>>Mangione Indictment Hearing Postponed
(Manhattan, N.Y.) — The indictment hearing for the 26-year-old accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has been rescheduled to February 17th, a month earlier than the original date of January 18th. The prosecution and defense agreed to move the proceedings to allow more time for trial preparation. Luigi Mangione faces multiple charges, including murder. Thompson, 50, was shot last month while walking to an investor conference in Midtown Manhattan.
>>Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Detected in Olmsted County Backyard Flock
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Board of Animal Health is confirming the first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza of the year. Officials say a backyard flock in Olmsted County tested positive for bird flu on Tuesday. The update does not say how many birds were affected. There were three cases in Minnesota commercial turkey operations in late December and one positive backyard flock. It is believed that wild birds are spreading avian influenza during migration.
>> Suspicious Death of Woman Under Investigation in Blue Earth County
(Lake Crystal, MN) — Authorities in south central Minnesota are investigating what they call the “suspicious” death of a woman near Lake Crystal. The Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office says a man called 9-1-1 Thursday night to report finding his friend unresponsive in a home north of Highway 60. First responders determined she was dead at the scene. Deputies say the circumstances are suspicious, and the Minnesota B-C-A and Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office are helping with the investigation.
>>Independent Report Finds No Issues With Duluth Mayor’s Girlfriend
(Duluth, MN) — The girlfriend of Duluth Mayor Roger Reinert, Amber Gurske, has been cleared of allegations claiming she interfered in city business. An independent report released Thursday concluded that Gurske voluntarily took on the mayor’s social media agent and calendar coordinator role without receiving payment from city funds. The report determined that she acted neither illegally nor improperly. It also noted that the allegations against Gurske stemmed from incomplete information and inaccurate speculation rather than factual evidence.
>>Mayor Of SE MN City Resigns Following Child Abuse Charges
(Canton, MN) — The mayor of a southeastern Minnesota city has resigned amid charges of child abuse. Canton Mayor Joshua Nordsving was charged last year with malicious punishment of a child and domestic assault. Although re-elected as mayor in November, he reportedly stepped down this week. Following Nordsving’s resignation, Canton City Council member Kristy Ziegler was appointed the new mayor.
>>Bemidji Police Save Man Sitting On Bridge Overpass
(Bemidji, MN) — Police officers in Bemidji are receiving commendations for their role in preventing a man amid a mental crisis from jumping off a bridge. The incident occurred early Thursday morning. According to investigators, the man had parked his car alongside the road and was sitting with his legs dangling over the edge of the bridge. Officers engaged the man in conversation, encouraging him to step back from the edge. He was then taken to Sanford Health for further evaluation.
>>Police Report Drone Sightings Near Prairie Island Nuclear Plant
(Red Wing, MN) — Law enforcement in Goodhue County reported that four or five drones were spotted near the Prairie Island Nuclear Power Plant yesterday in Red Wing. Officers from Red Wing and the Prairie Island Tribal Police were dispatched to investigate and observed two drones flying near the power plant and Lock and Dam Number Three. The officers monitored the drones until they flew away. Authorities could not identify the individuals operating the drones, but they stated there is no active threat to the public.
>>2 Men Indicted in $3M Fraud Conspiracy
(St. Paul, MN) — Two men have been indicted on 10 counts of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. Between April 2022 and May 2023, 42-year-old Henry Herod of Minneapolis and 44-year-old Matthew McDowell of Port Allen, Louisiana, made false claims for over $3 million in tax refunds. Herod began the conspiracy for the tax year 2021, and McDowell joined for 2022. Both men face one count of conspiracy, and Herod has an extra nine charges of making false claims.
>>Gopher Men’s Basketball Plays at Rival Wisconsin Friday Night
(Madison, WI) — The University of Minnesota men’s basketball team takes on border rival Wisconsin tonight (Fri 6pm) in Madison. The Golden Gophers fell to 0-and-4 in Big Ten play with Monday night’s 89-88 double-overtime home loss to Ohio State. The Badgers are 2-and-2 in conference play and beat Rutgers 75-63 Monday in New Jersey. Wisconsin has won seven in a row over Minnesota.
