>>DFL Holds Thin Lead in Minnesota Senate
(St. Paul, MN) — Democrats held onto their razor-thin majority in the Minnesota Senate, but it’s unclear who will control the state House in the next legislative session. Current numbers show the House tied at 67-67, but the two races are so close that recounts are likely. (In Saint Cloud, Democrat Dan Wolgamott (WOLE-guh-mott) has a 28-vote lead over Republican challenger Sue Ek. In the Shakopee area, incumbent Democrat Brad Tabke is 13 votes ahead of Republican Aaron Paul. Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman says it’s important to “be patient while we wait for the results to be finalized.” House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth (DAY-muth) anticipates a Republican majority saying “We need to hold Governor Walz when he comes back, to return as governor, we need to hold a little bit more accountability where there has been none.”
>>51 percent of School Referendums Approved in Minnesota
(St. Peter, MN) — Minnesota voters approved just over half of Tuesday’s election ballot’s 45 school levies and bond referendums. Seven of the 13 bonding questions passed. Northfield Schools will get more than 121 million dollars for a high school addition, renovations, a gymnasium, and H-VAC. Voters in Fergus Falls rejected a 48-million-dollar measure, and a 66-million-dollar question failed for Blue Earth Area Schools. The Minnesota School Boards Association says only 11 28 operating levies passed. An operating levy approved in Rochester will increase funding by 11 hundred dollars per pupil for 10 years.
>>Hudson, Procaccini Win State Supreme Court Election
(St. Paul, MN) — Two Minnesota Supreme Court justices have handily won their re-election races. Unofficial results show that Chief Justice Natalie Hudson collected more than 60 percent of the votes to beat Stephen Emery easily. Associate Justice Karl Procaccini received about 57 percent of the vote to beat Matthew Hanson. Associate Justice Anne McKeig had no opposition and will return to the court for another term.
>>Closing Arguments Expected Today In Adam Fravel Trial
(Mankato, MN) — Closing arguments are expected to begin today in the murder trial of Adam Fravel. The defense rested its case Friday after calling five witnesses. Fravel chose not to testify in his own defense. Fravel is facing multiple counts of murder in the death of Madeline Kingsbury last year. Prosecutors have tried to show that she was a victim of domestic violence that eventually led to her disappearance and death. Fravel’s attorney says police never seriously considered any other suspect, leading to a one-sided and sometimes sloppy investigation.
>>Kandiyohi County Deputy Who Crashed Squad Car To Plead Guilty To DUI
(Kandiyohi County, MN) — A Kandiyohi County deputy accused of being intoxicated when he crashed his squad car has agreed to a plea deal. Christopher Flatten was found in the vehicle on July 18th in Gennessee Township. Witnesses said Flatten ran a stop sign, swerved, and then crashed, rolling the vehicle several times. The deal announced yesterday would see Flatten plead guilty to fourth-degree DUI in exchange for other charges being dropped. Prosecutors have proposed a deferred sentence of 90 days in jail plus two years of probation.
>>Oak Grove Man Charged with Attempted Murder of Brother
(Anoka County, MN) — A 57-year-old man has been charged with second-degree attempted murder and first-degree assault after shooting his brother on Saturday. Anoka County deputies responded to an Oak Grove home around 4:52 p.m. on a report of a shooting. Investigators learned David Dady shot his brother in the stomach during an argument. Dady was intoxicated at the time of the shooting. He suggested to police his brother was having an affair with his wife and “got in his face.” Dady says he didn’t mean to shoot his brother, just scare him. The investigation is ongoing.
>>Gophers Men’s Basketball Opens Season at the Barn vs. Oral Roberts
(Minneapolis, MN) — The University of Minnesota men’s basketball season opens tonight (Wed 7 pm) at the Barn against Oral Roberts. The Golden Gophers went 19-and-15 overall last season and had a 9-and-11 record in the Big Ten Conference. There are a lot of new faces on the team this year, but forward Dawson Garcia returned for his senior year. The Savage native averaged 17.6 points and 6.7 rebounds last season. The Gophers haven’t made the N-C-A-A Tournament since 2019.
