>>Temps Fall Below Zero Statewide in Minnesota
(Chanhassen, MN) — Minnesotans are waking up this morning (Mon) to temperatures below zero statewide. The coldest spot was Cook in northeastern Minnesota at 40 degrees below zero. Temps fell to minus-24 in Crane Lake; negative-22 in Fergus Falls and Park Rapids; 21-below at Bemidji and Walker; minus-20 in Detroit Lakes, Alexandria, Fosston and Wadena; negative-18 in Moorhead and Warroad; 15- below zero in Willmar and Montevideo; negative-14 in St. Cloud and Marshall; and minus-8 in the Twin Cities and Rochester. This cold snap is expected to continue through Wednesday.
>>American Cancer Society Supports Minnesota Medical Debt Reset Act
(St. Paul, MN) — The American Cancer Society is encouraging state lawmakers to pass the “Minnesota Medical Debt Reset Act.” The legislation could eliminate outstanding bills for up to 400 thousand Minnesotans and would cost five million dollars. Emily Myatt with the American Cancer Society Action Network says, “this bill has a real impact on our state. The idea that we can reach Minnesotans in all corners of the state, the Twin Cities, Greater Minnesota and especially those living with medical debt and provide real relief.” Authors in the Minnesota House and Senate hope there will be bipartisan support to get it passed this session.
>>Avian Bird Flu Detected on Crow Wing County Farm
(Fort Ripley, MN) — A poultry farm in Crow Wing County is the latest in Minnesota with a confirmed case of highly pathogenic avian influenza. U-S-D-A officials say samples from the farm in Fort Ripley tested positive and all 120 birds were depopulated. This was the first case in the state since avian bird flu was detected January 24th on a commercial turkey operation in Wadena County. That case affected more than 275 thousand birds.
>>5 Charged in Murder of Missing Minnesota Man in New York
(Rochester, NY) — Five people face second-degree murder charges for the killing of a transgender man from Minnesota near Rochester, New York. Twenty-four-year-old Sam Nordquist of Oakdale was reported missing by family February 9th and his body was found in a field last Thursday in Yates County. Law enforcement officials say Nordquist was subjected to long periods of torture include physical and sexual abuse that resulted in his death. New York State Police said Nordquist and the five suspects knew each other and at this time have no indication that Sam’s murder was a hate crime. Nordquist attended Red Wing High School and he will be remembered during a vigil tonight (Mon 7pm) in Central Park.
>>St. Paul Police Officer Sentenced for DWI Building Crash
(St. Paul, MN) — A St. Paul police officer will serve ten days in jail in April for crashing into a building while driving drunk while off-duty last August. Prosecutors say 30-year-old Bryan McKinnon pleaded guilty to third-degree D-W-I and received a ten-day jail sentence. The Minnesota State Patrol said McKinnon had a blood alcohol concentration twice the legal limit when he hit the building, and his vehicle caught fire. He was also ordered to serve two years of probation and faces a year in jail if he violates the terms.
>>Sauk Centre Man Killed in Becker County Snowmobile Crash
(Detroit Lakes, MN) — Authorities in Becker County are investigating a deadly snowmobile crash on Two Inlets Lake. The report says a machine driven by 39-year-old Benjamin Hellerman of Sauk Centre collided with a fish house on Saturday night and he was found not breathing. Paramedics tried to save him, but Hellerman died at the scene. Sheriff’s deputies say Hellerman was riding with a friend and the other snowmobiler lost sight of him before the crash. No one was inside the fish house that he struck.
>>Alcohol Suspected in Fatal Snowmobile Crash near Walker
(Walker, MN) — Investigators believe that alcohol use contributed to a fatal snowmobile crash near Walker in northern Minnesota. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says a snowmobile driven by a 50-year-old man from Corpus Christi, Texas struck a snowbank and some trees Friday night. The rider was taken to a Park Rapids hospital where he died of his injuries. Deputies say alcohol is a suspected factor and they’re still investigating the incident.
>>Snowmobiler from Twin Cities Seriously Injured in Crash near Orr
(Orr, MN) — A woman from is Shoreview is hospitalized after a snowmobile accident near Orr in northeastern Minnesota. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office says the 62-year-old rider was on the Arrowhead trail Saturday afternoon when she struck a tree. Deputies say she suffered serious non-life threatening injuries and was airlifted to a Twin Cities hospital for advanced care.
>>17-Year-Old from Woodbury Dies in Washington County Crash
(Stillwater, MN) — Authorities say a 17-year-old girl is the victim in a deadly two-vehicle crash near the St. Croix River in Washington County. First responders treated Elizabeth Radecki of Woodbury at the scene, but she didn’t survive Friday’s crash. The other driver was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Deputies say ice and snow on the roads appear to be a factor in the collision.
>>Person Catches Fire in St. Paul Bus Shelter
(St. Paul, MN) — Officers say a person caught fire inside a Metro Transit stop Saturday afternoon in St. Paul. Police believe the victim was near a small fire intentionally set in the bus shelter before they caught fire. The victim was brought to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
>>Government Offices Closed for Presidents’ Day
(Undated) — Today is Presidents’ Day, and most government offices will be closed for the federal holiday. Major banks and post offices will also be closed. U-P-S and FedEx locations will be open. Many schools in Minnesota are also having classes today, but some are closed or starting late due to the extreme cold.
