>>GOP Presidential Hopeful Haley Campaigning in Minnesota
(Bloomington, MN) — Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley is campaigning in Bloomington tonight (Mon 6:30 pm), just over one week ahead of Minnesota’s presidential primary. State Representative Kristin Robbins from Maple Grove chairs Haley’s Minnesota campaign. She says, “On Super Tuesday, when Minnesota has our presidential primary on March 5th… I really think that that is where Nikki will shine.” Carleton College political analyst Steve Schier (SHEER) says he thinks it’s possible she’ll do better than she will in other states in the Minnesota primary, simply because she will probably get some significant suburban support. The former South Carolina governor lost the primary in her home state Saturday to Ex-President Donald Trump 59 to 39 percent. Democratic Congressman Dean Phillips is floating the idea of being Haley’s vice-presidential running mate on a third-party ticket, if neither of them get their respective parties’ nomination.
>>Regents Expected to Pick New University of Minnesota President Monday
(Minneapolis, MN) — Minnesotans will likely know later today (Mon) who the next president of the University of Minnesota will be. The three finalists — Doctor Laura Bloomberg from Cleveland State University, Doctor Rebecca Cunningham from the University of Michigan and Doctor James Holloway from the University of New Mexico — have individually participated in forums at the U of M’s campuses in Crookston, Morris, Duluth, Rochester and the Twin Cities. Each of them are having roughly one-hour public interviews with the Board of Regents this morning (9am start), the regents will take a quick lunch break then begin their public deliberations, which will be live streamed on their website. U-of-M officials say the regents’ intent is to make their choice today and announce who will be the next president.
>>Biden Cancels $14.5 Million in Student Loan Debt for Minnesota Borrowers
(Washington, DC) — More two thousand borrowers in Minnesota will receive student loan forgiveness under the Biden’s administration’s Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) repayment plan. White House officials say two-thousand-60 borrowers in the state will have 14-and-a-half-million dollars forgiven. A total of 153-thousand borrowers nationwide are receiving one-point-two-billion dollars in forgiveness. Eligible borrowers must be enrolled in the SAVE plan, have been making at least ten years of payments and originally taken out 12 thousand dollars or less for college. Republicans complain that Biden’s latest student debt cancellation will cost taxpayers 559 billion dollars.
>>Public Vigil Tuesday in Rochester for Fallen Burnsville Fire Medic Finseth
(Rochester, MN) — There’s a public vigil tomorrow night (Tues 6:30pm) in Rochester for fallen Burnsville Fire Paramedic Adam Finseth. Forty-year-old Finseth graduated from Rochester John Marshall High School and Rochester Community and Technical College before enlisting in the Army. The vigil in the Rochester Assembly Church will include a tribute from the Rochester Fire Department Honor Guard, military honors, a bell ringing ceremony, and several speakers. His wife, Tara, said in a statement, “Although our forever hero is no longer with us, his soul will live on through me, his children, family, friends, and community. ”
>>Guns-N-Hoses Charity Hockey Game Expected to Set Record
(Blaine, MN) — Organizers of the eighth annual “Guns-N-Hoses” charity hockey game believe this weekend’s event will be a record-breaker. Executive director and Lino Lakes Public Safety chaplain Wes Pederson (PEE’-dur-sen) says the large turnout was amazing. He says, “these people in these communities know the value these first responders bring. They do their jobs selflessly and they put their lives on the line every single day. I don’t do that. I don’t know ’bout you.” The fundraising game between Minnesota firefighters and police officers was dedicated to the three fallen Burnsville first responders. Team Hoses beat Team Guns for the first time this year at the Super Rink in Blaine.
>>Duluth City Council to Decide on $90K Settlement with Man Alleging Police Abuse
(Duluth, MN) — If the Duluth City Council approves the settlement today (Mon), a man who was dragged handcuffed through the Skywalk by a Duluth police officer in 2017 will receive 90 thousand dollars from the city. Brandon Houle was arrested for trespassing, and body cam footage shows him drop to the ground and tell officers he wasn’t going to make it easy for them. Officer Adam Huot then dragged him about 100 feet by the handcuff chain and through a double door, where Houle’s head hit the metal frame. A lawsuit claims Houle suffered a traumatic brain injury and damage to his wrists. Officer Huot was briefly dismissed but the police union won an appeal and Huot has been back on the force since 2020.
>>Record-High Temperatures Forecast Monday in Parts of Minnesota
(Chanhassen, MN) — Several areas in Minnesota could set record-high temperatures today (Mon) before a quick blast of winter moves into the state. The National Weather Service is forecasting high temperatures in the low to mid 60s in the southern third of the state and 50s as far north as the Canadian border. That record warmth will be followed by a cold front Tuesday afternoon with temps falling and snow possible in the evening. Forecasters say there could be subzero windchills by Wednesday morning. About an inch of snow is expected in the Twin Cities area and two to four inches in northern Minnesota.
>>Bemidji Woman Jailed in Iowa Charged in Faribault Stabbing Death
(Faribault, MN) — A Minnesota woman jailed in Iowa is now charged with the second-degree murder of the man she was living with in Faribault (FAIR’-uh-boh). The Rice County Attorney’s Office is charging 32-year-old Arlene Bell of Bemidji in the stabbing death of 76-year-old Gary Lehmeyer. Bell was arrested driving Lehmeyer’s car in Dallas County, Iowa before he was found dead in his home February 5th and was under the influence of meth and alcohol. Bell told investigators she stabbed Lehmeyer repeatedly during a fight after he strangled and choked her with a dehumidifier cord. Prosecutors plan to extradite Bell back to Minnesota to face charges.
>>Pedestrian Fatally Struck by Car in Burnsville
(Burnsville, MN) — Authorities in the south metro are investigating a crash that left a pedestrian dead in Burnsville. Police say a vehicle struck a man Saturday night at an intersection on County Road 42. Officers from West St. Paul say the victim died at the scene. They say the driver is cooperating with police and did not show signs of impairment. The medical examiner is expected to release the victim’s name. Other law enforcement agencies have been assisting the Burnsville P-D since the killings of three first responders last Sunday.
