>>UnitedHealthcare CEO Shooter Charged in New York and Pennsylvania
(Altoona, PA) — The man accused of shooting UnitedHealthcare C-E-O Brian Thompson in Manhattan is facing murder and other charges in New York and Pennsylvania. Prosecutors in New York City are charging 26-year-old Luigi Mangione with the murder of Thompson and possession of forged documents and a weapon. He’s charged with five counts in Pennsylvania including carrying a firearm without a license. Mangione was arraigned Monday night and ordered held without bail. His extradition to New York is pending.
>>Poultry Producers Urged Not to Let Their Guard Down with Bird Flu
(Undated) — The Minnesota Board of Animal Health is urging poultry producers not to let their guard down with new cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the state. Senior veterinarian Doctor Shauna Voss says it’s not uncommon to find cases or identify cases during our spring and fall migration. She says they were already kind of on alert waiting for cases to maybe show up and it’s not a surprise. Voss says Minnesota turkey farmers know the mitigation measures that they need to put in place. The five bird flu detections in Meeker and Martin counties are first cases in the state since July.
>>Minneapolis Mayor Frey Vetoes Resolution Supporting of U of M Palestine Protesters
(Minneapolis, MN) — Mayor Jacob Frey vetoed a resolution backed by the Minneapolis City Council that supports University of Minnesota student protestors for Palestine. This comes after students were arrested while occupying Halimy Hall on November 27th. Seven out of the eight students found guilty must pay $5,500 each in restitution and will be suspended beginning January 1st. The suspensions range anywhere from one semester to two and a half years. The council could override the veto with a supermajority vote of 9-3. Students for a Democratic Society says the council’s support cannot directly change on-campus decisions.
>>Donations Down at Salvation Army Red Kettles in Minnesota
(Roseville, MN) — Salvation Army red kettle donations are down across the state. Spokesman Dan Furry says he thinks it’s mostly attributed to the fact that they have fewer people ringing the bells. He says a red kettle without a bell ringer raises mothing. All donations stay in the community where they are given. To sign up for a bell-ringing shift, head to registertoring.com.
>>Number of ATV Deaths in Minnesota Could Set Record in 2024
(Undated) — Minnesota is on track to see a record number of deaths from all-terrain vehicle crashes this year. The D-N-R’s Bruce Lawrence says 30 people have died in A-T-V crashes in 2024. He says the median age was around 44-years of age of those accidents and 23 out of the 30 this year were male who were operating specifically. Lawrence says several fatal crashes occurred when people were driving an A-T-V on a road and either rolled over or were struck by a vehicle. There are more than 343-thousand registered A-T-Vs in Minnesota.
>>St. Cloud Man Deemed Competent for 2018 Murder Trial
(St. Cloud, MN) — A St. Cloud man is mentally competent to stand trial for the murder of 45-year-old Jennifer Moy of Blaine. Prosecutors say 45-year-old Daniel Kenning has undergone multiple mental competency evaluations since his arrest. Charges say Kenning admitted to St. Cloud police in September 2018 that he killed someone. Police found Moy at Kenning’s house. Moy’s autopsy cites her death as a homicide, probably asphyxiation due to probable strangulation. Kenning is charged with first- and second-degree murder. A jury trial is scheduled for March.
>>Minnesota Developer Partnering with Live Nation on Shakopee Amphitheater
(Shakopee, MN) — The largest outdoor amphitheater in the Midwest is scheduled open late in the summer of 2025 near Canterbury Park. Shakopee development director Michael Kerski says it is a vertical amphitheater design with a capacity for 19 thousand fans. He says it is 110-feet tall including the roof at the highest point and is more like an outdoor arena with a roof. He says the amphitheater will have a raised lawn seating area. Minnesota developer Swervo is partnering with promoter Live Nation on the project.
>>Minnesota Gopher Men’s Hockey Ranked #1 in New USCHO Poll
(Minneapolis, MN ) — The University of Minnesota is the new number one team in the U-S College Hockey Online Men’s Poll this week. The Golden Gophers moved up three spots after back-to-back shutout wins over then number six Michigan. Top-ranked Michigan State fell to number three following a loss and overtime win against Wisconsin. Minnesota hosts the Spartans for a two-game Big Ten series this weekend. The Maroon and Gold are 8-and-0 in conference play.
