>>Court Ruling on DFL Candidate Residency Complicates Minnesota House Negotiations
(St. Paul, MN) — A district court ruling may prevent the Democratic candidate who won the Minnesota House District 40-B election from being sworn in next month. Hamline University Professor David Schultz says Republican leaders can now say, “We’ve potentially got sole control of the House of Representatives. We’re going to proceed as if we are in charge…at least temporarily. We’re going to assign out committee chairs and committee assignments the way we want.” Schultz says Democrats and Republicans had agreed to a shared power structure before the court ruled Representative-elect Curtis Johnson lied about his residency during the campaign. Johnson beat Republican Paul Wikstrom by more than 75-hundred votes.
>>Senator Smith Cheers Passage of Social Security Fairness Act
(Washington, DC) — U-S Senator Tina Smith is celebrating passage of the bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act. The Minnesota Democrat says the bill will repeal outdate provisions that drastically reduce Social Security benefits for police officers, firefighters, postal workers, and teachers. Smith said, “they deserve their full Social Security payments in retirement.” The bill is expected to be signed by President Biden. At least 21 thousand public workers in Minnesota are expected to benefit from the law.
>>18-Year-Old Arrested in Mankato Homicide
(Mankato, MN) — An 18-year-old man is in custody in connection with a homicide in Mankato. Police found a man dead inside a vehicle early Saturday and determined he had been shot at another location. Officers executed a search warrant at a Mankato home to arrest Guenther Boone Junior on suspicion of second-degree murder. The victim hasn’t been identified.
>>Mangione to Appear in Court Monday for Arraignment on State Charges
(New York, NY) — The suspect in the deadly shooting of UnitedHealthcare C-E-O Brian Thompson of Maple Grove is back in court today (Mon) in New York City. Luigi Mangione is expected to be arraigned on state charges in the case. The 26-year-old appeared in federal court Thursday on charges of murder, stalking, and a firearms offense in connection with the December 4th killing of Thompson. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has been coordinating with federal prosecutors regarding Mangione’s arraignment on eleven state charges, including murder with a terrorism enhancement.
>>Semi Driver Dies Pinned Underneath Truck on 494 in Inver Grove Heights
(Inver Grove Heights, MN) — A semi-truck driver is dead after being pinned under his vehicle on Interstate 494 in Inver Grove Heights. The Minnesota State Patrol says 51-year-old Jay Smith had pulled his rig over to perform maintenance Friday night. Troopers say the semi fell on Smith while he was working on the truck. Smith died of his injuries at Regions Hospital.
>>Person of Interest Identified in Bois Forte Reservation Death
(Bois Forte, MN) — Investigators have identified a person of interest in the hit-and-run death of a woman in northern Minnesota. Thirty-eight-year-old Amanda Boshey, a resident of Bois Forte, was struck by a vehicle while walking along Lake Vermillion Reservation Road on Tuesday. The F-B-I is overseeing the investigation because the incident occurred on tribal land. So far, no further details about the investigation have been released, and no arrests have been made.
>>Unique Cross-Border Airport in Northern Minnesota to Close
(Pinecreek, MN) — A unique airport in northern Minnesota is scheduled to close this week. The Piney Pinecreek Border Airport in Roseau County will shut down on Thursday due to declining usage and the need for costly improvements. It is one of six airports situated along the U-S/Canadian border, but it is the only one with a paved runway that extends into Canada. The airport used to be a popular destination for hunters and others traveling to Canada, thanks to the presence of customs officers on both sides of the border.
>>Minnesota Vikings Get Big Road Win at Seattle
(Seattle, WA) — The Minnesota Vikings topped the Seahawks 27-24 in Seattle Sunday afternoon to move to 13-and-2. Justin Jefferson caught the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter and finished with 144 yards and two scores. Theo Jackson sealed the Purple’s eighth straight victory with a late interception. Sam Darnold threw for 246 yards and his third T-D pass went to Jordan Addison. The Vikings play the Packers this Sunday at U-S Bank Stadium.
