>>Bailey Sentenced to 30 Years in Deadly Park Tavern Crash
(Minneapolis, MN) — A St. Louis Park man is sentenced to 30 years in prison for a drunken driving crash last September that killed two people and injured a dozen at the Park Tavern. Fifty-seven-year-old Steven Bailey received a 360-month sentence today (Mon) after pleading guilty to two counts of third-degree murder and three counts of criminal vehicular operation. Surveillance video shows Bailey trying to park his car at the St. Louis Park restaurant before crashing into the patio, killing server Kristina Folkerts and Methodist Hospital employee Gabe Harvey. Police said Bailey’s blood alcohol content was .335.
>>Delta Pilot Arrested on Child Pornography Allegations After Flight from Twin Cities
(San Francisco, CA) — A Delta Air Lines pilot was arrested Saturday after landing a flight from the Twin Cities at San Francisco International Airport. 34-year-old Rustom Bhagwagar of Homestead, Florida, was on allegations of five counts of sexual assault of a child younger than 10 years old and possessing child pornography. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is handling the case. No further details have been released at this time.
>>Minnesota Governor Walz Reportedly Leaving National Governors Association
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is reportedly planning to withdraw from the National Governors Association (NGA). According to sources, Walz and Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, both Democrats, are considering leaving the bipartisan group, citing frustrations over how the NGA has responded to recent political developments involving former President Donald Trump. Governor Walz is reportedly halting Minnesota’s dues to the organization starting next year while he reevaluates the state’s involvement. The NGA brings together governors from all 50 states to collaborate on bipartisan policy initiatives.
Trump Reconciliation Bill Could Cut Medicaid for Thousands in Minnesota
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Department of Human Services is warning that President Trump’s reconciliation bill could lead to significant Medicaid losses across the state. DHS Medicaid Director John Connolly says up to 140,000 Minnesotans could lose coverage over time, with the state projected to lose $1.4 billion in the first four years alone.
More details are available on the DHS website.
>> Anti-Predator Group Captures Minnesota Man Accused of Distributing Child Porn
(Cokato, MN) — A citizen-led sting operation helped authorities arrest a Minnesota man accused of distributing child pornography. 47-year-old Jason Dalbec faces 10 counts of possessing images depicting minors under 14, including girls as young as five, according to investigators. The Indiana-based nonprofit Bikers Against Predators alerted the Wright County Sheriff’s Office on July 19th. Deputies later seized evidence from Dalbec’s home in Cokato. He remains in custody on $125,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court on August 4th.
>> More Severe Weather Could Hit Minnesota
(Chanhassen, MN) — More severe weather is possible across Minnesota this afternoon and evening, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasters warn of heavy rain and strong winds, especially in a corridor stretching from Worthington to Mankato and up to Alexandria. St. Cloud and Rochester face a slight chance of severe storms. Meanwhile, cleanup continues from Sunday’s storms, which knocked out power to thousands of people.
>>OHE Giving out grant funding for spinal cord and traumatic brain injury research
(Undated) – The Minnesota Office of Higher Education is hanging out grant funds that will go towards spinal cord and traumatic brain injury research. Communications Director Keith Hovis says Minnesota has some of the best research institutions in the country, which will put the grant funding to good use. Recipients include researchers at the University of Minnesota, the Mayo Clinic, Hennepin Healthcare, and the Center for Veterans Research and Education. Nearly $3 million will be allocated to fifteen different research projects.
>> CMX Chateau Movie Theater Closes in Rochester
(Rochester, MN) — The CMX Chateau, one of Rochester’s largest movie theaters, has closed its doors. Its final screenings were held Sunday night. In an email to rewards members, the company cited a lease change as the reason for the closure.
>>St. Paul Installs Safety Barriers at Como Park Sports Fields
(St. Paul, MN) – New safety barriers are now in place around soccer and baseball fields at Como Regional Park. The $117,000 project includes rocks and reinforced poles and was prompted by an incident last April when a vehicle drove onto a soccer field during a game. The installation is funded through existing city sales tax revenue.
