>>Governor Walz to Encourage Minnesotans to Claim Child Tax Credit
(St. Paul, MN) — Governor Tim Walz is using a visit to a St. Paul Head Start program today (Tues) to encourage Minnesotans to claim the state’s child tax credit. Around 225 thousand families benefitted from the child tax credit last year and they received 25-hundred dollars on average. The governor’s office says the tax credit of up to 1,750 dollars per child is estimated to reduce child poverty by a third in Minnesota.
>>Minnesota Congresswoman Craig Rips Musk for Attacks on USAID
(Washington, DC) — Congresswoman Angie Craig is criticizing unelected billionaire Elon Musk for his attacks on the U-S Agency for International Development (USAID). The Minnesota Democrat is ranking member on the U-S House Agriculture Committee. She says U-S-run international food assistance programs provide critical business for American farmers and the entire agricultural chain. Craig says there are currently 550 million tons of food worth more than 340 million dollars that were expected to be provided by American farmers which is now either in limbo or stuck at U-S export ports unable to be delivered. Musk said President Trump agreed to shut down USAID.
>>Minnesota DFL Looking For New Chair to Replace Ken Martin
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota D-F-L Party will need to select a new leader following Ken Martin’s election as chair of the Democratic National Committee. Martin successfully defeated seven other candidates to secure this position over the weekend. Several individuals are reportedly considering a run for Martin’s previous role. The D-F-L plans to elect its new leader on March 29th.
>>Jury Seated in Federal Fraud Trial of Feeding our Future Founder Bock
(Minneapolis, MN) — A jury is now seated for the federal trial of Feeding Our Future founder Aimee Bock. Both Bock and her co-defendant Salim Said have been charged with multiple felonies for their roles in stealing $250 million from a federal program meant to feed children in need. The jury was seated in just one day even though court officials had set aside four days for jury selection, the same amount it took for the first Feeding Our Future trial last year. This is only the second trial in the case, and of the 70 people charged since 2022, 30 have pleaded guilty. Opening statements in the trial will take place next Monday.
>>North Branch Officer Justified in Deadly Shooting of Armed Woman
(Stillwater, MN) — Prosecutors will not be charging a North Branch police officer in the fatal shooting of an armed woman last summer. The Washington County Attorney’s Office determined Officer Duane Southworth was justified in using force in the June 27th shooting death of 36-year-old Jamie Crabtree. Bodycam video shows Crabtree point an object at officers and refusing to comply with orders to drop the weapon. One officer shot pepper balls at Crabtree before Officer Southworth fired multiple rounds from his rifle, and she died at the scene. Investigators located a Glock semi-automatic handgun near her leg and a gun case containing loaded magazines.
>>Remains of Missing Woman Found in Jordan
(Jordan, MN) — Investigators say the remains of a missing woman have been found in Jordan, and her cause of death is homicide by gunshot wound to the head. Forty-six-year-old Tabitha Justice was reported missing on January 28th. Police searched her abandoned property and found her remains inside building. Anyone with information on what happened to Justice is asked to call the Jordan Police Department (952-492-2009).
>>Madeline Kingsbury Foundation Formed
(Winona, MN) — Friends and family of a Winona woman who was murdered in 2023 are establishing a foundation in her honor. The Madeline Kingsbury Foundation will focus on domestic violence education and awareness. Kingsbury’s ex-boyfriend was found guilty of killing Maddi and is serving a life sentence.
>>Navy Unit Holding Arctic Training Exercise at Camp Ripley
(Little Falls, MN) — The U-S Navy is conducting a two-week exercise in Minnesota to practice operations in Arctic conditions. Starting today, members of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit will join the Minnesota National Guard at Camp Ripley. The exercise will focus on clearing simulated explosives, securing infrastructure, and improving communication between units. Ice diving training will also include competitions to identify weapons discovered during diving and salvage operations. The Minnesota National Guard will provide air support throughout the exercise.
>>Rochester Salvation Army Tops $1.1 Million Fundraising Goal
(Rochester, MN) — Officials with the Rochester Salvation Army say they surpassed their holiday goal of 1.1 million dollars. Volunteers rang bells for more than three thousand hours and the six-week campaign raised over 1.18 million. The Salvation Army says generous matches from the Mayo Clinic and Think Bank helped in topping the goal. All the money raised will stay in Olmsted County to provide services and help food shelves.
>>NHL Suspends Wild’s Hartman 10 Games for Roughing Ottawa Senators Player
(New York, NY) — The N-H-L is suspending Minnesota Wild center Ryan Hartman ten games without pay for roughing Senators forward Tim Stutzle in Saturday’s loss at Ottawa. Hartman was assessed a match penalty for driving Stutzle’s face into the ice on a face-off late in the second period. The league considers Hartman a repeat offender and he will forfeit more than 487 thousand dollars based on his average annual salary. The Wild play the Bruins tonight (Tues 6pm) in Boston.
