>>Man Found Dead in Chisago City Park
(Chisago City, MN) – Authorities in east central Minnesota are investigating the death of a man in Chisago City. The Lakes Area Police Department says a 63-year-old man was found dead lying on the ground Monday afternoon in Paradise Park. Officers say no foul play is suspected. The Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the official cause and manner of death.
>>17-Year-Old Arrested in Duluth Armed Robbery Attempt
(Duluth, MN) – Duluth Police responded to a report of an armed robbery attempt around 8 p.m. Monday. According to initial information, a man had arranged to meet a known individual to sell an item when another male approached and attempted to rob him at gunpoint. The suspect fled the area. The Minnesota State Patrol later located the vehicle, and a 17-year-old male was taken into custody. He was booked into the Arrowhead Juvenile Center on suspicion of aiding and abetting aggravated robbery. Authorities say the case remains active, and no additional details are being released at this time.
>>MN Republicans’ Reactions, Demands Following Viral Fraud Video
(St. Paul, MN) – State Republicans were quick to make demands of Governor Tim Walz and his administration this week after a 42-minute YouTube video by an “independent journalist” went viral. Creator Nick Shirley depicted his visits to multiple daycare centers in Minnesota that are at the heart of fraud investigations. First, a group of House and Senate Republicans called for Walz to resign immediately. Then, in a news conference Monday, House Speaker Lisa Demuth outlined six steps her caucus demands the Walz Administration swiftly make, including, the release of documents related to fraud data and records related to inspections of sites featured in the video, redirecting available resources to unannounced and in-person site visits, a full review of state-agency money being sent to non-governmental organizations (NGOs), a termination of payments to the 14 Medicaid programs deemed “high risk” by the Department of Human Services, and for Attorney General Keith Ellison to withdraw his lawsuit against the federal government’s redetermination process for SNAP recipients. Walz says he has no plans to resign, and his spokesperson issued a statement saying Walz has “worked for years to crack down on fraud and asked the state legislature for more authority to take aggressive action.”
>>Planning for a Sober NYE Ride with MN Traffic Safety
(St. Paul, MN) – Planning ahead and having a sober ride for New Year’s Eve can make all the difference this year. Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety Director Mike Hanson says ride share services such as Uber and Lyft have made it much easier to get to and from your destination safely, and are “nothing compared to what you would pay if you were arrested for a DWI.” Hanson also recommends taking turns to be the designated sober driver with friends, switching whose turn it is each holiday. Alcohol-related crashes contribute to an average of 341 serious injuries each year.
>>Anoka County Sheriff’s Office Remembers Fallen K9 Rocky
(Andover, MN) – The Anoka County Sheriff’s Office is remembering K9 Rocky, who died 16 years ago today in the line of duty. Deputies say Rocky entered a home with a SWAT team on December 30th, 2009, and was shot and killed. One of the deputies returned fire, killing the suspect. Rocky served five years with the department.
>>Looking for a Nutty Opportunity
(Austin, MN) – College grads looking to crack into a unique summer adventure have a nutty opportunity ahead of them. Hormel Foods is searching for its next team of Peanutters, the crew that travels the country in the iconic Planters NUTmobile. Each year, the NUTmobile rolls across the U.S. as a public-relations machine, generating millions of social and media impressions along the way. Peanutters act as brand ambassadors and storytellers, creating content, engaging with communities, and bringing the Planters personality to life.
