>>Kim Potter Set to be Released
(Shakopee, MN) — Former Brooklyn Center police officer Kim Potter is set to be released from prison next week, after serving 16 months behind bars for the killing of Daunte Wright during a traffic stop in April of 2021. Records show Potter is set to leave prison on Monday. Potter was sentenced to two years behind bars after being convicted of second-degree manslaughter in Wright’s death. When released, she will serve the remaining months of her sentence on supervised release.
>>Minnesota House Passes E-12 Funding Bill
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota House passed a 23-billion-dollar E-12 funding bill Thursday night that would give public schools a 10.6 percent boost in the next two years (fiscal 24-25) and nearly a 16-percent bump in the two years after that. Democrat Cheryl Youakim (you-ah-KEEM) from Hopkins says the bill is “A historic investment in our schools, our students, and the future.” But Hanska Republican Paul Torkelson says the school funding bill doesn’t respect local control or empower parents and isn’t serious about the science of reading “This bill sets no expectations on students to either excel academically or even behave properly in the classroom.” E-12 education is the largest single component of the state budget.
The bill includes a four-percent increase per pupil in the general education formula in 2024 and two percent the following year, totaling 710 million dollars. Per-pupil funding from the general education formula would also be linked to inflation. The bill would spend 730 million dollars to reduce school districts’ expenses for special education, and 82 million dollars to pick up costs of English-learner education in districts with the highest needs.
>>AG Ellison calls for a national recall of theft-prone Hyundai/Kia vehicles
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison joined a coalition of 18 attorneys in calling for a federal recall of Hyundai and Kia vehicles, following the companies’ continued failure to take adequate steps to address the alarming theft rate of their vehicles. Ellison and the coalition assert that Kia and Hyundai have not gone far enough in their attempts to remedy their vehicles’ vulnerability to theft. Minneapolis KIA/Hyundai vehicle thefts have increased by nearly 900 percent and in St. Paul by 600 percent. Ellison says many of these thefts have been connected to other violent crimes.
While the companies have offered a software upgrade, this upgrade will not be available for many affected vehicles until June and some 2011-2022 models cannot be installed at all. Vehicle owners who cannot receive the software upgrade can reportedly receive a free steering wheel lock from Kia and Hyundai, but this places additional burdens on owners and does not address the underlying ignition system flaw that makes the vehicles so vulnerable to theft.
>>Ft. Snelling State Park Closed Due to Flooding/Free Park Saturday
(St. Paul, MN) — Due to rising waters on the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers, Fort Snelling State Park is closed to the public. The park will remain closed until flood waters recede and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources staff are able to assess conditions within the park and address any safety issues resulting from the flood. Tomorrow is “Free Park Saturday” at Minnesota state parks and recreation areas, and the DNR will be waiving the vehicle permit requirement. Visitors should be aware that several other parks and recreation areas across the state are experiencing high water conditions that might affect access to certain roads and trails. People should visit park-specific websites to check visitor alerts before heading out.
>>St. Cloud Police Arrest Suspect on Most Wanted List
(Lyndon Township, MN) — A man on the Stearns County Most Wanted list since 2020 has been arrested. Thursday morning, officers searched a home in Lyndon Township, located 41-year-old Jacob Schwartz was located, and took him into custody for multiple counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct charges and stalking.
>>Minnesota Law Enforcement Taking Part in Prescription Drug Take Back Day
(Undated, MN)– More than 50 law enforcement agencies in Minnesota are participating in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Saturday. Minnesotans can drop off unused or unwanted prescription drugs at a local sheriff’s office, police department, or city hall. The D-E-A says more than 14 thousand pounds of medications were collected during last April’s event. Officials say one of the main goals is to prevent the abuse of prescription drugs. You can find the list of Minnesota drop-off locations on the D-E-A’s website.