>>AG Ellison Wins Court Order Protecting SNAP Recipients’ Data
(St. Paul, MN) — Attorney General Keith Ellison and 21 other states are celebrating the win of a court order that temporarily blocks the federal government from demanding personal information on millions of SNAP recipients. The coalition sued in July over what Ellison says is a clear violation of the law. The restraining order prevents the Trump administration from collecting sensitive data, including Social Security numbers, addresses, and immigration statuses, and stops threats to cut SNAP funding.
>>Man Charged With Making Threats Following Death of Charlie Kirk
(Minneapolis) – A 64-year-old man has been charged with making terroristic threats to individuals through email following the death of Conservative activist Charlie Kirk. John Sandeen is charged with four counts. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office says Sandeen referred to Charlie Kirk as his friend multiple times and promised to commit numerous acts of violence against targeted individuals as retribution. They say he also made threats against “liberal and left-leaning people.” Sandeen is being held in Ramsey County.
>>Walz Re-Election Campaign Kickoff in Downtown Minneapolis
(Minneapolis, MN ) — Governor Tim Walz is hosting a re-election campaign rally this evening (Fri) in downtown Minneapolis. His campaign says Governor Walz has led with a “strong record of results.” He’s looking to become the first Minnesota governor to win three terms. Republican challengers include Representative Kristin Robbins, former Senator Scott Jensen, and Kendall Qualls.
>> State Senators Tour Southern Minnesota Bonding Projects
(Undated) — DFL Senator Nick Frentz of North Mankato highlighted the urgent need for a new control tower at the Mankato airport during a recent bonding tour. “Folks may not know this, but this is the second busiest airport in Minnesota. Right now, the airport does not have a classic-style control tower, which makes it necessary for them to move more slowly and with less efficiency in order to provide maximum safety.” The high volume of air traffic is largely driven by the aviation program at Minnesota State University, Mankato, making the upgrade essential for both safety and efficiency.
>>Public Safety Chair Wants to Reverse Moriarty Decision
(St. Paul, MN) – The Republican Chair of the House Public Safety Committee is fighting back against a decision made this week by the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office. County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced a new policy where her office will not prosecute felonies that arise from low-level traffic stops. These include broken taillights and missing license tabs. Moriarty says these minor cases lead to more searches of Black and Brown community members and rarely lead to serious crimes. Committee Chair Paul Novotny of Elk River says he intends to pursue legislation reversing this decision by Moriarty, calling it foolish and saying it will endanger the safety of countless Minnesotans.
>>Immigrant Rights Group Rallies for Stronger Sanctuary Protections
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC, my-rack) is calling on Minneapolis to strengthen its sanctuary city protections. Tonight (FRI, 6 p.m.), members will rally at Jackson Square Park. The group says the city’s current separation ordinance leaves too many loopholes that allow cooperation between local police and ICE. MIRAC says this is what fueled the launch of its “Real Sanctuary Now” campaign, demanding stricter rules for collusion and crowd control and real consequences for violations.
>>Suspects ID’d in Duluth Home Burglary
(St. Louis County, MN) — The two suspects in custody for a residential burglary near Duluth have been identified. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office says 18-year-old Cayden Pappas of Cloquet and 26-year-old Damian Coon of Duluth face first-degree burglary charges. Deputies responded to a home and barn that were broken into on Saturday while the owners were out of town. Three firearms and other items were stolen, and significant damage was reported. The suspect vehicle was found nearby, and both suspects were arrested after a brief chase.
