>>Analyst Notes Governor Walz Missing from Minnesota House Stalemate

(St. Paul, MN) — There’s still dysfunction in the Minnesota House three weeks into the legislative session. Carleton College analyst Steven Schier notes one prominent voice is missing from the power sharing negotiations. He asks, where’s Governor Tim Walz?  Schier says,” He should be involved in this trying to work out some sort of functional deal for the House.” Republicans have a temporary one-vote majority in the House and are unwilling to accept a power sharing agreement with D-F-L leaders. Democrats are boycotting the session until an agreement is reached.

 

>>Minnesota DFL’s Ken Martin Considered a Frontrunner for DNC Chair

(National Harbor, MD) — Minnesota D-F-L Party Chairman Ken Martin is one of the favorites to become the new chair of the Democratic National Committee. Martin is competing against seven other candidates for D-N-C chair in Saturday’s election in suburban Washington, D-C.  Martin has led Minnesota’s Democratic Party for 14 years and says he has a 25-0 record of winning statewide elections.  Wisconsin Democratic Chair Ben Wikler and former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley are also considered frontrunners by national analysts.

 

>>Senator Marty to File Sports Gambling Bill with More Protections

(St. Paul, MN) — Get ready for another sports betting bill in Minnesota. D-F-L Senator John Marty of Roseville, who has opposed the previous gambling bills, says he’s drafting his own legislation. Marty says it has protections for people who are struggling with it to make sure gambling operators, these platforms, these billion-dollar national industries can’t come in and be predators on people with these addiction problems.  This comes after Senator Matt Klein from Mendota Heights introduced his sports betting bill Thursday.  He says his plan would bring in at least $88 million in revenue each year to the state.

 

>>Woman Arrested by Ex-MPD Officer Chauvin Gets $600K Settlement

(Minneapolis, MN) — The City of Minneapolis is paying a woman 600-thousand dollars to settle a lawsuit accusing ex-officer Derek Chauvin of excessive force. Former city employee Patty Day was arrested by Chauvin in January of 2020. Video shows Chauvin unlock her driver’s side window, pull her out of her vehicle, and throw her to the ground. Day’s attorney claims Chauvin pressed his knee into her back while she was handcuffed – similar to the move that resulted in the death of George Floyd. D-W-I charges against Day were dropped after a judge ruled Chauvin didn’t have probable cause to arrest her.

 

>>Waite Park Man Convicted in Stabbing Death of Woman in February 2023

(St. Cloud, MN) — A Waite Park man faces a life prison sentence for the February 2023 stabbing death of a woman in her apartment. A Stearns County judge found 30-year-old Jarquez Bedford guilty of the first-degree murder of 52-year-old Andrea Cottew and two other counts. Investigators said that Bedford stabbed Cottew multiple times, and his D-N-A was found on a knife and bloody sweatshirt at the scene. First-degree murder carries a mandatory life prison sentence in Minnesota.

 

>>Country Music Star Lainey Wilson Playing Xcel Energy Center in October

(St. Paul, MN) — Country music star Lainey Wilson is bringing her Whirlwind World Tour to Minnesota next fall. Wilson is performing at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul on October 18th. She was recently inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, and her record is up for Best Country Album at the Grammy Awards this weekend. Tickets for Lainey Wilson at the X go on sale next Friday at 10 a-m.

 

>>Klondike Dog Derby is Cancelled, New Music Series Launches in Excelsior

(Excelsior, MN) — The Klondike Dog Derby scheduled for this weekend on Lake Minnetonka is cancelled due to lack of snow this winter. This is the second straight year the sled dog race is canceled. Klondike President Bill Damberg says they may have to adjust the date and move it a little later in the month of February. They are launching a new live music series tonight (Fri) in Excelsior. Proceeds will go to planning next year’s race.

 

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