>>Another Committee Hearing on Sports Betting Bill in Minnesota House
(St. Paul, MN) — There’s another hearing in the Minnesota House Wednesday on a bill that would legalize sports betting on a mobile app and at 11 tribal casinos in the state. Commerce Committee Chair Zack Stephenson of Coon Rapids says a new provision would create a regulatory authority structure for daily fantasy sports betting. Stephenson’s amendment also makes adjustments for charitable gaming which he says could result in 40 million dollars in annual tax relief for pull-tab operators. The state’s horse tracks oppose the bill.
>>Walz, Colonel Langer to Push for new State Patrol Headquarters
(St. Paul, MN) — Governor Tim Walz, Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan and Colonel Matt Langer plan to highlight the need for a new Minnesota State Patrol headquarters today (Mon 1:30pm) in the east metro. The governor’s infrastructure plan includes 22 million dollars to acquire land and design for a new headquarters. Officials say the new location will streamline and improve public safety services across the state. Colonel Langer is leaving the State Patrol tomorrow (Tues) after 25 years to take a position with the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
>>MN Supreme Court Hears UMLC Challenge to Felon Voting Law
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Supreme Court will hear oral arguments this morning (Mon 9am) on a challenge to the state’s new felon voting law. Attorney James Dickey of the Upper Midwest Law Center contends the state constitution doesn’t permit felons to vote until all their civil rights are restored — including being able to hold office or serve on a jury. Attorney General Keith Ellison responds that argument was invalidated in a 2023 decision by the state Supreme Court, which acknowledged the legislature has the authority to restore voting rights to felons now back in the community under supervision. The Minnesota Voters Alliance says by granting expedited review, the high court has agreed it’s critical for Minnesotans to have an answer before the 2024 election.
>>2 Police Officers Suffer Minor Injuries in Standoff, Reported Shooting in Burnsville
(Burnsville, MN) — Two police officers are recovering from minor injuries suffered in a standoff with a woman accused of firing a gun Saturday night in Burnsville. Authorities were called to a report of gunshots near Buck Hill and issued a shelter-in-place order and evacuated neighboring homes due to a public safety threat. The Burnsville P-D says officers attempted to negotiate with the suspect overnight before she was taken into custody around 4:30 am Sunday with the help of police dog. Investigators say two officers with the Tri-City Tactical Team were treated for minor injuries that were not gunshot wounds. The woman was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
>>Shooting of 11-Year-Old Boy Under Investigation in St. Paul
(St. Paul, MN) — Police in St. Paul are still investigating a shooting Friday night that left an 11-year-old boy with life-threatening injuries. Officers say the boy was rushed to the hospital in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the head. A 13-year-old girl was later taken into custody on suspicion of second-degree assault. Investigators say they recovered two guns from an apartment and a 34-year-old man was arrested pending charges including illegal possession of a gun and negligent storage of a firearm.
>>Trial Begins for Minnesota Man Charged in July 2022 Apple River Stabbings
(Hudson, WI) — Jury selection begins today (Mon 8:30am) in the trial of a Minnesota man accused of fatally stabbing a Stillwater teen and wounding four others on the Apple River in western Wisconsin. Fifty-four-year-old Nicolae Miu (mew) of Prior Lake pleaded not guilty to first-degree intentional homicide in the killing of 17-year-old Isaac Schuman and attempted homicide in the other stabbings on July 30th, 2022. The stabbings were reportedly captured on video by a friend of Schuman’s. The defense claims that Miu was defending himself after he was attacked while searching for a phone in the water. Opening statements could come this afternoon in St Croix County court.
>>Statewide Distracted Driving Campaign Begins in Minnesota
(Golden Valley, MN) — A month-long statewide crackdown on distracted driving begins today (Mon) in Minnesota. Mike Hanson with the Office of Traffic Safety says somewhere between 25 and 30 people a year are still being killed on Minnesota roads by a completely preventable act, which is somebody distracted behind the wheel. Hanson says distracted driving contributed to nearly 30,000 crashes in Minnesota from 2019-2023. April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
>>2 Minnesota Players Win $50k in Saturday’s Powerball Drawing
(Roseville, MN) — Two players in Minnesota won 50 thousand dollars in Saturday night’s Powerball drawing, but nobody claimed the big jackpot. The Minnesota Lottery says the 50-thousand-dollar tickets were sold at a Kwik Trip in Chanhassen and a Cub Foods store in Blaine. The jackpot climbs to 975 million dollars for tonight’s (Mon) drawing. There hasn’t been a grand prize winner in the Powerball since January 1st.
>>MSU-Mankato Welcomes Home NCAA D II National Basketball Champions
(Mankato, MN) — Minnesota State University-Mankato is hosting a welcome home celebration later today (Mon ) for its men’s and women’s basketball teams. Both Mavericks’ teams won the N-C-A-A Division II National Championship over the weekend. The M-S-U men topped Nova Southeastern on Saturday in Indiana while the women beat Texas Woman’s University on Friday night in Missouri. The event in the Bresnan Arena is free and open to the public and the program begins at 4:30pm.
