Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, at the request of Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman, will lead prosecution of the second-degree manslaughter charges against former Brooklyn Center police officer Kim Potter, accused in the death of Daunte Wright. Attorney General Ellison says, “I did not seek this prosecution and do not accept it lightly” and adds […]
Appeals court to decide whether 3 ex-officers face more charges in George Floyd’s death
After today’s (Thurs) oral arguments via Zoom, the State Court of Appeals has 90 days to decide whether three former Minneapolis police officers charged in George Floyd’s death will also be charged with aiding and abetting third-degree murder — that’s in addition to the second-degree aiding and abetting charges they already face. Thomas Lane, J. […]
Name released of man who drowned in Mississippi River at Weaver Bottoms
Authorities in Wabasha County have released the name of the man who drowned in the Mississippi River at Weaver Bottoms in southeast Minnesota. The body of 89-year-old Victor Grabau was found Monday evening near an unoccupied fishing boat that was going in circles with the motor running. The Weaver Bottoms marshes are about 120 miles […]
Duluth’s iconic Electric Fetus music/gift store closing for good
The Electric Fetus music and gift store in the heart of downtown Duluth (at Superior Street and Lake Avenue) is closing for good, its owners say because of the pandemic, a changing retail environment, a water main break and road construction on Superior Street. The store has been a fixture in the port city for […]
Walz, legislative leaders to announce state budget deal
Governor Tim Walz, Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka and House Speaker Melissa Hortman this morning (11am) announce an agreement on Minnesota’s roughly 52-billion-dollar budget, 13 hours before the midnight deadline for the legislature to adjourn. It’s basically impossible for lawmakers to finish details of the budget today, so a special session is likely, Hortman says […]
Federal charges filed against man who allegedly took 5 hostages in St. Cloud bank robbery
Federal charges have been filed against the man accused of holding five bank employees hostage last week during a robbery at a Wells Fargo branch in Saint Cloud. 35-year-old Ray McNeary also faces seven felony charges in Stearns County District Court. Prosecutors allege that, during a nine-hour standoff with police, McNeary repeatedly held scissors against […]
EXCLUSIVE: MN House Dems dropping push for 5th bracket income tax increase
Democrats in the Minnesota House are dropping their push for a fifth income tax bracket, which would have increased state taxes on the wealthiest Minnesotans and large corporations. House Democratic Majority Leader Ryan Winkler said this afternoon about a top-bracket income tax increase, “I don’t think we need to do that. I think we could […]
Student arrested after firing gun inside Plymouth Middle School
A student was arrested after firing shots this morning in a hall outside a bathroom at Plymouth Middle School in the Twin Cities. Police said they weren’t aware of any injuries at a time when over 700 students were in the school. The Star Tribune reports the school was in lockdown until about noon for […]
MN Health Department advises providers to temporarily stop administering Johnson&Johnson vaccines
The Minnesota Department of Health is advising medical providers to follow the federal government’s recommendation and temporarily stop administering the Johnson and Johnson COVID vaccine. It’s been linked to what state officials call an “extremely rare” type of blood clot reported in six people in the U-S. All are women age 18 to 48, and […]
Crookston bishop resigns following Vatican priest sex-abuse investigation
The bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Crookston has resigned after a Vatican investigation alleging he interfered with clergy sex-abuse investigations in the past. Michael Hoeppner was accused of claiming that a priest was fit to continue in his role, despite knowing the man abused a 16-year-old boy in the early 1970s. The victim later […]