>>Jensen Drops Out of GOP Governor’s Race, Running for State Auditor
(Victoria, MN) — Former state Senator and 2022 Republican nominee Scott Jensen is dropping out of the 2026 race for governor. Jensen finished a distant fourth in the G-O-P gubernatorial straw poll at last Tuesday’s precinct caucuses with 6.4 percent of the vote. Jensen says in a campaign video that he’s instead running for the Office of State Auditor. He’ll face state Representative Elliot Engen of Lino Lakes and Nate George of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, Tribal Gaming Regulatory Authority in the Republican primary for state auditor.
>>Daughter of Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Johnson Allegedly Killed by Husband
(St. Cloud, MN) — The 22-year-old St. Cloud woman who was allegedly killed by her husband over the weekend is the daughter of Republican gubernatorial candidate Jeff Johnson. Officers responded to a medical emergency around 8:20 p.m. Saturday at an apartment to find 22-year-old Hallie Tobler of St. Cloud dead from multiple stab wounds. According to the Republican Party of Minnesota, Johnson has suspended his campaign out of respect for his family and the enormity of this loss. State G-O-P officials added, “There are no words that can adequately express the sorrow we feel for Jeff and his family. The loss of a child is unimaginable, and our thoughts and prayers are with them as they grieve this devastating tragedy.”
>>Rochester Police Find Body of Missing Woman
(Rochester, MN) — Police in Rochester report finding the body of a woman who was reported missing. A missing person alert was issued for 28-year-old Feroza Sherzai on January 26th. A police spokesperson says a body was found in a wooded area Saturday near the Highway 63/Highway 30 interchange. The remains were identified as Sherzai. She was last seen on foot near the Rochester Airport on January 17th and investigators believed she was heading to the state of Virginia. The medical examiner is working to determine Sherzai’s cause and manner of death.
>>MN Performers Present “ICE OUT” Mutual Aid Concert
(Minneapolis, MN) — A group of Minnesota musicians is hosting a benefit concert Sunday (3 p.m.) to support families affected by what they call escalating violence from federal immigration agents. Twin Cities United Performers (TCUP) will present “ICE OUT: A Mutual Aid Benefit Show” at First Ave in Minneapolis. The show will feature Hippo Campus, Papa Mbye, 26 BATS!, and a surprise special guest. T-C-U-P says 100 percent of the proceeds will go directly to local families in need, in partnership with Minneapolis Families for Public Schools’ Sanctuary Schools teams. A silent auction will also be held, offering more than 5,000 dollars in donated items from local artists, venues, and businesses.
>>ICE’s Top Prosecutor in Minnesota Retires
(Minneapolis, MN) — The top attorney for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minnesota is stepping down. Jim Stolley, the agency’s chief counsel in the state, has announced his retirement after 31 years in public service. His departure comes as immigration authorities face increased scrutiny from federal judges over multiple failures to comply with court orders. The federal immigration system is also under growing strain, weighed down by an enormous caseload, with prosecutors either resigning or being forced out amid mounting pressure.
>>$3 Million Mega Millions Lottery Tickets Purchased in Delano
(Roseville, MN) — Someone who purchased a Mega Millions lottery ticket in Minnesota for Friday’s drawing is a three-million-dollar winner. The Minnesota Lottery says the winning ticket was sold at a Holiday Stationstore in Delano. The numbers drawn Friday night were 13, 21, 25, 52, 62 and the Mega Ball was 19. The three-million-dollar ticket matched the first five numbers and had a multiplier. The jackpot is estimated at 366-million dollars for Tuesday’s drawing.
>>Gopher Women’s Basketball Beats Rutgers for 6th Straight Win
(New Brunswick, NJ) — Some analysts think the University of Minnesota women’s basketball team could crack the top 25 rankings today (Mon) following six straight wins. The Golden Gophers topped Rutgers 63-52 Sunday in New Jersey to improve to 9-4 in the Big Ten and 18-6 overall. Sophie Hart led Minnesota with 17 points and ten rebounds, Tori McKinney scored 16, and Mara Braun added 12 points. The Golden Gophers host Nebraska on Thursday night.
