>>Governor Walz Prepares to Call Special Session of Legislature
(St. Paul, MN) — Governor Tim Walz is expected to schedule a special session for lawmakers to finish the state budget and complete their work. The governor says the budget agreement announced last week is still intact. Walz told reporters, “we know everyone is not happy but I say once again to Minnesotans this is a pretty remarkable thing to see with the most closely divided legislature in Minnesota history working together in a fiscally responsible way of dealing with it. So I’m very confident we will get those things done.” The governor is hoping for a one-day special session.
>>Minnesota Lawmakers Celebrate Success of Restore the Vote Legislation
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota lawmakers are celebrating record-high voter turnout in 2024 following passage of the Restore the Vote legislation. D-F-L Representative Cedrick Frazier of New Hope says we should have always said you have the right to participate in our democracy. The bill passed in 2023 allows anyone with a felony conviction to vote if they are not currently incarcerated. In the first statewide election since the law took effect, nearly 20% of newly eligible voters exercised their right to vote.
>>MPD Chief O’Hara: Trump Pardon of Derek Chauvin ‘Unlikely’
(Minneapolis, MN) — Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara says the likelihood of former officer Derek Chauvin receiving a presidential pardon is low. During a news conference on Monday, O’Hara expressed that there is no credible information to suggest that President Trump would decide to pardon Chauvin for George Floyd’s Memorial Day 2020 death. He also mentioned that on his recent trip to Washington, D-C, he communicated the same message to police chiefs from around the country. Next Tuesday marks the fifth anniversary of Floyd’s killing.
>>Former Cloquet Police Officer Found Guilty of Exploiting Elderly Woman
(Cloquet, MN) — The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office says former Cloquet police officer Laci Silgjord has been found guilty of exploiting an elderly vulnerable woman for financial gain. Silgjord met 78-year-old Joan Arney in May 2020 while responding to a call about a stolen purse. Following a welfare check at the request of Arney’s brother, Silgjord, despite having no authority, claimed to the bank that she was Arney’s fiduciary and accessed her accounts. Although appointed guardian for care and custody, Silgjord was never appointed conservator, which would have allowed her to manage Arney’s finances.
>>Henning Man Jailed for Alleged Assault of Woman in Otter Tail County
(Henning, MN) — A west central Minnesota man is jailed for the alleged assault of a woman early this morning (Tues) in Henning. Otter Tail County sheriff’s deputies say they found a female in the driveway of a home with visible injuries. She was treated by paramedics at the scene. Authorities made telephone contact with the suspect, and he initially refused to come out of a residence, but surrendered a short time later. The 45-year-old man was taken into custody on suspicion of domestic assault and illegal possession of firearms.
>>220K Fishing Licenses Sold So Far this Season in Minnesota
(St. Paul, MN) — More than 220,000 fishing licenses have already been sold across Minnesota. The D-N-R’s Cara Hanson says sales are up around 6% compared to this time last year. She says we had a lot more ice this March and anglers were able to do more ice fishing, which they couldn’t do last year. Hanson anticipates a spike in fishing licenses sales as we head into the long Memorial Day weekend. Minnesota ranks fourth in the U-S for license sales.
