>>Minnesota Department of Corrections Leader Faces Vote of No Confidence
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Sheriff’s Association has issued a vote of no confidence in Department of Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell, calling for his resignation. The association alleges that Schnell has failed to effectively enforce state regulations governing county-run jails. The Department of Corrections rejected the claims, saying it has made repeated efforts to collaborate with the association on key issues, but that association leadership has not been receptive. The DOC is responsible for inspecting and licensing jails across Minnesota. Schnell has served as commissioner since his appointment by Governor Walz in 2019.
>>St. Paul Firefighter Mertz Dies Following Serious Medical Event
(St. Paul, MN) — The Saint Paul Fire Department is mourning the loss of one of its own. Officials say Firefighter Timothy Bertz died Saturday in the hospital following a serious medical event at age 52. Bertz just graduated from the Saint Paul Fire Academy on December 17th. Bertz served as a Navy SEAL and later joined the Harris Fire Department in 2017. He was also a firefighter in Lino Lakes. A public memorial for Bertz is on Monday, December 29th, in Forest Lake.
>>Rochester City Council Overrides Mayor Norton’s Veto Of Planned Sports Complex
(Rochester, MN) — Rochester Mayor Kim Norton’s veto of a $52-million construction contract for a planned sports complex is now overridden. The City Council held a special session Monday night and took down the veto by a five-to-two vote. The decision allows the contract to move forward despite Mayor Norton’s opposition. The Rochester DFL delegation has threatened to introduce a bill to revoke the project’s funding if the council overrode the veto. There is no word yet on whether local lawmakers will continue to oppose the project at the state level.
>>Coon Rapids Police Officer Evaluated for Potential Fentanyl Exposure
(Coon Rapids, MN) — A Coon Rapids police officer is okay after potentially being exposed to fentanyl during a call on Monday. The Coon Rapids P-D says the officer was evaluated by medical personnel and is doing well. The department didn’t release any information on the type of call for service or whether it was a drug bust.
>>Powerball Jackpot Continues to Grow
(Roseville, MN) — The Powerball jackpot continues to grow, setting the stage for a potentially massive Christmas Eve prize. No one matched all the numbers Monday night, but we did have a pair of lucky lottery winners. The Minnesota State Lottery says there was a winning $50,000 ticket sold at the Casey’s General Store in Little Falls. Another ticket worth $50,000 was sold at a Speedway in Maple Grove. The estimated jackpot is $1.70 billion for Wednesday night’s drawing. The jackpot has an estimated cash value of $781.3 million.
>>Minnesota Timberwolves Host New York Knicks and KAT
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Minnesota Timberwolves go for their third straight win tonight when they host the New York Knicks. The Wolves are coming off a 103-100 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday at home. Tonight’s matchup with New York marks the return of Karl Anthony Towns to Target Center. Minnesota is in fifth place in the Western Conference with a 19-10 record. New York has won eight of its last nine games and is 20-8 in the East.
