All three National Guard soldiers on a maintenance test flight were killed Thursday afternoon when their helicopter crashed into a farm field about 16 miles southwest of Saint Cloud. Governor Tim Walz fought back tears as he announced the deaths tonight at a news conference near the crash site. “As governor and as a citizen […]
Wreckage of missing National Guard helicopter located near Kimball
The wreckage of a missing National Guard helicopter has been located in Stearns County, in a farm field near Kimball. There’s no official word about the three crewmembers who were on board, but air ambulances were reportedly called off. Master Sergeant Blair Huesdens says just after 2 p-m this afternoon, “The Minnesota National Guard lost […]
Rescue crews searching for missing National Guard helicopter with 3 on board near St. Cloud
Rescue personnel are searching for a missing National Guard helicopter in Stearns County. Officials say at around 2:05 pm this afternoon, the Minnesota National Guard lost contact with a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter while it was conducting a maintenance test flight that originated from St. Cloud. The National Guard and local emergency services are currently […]
$1.3B budget surplus re-ignites GOP/DFL debate over tax cuts, more spending
Another state budget surplus — this time 1.3 billion dollars — has re-ignited the longstanding dispute between Republicans and Democrats over tax cuts versus more spending. Governor Tim Walz argues, even though Minnesotans did the right thing and overwhelmingly voted to raise their property taxes for schools, “I’ve made the case that that becomes harder […]
Minnesota has another state budget surplus: $1.3B in latest economic forecast
Minnesota has another state budget surplus — 1.3 billion dollars, according to the latest economic forecast just released. The surplus has bounced back: The last forecast in February showed it at just over one billion dollars, a third less than the previous number one year ago — but now the surplus has returned to that […]
New budget forecast due out today
Minnesota lawmakers find out this morning (9:15am, details at 11:15am) whether the state has another budget surplus or is back in deficit territory. Governor Tim Walz said earlier he thinks this latest economic forecast will show the state with a budget surplus. “Watching… nationally too, I saw that they ticked-up growth I believe to 2.1 […]
Advocates applaud state’s lawsuit against e-cig manufacturer, say work needed in other areas
Anti-smoking advocates say the state’s lawsuit against e-cigarette maker JUUL is an important part of the fight against the youth nicotine epidemic. But Laura Smith with the group Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation says state *lawmakers* must also take “sweeping and swift action to stand up for our kids” including “raising the tobacco age to […]
State of Minnesota suing major e-cigarette manufacturer JUUL
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is suing JUUL Labs, a major manufacturer of e-cigarettes. Ellison’s announcement brought applause this morning at the State Capitol. The suit alleges JUUL marketed as safe, products with more addictive doses of nicotine than conventional cigarettes, did not verify customers’ ages as required by state law, and deliberately ignored that […]
Gov. Walz, Attorney Gen. Ellison to make major announcement on vaping in Minnesota
This morning (1130am) at the State Capitol, Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison make what officials term a major announcement on vaping in Minnesota. In October, the governor called on the legislature to ban flavored tobacco products, including menthol, and chided the tobacco industry saying, “Sour Patch Kids flavors is aimed at children, […]
Kandiyohi County Board votes to continue allowing refugees to resettle there
On a 3-2 margin, the Kandiyohi County Board voted Tuesday to continue allowing refugees to resettle in that west-central Minnesota county. The decision was prompted by a presidential executive order issued in September. Commissioner Harlan Madsen says the federal government put counties in this position because Congress can’t get past partisan gridlock and pass meaningful […]