>>Prosecutors Drop Charges Against State Trooper Londregan
(Minneapolis, MN) — Hennepin County prosecutors are dismissing charges against State Trooper Ryan Londregan(LON’-druh-gan) in the fatal shooting of 33-year-old Ricky Cobb II during a traffic stop last July on Interstate 94 in north Minneapolis. County Attorney Mary Moriarty says defense lawyers presented several new pieces of evidence that would make it impossible for the State to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Londegran’s actions were not an authorized use of force by a peace officer. Moriarty says, “Make no mistake, Ricky Cobb was the victim in this case. Ricky Cobb should be alive today. And that makes our inability to move forward even more difficult for Mr. Cobb’s family and our community. And for that, I’m deeply sorry”. Moriarty says new evidence includes “the substance of Mr. Londregan’s testimony,” which indicated the trooper would testify that he thought Cobb was reaching for a fellow trooper’s gun an instant before Londregan fired the fatal shots. The second issue Moriarty pointed to was Londregan’s State Patrol trainer declaring that he did not train Londregan to refrain from physically extracting people from a running car, an act which Moriarty said set the events of Cobb’s death in motion.
>>Ricky Cobb’s Attorneys say They’re “Not Surprised” by Decision to Drop Charges Against State Trooper
(Minneapolis, MN) — Attorneys for Ricky Cobb the Second say they are disappointed but not surprised because “like many, we have come to expect the absence of justice and accountability when Black lives are lost in this country.” They go on to say, “the state of Minnesota has repeatedly demonstrated that Black lives simply are not valued whether it’s Daunte Demetrius Wright, Philando Castile or Ricky Cobb the Second.” Trooper Londregan’s (LON-druh-gans) attorney, Chris Madel, has a news conference this afternoon (130pm) but said last night about the Hennepin County attorney’s decision to drop charges, quote, “It’s about (expletive) time
>>Juror In Feeding Our Future Trial Dismissed After Offered Money To Acquit Defendants
(Minneapolis, MN) — A juror in the federal Feeding Our Future fraud trial is dismissed after she allegedly was offered money to acquit the defendants. Prosecutors say the jury member was let go this morning after a woman showed up at her door yesterday with a bag of cash and offered a second bag of money if she votes to find the defendants not guilty. The juror, who was not at home when the unexpected visitor showed up, immediately reported the incident to police. Federal Judge Nancy Brasel says the remaining jurors will be questioned to see if they had any unauthorized contact. The judge will also decide later today whether to detain the defendants or sequester the jury.
>>Bill Changing Straw Purchasing Charge To Felony Will Be Signed Ceremoniously Today
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is expected to sign a bill ceremoniously today that increases punishment for straw purchases of firearms. The legislation changes the crime from a gross misdemeanor to a felony. A straw purchase is when a person buys a gun for someone else who isn’t legally allowed to own one. The bill passed in the state senate early last month. Walz signed the legislation late last month.
>>Motorcyclist Suffers Life-Threatening Injuries in Anoka County Crash
(St. Francis, MN) — A Coon Rapids man is hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after a motorcycle crash Saturday night in Anoka County. The State Patrol says a cycle driven by 68-year-old Michael Mast collided with a car driven by Eric Michals of St. Francis at an intersection on Highway 47. Mast was seriously hurt and airlifted to the hospital. The report says he was not wearing a helmet. Michals suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
>>Man Fatally Shot in North Minneapolis
(Minneapolis, MN) — A man is dead after a shooting Saturday. Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) officers responded to a report of a shooting around 11:30 a.m. in north Minneapolis to find a 25-year-old man with life-threatening gunshot wounds lying on the ground outside a vehicle. Officers began CPR while bringing the victim to North Memorial Healthcare, where he was pronounced dead. No arrests have been made. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office is working to determine the victim’s Identity and cause of death.
>>Stillwater Lift Bridge To Close Tomorrow For Repair Work
(Stillwater, MN) — The Stillwater Lift Bridge will be shut down tomorrow for repair work. Crews will replace an electrical power cable between 7 a.m., and 3 p.m. Pedestrian and bicycle traffic will be restricted while work is being done. Smaller boats and watercraft will still be able to pass under the bridge. Once the new cable is installed, the bridge will reopen.
>>Cyndi Lauper Bringing Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour to Minnesota
(Minneapolis, MN) — Pop music icon Cyndi Lauper is playing one more show in Minnesota next winter. Seventy-year-old Lauper is bringing her “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour” to Target Center on December 4th. The Minneapolis concert is the second to last stop on the 23-city tour. Lauper’s tour comes as a new documentary about her role as a feminist and L-G-B-T-Q hero is streaming on Paramount. Tickets for the Target Center show go on sale Friday to the public, with some pre-sales beginning on Tuesday.
