Just in time for the July 4th holiday, Sunday liquor sales will be legal in Minnesota this weekend for the first time since 1858. Tony Chesak from the Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association has been an outspoken critic of Sunday sales. He says it may be good for business in the larger liquor stores, but “the extra day of business is going to be an added cost, which for an independent retailer is going to be significant, especially if they’ve only got a few employees, that have to cover those shifts, they may have to hire an additional person to cover that Sunday.” Proponents of Sunday sales say stores have the option of staying closed. Starting this Sunday, liquor stores may be open between 11am and 6pm.
Search crews return to the Red River this morning, looking for a missing swimming instructor near Fargo-Moorhead. Police say 24-year old Fanuel Asrat was swimming with two other men in the fast-moving water near a dam when Asrat disappeared into the rapids.
A Bemidji woman is still missing and police want the public’s help in finding her. 26-year old Chelsea Batchelder has not been heard from since June 19th. Northern Minnesota authorities want people to check their property, outbuildings and wooded areas. Batchelder is five-foot-four and 117 pounds, last -seen wearing a dark hooded poncho and black tennis shoes with pink laces.
New data shows Minnesota crime has dipped to a 50-year low. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension says overall crime dropped four-percent between 2015 and 2016 while violent crime decreased by one-percent. The drop includes not only Greater Minnesota but also the Twin Cities.
There will be extra enforcement on the state’s waterways starting today as “Operation Dry Water” gets underway. The DNR’s Lisa Dugan says this year has been the deadliest start of the season on the water since 2005–with nine boating fatalities already. She says typically fourth of July is unfortunately known for a time when boaters get out and tend to drink on the water, partake in adult beverages and we’re just urging boaters to use caution, designate a sober skipper on the water. Dugan says boating while intoxicated is illegal and carries the same repercussions as driving a car while intoxicated. “Operation Dry Water” runs through July 2nd.
A record number of people are expected to travel over the Fourth of July holiday. We asked Triple-A Minnesota spokeswoman Gail Weinholzer what the driving factor was? “The driving factor…. no pun intended, is gas prices. We are staying at a relatively low level. The average in Minnesota is 2.17 as compared to 2.18 last year.” Low oil prices and increased production have kept gas prices competitive with last summer’s rates.