>>House Transportation Committee Hearing on E-Moto Bill
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota House Transportation Committee is scheduled to debate the e-moto bill today during a hearing. The measure sponsored by Representative Tom Dippel of Cottage Grove would ensure that electric motorcycles follow the same rules as any other motorcycle. A Hastings woman will testify about nearly dying after being hit by a teenager driving an e-bike on a sidewalk.
>>Albert Lea House Fire Sends Three to the Hospital
(Albert Lea, MN)– Three people were taken to the hospital after a house fire Tuesday morning in Albert Lea. Fire crews arrived to find flames on two sides of the home. Officials say the residents were able to get out and took shelter at a neighbor’s house before firefighters arrived. Two children and an adult suffered smoke inhalation. All three were transported to the hospital for treatment. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
>>Otter Tail County Authorities ID Victim in Fatal Fire near Wadena
(Wadena, MN) — The Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office is identifying the man who died in a house fire near Wadena. Deputies say firefighters found 66-year-old Joseph Thomas Miller dead inside the home Monday morning. Miller’s home was a total loss. Fire officials do not believe foul play was involved. The State Fire Marshal’s Office is working with local investigators to determine the cause.
>>Aerial Lift Bridge Rehabilitation Funding Secured
(Duluth, MN) — The Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge rehabilitation project—totaling 23-point-three million, is now fully funded through a combination of federal and state grants and bonds. Work on the project is set to begin in late fall or early winter. It includes replacing deteriorated sections of the lift span, completing structural steel repairs, rebuilding the bridge sidewalks, and repainting the structure. The four-year project will take place only during the winter months, when the bridge deck remains in the down position, ensuring no impact on the shipping season.
>>MN Lead Pipe Replacement Program Shortfall
(Undated) — Minnesota’s lead pipe replacement program is on track to run out of money. Nearly 600 million dollars in state and federal funding is expected to be exhausted by 2027. The Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities is now asking lawmakers for an additional $250 million to keep the work going. A coalition lobbyist warns the program will “fall off a cliff” without continued investment.
Hundreds of Gallons of Oil Leaking from Minnesota Nuclear Power Plant
(Monticello, MN) — Officials are investigating after hundreds of gallons of oil leaked from the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant. The leak was discovered Tuesday morning while the facility was shut down for maintenance, a process that began on February 20th. Xcel Energy says the spill has been contained on site and that none of the oil has reached the Mississippi River. The company has notified federal, state, and local authorities and is working to determine the cause of the leak.
>>Albert Lea Officers Honored for Saving Missing Girl
(Zimmerman, MN) — Albert Lea Officer Josh Knudson and Sergeant Alek Kunkel are being honored for helping locate a missing seven-year-old girl during a January AMBER Alert. The child disappeared after getting off her school bus in Zimmerman. Police later arrested 28-year-old Joseph Bragg, who is charged with kidnapping and first-degree criminal sexual misconduct.
>>Peterson Wins First Paralympic Gold Medal in Cross Country Skiing
(Predazzo, IT) — U.S. cross-country skier Sydney Peterson of Lake Elmo, Minnesota, is celebrating her first Paralympic gold medal at the Winter Games in Italy. Peterson won the women’s 10-K classic standing event, finishing 2.7 seconds ahead of the silver medalist from Norway. She also won the silver medal in the cross-country sprint on Tuesday. Peterson now has four career Paralympic medals.
>>Gopher Men’s Basketball Plays Rutgers in Big Ten Tournament
(Chicago, IL) — The University of Minnesota men’s basketball team plays Rutgers tonight in the Big Ten Tournament. The Golden Gophers beat the Scarlet Knights 80-61 at Williams Arena on February 21st. Minnesota is the 11th seed, and Rutgers is 14th. The winner will face U-C-L-A in the second round of the tournament Thursday night at the United Center.
