>>MN Sen. Fateh Announces People Over Parking Act Plan
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota Senator Omar Fateh, supported by Representative Ilhan Omar, announced today he will introduce the People Over Parking Act at the upcoming legislative session, which would eliminate minimum parking requirements for real estate development throughout the state. He says, “For example, for Carver, in every bowling lane that a bowling center has, they have to have two parking spots. In Anoka for every bowling lane, they have to have seven parking spots. *laughter* … Are bowlers driving three and a half times more in Anoka as in Carver? No!” Fateh says the mandates are especially burdensome to renters, as 67% of Minnesota renter households have zero to one car, but most cities in the state mandate 1-and-a-half to two-and-a-half spots per unit.
>>MN Secures $1B in Federal Funding to Replace Blatnik Bridge
(Duluth, MN) – Minnesota has secured one billion dollars in federal funding to replace the aging Blatnik Bridge between Duluth and Superior, Wisconsin — a topic that likely will come up when Governor Tim Walz visits Duluth today to spotlight his request to the Minnesota Legislature for other infrastructure projects around the state. MN-DOT says federal funding approval for the Blatnik allows an accelerated schedule: design work starting this year and construction beginning as early as 2025, with traffic detoured when that ramps up. Democrats accuse 8th District Republican Congressman Pete Stauber of trying to take credit for the bridge that he doesn’t deserve. Stauber says he’s consistently advocated for the funds, sending several letters to the U-S transportation secretary and President Joe Biden. But Minnesota DFL Party Chairman Ken Martin says Stauber voted against the major Infrastructure Package that’s making the bridge replacement possible.
>>Roe v. Wade Anniversary Stirs Speculation on Democrats’ Guarantee of Abortion Rights on the November Ballot
(Undated) – The Roe -v- Wade anniversary has heightened speculation about whether Democrats who control the Minnesota Legislature will put a constitutional amendment guaranteeing abortion rights on the ballot this fall. Hamline University legal and political analyst David Schultz says supporters of a constitutional amendment, including Democrats “are banking on the fact that this would mobilize the Democratic base in Minnesota and get (them) to come out to vote,” something that could help Biden. But, Schultz says a constitutional amendment referendum could also mobilize *pro-life* voters, which might also help Donald Trump.
>>Beloved Gunflint Trail Cook Killed in Snowmobile Crash
(Grand Marais, MN) — Authorities are still investigating a fatal snowmobile crash along the Gunflint Trail on Friday in northeastern Minnesota. The Cook County Sheriff’s Office says it appears that 38-year-old Jeff Knaeable of Grand Marais hit a rock on Poplar Lake and was thrown from the machine. Another snowmobiler discovered the victim and deputies said it appeared the rider crashed the night before. Knaeable was the head cook at the Trail Center Lodge restaurant on the Gunflint Trail and the kitchen has been closed since the crash.
>>Belgrade Woman Dies in Stearns County Crash
(Stearns County, MN) — A man is in custody on pending charges after a crash Monday that killed a Belgrade woman. Minnesota State Patrol troopers say around 6:45 a.m., on Highway 55 between Brooten and Belgrade, a westbound vehicle and an eastbound SUV collided. The driver of the car, 41-year-old Cassie Mithaugen was pronounced dead on the scene, with her three-year-old passenger taken to Glendwood Hospital, then later to Children’s Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the SUV, 52-year-old Chad Seitz of Anoka had minor injuries and was arrested at the scene.
>>Rocket-Propelled Grenade Seized in Hennepin County Search
(Minneapolis, MN) — Hennepin County sheriff’s officials say a recent firearms investigation led to the seizure of a rocket-propelled grenade for the first time. The Violent Offender Task Force recovered the RPG-7, a gun modified with an auto-sear switch, another firearm, and a quantity of fentanyl during the search of a Minneapolis home. Detectives say the rocket-propelled grenade round was “inert,” meaning not an active explosive. Two suspects were taken into custody.
