>>Senator Hoffman Addresses National Conference of State Lawmakers
(Boston, MA) — State Senator John Hoffman of Champlin is calling on legislators to continue to do the job they job they were elected to do even with evil present in our lives. Hoffman and his wife were shot by the alleged gunman who killed former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband. Hoffman spoke via video to a national conference of state lawmakers Monday in Boston. He told them, “What happened in Minnesota on June 14th was awful and tragic and will impact me and my family forever. But as a Minnesotan, as an American, I do know this: We can’t let the evil of the night win.” Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy and House Speaker Lisa Demuth both appeared on stage to remember Hortman.
>>Farmfest Opens Tuesday in Redwood County
(Morgan, MN) — Farmfest 2025 opens today (Tues) in southwest Minnesota’s Redwood County. Marketing director Niki Jones says hundreds of agribusinesses set up exhibits at the annual farm show in Morgan. U-S Representatives Angie Craig, Brad Finstad, Michelle Fischbach, and Pete Stauber are taking part in a forum on the ag policy safety net at 10:30 this morning. Jones says farmers come from as far away as Missouri, Iowa, and the Dakotas to attend Farmfest. The three-day event runs through Thursday.
>>MDA Adding 2 New Counselors to Farmers Mental Health Support Program
(Undated) — The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is welcoming two new counselors to its farmers mental health support program. M-D-A’s Meg Moynihan says common stressors for farmers include family relationships and uncertainty in the markets. Moynihan says farmers are uncertain about what tariffs might do to the cost of fuel, fertilizer, and seed, along with the long-term status of the markets. If you or someone you know needs to talk to one of the counselors, visit the M-D-A website.
>>Congresswoman Morrison Introduces Bill to Step Up Police Recruitment
(Plymouth, MN) — Surrounded by law enforcement, Congresswoman Kelly Morrison discussed her legislation to help police departments with recruiting challenges Monday in Plymouth. Morrison says on average, police departments are operating with a ten percent deficit in staffing and 65 percent of agencies around the country report reduced services. Her bill called the “Pathways to Policing Act,” would authorize $50 million to state and local departments for recruiting and training new officers. Another $50 million would be used to develop and implement a nationwide marketing and recruiting campaign to attract more officers.
>>State Representative Her Running for St. Paul Mayor
(St. Paul, MN) — State Representative Kaohly Vang Her is running for mayor of St. Paul in November. Her has represented Minnesota House District 64-A for seven years. She says her top priorities for St. Paul are safe streets, economic development and housing, and strong schools. Her was Mayor Melvin Carter’s political director during his first term and now she’s his first high profile challenger in his third run for office. Republican businessman Mike Hilborn and former City Council candidate Yan Chen are also challenging Carter.
>>MIRAC Fights for Separation Between MPD, ICE
(Minneapolis, MN) — ICE Out of Minneapolis: Sanctuary for Real!—the newest campaign by the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) will be presented today (Tues 5:30pm) at the Public City Center. The group is pushing for elected city leaders to strengthen the separation ordinance that says Minneapolis Police cannot collaborate with ICE agents. This comes after multiple restaurant raids on June 3rd that resulted in federal agents, including ICE, acting as crowd control. MIRAC demands no collusion, crowd control, cover-ups, or face coverings to obscure ICE agent identities, and punitive measures for local law enforcement found to be cooperating with ICE.
>>St Paul Man Draws 30 Year Sentence for Isanti County Burglary, Murder
(Cambridge, MN) — A St. Paul man is sentenced to more than 30 years in prison for his role in a fatal December 2023 shooting and burglary in Isanti County. The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office says 47-year-old Gerald Downs received a 366-month prison term Monday for the killing of 42-year-old Jose De Jesus Diaz Fernandes. Prosecutors say Downs and two other suspects dressed as police officers burglarized an alleged drug stash house in Spencer Brook Township and one of them shot Diaz Fernandes. Downs pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting second-degree murder.
>>Man Lying in Roadway Killed in Rochester
(Rochester, MN) — Police in Rochester are investigating the death of a pedestrian on Monday morning. Officers say a driver reported hitting a person who was lying in the roadway. First responders began life-saving efforts, but he died at the scene. The name of the 38-year-old Rochester man hasn’t been released.
>>MN Air Quality Alert, Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups in Northeast
(Undated) — Northeastern Minnesota is under an air quality alert through noon tomorrow (Wed) due to continued Canadian wildfire smoke scattering. Areas of heavy smoke across Wisconsin and Michigan are rotating our way due to high pressure. Affected areas include Two Harbors, Hibbing, Ely, Duluth, and the Tribal Nations of Grand Portage and Fond Du Lac. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency encourages people with health sensitivities like asthma to stay indoors, as the smoke could aggravate heart and lung disease.
>>Lynx Forward Collier Expected to Miss 2 Weeks with Ankle Sprain
(Minneapolis, MN) — Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier is expected to miss at least two weeks with a right ankle sprain. Collier appeared to roll her ankle in the third quarter of Saturday’s 111-58 win at Las Vegas. She left the court and was able to walk to the locker room with some assistance. The 25-and-4 Lynx play tonight (Tues) at the 16-and-13 Seattle Storm. Newly acquired guard DiJonai Carrington is making her Lynx debut. Collier was named W-B-N-A Western Conference Player of the Month for July.
