A Hennepin County judge has granted prosecutors’ request to move up the trial of fired Minneapolis officers Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng to October 24th. About two weeks ago, Judge Peter Cahill pushed the trial back from this month to January 5th of next year citing pretrial publicity, but the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office […]
Walz touts record-low unemployment rate
Governor Tim Walz is touting Minnesota breaking another record for low unemployment — two percent in May, down two-tenths of a point from a record-low jobless rate in April. The governor says, “Minnesota’s economy is strong, and Minnesotans are working hard. I am proud to break another record with these historically low unemployment rates.” Walz […]
MN getting first scorcher of season
As forecast it’s turning into the first real scorcher of the season for the southern two-thirds of the state, with (noon) temperatures well into the 80s and some 90s through most of central and southern Minnesota. An excessive heat warning is in effect for the Twin Cities metro through 8pm tonight (Tues), and a heat […]
“Small first step” says anti-gun-violence group about U-S Senate deal
“Small first step,” says the leader of anti-gun-violence group Protect Minnesota about the bipartisan gun safety deal announced in the U-S Senate over the weekend. Rashmi Seneviratne applauds the mental health initiatives, but says proposed gun regulations react only to the Texas shooting: “What about the next school shooting?… Are we just gonna let school […]
Duluth firefighter guilty of assaulting woman on trail in 2020
A judge in bench trial has found Duluth firefighter guilty of felony third-degree assault for injuring a woman on a western Duluth trail in July 2020. 50-year-old Conrad Sunde the Fourth was on his bicycle with three off-leash dogs when 65-year-old Mary Modec called him out for violating the city’s leash law. Modec reached for […]
MN gun owners’ group leery of U-S Senate gun safety deal
The framework of a gun safety agreement U-S Senate leaders announced over the weekend is getting mixed reviews from the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus. Spokesman Rob Doar says they’re glad for finally a focus on areas everyone can agree on, such as school security and mental health resources — but questions any “red flag” orders […]
Rip current warning for Duluth’s Park Point beaches
It’s a pretty chilly day for swimming in Duluth today (forecast high of only 56), but officials say anyone who’s thinking about it should wait until another day. Red flag warnings have been issued for Park Point beaches due to dangerous rip currents, which are life-threatening regardless of swimming experience. Warnings are in effect until […]
Duluth Police Chief Mike Tusken retiring
Duluth Police Chief Mike Tusken is retiring and will make his official announcement this afternoon (3pm). Tusken was appointed chief by Mayor Emily Larson in 2016. He’s been with D-P-D since 1992 and moved up the ranks before his appointment to lead the department. Tusken was born and raised in Duluth and said he’s honored […]
Closures continue in Voyageurs Natl Park, water levels expected to drop in southern sections
The Voyageurs National Park boat launch and all its campsites on Rainy Lake remain closed due to high water levels, as well as all back-country campsites in the entire park. Park spokeswoman Tawnya Schoewe says, “With the floating debris out there… you don’t even know what’s floating sometimes…. You can get to the site, but… […]
MN Senate Dems demand special session for anti-gun-violence measures
A group of Democratic senators wants lawmakers back in Saint Paul for a special session to pass an unfinished public safety bill, and include anti-gun-violence measures in it. Saint Louis Park Senator Ron Latz says Senate Republicans have repeatedly blocked even compromise measures for a “red flag” law and closing the background-check loophole on gun […]