>>GOP Candidate Heintzeman Wins Senate District 6 Special Election
(Brainerd, MN) — Republican Keri Heintzeman is the winner of the Minnesota Senate District 6 special election in Crow Wing and Itasca counties. Heintzeman topped D-F-L candidate Denise Slipy from Breezy Point 60 to 39.5 percent in Tuesday’s race. Heintzeman fills the seat of ex-Republican Senator Justin Eichorn of Grand Rapids, who resigned after being charged with soliciting a minor for prostitution. Senator Heintzeman was the district director for President Trump’s 2024 campaign.
>>Minnesota House Passes Transportation Finance Bill
(St. Paul, MN) — The transportation finance bill passed by the Minnesota House includes $10 billion over the next two fiscal years that would go towards bridges, roads and other projects. But the bill does include cuts to mass transit. Some of the biggest funding increases include $650 million for the Blatnik Bridge in Duluth and $454 million for state road construction. The largest cuts include $40 million from the Met Council transit system operations and $12 million from Greater Minnesota transit. The bill passed the House on an 85-49 vote and now heads to the Senate.
>>Senate Jobs Bills Includes Extended Unemployment for Laid-off Mine Workers
(St. Paul, MN) — An amendment to the Minnesota Senate Jobs bill provides 26 weeks of extended unemployment benefits to around 600 mine workers. Senator Grant Hauschild of Hermantown says this gives workers at Minorca and Hib Tac a critical lifeline. He told members during Tuesday’s debate, “We have to make sure that the steel workers that are laid off at our mines stay in our communities on the Iron Range. That their families have food on the table. That their kids stay in our schools. That their families stay and reside on the Iron Range for when our mines are ready to get back up and operational.” Hauschild is urging the Minnesota House to pass an extension of unemployment benefits for the laid-off miners.
>>Minnesota House Approves Veterans and Military Affairs Budget Bill
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota House overwhelmingly approved the Veterans and Military Affairs budget bill by a vote of 126 to 6. It contains provisions to help Minnesota veterans get important benefits faster by speeding up the eligibility application process. It also invests one million dollars into statewide food delivery services and includes funding for suicide prevention. The Senate has already passed its version of the bill. Now a committee of members of both chambers will meet to reconcile the differences.
>>Commerce Budget Bill Passes Minnesota House
(St. Paul, MN) — A bill that will protect Minnesota consumers and fund the Office of Cannabis Management has passed the Minnesota House. Among the provisions, the bill also creates a task force to address challenges for homeowners when it comes to skyrocketing insurance premiums, and creates an ombudsman to mediate issues they have with their homeowner’s associations. The bill passed by a vote of 122 to 10. The House also passed the Commerce Policy bill.
>>2025 Minnesota Hemp License Application Deadline is Tonight
(St. Paul, MN) — The deadline to apply for a 2025 Minnesota hemp license is tonight (Wed) and the numbers are down this year. Program coordinator Katy Mutschler says some folks are shifting away from hemp-derived T-H-C products. She says a lot of the people that were interested in the cannabinoid space have now moved to the adult-use and the medical space. Mutschler says there will be a lot more of acres of hemp grown for grain and fiber in Minnesota this season.
>>Minnesota’s Cold Weather Rule Ends Today
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota’s Cold Weather Rule officially ends today (4/30). It’s a state law that protects residential utility customers from having electric or natural gas service shut off between October 1st and April 30th. State Consumer Affairs Office supervisor Anne Thom says they’re already seeing utilities sending out disconnection notices. Tom says if you get a disconnection notice and still need assistance, don’t wait to reach out to your utility or apply for energy assistance. More information can be found on the Public Utilities Commission website.
>>ME’s Office Releases Cause of Death of Rochester Home Explosion Victim
(Rochester, MN) — Authorities are releasing new information about a fatal house explosion in Rochester late last month. According to the Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner’s Office, Patricia Lynn Spitzack-Havlish died as a result of the accident. The primary cause of her death was identified as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which was compounded by physiological stress from burns and high blood pressure. The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation by the fire marshal.
>>Body of Missing Chippewa Falls Woman Found in Minnesota
(Chippewa Falls, WI) — Authorities in western Wisconsin say the body of a Chippewa Falls woman missing for nearly nine years has been found in Minnesota. Police said 22-year-old Shannah Boiteau went missing on June 22nd, 2016. The national database for missing persons reports Boiteau and her boyfriend were driving to California when she ran away from the vehicle near St. Cloud. Foul play was not suspected at that time. St. Cloud Police said human bones were found Saturday in the area where Boiteau was last seen. The remains were confirmed this week to be Boiteau.
>>Minnesota Wild Fall to Golden Knights in OT in Game 5 of Playoffs
(Las Vegas, NV) — The Minnesota Wild fell to the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 in overtime Tuesday night and now trail the first-round playoff series three games to two. Brett Howden scored the game-winner for Vegas four minutes into O-T. It looked the Ryan Hartman gave Minnesota the lead with 1:15 remaining in regulation, but the go-ahead goal was called back after video review showed Gustav Nyquist was off-side. Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy scored for Minnesota. Filip Gustavsson made 23 saves through two periods before leaving the game with an illness. The Wild face elimination in Game 6 Thursday night at the Xcel Energy Center.
>>Wolves Can Clinch Playoff Series with Game 5 Win in Los Angeles
(Los Angeles, CA) — The Minnesota Timberwolves can win their first-round playoff series with a victory in Game 5 tonight (Wed 9pm) in Los Angeles. The Wolves beat the Lakers 116-113 at Target Center on Sunday to take a 3-1 series lead. Anthony Edwards had a game-high 43 points in the home court win. Minnesota head coach Chris Finch says his team has been good in this series and they need more of it to close out L-A.
