>>Governor’s Fishing Opener Underway
(Cross Lake, MN) — The Governor’s Fishing Opener is a Minnesota tradition that started in 1948. This year’s event, which is celebrating its 77th anniversary, will occur in Cross Lake in the Brainerd Lakes area. This is the first time the Governor’s Fishing Opener is at Cross Lake on the east end of the Whitefish Chain.
>>Crow Wing County GOP Plans Boat Protest at Governor’s Fishing Opener
(Crosslake, MN) — Crow Wing County Republicans plan a boat parade protest at the Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener Saturday in Crosslake. A Facebook event post says, “If you’re coming for the opener this weekend to say hello to Timmy Walz, gather your conservative pals and set sail together.” Local G-O-P officials are calling for a fleet of conservative boats waving Trump, U-S-A, or the classic Minnesota flag. Governor Tim Walz is fishing for walleye with legislative leaders from both parties.
>>Two Seriously Injured in Sleepy Eye Home Fire
(Sleepy Eye, MN) — A house fire in southwestern Minnesota left a woman in critical condition and a child hurt. It happened Thursday morning in Sleepy Eye. Officials say the house was fully engulfed in flames when they arrived on the scene. Firefighters removed 29-year-old Katie Rehbein from the home, and she is listed in critical condition at Hennepin County Medical Center with extensive burns and smoke inhalation. Katie’s three-year-old son is also at HCMC. Authorities say a 56-year-old woman, an 11-year-old boy, an 8-year-old boy, and a 6-year-old boy were treated and released from the Sleepy Eye Medical Center. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
>> House Passes Labor Bill
(St. Paul, MN) – The Minnesota House passed the Workforce, Labor and Economic Development Budget bill, or the jobs bill. The bipartisan bill stayed under the budget target of $50 million and redirected millions of dollars to failed programs as part of the fraud and waste prevention part of the bill. The bill puts money into teacher apprenticeships and expands early childhood education training. The bill passed by a vote of 115 to 19 and is now headed to a committee to work on final details with the Senate version.
>>Man Sentenced for Murdering Waite Park Woman
(St. Cloud, MN) — A Stearns County judge has sentenced a man for murdering a Waite Park woman in 2023. The judge sentenced 30-year-old Jarquez Bedford to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He was found guilty on three counts of murder, including 1st-degree premeditated murder in the fatal stabbing of 52-year-old Andrea Cottew. Waite Park Police were conducting a welfare check and found Cottew dead inside her apartment.
(Note Nature)
>>YMCA in Central Minnesota to Pay $140K to Settle Sexual Harassment Lawsuit
(St. Cloud, MN) — The St. Cloud YMCA has agreed to pay $140,000 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed the legal action for two teenagers and a woman employed at the facility. A YMCA manager is accused of repeatedly propositioning an employee for sex and making unwelcome sexual comments about the employee’s body and physical appearance. The St. Cloud YMCA has also committed to revising its harassment and discrimination policies.
>>Delta Cutting Four Flights From MSP
(Minneapolis, MN) — Delta Air Lines is discontinuing four flights from Minnesota-St. Paul International Airport. The affected routes include daily flights from MSP to Albuquerque, New Mexico; Buffalo, New York; Fairbanks, Alaska; and Great Falls, Montana. Delta has confirmed that the Albuquerque route will terminate in November, while the other three routes will end at the end of September. In addition, the airline is introducing a new route to New York, with daily flights to Westchester County Airport starting on September 8th.
