>>Cannabis Lottery on Hold
(St. Paul, MN) — The cannabis license pre-approval lottery scheduled for Tuesday is on hold. At least ten applicants filed a lawsuit against the Office of Cannabis Management, saying the state inappropriately rejected applicants. The Office of Cannabis Management says about a third of the more than 1800 applicants had advanced to Tuesday’s lottery. At the end of a nearly one-hour-long hearing Monday morning, Ramsey County Judge Stephen Smith says there’s no lottery tomorrow. Smith issued a stay on the lottery to give all parties time to argue the case to an appellate court.)
>>Woman Shot in Rochester
(Rochester, MN) — A woman has non-life-threatening injuries after a shooting Sunday in Rochester. Police responded to a report of gunshots around 3:10 a.m., finding a woman with a gunshot wound outside a residence. Police believe the shooting was not random. No arrests have been made as of today (MON). No other information is being released.
>>Moorhead Schools Stop Student with a Gun
(Moorhead, MN) — Moorhead Area Public Schools says staff and administrators took immediate action this morning (MON) that stopped a student with a gun from entering. Staff were alert at Moorhead High School Career Academy after receiving a notification from police. Upon the student’s arrival around 10:30 a.m., they were quickly apprehended, and a gun was found on their person. Superintendent Brandon Lunak (LOON-ik) says the district is grateful for the rapid response and that students and staff’s safety, security, and well-being remain the highest priorities.
>>Minnesota Congresswoman Angie Craig Aims To Be Chair Of Agriculture Committee
(Washington, D.C.) In January, Minnesota Congresswoman Angie Craig seeks the top spot on the U.S. House Agriculture Committee. The DFL lawmaker sent a letter that made her pitch today to colleagues. If Craig gets the post, she will be the first openly gay member to chair the U.S. House Agriculture Committee. So far, California Congressman Jim Costa has also shown interest in the position.
>>Turkeys Pardoned At White House
(Washington, DC) — President Biden has now pardoned two turkeys at the White House. Peaches and Blossom, from Minnesota, arrived in Washington, DC over the weekend. After being pardoned, the turkeys will be brought back to Minnesota to live out their lives at Farmamerica. The first turkey pardon is thought to have been issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 after his son Tad asked Lincoln to spare a turkey’s life ahead of the family’s Christmas dinner.
>>Old National Bank Buys Bremer Financial
(St. Paul, MN) — St. Paul-based Bremer Financial has announced their union today (MON) with Old National Bank for $1.4 billion. The 80-year-old Bremer employs nearly 1,500 people in Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin and is the second-largest MN-based bank. The merger will make for the third-biggest bank in MN. Bremer’s majority shareholder, the Otto Bremer Trust, will own nearly 11% of Old National.
