>>Minnesota House to Vote on Controversial Gun Bills Monday Afternoon
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota House has a busy afternoon (Mon 330pm start) and probably evening in St. Paul. What backers call a gun safe-storage bill is opposed by Second Amendment rights groups, who are also against a bill that would require owners report lost or stolen firearms to police within 48 hours. There’s a bill that would increase penalties for those who “straw purchase” firearms for someone who can’t legally possess them — prompted by the shooting deaths of two officers and a paramedic in Burnsville. Federal prosecutors allege the shooter’s girlfriend got the guns for him. And the House is set to vote on controversial bill that would increase penalties on businesses that “misclassify” employees as independent contractors to avoid paying benefits and unemployment insurance.
>>Senate Leaders Remove Mitchell from Committee and Caucus Meetings
(St. Paul, MN) — State Senator Nicole Mitchell of Woodbury is being relieved of her committee assignments and removed from caucus meetings. Mitchell is facing felony burglary charges for allegedly breaking into her stepmother’s home in Detroit Lakes. Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy said Sunday that Mitchell will not be returning to normal duties at the State Capitol, “while her case is under review both in the Senate and the courts.” Mitchell’s case has been referred to a Senate ethics subcommittee for a May 7th hearing. The first-term Democrat says she does not intend to resign. Senate Republican Minority Leader Mark Johnson says in a statement, “removing Senator Mitchell from committees is not enough.”
>>Opening Statements in Feeding Our Future Fraud Trial
(Minneapolis, MN) — After a week of jury selection, opening statements are today (Mon) in the 250 million-dollar Feeding Our Future federal fraud trial. It’s the first criminal trial for seven defendants. Seventy people have been charged and 18 pleaded guilty in what U-S Attorney Andrew Luger calls the largest COVID-related fraud scheme in the country. Prosecutors say dozens of people and several nonprofit organizations defrauded the Federal Child Nutrition Program, using the COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity to spend tens of millions of dollars in program funds on cars, luxury items, and lakefront properties . The money was intended as reimbursements for the cost of serving meals to children.
>>Woman Jogging Fatally Struck by Pickup in Cottonwood County
(Mountain Lake, MN) — A jogger is dead after being struck by a vehicle near Mountain Lake in southwestern Minnesota. The Cottonwood County Sheriff’s Office says two people were running along a county road Saturday morning when a 39-year-old woman was hit by a pickup. Deputies say the victim from Mountain Lake died at the scene. The incident is still under investigation.
>>2 People Killed in 2-Vehicle Crash in Chisago County
(Wyoming, MN) — Two people are dead after a two-vehicle crash in east central Minnesota’s Chisago County. The Wyoming Police Department reports that a vehicle crossed the centerline on Friday and collided with another car. Officers say a total of four occupants were taken to the hospital and one person from each vehicle died of their injuries. The victims haven’t been identified. Investigators say additional information will be released after the Chisago County Attorney’s Office reviews the report.
>>Authorities ID 14-Year-Old Boy Fatally Shot in Northeast Minneapolis
(Minneapolis, MN) — Police are still investigating the fatal shooting of 14-year-old Fa’ him Laron Miller outside a northeast Minneapolis gas station. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office says Miller died Friday of a gunshot wound to the chest. Officers said Miller was in an S-U-V with others when shots were fired from another vehicle. Miller was found lying in the parking lot and later died in the hospital. Investigators have not announced any arrests in the shooting.
>>16-Year-Old Boy Expected to Survive Shooting at Coon Rapids YMCA
(Coon Rapids, MN) — Anoka County authorities say a 16-year-old boy is expected to survive after being shot at the Coon Rapids Y-M-C-A. Officers say someone outside fired shots into the building Friday night, striking the teen victim. He was taken to the hospital where he’s being treated for his injuries. Investigators say the shooting wasn’t random and appears to be part of an ongoing conflict. No other information is being released.
>>Unruly Passenger Removed From Delta Air Lines Flight from MSP
(Undated) — A passenger on Delta Air Lines flight 435 from Minnesota to Hawaii caused a two-hour delay on Friday night after being removed from the flight. The airline stated that the flight was diverted to San Francisco due to the passenger’s unruly behavior. Delta has apologized to its customers for the inconvenience caused by the incident. No other details are being released.
>>Wolves top Suns in Game 4 to Sweep Series in Phoenix
(Phoenix, AZ) — The Minnesota Timberwolves are headed to the second round of the N-B-A Playoffs after a 122-116 win Sunday night in Phoenix and a series sweep. Anthony Edwards led the Wolves with 40 points in Game 4, Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 28 points and 10 rebounds, and Jaden McDaniels scored 18. Timberwolves coach Chris Finch suffered a knee injury in a collision with guard Mike Conley late in the fourth quarter. Minnesota will face either the defending champion Denver Nuggets or L-A Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals.
>>Twins Pound Angels for 7th Straight Victory
(Anaheim, CA) — The Minnesota Twins are on a seven-game winning streak. The Twins pounded the Angels 11-5 on Sunday to sweep the three-game series in Anaheim. Minnesota had 17 hits and improved to 14-and-13. The weekend sweep in Southern California followed four straight wins over the White Sox at Target Field. The Twins open a three-game set tonight (Mon 6:40pm) on the South Side of Chicago.
