapolis, MN) — Law enforcement communities and TRU Breed Motorcycle Club are mourning the loss of an Eagan and Eden Prairie firefighter, 40-year-old Joseph C. Johns, after he was fatally shot Sunday while off-duty. Minneapolis Police Department officers say while responding to a call of a shooting that injured two people, they found Johns lying in a south Minneapolis parking lot around 12:40 a.m. with potentially life-threatening gunshot wounds. John was brought to HCMC where he later died. Another man with non-life-threatening injuries arrived at HCMC in a private vehicle. No arrests have been made and anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers.
>>Rochester Man Arrested, Charged for Significant Amount of Drugs, Sales
(Rochester, MN) — A Rochester man is in custody after a search warrant turned up a “significant” amount of drugs. 33-year-old Gilo Gilo was arrested Friday after officers carried out a search warrant via a traffic stop on I-90 near Stewartville. Officials confiscated 148 pounds of flower marijuana, over 760 grams of cannabis concentrate, over 16 grams of cannabis edibles, and several thousand dollars of cash. Another search warrant of Gilo’s Rochester home turned up more cannabis concentrate, cash, and a loaded handgun. Gilo is being held on charges including first-degree controlled substance sales and possession.
>>Two People Injured in Motor Vehicle Crash
(Robbinsdale, MN) — Two people are injured after a motor vehicle crash on Highway 100 in Robbinsdale. Officials responded to a report of a serious crash around 11:22 a.m. that had sheered one vehicle into two pieces. Preliminary information shows a woman in her 80s was driving west at a high speed when she struck the center of a median curb and then hit a light post. Continuing west, she hit a vehicle that just turned west. The striking vehicle driver had to be extricated from her car and was taken to North Memorial Health Hospital where she’s believed to be in critical condition. The driver of the vehicle struck, a woman in her 60s, was treated at the scene and released.
>>8 Cats Saved from Mankato House Fire
(Mankato, MN) — Firefighters rescued eight cats from a Mankato house fire Sunday. Officials responded to a report of a fire around 1 p.m. Authorities say no one was home at the time of the fire and the rescued cats were taken to a vet for evaluation. The estimated damage to the house is around $450,000. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
>>Sen. Klobuchar Urges USDA Secretary Vilsack to Provide Accurate, Up-to-Date Avian Flu Information
(Washington, D.C.) — Senator Amy Klobuchar and 17 other senators across the U.S. have written a letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack demanding the USDA, FDA, and CDC provide public and state agencies with coordinated, up-to-date, and accurate information on the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). The senators state that the strain spread to livestock, including goats and cattle, and a Texas farmworker, “underscores the urgency required to confront this outbreak through a collaborative federal response, heightened surveillance, and additional resources to support vaccine research.”
>> MN Timberwolves Center Gobert Misses Shoot-Around, Status Listed as ‘Questionable’ for Game 2 of Western Conference Semifinals
(Denver, CO) — The Minnesota Timberwolves will try to make it a 2-0 series lead over defending N-B-A champions Denver tonight, but they might have to do it without starting center Rudy Gobert. The former Defensive Player of the Year was a late addition to the Wolves’ injury report today after missing the team’s shoot-around; Gobert was listed as “questionable due to personal reasons.” In February, Gobert and his girlfriend announced they were expecting their first child. C-B-S Sports reports if Gobert misses tonight’s game, Naz Reid will start in his place.
>>Mississippi River Dredging Pipeline Construction Begins Near Wabasha
(St. Paul, MN) — Crews will begin working on a dredging pipeline on the Mississippi River near Wabasha on May 13th. The 6,2000-foot pipeline will help the Corp of Engineers move sand more efficiently from the Reads Landing Island Snad Placement Site to the Corps-owned Wabasha Gravel Pit while reducing truck traffic to the community. An additional 70-foot work bridge will be built over Brewery Creek. The construction is expected to be complete by the end of the summer.
