>>Bursnville Firefighter-Paramedic First-Ever to be Killed in Line of Duty in MN
(Albertville, MN) – The death of Burnsville Fire paramedic Adam Finseth is believed to be the first-ever fatal shooting of a Minnesota firefighter at a crime scene. Minnesota State Fire Chiefs Association President Eric Bullen of Albertville says we’ve lost firefighters to things like home explosions and fires: “Violence acted upon us by another individual is not unheard of but it’s definitely not something that we see every day. So the tragic nature of this, I mean nothing’s great, nothing’s fun, but the tragic nature of this hits, hits really hard for sure.” Bullen says it takes a special kind of person to devote their life to the safety of others and Finseth was wired that way. He expects a huge turnout at Wednesday’s public memorial for Finseth and fallen Burnsville Officers Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge.
>>Authorities Investigating Death in Crow Wing County Jail
(Brainerd, MN) — Authorities are investigating the death of a man in the Crow Wing County jail. Sheriff’s deputies say jail staff discovered the man unresponsive in his cell Thursday night. Staff and paramedics tried to save him, but the man died at the scene. Officers say the man had been booked for D-W-I earlier in the evening. His name hasn’t been released.
>>U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Gymnastics Coming to Minneapolis
(Minneapolis, MN) – Fans are flipping over the biggest sporting event to come to the Twin Cities in several years. The U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Gymnastics will be at Target Center in Minneapolis from June 27th through the 30th. John Roethlisberger, former Golden Gopher gymnast, and three-time Olympian, says, given the number of top gymnasts that have come from Minnesota, it’s surprising this is the first time we’re hosting this event. He says Minnesota is an “unbelievable state that’s produced not just amazing gymnasts like Shane Wiskus made the last Olympic team, Suni Lee, Grace McLaughlin from Twin City Twisters.” Roethlisberger says watching gymnastics at this level in person will give you a whole new perspective on the athleticism involved. A very limited number of tickets are still available with no single-session tickets being sold. At the end of the competition, USA Gymnastics will announce the 2024 Olympic Team live at Target Center.
>>Two Women Face Kidnapping, Assault Charges in Hibbing
(Hibbing, MN) – Two women are facing charges in Hibbing for allegedly kidnapping a man and then assaulting him for three days. According to the criminal complaint, on Monday morning, Hibbing Police responded to a gas station after a staff member called 911 to report a man who walked in, stating he had been kidnapped. The victim told police 45-year-old Corrine Starc and 39-year-old Shelly Goerdt, both from Iron, invited him to the house last Friday, then held him at gunpoint while they restrained him with duct tape, plastic wrap, a rope, and a chain. They then used a Taser on him several times on different parts of his body. He was able to get his hands free by untying the ropes and chains and fled the house while it was still dark out. The victim said he then hid in a garage because Starc and Goerdt drove around in a van looking for him. He hid until he felt safe enough to go to the gas station for help.
>>Minnesota Man Convicted of Sexually Assaulting Woman on Madison Bike Path
(Madison, WI) — A Minnesota man faces prison time in Wisconsin for the 2005 sexual assault of a woman on a bike path in Madison. The Wisconsin Attorney General’s Office says 42-year-old Aidison Yang from Eagan was found guilty Thursday of three counts of first-degree sexual assault by use of a dangerous weapon. Investigators say D-N-A from the victim’s sexual assault kit helped them identify Yang as the suspect. Trial evidence showed Yang threatened the woman with a knife before sexually assaulting her. His sentencing hearing hasn’t been scheduled.
>>Political Analyst Believes MN SRO Law “Compromise” Isn’t Mutual
(Undated) – Lawmakers and law enforcement appear to have a compromise on “fixing” a brand-new state law that governs use-of-force by school-based police officers (school resource officers), but Hamline University political analyst David Schultz says the compromise is “probably the Democrats backing down, but they can’t look like they’re backing down when changing the language.” Schultz says police groups want school-based officers to have the same use-of-force options as any other peace officer — while urban Democrats after George Floyd are trying to rein that in. Schultz contends ambiguous language, in a key phrase of the compromise bill that deals with that subject, could allow Democrats to “save face” politically.
>>Senate Transportation Committee Passes Tomassoni Memorial Highway Bill
(St. Paul, MN) — A bill passed by the Senate Transportation Committee would rename portions of Highway 169 on the Iron Range after the late Senator Dave Tomassoni. The stretch from Marble to Mountain Iron would be called the Senator David J. Tomassoni Memorial Cross Range Expressway. Senator Rob Farnsworth of Hibbing says Tomassoni worked for 30 years to turn Highway 169 from Grand Rapids to Virginia into a four-lane roadway. The funding for the new signs would come from private sources. Tomassoni died from A-L-S in 2022.
>>Minnesota United FC to Hire Manchester United Assistant Ramsay
(Golden Valley, MN) – After four months without a head coach, Minnesota United-FC has its new gaffer. The Loons are set to hire Manchester United assistant Eric Ramsay. The 32-year-old will be the youngest full-time head coach in M-L-S history. The Athletic’s Tom Bogert reports Ramsay will join MN-UFC following Manchester United’s March 3rd Premier League fixture against Manchester City. Ramsay takes over from interim coach Cameron Knowles. Minnesota opens its 2024 season on Saturday against Austin FC.
>>Minnesota Girl’s State High School Hockey Semifinals at the X
(St. Paul, MN) — The semifinals of the Minnesota State High School Girl’s Hockey Tournament are today at the Xcel Energy Center. Orono is playing Dodge County in the first Class-A game at 11 a.m. and defending champion Warroad faces Richfield Holy Angels this afternoon at 1 p.m. Hill-Murray and Andover meet in the first Class-Two-A semifinal at 6 p.m. and it’s perennial powerhouse Edina versus Minnetonka in the late game at 8 p.m. The winners advance to the state championship on Saturday in St. Paul.
