>>Minnesota Republicans Criticize Proposed North Star Act
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota Republicans in the U-S House and the state legislature are fighting Democrats’ push to prohibit state and local law enforcement from cooperating with federal authorities on deportations. State House G-O-P Minority Leader Lisa Demuth (DAY-muth) says Minnesotans want safe and secure borders and making Minnesota a “sanctuary state” would put undue pressure on services. But Democratic Representative Sandra Feist (FYE-st) from New Brighton says state and local dollars should go “toward the betterment of Minnesotans, rather than wasting them enforcing our broken federal immigration laws.”
>>Minneapolis City Council Overrides Mayor’s Veto of Gaza Resolution
(Minneapolis, MN) — A vote by the Minneapolis City Council on Thursday overrides Mayor Jacob Frey’s veto of a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Council members said they were proud of their vote and their veto-proof majority. Mayor Frey called the resolution “one-sided” and says it uplifts the history of Palestinians, and all but erases that of Israeli Jews.” The mayor issued his own proclamation, calling for a ceasefire and two-state solution in Gaza and said leaders must speak up to unify our city, not divide it.
>>Infant Dies at Prairie’s Edge Casino in Granite Falls
(Granite Falls, MN) — Authorities in southwest Minnesota are investigating the death of a baby at the Prairie’s Edge Casino in Granite Falls. The Yellow Medicine County Sheriff’s Office received a 9-1-1 call about an unresponsive infant Thursday morning. Upper Sioux Community police officers and first responders performed life-saving measures, but the one-month-old child died at the scene. Investigators say the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the baby’s cause and manner of death. No further information is being released.
>>St. Louis County Murder Suspect Arrested on Warrants
(Duluth, MN) — The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office says a man accused in a fatal drug overdose and other crimes is jailed on multiple warrants. The Lake Superior Violent Offender Task Force arrested 41-year-old Justin Stauffer Wednesday afternoon in Duluth. Officers say he has active warrants for third-degree murder, being a felon in possession of a firearm and drug charges. Stauffer is suspected of providing the drugs that led to the overdose death of Timothy Baker in March of 2023. Deputies say Stauffer has 18 open cases in St. Louis County.
>>SW Minnesota Man Facing Federal Charges After Yearlong FBI Probe
(Redwood Fall, MN) — A southwest Minnesota man is facing federal charges after a yearlong anti-terrorist probe by the F-B-I. Andrew Munsinger of Redwood Falls was arrested this week and charged with illegally possessing ammunition after being convicted of a crime. The F-B-I began investigating Munsinger after a tip from an informant. The investigation tracked Munsinger’s movements as a member of the Ayran Freedom Network seeking firearms training. Munsinger reportedly made racist and religiously bigoted statements and said he wanted to stage some type of action at George Floyd Square in Minneapolis. He will remain in custody until a detention hearing next week.
>>Investigation into Fire at Historic Lutsen Lodge Could Take Weeks
(Lutsen, MN) — State Fire Marshal Daniel Krier (KRY-er) says investigators at this time “haven’t ruled out any type of cause” of the fire that destroyed the main lodge at historic Lutsen Resort. Officials say there was an outstanding order for annual check-up and testing of the fire alarm and sprinkler systems. Krier says they received e-mail notification that the lodge was ready for reinspection, but their inspector “has not been able to go out in the field and verify that.” He says he doesn’t know the status of the fire sprinkler system at the time of the fire. Krier says, due to the extent of the investigation, “we’re probably talking weeks” before results will be available.
>>Woman Killed, Man Injured in St. Paul House Fire
(St. Paul, MN) — Fire officials say a woman is dead and man is hospitalized after a fire in the St. Anthony Park neighborhood of St. Paul. Crews were called to the home early Thursday morning and found one person outside who told them another person was still inside. Firefighters found the victim dead after extinguishing the fire. The man is said to be hospitalized with severe burns. Officials say two dogs also died in the fire. There have been six fire fatalities in St. Paul already this year.
>>Climatologists are Calling this Season the Lost Winter of 2023-24
(St. Paul, MN) — The warm temperatures and lack of snow this winter are something Minnesota hasn’t experienced in more than 140 years. Assistant State Climatologist Pete Boulay (BOO’-lay) says we’ve seen record-highs in December, January, and February. He says they’re calling it the Lost Winter of 2023-24 and have launched a webpage with statistics including record temperatures. Boulay says the winter of 1877-78 is the only other one that has been this warm and snowless in Minnesota.
>>Moorhead Firefighters Rescue Dog from Red River
(Moorhead, MN) — Everyone is safe after a man jumped into the Red River Thursday afternoon in Moorhead to save his dog. Crews were called to the dam near River Oaks Park where a caller said a dog fell into the river and the man went in after it. Moorhead Fire says members of their C-Shift crew rescued the dog.
>>U of M Board of Regents Extends AD Coyle for 2 Years
(Minneapolis, MN) — The University of Minnesota is extending the contract of athletics director Mark Coyle for two years through June 2030. The Board of Regents says the Golden Gophers have excelled in the classroom, on the field and in the collegiate community under Coyle’s direction. Since Coyle was named A-D in May of 2016, Minnesota teams have won 16 regular season tiles, eight conference tournament championships and 17 individual N-C-A-A national championships.
>>Timberwolves’ Towns to Compete in NBA All Star 3-Point Contest
(Minneapolis, MN) — Minnesota Timberwolves forward Karl-Anthony Towns is competing in the N-B-A All-Star 3-Point Contest next Saturday night in Indianapolis. Towns won the 3-Point Contest in 2022 and will be playing in his fourth All-Star Game. Wolves guard Anthony Edwards is making his second All-Star appearance and is participating in a three-on-three skills challenge on Saturday. Chris Finch and the Timberwolves staff are coaching the Western Conference All-Star team on Sunday February 18th. The Wolves routed the Bucks 129-105 Thursday night in Milwaukee.
