>>Miu Admits to Making up Story About People Pulling Knives in Apple River
(Hudson, WI) — The Prior Lake man on trial for a deadly stabbing on the Apple River in western Wisconsin is admitting that he’s only person who had a knife on July 30th, 2022. Fifty-four-year-old Nicolae Miu took the stand in his own defense Tuesday and during cross examination acknowledged that he made up the story about people pulling a knives on him. Miu testified his fear factor was at “10” because he was surrounded and said, “people were coming at me. …being punched in the head, punched in the mouth. ” He’s charged with the first-degree homicide of 17-year-old Isaac Schuman of Stillwater and the attempted homicide of four other stabbing victims. Closing arguments are expected today (Wed) in St. Croix County court.
>>Minnesota Lawmakers Move to Override Racing Commission on HHR Machines
(St. Paul, MN) — Democrats at the state legislature are moving toward overriding the Minnesota Racing Commission’s decision that allows what are called “historical horse racing” (HHR) machines at the state’s two horse tracks. Andy Platto (PLAY-toe) with the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association says the Commission deliberately circumvented the legislature to authorize slot machines at the tracks. He told members, “Tribes have an inherent, sovereign right to operate and offer gaming, affirmed by the U-S Supreme Court. Commercial racetracks do not.” C-E-O Randy Sampson responds Canterbury Park’s purses help support a 400-million-dollar horse racing industry in the state and jobs for thousands of Minnesotans. Tuesday’s votes in legislative committees advanced the bill in the Minnesota House and put it in queue for a floor vote in the state Senate.
>>Minnesota Senate Bill Would Create Framework for Helium Exploration
(St. Paul, MN) — A bill advancing in the Minnesota Senate would establish the framework needed for helium exploration in the state. Senator Grant Hauschild (HAWS’-child) of Hermantown says a large pocket of helium was recently discovered between the Iron Range and the North Shore. He says, “and it’s the highest concentration of helium in the world. And so this is a really, really exciting prospect. ” Hauschild says helium exploration doesn’t cause environmental damage and no one testified against the bill during a public hearing. He says it would also establish a royalty and pooling process where cities, counties and state would benefit from helium extraction.
>>New Minnesota Poll Shows President Biden, Trump in Statiscal Dead Heat
(St. Paul, MN) — The third KSTP/SurveyUSA poll in a row shows President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump in a statistical dead heat in Minnesota. Biden has 44 percent and Trump 42 percent, with 11 percent saying they’ll vote for someone else and four percent undecided. Biden has a substantial 49- to 34-percent lead in Minneapolis-Saint Paul and inner-ring suburbs, but Trump leads everywhere else: by 28 points in western Minnesota, 13 points in southern Minnesota and eight points in the northeast. Statewide Biden leads Trump by 15 points among women, but Trump is ahead by 10 points among men. In 2020, Biden beat Trump in Minnesota by seven percent.
>>2024 Minnesota Cannabis Conference & Expo at Mankato Civic Center
(Mankato, MN) — The 2024 Minnesota Cannabis Conference and Expo is going on today (Wed 8am-5pm) at the Mankato Civic Center. Organizers say it’s a gathering of the state’s cannabis experts, industry professionals, regulators, and policymakers. The event includes presentations on the local and national cannabis market, panel discussions, breakout sessions, and updates from the Office of Cannabis Management, state Department of Agriculture and Department of Employment and Economic Development. Retail cannabis sales are expected to begin next year.
>>Red Lake Man Sentenced to 46 Months for Violent Assault at Seven Clans Casino
(Minneapolis, MN) — A Red Lake man will serve nearly four years in federal prison for a violent assault at the Seven Clans Casino last April. Prosecutors say 55-year-old Shawn Lussier (LOO’-seer) repeatedly punched and kicked the victim, causing serious bodily injury and leaving blood stains throughout the hotel room. Court records show Lussier has multiple convictions involving domestic assaults of several victims between May 2017 through December 2021. He was sentenced to 46 months on one count of domestic assault by a habitual offender.
>>Theft Suspect Leads Authorities on Chase in Pine & Chisago Counties
(Pine City, MN) — A man jailed in Pine County is accused of stealing from a business in Pine City, trying to run over someone and leading authorities on a chase. Sheriff’s deputies attempted to pull over the suspect vehicle Tuesday, but it fled into Chisago County and was eventually stopped by a PIT maneuver near North Branch. Officers say 33-year-old Paul Brooks was arrested on several warrants and suspicion of felony assault with a deadly weapon, theft, and other charges. Brooks was treated at a hospital before being booked. No law enforcement officers were hurt in the pursuit.
>>Meeker County Sheriff Seeking Suspect Vehicle in Attempted Abduction
(Ellsworth Township, MN) — Investigators in Meeker County are trying to locate a vehicle that may have been involved in an abduction attempt last week. A 13-year-old child told sheriff’s deputies that a man in a red Ford pickup tried to abduct them on April 3rd in the Stella Lake area of Ellsworth Township. The sheriff’s office has released photos of a red truck that was traveling on County Road 33 around the time of the reported abduction. Anyone with information about the truck or its owner is asked to call the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office.
>>Motorcycle Pursuit Ends Without Incident in Kandiyohi County
(Willmar, MN) — A motorcyclist is in custody after leading officers on a 19-mile pursuit through multiple communities at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour in western Minnesota. The Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office says a 25-year-old man from New London now faces charges for fleeing officers. Deputies said the pursuit began when a Drug and Gang Task Force officer attempted to stop a speeding motorcycle on Highway 23 east of Spicer. Authorities said the biker then led officers on a chase south toward Willmar, with speeds topping out at 123 miles per hour on the Highway 23 bypass. The motorcycle came to a stop in Willmar and the driver was arrested without incident.
>>NCAA Men’s Frozen Four Practices Begin at Xcel Energy Center
(St. Paul, MN) — The N-C-A-A Men’s Frozen Four hockey tournament kicks off tomorrow (Thurs) afternoon at the Xcel Energy Center. Visit St. Paul President and C-E-O Jaimee Lucke (Lucky )Hendrikson says, “We love hosting these events. We have full hotels this weekend. So there will be lots of visitors downtown. Great for hotels, great for our restaurants and businesses.” Team practices kick off today (Wed) and are free and open to the public. All practices are an hour long and are on the ice at the Xcel Energy Center.
*Additional Information*
Fans can enter through Gate 1 as early as 10:30 a.m.
Boston University from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Denver University from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m.
University of Michigan from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Boston College from 2:45 to 2:45 p.m.
