>>Public Memorial Set for 3 Fallen First Responders from Burnsville

(Eden Prairie, MN) — A public memorial for the three fallen Burnsville first responders is scheduled for next Wednesday at Grace Church in Eden Prairie. Burnsville police Officers Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge (ROO’-ghee) and fire paramedic Adam Finseth were shot and killed while answering a domestic violence call on Sunday. There have been community vigils for the three victims all week outside the Burnsville Police Department.

 

>>Minnesota House Committee to Debate School Resource Officer Law

(St. Paul, MN) — A Minnesota House committee meets this morning (Thurs 1030) to try to break a stalemate over a bill aiming to clarify a new state law about when school resource officers are allowed to use restrictive holds on violent students. Law enforcement wants use-of-force standards not to be different for school resource officers than other peace officers, so school officers’ hands aren’t tied in dangerous situations. An amendment to the Senate bill attempts to give “comfort language,” and Wright County Sheriff Sean Deringer (SHAWN DARE-in-jer) with the Minnesota Sheriffs Association told lawmakers he’s optimistic. The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association said they support the amendment.

 

>>State Capitol Hearing on Proposed Moratorium on Sulfide Mining

(St. Paul, MN) — Backers of a proposed moratorium on sulfide mining in Minnesota hold their own informational hearing at the State Capitol today (Thurs 2pm) because they haven’t been able to get a formal hearing in either the House or the Senate. The proposed Polymet copper-nickel mine in northeastern Minnesota remains embroiled in court battles, while parent company Glencore pleaded guilty to federal charges of foreign bribery and commodity price manipulation. Former Governor Arne Carlson says, “”I still haven’t seen a reporter ask the governor of the state of Minnesota why we’re doing business with Glencore, one of the world’s most corrupt companies.” Carlson says Governor Tim Walz hasn’t responded to his inquiries.

 

>>Senate Bill to Provide Medical Assistance for Incarcerated Individuals

(St. Paul, MN) — Senator Alice (uh-LEASE’) Mann of Edina is sponsoring a bill that would provide people in prison with access to Medical Assistance (MA). She says the proposed legislation would enable incarcerated individuals to receive quality healthcare before their needs become an emergency. It covers various aspects of care including substance use, recovery, and mental health. Mann calls it one of her top priorities for the legislative session.

 

>>Freedom Soda Initiative to Benefit Federal Marijuana Prisoners

(Rochester, MN) — Proceeds from sales of a Minnesota-made T-H-C beverage are going to benefit people imprisoned on federal marijuana convictions. Travis Cullen became an activist after serving an eight-year federal prison sentence and is now C-E-O of the Freedom Soda Initiative and owner of Laughing Waters cannabis store in Rochester. Freedom Soda is now in stores and they are giving 30 percent of profits to inmates in federal prison. Cullen says there is no federal expungement for marijuana convictions and they’re seeking clemency for inmates from the Biden administration. Freedom Soda comes in eight flavors, and each can contain ten milligrams of T-H-C.

 

>>Minnesota Man Charged with Murder of Woman in LA

(Los Angeles, CA) — A Minnesota man is facing charges in California for allegedly killing an aspiring model. The Los Angeles Police Department announced the arrest of Magnus Humphrey of Hopkins, Minnesota, on Wednesday. Investigators believe Humphrey killed 31-year-old Maleesa Mooney, who was found dead inside the refrigerator of her Los Angeles apartment last September. An autopsy found Mooney died from homicidal violence, specifically blunt force trauma to her head, torso, and arms. Humphrey was already in custody on an unrelated federal warrant and will be extradited to California to face murder charges.

 

>> Federal Judge Confirms $5M Award Against MyPillow CEO Lindell

(St. Paul, MN) — A recent court ruling in Minnesota orders MyPillow C-E-O Mike Lindell to pay five-million dollars to Robert Zeidman, who won an arbitration case against Lindell. The court has upheld the decision of an arbitration panel, despite the poorly written contract. Lindell sponsored a challenge offering the prize money to anyone who could prove that his data about the 2020 election was inaccurate. Zeidman had taken up the challenge and provided a 15-page document demonstrating that the data was indeed invalid. Although Zeidman initially lost the challenge, the arbitrators later ruled that he had, in fact, met the conditions of the contest. Lindell plans to appeal the court ruling.

 

>>Oklahoma Man Pleads Guilty in Minnesota to Defrauding Online Auctions

(Minneapolis, MN) — An Oklahoma man is pleading guilty to wire fraud after hacking a government auction website in Eagan, Minnesota, to buy vehicles and jewelry for just one dollar. Federal court documents say 41-year-old Evan Coker participated in multiple auctions on the General Service Administration’s (GSA) auction website, which disposes of surplus, seized, and forfeited assets that are no longer required by government agencies. Instead of paying the winning bid amount, Coker breached the website and changed the price to just one dollar whenever he won an auction. Prosecutors say Coker obtained three vehicles, with a total value of more than 40 thousand dollars. A sentencing hearing is yet to be scheduled.

 

>>Enrollment Up Across Minnesota State College System

(St. Paul, MN) — Enrollment at colleges that are part of the Minnesota State system is increasing. Enrollment rose by two percent for the 2023-2024 school year, the first increase in over a decade. Applications for this fall are also up by 18 percent. Minnesota State officials attribute enrollment increases for the system’s 33 member institutions to increased financial support provided to students by the state.

 

>>MDA Giving $375K in Cooperative Development Grant Funding

(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is out with a grant program for new cooperatives in the agricultural industry. The Cooperative Development Grants, which were created during the 2023 legislation, will offer up to $375,000 in funding. Applicants can request between $2,500 to $50,000 per project, with a commitment to match at least 50% of the total project cost. Grant applications will be open until April 24th.

 

>>MSP Airport Wins Global Award for Best On-Time Performance

(Minneapolis, MN) — Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is being honored globally for helping airlines and passengers get to their destination on time. M-S-P spokesman Jeff Lea says they received a major award from aviation data company Cirium (SEER’ -ee -um) which monitors flights. He says it means that M-S-P was the best airport in the world for on-time performance. Lea says nearly 85 percent of flights departed on time and arrived within 15 minutes of scheduled arrival. M-S-P is the first U-S airport since Seattle in 2011 to win the global on-time performance award.

 

>>’Miracle on Ice’ Bobbleheads Release on 44th Anniversary of Soviet Union Upset

(Milwaukee, WI) — The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum is releasing three “Miracle on Ice” Team U-S-A hockey bobbleheads today (Thurs). They feature Olympic gold-medal winning coach Herb Brooks from Minnesota, 1980 team member Jack O’Callahan, and a generic U-S player that fans can customize. The Americans upset the Soviet Union 4-3 on February 22nd, 1980 in Lake Placid, New York. Sports Illustrated called the “Miracle on Ice” the top sports moment of the 20th century. Proceeds from sales of the Herb Brooks bobblehead will benefit the Herb Brooks Foundation.

 

 

 

 

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