>>Congressional Republicans Ask DOJ to Investigate House District 54-A Election
(Washington, DC) — Congressional Republicans are asking the U-S Justice Department to investigate what they call the “mishandling” of the Minnesota House District 54-A race. A judge ruled D-F-L Representative Brad Tabke of Shakopee won re-election by 14 votes over challenger Aaron Paul. That was after Scott County election officials acknowledged 20 absentee ballots were misplaced. In a letter to the D-O-J, Representatives Brad Finstad, Pete Stauber and Michele Fischbach write, “while the election results for the 2024 general election were swiftly certified by Scott County and Secretary of State Steve Simon, 20 Minnesotans were allegedly denied their right to vote in this election.”
>>Wisconsin GOP Leader Compares Governor Evers’ Budget Plan to Minnesota
(Madison, WI) — A Republican leader in the Wisconsin Legislature says he doesn’t want his state to turn into Minnesota. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos in response to Governor Tony Evers’ proposed 119-billion-dollar budget said, “all of the wasteful new programs that are being created and regulations on the private sector, the increases on business, the increases in income taxes, all of those things dead on arrival.” He added, ” we are not going to let Wisconsin become Tim Walz’s Minnesota.” Governor Walz’s proposed budget comes in at just under 66 billion dollars.
>>House Committee Passes Bill Suspending Social & Ethnic Studies Mandates
(St. Paul, MN) — A bill passed by a Minnesota House committee Tuesday would suspend new social studies standards and ethnic studies requirements in our schools. Republican Representative Ron Kresha of Little Falls argues the focus should be on academic achievement. He told members, “every student starts the day with a finite number of minutes to be successful. Mandates like the ethnic studies mandate steal time from students with prescribed and enforced curriculum and ultimately sets them up to fail.” St. Paul student Angeline Patrick Pacheco spoke out against the bill, saying, “House File 29 is an attempt to ignore history. To deny students ethnic studies is to deny students an accurate representation of themselves in their education.” The bill would suspend the state mandates until 2030. It advanced to the House Education Finance Committee on a 7-6 party line vote.
>>We Make Minnesota Coalition Rallies Against Federal Cuts
(St. Paul, MN) — A grassroots Minnesota coalition is pushing for increased revenue in public services such as housing, education, healthcare, and transportation. We Make Minnesota director Eric Bernstein says they want local legislators to fight against federal cuts of social safety net programs. He says, “we’re asking for the state to be a leader in providing the foundations of a strong and just society which has been a calling card of Minnesota for decades.” Hundreds stood outside the Capitol Tuesday with Attorney General Keith Ellison for the “Fund Our Future” rally.
>>Wadena National Guard Armory is Emergency Shelter for Fire Victims
(St. Paul, MN) — Residents displaced by a deadly apartment fire in Wadena are temporarily staying at the local Minnesota National Guard Armory. An executive order by Governor Tim Walz authorizes the Wadena armory as a short-term emergency shelter for nine residents. One person died in the fire late Sunday night that destroyed the building. Firefighters battled the flames and subzero cold and wind chills. Investigators are working to determine what caused the fire.
>>Testing of Raw Milk for Bird Flu Begins Next Week in Minnesota
(St. Paul, MN) — Starting next week, the state of Minnesota will begin testing raw cow milk for highly pathogenic avian influenza in compliance with U-S-D-A regulations. Since last year, a total of nine cases of bird flu have been reported in cows across Minnesota. State health officials remind everyone to avoid drinking raw milk and consuming dairy products made from raw milk. There is no concern about milk sold in grocery stores, as it gets pasteurized.
>>Semi Driver Killed in Crash on I-94 near Sauk Centre in Stearns County
(Sauk Centre, MN) — A semi driver is dead after crashing on Interstate 94 late Tuesday night in Stearns County. The Minnesota State Patrol says a rig driven by 60-year-old David Elders from Joliet, Illinois left I-94, went into the south ditch, and landed on its side near Sauk Centre. The report says Elders died at the scene and his passenger, 61-year-old Kim Elders, suffered non-life threatening injuries. The roadway was dry at the time and both occupants were wearing seat belts.
>>Mankato Teen Who Escaped During Transport Back in Custody
(Mankato, MN) — A Mankato teen who escaped police while being transported to juvenile detention last month is back in custody. The Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office says the 17-year-old boy was located at a home in Mankato on Monday thanks to an anonymous tip. He ran from a sheriff’s deputy on January 26th as he was being led from a patrol car to the Carver County juvenile detention center. The Minnesota State Patrol led an extensive search for the teen that included drones and K-9 officers.
>>Minnesota Girls State Hockey Tournament Begins at the Xcel Energy Center
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota State High School Girls Hockey Tournament begins today (Wed) at the Xcel Energy Center. The Class One-A quarterfinals face off this morning and the Class Two-A matchups start on Thursday. Fergus Falls and Orono face off in the first One-A game at 11 am, Marshall plays Warroad at 1 o’clock this afternoon, it’s River Lakes vs. Dodge County at 6 pm, and Proctor-Hermantown skates against Richfield Holy Angels in the last One-A quarterfinal at 8 o’clock tonight. The semifinals will be played Friday, and two state champions will be crowned Saturday in St. Paul.
>>Minnesota Men’s Basketball Rallies for Road Victory at UCLA
(Los Angeles, CA) — The Golden Gopher men’s basketball team is celebrating a 64-61 comeback victory over U-C-L-A Tuesday night at the Pauley Pavilion. Dawson Garcia had a season-high 32 points and eight rebounds as Minnesota rallied from a 17-point deficit. A layup by La’Cye Patterson with 8 seconds remaining gave the Gophers the lead. The U of M completed a Southern California sweep with last night’s win over the Bruins and a victory Sunday at U-S-C. Minnesota plays Penn State on Saturday at Williams Arena.
