>>Bill to Create Office of Inspector General
(St. Paul, MN) — Frustration is mounting at the Minnesota Capitol over a stalled bill to establish an Office of Inspector General. Three of the Legislature’s four caucuses have reached an agreement on the proposal, which would create an independent watchdog to oversee fraud across state agencies. The Senate passed its version of the bill last year. Republican Senator Michael Kreun of Blaine says the House needs to act on the negotiated amendments to move the measure forward. “So if the House Democrats would just get on board, pass those agreed‑upon amendments — they’re not huge, fundamental amendments, just small changes — we could get this bill passed. We could get it into law,” Kreun said. Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy said she is confident the House will pass the bill before the session ends and that the governor is prepared to sign it.
>>Judge Orders Deportation of the Family of Liam Ramos
(Minneapolis, MN) — An immigration judge has ordered the deportation of the family of a Columbia Heights five-year-old who was previously detained during “Operation Metro Surge.” The ruling, issued Wednesday, applies to Liam Ramos and his family. Federal officials moved earlier to end the asylum case, leading directly to the judge’s ruling. They’re now appealing the decision, a process that could take months or even years. If the order is upheld, the family could be deported to Ecuador. Liam and his father were detained on January 20th and released back home on February 1st.
>>MNA Nurses Holding Informational Picket at Maple Grove Hospital
(Maple Grove, MN) — The Minnesota Nurses Association is hosting an informational picket today (Thurs) outside Maple Grove Hospital. The nurses say they are fighting for a fair first contract that ensures affordable and sustainable health insurance, retirement benefits, and competitive wages. The M-N-A says this is not a work stoppage at the hospital. North Memorial Health has not yet responded to the informational picket.
>>Minnesota DNR K9 Fennec Dies of Lymphoma Cancer
(Deer River, MN) — The Minnesota D-N-R is mourning the loss of K-9 Officer Fennec. Officials say Fennec died Tuesday night after being diagnosed with stage 5 lymphoma cancer two weeks ago. Fennec joined the D-N-R in December of 2020 and was named due to his resemblance to a fennec fox. The German Shepherd/Belgian Malinois was trained to detect wild game and fish, firearms, and shell casings, as well as to locate people. Fennec participated in many events in Itasca County and represented the D-N-R at the State Fair.
>>Vikings Bringing Back QB Wentz on 1-Year Contract
(Eagan, MN) — The Minnesota Vikings are bringing back veteran quarterback Carson Wentz. The team signed Wentz to a one-year contract to provide depth at the position. The 33-year-old North Dakota native went 2-3 for Minnesota last season before suffering a shoulder injury. Wentz joins J-J McCarthy, Kyler Murray, and former Gopher Max Brosmer in the quarterback room.
