>>Minnesota job growth outpaces national numbers
(St. Paul, MN) — The latest jobs report finds Minnesota employers added seven thousand jobs from September to October, outpacing national job growth. DEED(Department of Employment and Economic Development) Deputy Commissioner Kevin McKinnon says another milestone to celebrate: “Minnesota reached its highest seasonally-adjusted number of jobs on record in October at just over three million jobs. This is the first time in history that we surpassed the three-million threshold.” Over-the-month job growth was led by big gains in the Education & Health Services, Professional and Business Services, and Leisure & Hospitality sectors. The state’s unemployment rate currently sits at 3.2 percent , compared to the national jobless rate of 3.9 percent.
>>Give to the Max Day underway to benefit non-profits, schools
***LATEST TOTAL AT giveMN.org***
(Various) — 24.3 million dollars so far at latest check for “Give to the Max Day” in Minnesota, benefiting over 57-hundred Minnesota non-profits and schools. Deputy Executive Director Jenna Ray is encouraging Minnesotans to visit giveMN.org between now and midnight. “Find the cause closest to your heart and support them generously so that they continue the good work that they do all year long into 2024,” she says. Last year’s “Give to the Max Day” raised more than 34 million dollars. Ray says a partnership with the Bush Foundation allows them to continue offering Golden Ticket prizes and boost people’s generosity even more this year.
>>Farm income mixed bag across Upper Midwest this summer
**MEDIA REFERENCE – LAST LINE**
(Minneapolis, MN) — More declines than increases in farm income across the Upper Midwest this summer, according to the latest report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. About half of the ag lenders surveyed said farm incomes dropped, while about 25 percent said incomes went up. After near-record grain prices in 2022 due to the war in Ukraine and other factors, corn and soybean prices have dropped back to more historically-normal levels. The Star Tribune quotes the Fed’s regional outlook director Joe Mahon, who says farm operations have been so profitable that they built up significant working capital “and they’re spending that down now.”
>>State regulators deal LTD Broadband another setback in its quest for $300M+ in federal funding
(St. Paul, MN) — Another setback for LTD Broadband’s efforts to tap 311 million dollars in federal Internet infrastructure funding as state regulators today (Thurs) sent the matter back to an administrative law judge for additional fact-finding. Public Utilities Commissioner John Tuma (TOO-muh) says federal funds are “a big opportunity to expand internet access in Minnesota” but he’s “not convinced… that LTD could deliver broadband service to Minnesotans.” LTD C-E-O Corey Hauer says state regulators “acted improperly” without first having an evidentiary hearing and “the company is evaluating its options.” Earlier the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office said LTD was “unequal to the task of building out the vital infrastructure that the people of greater Minnesota need.”
>>Authorities released names of teen killed, passenger critically injured in NE Minnesota crash
(Orr, MN) — Authorities have released the names of a teen who was killed and another critically injured when a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed left a road near Orr in northeast Minnesota on Wednesday evening, flipped and struck a tree. The driver, 17-year-old Travon Boshey from Tower was dead at the scene and 17-year-old Matthew Goggleye (GOGGLE-eye) from Nett Lake was taken by helicopter to a Duluth hospital. Authorities say both were wearing seatbelts and the investigation continues.
>Man Who Attacked Rep. Craig Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison
(Washington, D.C.) — The man who attacked Representative Angie Craig inside her Washington, D.C. apartment in February was sentenced to more than two years in prison today (THURS). 27-year-old Kendrid Hamlin pleaded guilty in June to assaulting Craig in the elevator of her building, with Craig escaping his grasp by throwing her coffee at him. Hamlin’s defense sought placement in an in-patient substance abuse treatment facility due to his drug addiction, homelessness, and schizophrenia, which the federal judge granted by recommending Hamlin be placed in a federal medical center while serving his time.
>>Minneapolis Man Sentenced to 80 Months in Prison for Carjacking Preacher
(Minneapolis, MN) — A Minneapolis man will spend about six-and-a-half years in prison for the armed carjacking of a preacher who was handing out bottled water to the homeless. The criminal complaint says 34-year-old Dwight Eaglehawk approached the victim in a parking lot in south Minneapolis, requesting two bottles of water before demanding at gunpoint the victim’s Dodge Dart, which he then fled in. Eaglehawk pleaded guilty June 20th.
###