>>46 Law Enforcement Agencies Getting State Funding to Help Train and Recruit Officers
(Brooklyn Park, MN) — Forty-six law enforcement agencies in Minnesota are getting grant funding to help with officer training and recruitment efforts. Governor Tim Walz says the funding will allow candidates to transition into law enforcement careers. The governor told reporters, “One of those things goes back to getting enough people to do the job, so the burden doesn’t fall on fewer, fewer members, making sure shifts are able to be done in a in a manner that is conducive to folks being able to recover.” A total of $4.5 million in grant money will go to the police departments and sheriff’s offices across the state.
>>House GOP Letters Ask State Commissioners to Look for Cost Savings
(St. Paul, MN) — With the state of Minnesota facing a budget deficit by the end of the decade, Republican leaders are sending letters to the governor’s commissioners and state agencies requesting information on their expenses and potential areas for cost savings. House G-O-P Leader Lisa Demuth says they’ll look at everything including spending and whether employees should be brought back to their offices. Demuth said, “We need to help Minnesota taxpayers understand where their tax dollars are going and what they’re paying for including office space and who is working from where.” The letters request the agencies report back with their numbers by January 6th.
>>Minnesota Sets Record for Visitors and Tourism Spending in 2023
(St. Paul, MN) — State tourism officials say a record 80.2 million people visited Minnesota last year and spent a record 14.1 billion dollars. Explore Minnesota Executive Director Lauren Bennett McGinty says, “we really saw a huge year-over-year increase with four-point-six percent of visitors and three-point-nine percent above those pre-pandemic levels. So lots to celebrate today.” McGinty says small businesses, outdoor recreation and local resorts and rely on visitors. More than 180 thousand jobs are supported by Minnesota’s tourism industry.
>>Body of 18-Year-Old ATV Rider Recovered from Cass County Lake
(Longville, MN) — Cass County authorities say searchers recovered the body of an 18-year-old man who fell through the ice on Blackwater Lake while riding an A-T-V. Sheriff’s deputies say the A-T-V carrying two riders sank on the lake Monday evening. A 20-year-old rider was pulled from the water Monday night and airlifted to St. Cloud Hospital. The body of the 18-year-old victim was recovered Tuesday afternoon. Officials are working to identify the man.
>>Kingsbury Family Requests Cameras in Courtroom for Fravel Sentencing
(Winona, MN) – The family of Madeline Kingsbury of Winona is asking a judge to allowing cameras in the courtroom for the sentencing of Adam Fravel. Kingsbury’s ex-boyfriend was found guilty of her murder last month. While cameras were not allowed during Fravel’s trial held in Mankato, Kingsbury’s family has agreed to let cameras into the courtroom to capture their victim impact statements. Fravel is expected to receive a life prison sentence on December 17th.
>>Delano Public Schools Mourns Loss of Senior Killed in Motorcycle Crash
(Delano, MN) — Delano Public Schools is mourning the loss of a high school senior killed in a motorcycle crash over the weekend. The Wright County Sheriff’s Office says an S-U-V collided with a cycle driven by 17-year-old Kurtis Wasik Sunday afternoon at the intersection of County Roads 13 and 30. Deputies say first responders tried to save Wasik, but he died at the scene. There’s a visitation for Wasik on Thursday evening and his funeral is Friday at Light of Christ Church in Delano. A GoFundMe page has raised more than 32 thousand dollars for his family.
>>Ramsey County Opens Winter Warming Spaces
(St. Paul, MN) — Ramsey County opens Winter Warming Spaces in St. Paul today (Wed) for those unsheltered. Lasting through March 31st, three spaces will be open every overnight from 9 pm to 7 am. The Holy Christian Cathedral Church is open to women, the Phalen Activity Center is open to single men, and the Newell Park Building is open to single men. Beginning this Sunday, the St. Paul Reformation Lutheran Church will be available to families and youth up to 24 years old every night through March.
>>Minnesota Wild Rally for Shootout Win in Utah
(Salt Lake City, UT) — The Minnesota Wild are celebrating a 5-4 shootout win over the Utah Hockey Club Tuesday night in Salt Lake City. Marco Rossi scored for Minnesota with under a minute remaining in regulation to force overtime and Matt Boldy netted the game-winning goal in the shootout. Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson stopped all the shootout attempts and finished with 21 saves. Minnesota is back on home ice Thursday night to face the Edmonton Oilers.
