>>House Republican Bill Would Close NorthStar Commuter Rail Line
(St. Paul, MN) — A Minnesota House committee will consider a bill today (Mon 1pm) that would shut down the NorthStar Commuter Rail line. Republican state Representative Jon Koznick of Lakeville called NorthStar a “failed experiment” in commuter transit and said, “it’s time to stop wasting 11 million dollars annually on a project that simply doesn’t work to reduce congestion or move people.” The 40-mile commuter rail route between Big Lake and Target Field uses existing track owned by B-N-S-F Railway.
>>Minnesota Ag Officials Begin Testing Raw Milk for Bird Flu
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is going to start testing raw cow milk today (Mon) for H-5-N-1 or bird flu. Dairy Inspection Division Director Doctor Nicole Neeser says Minnesota farmers won’t need to do anything extra. Neeser says they’ll be using existing infrastructure to collect samples, and each farm will be tested once a month for three to four months. She says there’s no concern for the safety of the public milk supply since milk sold in stores is pasteurized and kills the virus.
>>Late February Warmup Expected to Continue in Minnesota
(Chanhassen, MN) — Above normal temperatures are expected across Minnesota for the final week of February. National Weather Service Meteorologist Mike Griesinger says it really warmed up Sunday in parts of the state. He says there were a few 60-degree highs around Redwood Falls and Madison and mid to upper 50s were common in western Minnesota. He says the mercury rose into the 40s in International Falls. We had below normal temperatures for the first three weeks of month.
>>102nd Birthday Celebration for WWII Veteran and Red Bull Don Halvorson
(Arden Hills, MN) — The Minnesota National Guard is celebrating the 102nd birthday of World War II Veteran and Red Bull soldier Don Halvorson today (Mon 11am) in Arden Hills. Technical Sergeant Halvorson of Brooklyn Center will be awarded the Order of St. George Bronze Medallion during the program. He was nominated for the award for demonstrating tactical and technical competence and his overall contributions to service throughout World War II. Twenty-year-old Halvorson joined the U-S Army in 1943 and served with the 34th Infantry Division, leading a platoon of soldiers from Naples, Italy to the border of Switzerland.
>>Driver and Passenger Killed in Single-Vehicle Crash in Redwood County
(Lamberton, MN) — Authorities in Redwood County are investigating a crash Saturday night that left two people dead near Lamberton. Sheriff’s deputies were to called a single vehicle crash on County Road 15 and determined that the man who was driving was ejected and died at the scene. Officers say a passenger was trapped inside the pickup and later died of his injuries. The victims haven’t been identified.
>>Fatal Crash in Pine County, Alcohol Believed to be Involved
(Hinckley, MN) — The Minnesota State Patrol believes alcohol was involved in a fatal crash Saturday in Pine County. Troopers say a westbound car on Highway 48 near Hinckley crossed over the center line and hit an eastbound pickup truck. The car’s driver, 40-year-old Joseph Peacock of Mora, died at the scene. The pickup driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
>>57-Year-Old Rochester Man Sentenced for Gas Station Meth Bust
(Rochester, MN) — A Rochester man is sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison for dealing methamphetamine. Prosecutors say 57-year-old Martin Empson pleaded guilty to first-degree drug sales. Police began investigating suspicious behavior indicating drug sale activity at a gas station in 2023. Officers say Empson would sit in a parked vehicle, wait for another to pull up, enter that vehicle, and then exit shortly. A search of Empson’s vehicle turned up three bags of meth and a digital scale.
>>Rare Flu-Related Brain Inflammation Raises Concerns in Minnesota
(St. Paul, MN) — After a child in Minneapolis contracted the flu and subsequently developed a rare brain inflammation, health officials across the state are raising concerns. This condition, known as acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE), causes rapid deterioration of brain tissue. Alongside the case in the Twin Cities, there has been a national increase in cases. The Minnesota Department of Health has stated that, although A-N-E is rare, its morbidity and mortality rates are high.
>>Minnesota Skier Looking to Win Gold in Special Olympics World Winter Games
(Turin, IT) — Bethany Mussell, a skier from Minnesota, is aiming for a gold medal at next month’s Special Olympics World Winter Games in Torino, Italy. Last season, Mussell earned a gold medal at the State Ski Meet at Wild Mountain in Taylors Falls. After over 10 years of dedication, she is ready to compete in three events: slalom, giant slalom, and Super G. The Special Olympics World Winter Games will begin on March 8th and feature more than 1,500 athletes.
>>Gopher Men’s Hockey Sweeps Ohio State to Move into 1st Place in Big Ten
(Minneapolis, MN) — The fifth-ranked University of Minnesota men’s hockey team is back in first place in the Big Ten following a weekend sweep of number-seven Ohio State. The Golden Gophers topped the Buckeyes 4-1 on Friday and 6-2 on Saturday night. The U of M can also thank Penn State for beating top-ranked Michigan State in two straight games. The Gophers wrap up the regular season against the Nittany Lions in University Park this weekend with a chance to clinch the conference title.
