>>Infrastructure Union Members Rallying for Bonding Bill at State Capitol
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota’s largest infrastructure union is hosting a ‘Rally for Jobs’ this afternoon (Thurs) at the State Capitol. Members of LIUNA Minnesota will be calling for lawmakers to pass a one-billion-dollar bonding bill this session. Kris Fredson of LIUNA says communities across Minnesota need these critical road, bridge, building, and water infrastructure projects. He says the projects will create thousands of construction jobs.
>>Immigrant Rapid Response Fund Exceeds Fundraising Goal
(Minneapolis, MN) — A fund created to support organizations affected by Operation Metro Surge has now topped 10-million dollars. The Immigrant Rapid Response Fund exceeded its fundraising goal in just five weeks, distributing $5.7 million so far to 57 organizations. Another four million in donations will be awarded as the remaining funds are distributed. Launched on January 12th, the fund has drawn support from 59,000 donors across all 50 states and more than 53 countries. Weekly grants go to nonprofits statewide, prioritizing emergency needs such as food, housing, transportation, health care, legal services, and community organizing.
>>Vice President Vance Visiting Central Wisconsin
(Plover, WI) — Vice President J-D Vance is pushing the Trump administration’s affordability message today (Thurs) in central Wisconsin. Vance is heading to the village of Plover, which is in a contested congressional district in the midterm elections. He will visit a machining facility and is expected to stay on the White House message of the importance of American manufacturing. The vice president is leading the fraud crackdown in Minnesota but does not have a scheduled visit here.
>>Four Killed in Crash on Highway 169 in Mille Lacs County
(Onamia, MN) — The Minnesota State Patrol is investigating a crash Wednesday night on Highway 169 in Mille Lacs County that left four people dead and another seriously injured. Troopers the driver of a northbound car crossed the center line and hit an oncoming vehicle near Onamia. Four people died at the scene, and a fifth person was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. The victims haven’t been identified.
>>Wadena County Deputy, Suspect Vehicle Crash During Chase
(Leader, MN) — A Wadena County sheriff’s deputy and a fleeing driver both crashed during a high-speed pursuit Wednesday. Authorities say the deputy attempted to stop a vehicle for multiple traffic violations in Leader, Minnesota, but the driver took off, leading deputies into Cass County at speeds topping 100 miles per hour. Both the suspect’s vehicle and the squad car lost control on an ice-covered road. The deputy was not injured, but the driver was airlifted to a Twin Cities hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
>>Rochester Man Sentenced for Two Machete Attacks
(Rochester, MN) — A 39-year-old Rochester man faces more than four years in prison for two separate machete assaults last year. Olmsted County prosecutors say Anthony King-White was involved in an assault at a home in early February and an attack inside a ramp on St. Patrick’s Day. King-White pleaded guilty to second-degree assault in the domestic case and third-degree assault in the ramp attack as part of a plea deal. He was sentenced to 51 months, with credit for 341 days already served. King-White previously served nearly four years for a 2016 knife assault.
>>SCTCC Receives $1.5 Million Grant to Launch New Aircraft Maintenance Program
(St. Cloud, MN) — St. Cloud Technical and Community College will use one-point-five million dollars in federal funding to launch its new Aircraft Maintenance Technician program. The program begins this fall on the S-C-T-C-C campus, with classes relocating to a dedicated hangar at St. Cloud Regional Airport in fall 2027. To bring the program to life, the college partnered with Minnesota State, St. Cloud Regional Airport, the Metropolitan Airports Commission, Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport, Delta Air Lines, Sun Country Airlines, and Cirrus Aircraft. The initiative aims to help meet the growing demand for trained aircraft maintenance technicians across the aviation industry.
>>Minnesota Wild Play at Colorado in Return from Olympic Break
(Denver, CO) — The Minnesota Wild return from the Olympic break tonight (Thurs 8pm) with a road game at first place Colorado. The Wild were on a five-game win streak when several players left for the Winter Games in Italy. Minnesota’s last game was a 6-5 overtime win in Nashville on February 3rd. Quinn Hughes, Matt Boldy and Brock Faber helped Team U-S-A win its first gold medal since 1980. Minnesota is in third place in the Central Division with 78 points. The Wild are 1-1-0 against the Avalanche this season. This is the first matchup between the two teams in Denver.
