>>Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Spring Conference in Maple Grove
(Maple Grove, MN) — Representatives from Minnesota companies and communities will gather for the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Spring Conference today (Thurs) at Boston Scientific in Maple Grove. Minnesota National Guard Family Programs officer Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Sanganoo (SAY’guh-new) says this year’s theme is “Community and Corporate Collaboration.” He says. “when a service member deploys, it really takes an entire community to support and enable his or her success on the deployment. And also for his or her family that stays back here stateside.” Minnesota has 80 active Beyond the Yellow Ribbon companies and organizations in 53 cities and counties.
>>Minneapolis City Council to Consider Delaying Rideshare Ordinance
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Minneapolis City Council is set to debate this morning (Thurs 930am) on pushing the start date of a controversial Uber/Lyft driver-pay ordinance back two months to July 1st. Observers say there are probably the votes on the city council to do that, but prospects are less certain for changing the per-mile and per-minute rates to amounts recommended in recent reports by the state and city, respectively. Democrats at the State Capitol have been negotiating behind-the-scenes on statewide minimum pay for rideshare drivers, reportedly with different rates for the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota. Republicans at the legislature want to totally repeal the Minneapolis ordinance. A spokesman says Uber would continue to operate in Minneapolis until July 1st if the effective date of the ordinance is pushed back.
>>Suspect Dead, 2 Hennepin County Deputies Injured in Exchange of Gunfire
(Minnetonka, MN) — A suspect is dead and two Hennepin County sheriff’s deputies are injured after an exchange of gunfire Wednesday morning while serving a felony warrant in Minnetonka. The deputies suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Hennepin County Sheriff DaWanna Witt said during a news conference, “Assaults against law enforcement are becoming increasingly common in Minnesota. They have doubled since 2017. This has got to stop.” The deputies have not been identified, but Witt said they were eight- and 21-year veterans of law enforcement.
>>Jury Deliberations Continue in Trial of Apple River Stabbing Suspect
(Hudson, WI) — Jury deliberations continue this morning (Thurs) in the trial of a Prior Lake man charged with fatally stabbing a Stillwater teen and wounding four others on the Apple River in western Wisconsin. St. Croix County prosecutors say Nicolae Miu was the aggressor on July 30th, 2022 when he pulled out a knife and stabbed a group of young tubers. Miu’s attorneys argued that he was attacked by a mob and stabbed five of them in self-defense. The jury got the case Wednesday afternoon following closing arguments.
>>Crow Wing County Man Convicted of Killing Daughter’s Boyfriend
(Brainerd, MN) — A Crow Wing County man will be sentenced June 10th for killing his daughter’s boyfriend in October of 2022. A jury found 46-year-old Michael Laflex of Merrifield guilty Wednesday of first- and second-degree murder in the shooting of 23-year-old Bryce Brogle (BROH’-gull). He was reported missing after visiting Laflex’s storage unit and Brogle’s body was later found buried on the property. Investigators say Laflex shot Brogle in the head because he thought Brogle was abusing his daughter.
>>Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office Faces Lawsuit Over Workplace Culture
(Minneapolis, MN) — Seven current and former Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office employees, including Sheriff Dawanna Witt, are suing the county, alleging a culture of bigotry and fear during the tenure of former Sheriff David Hutchinson. Plaintiffs accuse the county of violating the Minnesota Human Rights Act and other laws by failing to address discriminatory behavior. An independent investigation previously found Hutchinson engaged in racist and bullying behavior. Hutchinson, who served one term, has not publicly commented on the suit.
>>Minneapolis Gang Member Gets 20 Years for Racketeering, Guns
(Minneapolis, MN) — A member of the Minneapolis Highs gang will spend nearly 20 years in federal prison for attempted murder, drug trafficking and possession of a machine gun. Prosecutors say 32-year-old Montez Brown or “Tez Blood” was a well-respected and high-level fentanyl trafficker for the Highs gang and engaged in a years-long pattern of racketeering activity. Brown pleaded guilty to one count of RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. U-S Attorney Andrew Luger said, “Individuals who choose to fuel violence and destruction on behalf of a criminal enterprise such as this will be held accountable under federal law.”
>>Suspect in Blue Earth County Dog Shooting Identified
(South Bend Township, MN) — Sheriff’s investigators in Blue Earth County say they have identified a potential suspect in a fatal dog shooting. The investigation commenced on March 30th following the fatal shooting of the dog on the deck of a home in South Bend Township. Prior to the shooting, several homes in the area had received threatening notes concerning barking dogs. The suspect’s name is not being released at this time.
>>Major Fentanyl Bust in St. Cloud Wednesday
(St. Cloud, MN) — The Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force says it made a large drug bust in St. Cloud Wednesday. Officers were able to confiscate 4,200 suspected fentanyl pills and ammunition during an investigation into the distribution of fentanyl-laced pills in central Minnesota. The pills M-30 pills have been linked to recent overdoses and deaths in the St. Cloud metro area. A 21-year-old suspect booked in the Stearns County Jail on suspicion of first-degree drug possession and being a felon in possession of ammunition. He has a previous felony drug conviction from 2023, which makes it illegal for him to have a gun or ammunition.
>>Aerosmith Reschedules Xcel Energy Show for January 2025
(St. Paul, MN) — Aerosmith is coming to Minnesota next year after cancelling their scheduled show in St. Paul last November. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band had to postpone its “Peace Out” farewell tour last fall because singer Stephen Tyler had vocal cord injuries. Aerosmith will now play the Xcel Energy Center on January 22nd, 2025 and all previously purchased tickets will be honored for the rescheduled show. The Black Crowes are on the opening act at the X. Tickets go on sale Friday at 10am through Ticketmaster.
>>NCAA Frozen Four Begins Thursday at the Xcel Energy Center
(St. Paul, MN) — The 2024 N-C-A-A men’s Frozen Four hockey tournament begins this afternoon (Thurs) at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. Boston University will face Denver in the opening semifinal at four o’clock. The Terriers knocked off the Minnesota Gophers in the Sioux Falls Regional. The second semifinal pits Boston College against Michigan tonight at the X. Denver sophomore Jared Wright is from Burnsville, played prep hockey at St. Thomas Academy and says he can’t wait for play in front of family and friends. The two winning teams will play in Saturday’s national championship game.
