>>Shakopee Adding 12 New Firefighters
(Washington, D.C.) — The Shakopee Fire Department will be adding 12 new firefighters thanks to money coming from Washington. U-S. Representative Angie Craig announced the fire department will receive more than $2.6 million from a FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Administration) grant program that helps emergency response. The twelve new firefighters will all be full-time employees. The department currently has only six full-time firefighters and 30 part-time firefighters.
>>Minnesota PUC Approves ALLETE Acquisition
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has approved the acquisition of ALLETE, Inc., the parent company of Minnesota Power, under a landmark agreement that includes robust, precedent-setting conditions designed to protect ratepayers. As part of the approval, the Commission mandated a comprehensive package of safeguards and benefits that will deliver more than $200 million in quantifiable savings to Minnesota Power customers. These conditions ensure continued oversight and regulatory authority by the Minnesota PUC, preserving consumer protections and accountability.
>>Fleet Farm Lawsuit for Selling Straw Purchase Firearms Heading to Trial
(St. Paul, MN) — The state of Minnesota’s lawsuit against Fleet Farm for negligently selling firearms to straw purchasers will proceed to trial. Attorney General Keith Ellison says the retailer attempted to obtain a summary judgment and dismiss the lawsuit, but a U.S. District Judge rejected it, saying Fleet Farm violated the Minnesota Gun Control Act. Straw purchasers buy guns and then resell them on the black market. After the ruling, Ellison said it’s essential to hold these businesses that contribute to violence accountable. Fleet Farm is accused of ignoring red flags, and one of the weapons was used in the Truck Park Bar mass shooting in St. Paul in 2021 that killed one and injured 14 people. No trial date has been set.
>>Moms Demand Action, Annunciation Parents Plead for Special Session
(Undated) – It’s more than five weeks now since the mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic School, and Governor Tim Walz still has not called the special session. Walz said Thursday they’re working on it. Chad Kuyper is the co-lead of Moms Demand Action, and his group keeps in touch with Annunciation parents. He says they feel like attention is already slipping away; “We’re all kind of expected to just go to school and go to work, and this unimaginable thing happened last month.” No word on when the governor and legislative leaders will meet again to discuss the special session.
>>Rep. Emmer, Sen. Klobuchar Point Fingers for Federal Gov. Shutdown
(Washington, D.C.) – The government shutdown continues after the U.S. Senate failed again today to pass a stopgap funding bill. Republican Congressman Tom Emmer says the Democrats are to blame for the shutdown because they want to continue providing health care to illegal immigrants. He says a report from the Congressional Budget Office states it “would take 1.4 million illegals off the Medicaid rolls that are not supposed to be there by law.” Democrats say they’re also holding out because they want healthcare tax credits renewed so Americans can save money on their rising premiums. Senator Amy Klobuchar says she won’t give up the fight for Affordable Care Act tax credits and against major cuts to Medicaid and Medicare. She notes, “We must protect our rural hospitals. We must address our health care crisis. It’s not a December or January problem. It’s a now problem.”
>>Twin Cities Marathon Events to Proceed Despite Forecasted Heat
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Twin Cities Marathon will go on as planned this weekend, even as forecasters warn of near-record high temperatures. Organizers are urging runners and spectators alike to take extra precautions in the heat. Saturday’s 5K and 10K races, along with Sunday’s marathon and 10-mile events, are expected to begin under yellow flag conditions, signaling participants to slow their pace and stay alert. As temperatures rise throughout the day, red flag conditions may be issued — a warning that runners should consider skipping the race altogether for safety.
>>Cass Lake Woman Wins $329K Lottery Jackpot
(Roseville, MN) — A Cass Lake woman is celebrating a $329,519win in the Progressive Print-N-Play Bingo game. The winning ticket was sold at Leech Lake Market, which earns a $1,000 bonus. The winning woman says realizing she hit the jackpot felt “like a dream.” Big prizes must be claimed in person at lottery headquarters in Roseville.
