>>Free School Milk Program Push
(St. Paul, MN) — A free carton of milk at school for every student who brings their lunch from home — something that’s *not* in Governor Tim Walz’s 226-million-dollar supplemental budget plan, but Walz says the legislature is working on it. Backers say free milk will limit unhealthy beverages that students bring with their lunches and prevent food waste from those who take free meals to get the milk. However, some Republicans warn that a free milk program could saddle school districts with unaffordable costs if state funding must be cut due to a looming budget deficit.
>>Albany Man Accused of Sexually Assaulting Two Young Girls
(St. Cloud, MN) — An Albany man faces criminal charges after allegedly sexually abusing two girls under the age of 14. The criminal complaint says the girls were visiting 48-year-old Billy Wolbeck earlier this month when the assaults happened. Records show one of the girls told her mother about the incident when they returned home. The girl said she didn’t know why Wolbeck was doing those things to her and that he told her to keep it a secret. The charges state the mother then talked to the other girl, who said Wolbeck did similar things to her. Wolbeck faces felony charges of 1st-degree criminal sexual conduct and three counts of 2nd-degree criminal sexual conduct. His next court hearing is May 1st.
>>Transgender Weightlifter’s Bias Case Heads Back To Minnesota Court
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Court of Appeals is sending a bias case filed by a transgender weightlifter to trial. The ruling made yesterday states a Ramsey County District Court needs to reconsider whether USA Powerlifting violated state law when it barred Cooper because she’s transgender. The decision overturns a Ramsey County judge who ruled there was enough evidence to show discrimination last year without the case going to trial. USA Powerlifting argues that it barred Cooper from competition because she went through puberty as a male and had a physiological advantage over other female competitors.
>>MSU-Mankato to Continue Reciprocity for South Dakota Students
(Mankato, MN) — Minnesota State University-Mankato is continuing tuition reciprocity for students from South Dakota. Officials say any student from that state enrolled in the fall semester of 2024 will pay the same tuition as they previously did. South Dakota ended its reciprocity agreement with Minnesota on January 30th. M-S-U says current undergrad students from South Dakota will continue to receive the reciprocity rate for tuition until they graduate.
>>One Million Dollar Powerball Ticket Sold in Minnesota
(Roseville, MN) — Someone is a million dollars richer today. Falls Standard Inc. in Zumbro Falls sold the winning ticket in last night’s drawing. The next Powerball drawing is tomorrow (Wed), with an estimated $687 million jackpot up for grabs. Tickets must be purchased by 9 p.m. on drawing days. The winning Powerball numbers drawn Monday night were 10-17-20-39-44, and the Powerball was 16.
>>Blake Shelton Performing at 2024 Minnesota State Fair
(Falcon Heights, MN) — Country music star Blake Shelton is coming to the Minnesota State Fair. He will play at the State Fair Grandstand on Sunday, August 25th. Shelton has won multiple country music awards and is a member of the Grand Ole Opry. He is also well known for coaching on the N-B-C show The Voice. Tickets go on sale Friday, ranging from 77 to 207 dollars.
