>>Walz to Attend Groundbreaking for $50 Million Project on I-90 in Austin Area
(Austin, MN) — Governor Tim Walz is taking part in a groundbreaking today (Thurs 11am) for a 50-million-dollar construction project on Interstate 90 in Austin. MnDOT says six bridges will be replaced along a five-mile stretch of I-90 over the next two years. The project received a 25-million-dollar federal grant and was one of the first funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
>>State Senator, Polka Musician Florian Chmielewski Dies at Age 97
(Sturgeon Lake, MN) — The family of world-renowned Polka musician and former Minnesota state Senator Florian Chmielewski (SHIM’-il-less-kee) says he died Tuesday at age 97. The Sturgeon Lake native represented northeastern Minnesota in the state Senate from 1970 to 1996 and was elected president in 1987. He brought polka music to the region with the Chmielewski Family Funtime Band for more than 35 years and was inducted into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame in 1994. Funeral services are planned for Monday and Tuesday.
>>Mitchell Hamline Study Calls Minnesota’s Sex Offender System “a Failed Investment”
(St. Paul, MN) — A new study published by the Mitchell Hamline School of Law’s Sex Offense Litigation and Policy Resource Center says the state’s current sex offender system is “a failed investment.” The study says that while Minnesota involuntarily commits more people per capita than any other state, the program fails to address sexual violence in a meaningful way. Officials estimate the program costs $479 per person, per day. Last year, the state budgeted more than $100 million for the program. The study calls for government officials to end the program created in 1995.
>>Second Teen Charged in Fatal Shooting at Minneapolis Punk Concert Venue
(Minneapolis, MN) — A second teenager is now charged in a fatal mass shooting last summer at a punk concert venue called Nudieland in Minneapolis. A 17-year-old from Onamia appeared in court Wednesday on seven felony counts of aiding and abetting first-degree assault, second-degree murder, and second-degree assault in the August 11th, 2023, shooting that killed 35-year-old Nicholas “August” Golden and injured six others. Eighteen-year-old Dominic Burris of Hinckley was charged Tuesday with the same seven felony counts. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty says her office is still deciding whether to have these teens tried in adult court.
>>St. Cloud Distribution Center to Lay Off 350 Workers
(St. Cloud, MN) — A distribution company based in St. Cloud is announcing that it will be laying off hundreds of its workers. Fulfillment Distribution Center has informed the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development about the impending job cuts. The company had a contract with Publisher’s Clearing House to fulfill orders, but that partnership will end in October. The layoffs are expected to be fully implemented by October 31st and will affect around 350 employees.
>>Adopt a Highway Volunteers Pick up 42K Bags of Litter in Minnesota
(St. Paul, MN) — State transportation officials say 2023 was another successful year for the Adopt a Highway program. MnDOT’s Anne Meyer says community groups spent 100 thousand hours cleaning up 42-thousand bags of litter from the roadsides. That was an increase from the 39 thousand bags in 2022. Meyer says volunteer groups clean up garbage from a two-mile section of roadway for at least two years. MnDOT posts signs along the highway recognizing the groups.
>>Douglas County Authorities Investigating Fire at Trailer Park
(Garfield, MN) — A residence is declared a total loss after a fire Wednesday in the west-central Minnesota town of Garfield. Douglas County sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of smoke coming from inside a residential trailer at the Woodlawn Trailer Park. Officials say everyone from insider the trailer made it out alive. It is believed by authorities that the fire started due to an electrical system issue.
>>Minnesota Vikings Have 2 First-Round Picks in Tonight’s NFL Draft
(Detroit, MI) — The Minnesota Vikings have the 11th and 23rd picks in the first round of tonight’s (Thurs) in N-F-L Draft in Detroit. The Purple could select a quarterback after losing veteran Kirk Cousins to Atlanta in free agency. Some analysts think the Vikings might trade a package of draft picks to move up and select their quarterback of the future. The team could also use some help on the defensive line and the cornerback position. Minnesota has a total of nine picks in the draft, but none in the second and third rounds on Friday.
>>Minnesota Timberwolves’ Naz Reid Named NBA Sixth Man of the Year
(Minneapolis, MN) — Minnesota Timberwolves forward Naz Reid is being honored as the 2023-2024 N-B-A Sixth Man of the Year. Twenty-four-year-old Reid came off the bench to average 13-and-a-half points and more than five rebounds per game this season. Reid is the first Timberwolves player to win the award and a fan favorite at Target Center. The Wolves have a 2-0 lead over the Suns in the first round of the playoffs. Game 3 is Friday night in Phoenix.
