>>Governor Walz Confirms He’s Running for a Third Term
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is confirming that he is running for re-election next year. Walz said in a social media post, “We’ve made historic progress in our state, but we’re not done yet. I’m staying in the fight – and I need you with me.” The governor also posted a video launching his bid for a third term. DFL Party Chair Richard Carlbom said in a statement, “Minnesotans trust Tim Walz to fight like hell against this authoritarian president and his accomplices in Congress and in the legislature.” State Representative Kristin Robbins of Maple Grove, Kendall Qualls, and 2022 GOP nominee Scott Jensen are seeking the Republican nomination for governor. Republican Congressman Tom Emmer says, “Minnesotans cannot take another four years of Tim Walz. Walz is a proven failure.”
>>MN GOP Calls for Autopsy, Toxicology of Annunciation Shooter
(St. Paul, MN) – A group of Minnesota House and Senate Republicans is requesting autopsy and toxicology reports of the Annunciation Catholic School shooter. In a letter to the Minnesota BCA (Bureau of Criminal Apprehension), lawmakers asked for expanded testing to screen for substances like antidepressants, antipsychotics, and stimulants, and more. They say the information could help the public understand what may have influenced the shooter’s mental state, “much the same way we would check to see if a driver of a car wreck is under the influence.” Previously, Democratic Senator Tina Smith excoriated Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for suggesting that antidepressants could have caused the deadly shooting at a church in Minneapolis. “I dare you to go to Annunciation School and tell our grieving community, in effect, guns don’t kill kids, antidepressants do,” Smith wrote. “Just shut up. Stop peddling bulls–t. You should be fired.”
>>Airport Rideshare Drivers Demand Clean Bathrooms, Place to Pray
(Minneapolis, MN) – Uber and Lyft drivers who are part of SEIU Local 26 are pleading with MAC, the Metropolitan Airports Commission, to provide clean bathrooms and a place to pray for Muslim drivers in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport (MSP) waiting lot. Gedi Abdille, an Uber driver for five years, says he waits late into the night for passengers, and may take a break to pray, but “we may place our mats on the ground, in the rain, or in the snow. It is not comfortable or healthy.” The union says MSP, a national award-winning airport, has tenfold the means to make these basic improvements. In 2024, MSP served over 37.2 million passengers.
>>Legacy Cannabis Duluth Opening First Adult-Use Dispensary
(Duluth, MN) — Legacy Cannabis Duluth is opening the first state-licensed, adult-use dispensary this afternoon at 4:20. Lead consultant Josh Wilken-Simon says they plan to provide a large selection of high-quality, safe cannabis products to the Duluth area community. The microbusiness is selling cannabis flower grown by the White Earth Nation. He says they also look forward to working with the first state-licensed cannabis cultivators in the future.
>>PETA Urges Animal Cruelty Charges Added to Alleged Camp House Fire-Starter
(St. Louis County, MN) — PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is urging prosecutors to add animal cruelty charges against Parker John Wilson, the man accused of starting the Camp House Fire in St. Louis County. The May wildfire near Brimson burned over twelve thousand acres and destroyed more than one hundred fifty structures. PETA says the fire also killed a flock of chickens, injured a surviving hen, and terrorized and killed wild animals. Wilson currently faces a misdemeanor for failing to extinguish a campfire.
>>Zebra Mussels Confirmed in Two Ramsey County Lakes
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota DNR has confirmed zebra mussel larvae in two lakes in Ramsey County. Water samples taken from Lake Gervais and Spoon Lake, part of the Phalen chain of lakes, tested positive for veligers, the larval stage of zebra mussels. That means the invasive species is likely reproducing in those waters. No adult zebra mussels have been found yet, but the DNR is listing the lakes as infested. Two connected lakes—Kohlman and Kellerwill- will also be listed as a precaution. The DNR plans to test those lakes again next season.
