>>St. Paul Police Officer Shot in Exchange of Gunfire With Suspect
(St. Paul, MN) — A Saint Paul police officer is recovering from a gunshot wound in the leg and a suspect has life-threatening injuries after an exchange of gunfire Thursday afternoon. Police Chief Axel Henry says Saint Paul has experienced six domestic violence homicides this year and “no one in our community, particularly our officers, wants things to turn out this way.” Investigators say a woman called 9-1-1, saying she had an order for protection and the man had a handgun, was following her and driving into her vehicle and had broken out a window. The officer confronted the man, who shot the officer, and he returned fire. The woman was uninjured.
>>MN House Speaker Defends $500M State Office Building Revamp
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman is defending cost overruns when it comes to the $500 million revamp of the State Office Building. She says it will “serve generations to come.” Hortman says the says the project is a “must” in order to make the building safer and more accessible to the public, despite those who say the project will cost significantly more than planned. Hortman notes the large amount of protests on the Capitol steps, saying the renovation would create “an indoor area where citizens can come and protest, and make their voices heard, engage in demonstrations.”
>>Could Minnesota Could See a Brown Christmas?
(Chanhassen, MN) — Many Minnesotans are wondering whether we’ll have a white Christmas, after yesterday’s (Thurs) nearly summer-like temperatures in southwest Minnesota and spring-like weather in much of the rest of the state. Eric Ahasic (uh-HAH-sik) at the National Weather Service indicates it’s too early to hazard a prediction, but he does say, “”If we can go another week or so here with no snow on the ground and no real signs of any major weather systems, it gets, yeah, a little more likely that we might be seeing a potential for brown Christmas.” Ahasic notes even northern Minnesota doesn’t have much snow on the ground.
>>Man Dies in Industrial Accident in Mankato
(Mankato, MN) — One person is dead after an apparent industrial accident Thursday morning in Mankato. City officials say police and firefighters were called to a report of a man unresponsive on a roof where he had been doing repairs. Officers say first responders couldn’t immediately enter the scene until Xcel Energy confirmed the area was safe. The man was was dead when authorities arrived. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office is working to determine his cause of death.
>>Little Falls Man Killed in Firewood Plant Incident
(Little Falls, MN) — A Little Falls man is dead as a result of a workplace accident at a firewood plant in Fort Ripley. Morrison County sheriff’s deputies say employees led them to 39-year-old Gector Zelaya, who was trapped inside a firewood processing machine. First responded removed him from the machine and attempted life-saving measures but Zelaya died at the scene Wednesday.
>>2 People Die in 3-Vehicle Crash in South Minneapolis
(Minneapolis, MN) — Police are investigating a three-vehicle crash in south Minneapolis Thursday evening that left two people dead. Officers say a Mercedes Benz was driving south on Hiawatha Avenue when it crossed the median and hit a Ford Mustang and another car. The driver and passenger of the third car were taken to H-C-M-C but did not survive. The driver of the Mercedes and Mustang are hospitalized with potential life-threatening injures. Investigators say it appears the driver of the Mercedes may have suffered complications before crashing. No names have been released.
>>Klobuchar Demands Answers About Cost of Lead Poisoning Drug
(Washington, DC) — In a letter to Rising Pharmaceuticals, U-S Senator Amy Klobuchar is demanding answers about the cost of its E-D-T (Edetate Calcium Disodium) injection, used to treat lead poisoning. Klobuchar writes, “Rising’s decision to price this generic injectable at $32,000 per course of treatment – ten times the price of the imported version from France – has left hospitals reportedly unable to afford to keep the drug in stock. ” Earlier this year, the U-S Food and Drug Administration approved Rising for manufacturing and commerical production of the drug due to shortage.
>>St. Louis County Authorities Investigate Complaints About Explosion
(Duluth, MN) — Authorities in St. Louis say reports of an explosion north of Duluth Wednesday night were likely just illegal fireworks. Dispatch received multiple 9-1-1 calls about a flash of light followed by a loud explosion in Fredenberg (FREED’-en-berg)Township. Deputies say the property owner located a metal pipe or launch tube set up on his land Thursday that wasn’t there the previous day. Investigators say the evidence ‘strongly’ suggests the item was used to ignited some sort of aerial firework. Anyone with information about those responsible is asked to contact the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office.
>>Rush City Woman Sent to Federal Prison for $1.8 Million Fraud Schemes
(Minneapolis, MN) — A Chisago County woman will serve 21 months in federal prison and pay one-point-seven million dollars in restitution for her role in multiple schemes from 2017 through April 2022. Prosecutors say 70-year-old Gayle Ferngren of Rush City was part of scheme to launder proceeds that were fraudulently obtained from victims including the proceeds of romance fraud scams and schemes to defraud Federal Pandemic Assistance Programs. Fergren admitted to receivnig at least 68 debit cards containing one-point-three-million dollars in fraudulent unemployment benefits from California and Nevada. She pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud.
>>Ice Fishermen and Dog Fall Through Ice on Anoka County Lake
(Nowthen, MN) — The Anoka County Sheriff’s Office is reminding everyone that ice on some Minnesota lakes and ponds is not thick enough to walk on. Officers say two ice fishermen and a dog fell through through the ice and were unable to get to shore Sunday afternoon in Nowthen (now-then). A passerby was able to push a canoe out to them after they had been in the water for an extended period. The two men were showing signs of hypothermia and a deputy and first respondeers rescued them from the water. They were taken to the hospital for evaluation.
>>Journey, Def Leppard and Steve Miller to Rock Target Field
(Minneapolis, MN) — Target Field is hosting a classic rock concert next summer featuring some big-name acts. The Minnesota Twins announced that Def Leppard, Journey, and the Steve Miller Band are playing the outdoor ballpark on August 19th, 2024. Tickets go on sale to the public next Friday December 15th, but there’s a presale Tuesday on a special tour website (defleppardjourney2024.com).
