>>Champlin First Responders Being Honored
(Champlin, MN) — The first responders called to the shootings of Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, in Champlin are being honored by the city. “Six Champlin police officers, one Maple Grove officer, and six Allina Health paramedics received the Champlin Police Department Lifesaving Award last night. Hope Hoffman was also commended for her exceptional bravery and assistance during the June 14th incident. Senator Hoffman presented the first responders with a Minnesota Senate resolution. He told them, “You responded to the unfolding attack without hesitation. What you provided for myself and my family that night is beyond words and beyond scope.”)
>> Target Layoffs Begin
(Minneapolis, MN) — A major shakeup is underway at Minnesota-based Target today, as the retailer began laying off 1,000 corporate employees and eliminating 800 open positions. Employees were instructed to work remotely this week, and many received their layoff notices via email and virtual meetings earlier today. The restructuring comes amid declining sales and profits.
>>Fargo Shooting Leaves One Dead
(Fargo, ND) — A Fargo man is dead, and the search is underway for a suspect or suspects. 28-year-old Nadin Khoury was shot multiple times in a stairwell at an apartment building around 9:30 Monday night. The shooting is not considered random. Police Chief Dave Zibolski says Khoury was married and his wife is pregnant. A bystander was trying to help Khoury when officers got to the scene. He was rushed to the hospital and died about 45 minutes later. A gun has not been recovered, but several bullet casings were found. Police are looking for a black male who was wearing a black shirt and gray sweatpants. It’s believed this shooting is related to a shooting last Friday night at an apartment near the Microsoft campus.
>>Energy Assistance Delayed, But Minnesotans Should Still Apply
(St. Paul, MN) — With winter closing in, the Minnesota Department of Commerce is urging eligible households to apply now for energy assistance, even though federal funding is delayed due to the government shutdown. The Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, typically receives most of its funding by early November. This year, that money hasn’t arrived, meaning payments for heating bills, emergency fuel, and furnace repairs are on hold. Applications are still open, and officials say applying now ensures faster help once funds are released.
>>SNAP Lawsuits Emerging
(St. Paul, MN) – Attorney General Keith Ellison has joined a coalition of more than 20 states in filing a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture and its Secretary Brooke Rollins for unlawfully suspending the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP serves more than 40 million Americans to help them buy food, but that’s in jeopardy starting November 1st because of the government shutdown. The lawsuit is asking for a restraining order blocking the USDA from halting SNAP funding while the lawsuit proceeds. In Minnesota, 440,000 citizens, children, and seniors rely on these benefits to put food on their tables.
>>Attorney General Keith Ellison is Blocking Illegal Cuts to Sexual Health Education
(St. Paul, MN) — A federal judge has sided with Attorney General Keith Ellison and 15 other states, halting a Trump administration rule that threatened to pull funding unless programs erased gender identity from their curriculum. The ruling protects over $2.4 million in federal grants for Minnesota programs that help prevent teen pregnancy and STIs. Ellison says the administration can’t use taxpayer dollars to push exclusionary politics—and he’ll keep fighting in court to defend Minnesotans’ rights. The funding supports two key programs, PREP(Personal Responsibility Education Program ) and SRAE(Sexual Risk Avoidance Education ), which provide sexual health education across the state. Without this ruling, youth-focused services could have faced major disruptions.
>>World Juniors Pre-Tournament Hockey Series Announced
(Undated) – Games and dates have been announced for the upcoming World Juniors Pre-Tournament Hockey Series coming to Minnesota. This tournament will mark 50 years of the IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation) World Junior Championship, with the top teams in the world. Duluth, Bemidji, Mankato, and Rochester have been chosen as sites for the pre-tournament games. Team USA will be in Duluth to meet Finland and Germany at AMSOIL Arena during the dates of December 19 – 23. The championship tournament will then move to Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul and 3M Mariucci Arena at the University of Minnesota and take place between December 26 and January 5. Tickets are now available for all sites.
