>>Minnesota House Stalemate Ends with Agreement Between DFL and GOP
(St. Paul, MN) — The three-week power sharing fight between Minnesota House Democrats and Republicans is over. The D-F-L and G-O-P announced Wednesday evening that an agreement is now in place for the 2025-2026 biennium and the reorganization of the House would take place today (Thursday). The deal would reportedly allow Republican Representative Lisa Demuth to serve as House speaker through the end of next year. Democrats have not shown up in the House this session which started back on January 14th. More details on the agreement are expected to be released today.
>>Governor Walz Sets Date for Special Election for Final House Seat
(St. Paul, MN) — The date is now set for the special election to fill the final seat in the Minnesota House. Governor Tim Walz issued a writ of special election for District 40-B to be held on March 11th. This seat became vacant when the November election winner, Democrat Curtis Johnson, was found to have broken election rules by not living in the district. Once this election is held, the House will have all 134 members seated. If needed, a special election primary would be on February 25th.
>>Burnsville to Host Public Safety Memorial Day to Honor 3 First Responders Killed
(Burnsville, MN) — The city of Burnsville is honoring the three first responders killed in the line duty with a Public Safety Memorial Day on February 18th. Burnsville Police Officers Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge and Firefighter/Paramedic Adam Finseth died one year earlier trying to protect seven children during a domestic incident. Officials say three wreathes will be placed at City Hall for 24 hours and city buildings will be lit in blue and red on the evenings of the 17th and 18th. The community is invited to come and show their respects to the fallen and support the Burnsville Police and Fire Departments.
>>2 Arrested in Deadly Shooting at St. Cloud Apartment Building
(St. Cloud, MN) — Police in St. Cloud report two arrests in a shooting early Sunday that left a teen dead another person critically injured. Officers responding gunshots in an apartment building found 17-year-old Layson Davis of St. Cloud dead in a stairwell. A 19-year-old victim from St. Joseph was taken to St. Cloud Hospital in critical condition. Investigators say a 19-year-old woman and a 19-year-old man from St. Cloud were taken into custody and booked in the Benton County jail pending charges. Additional arrests are expected in the case.
>>Stauber Introduces Bill to Restore Mining Leases in Superior National Forest
(Washington, DC) — Republican Congressman Pete Stauber reintroduced a bill to restore mineral leases in Minnesota’s Superior National Forest near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. In 2023, former President Joe Biden imposed a 20-year moratorium on mining in the area. Stauber’s bill aims to lift the moratorium and permit companies that were previously granted leases to mine copper, nickel, cobalt, and platinum. Ingrid Lyons of Save the Boundary Waters responded in a statement, “Stauber’s bill undermines the robust record of science, public opinion, law, and economics that clearly demonstrate that this iconic American landscape is absolutely no place for our nation’s most dangerous industry.”
>>Protesters in Duluth Call for Federal Funding for Blatnik Bridge
(Duluth, MN) — A group called “Dads4Bridges” is calling on the federal government to fully fund the Blatnik Bridge project in the Twin Ports. Organizers say they’re concerned that President Trump froze federal funding for projects like the replacement of the historic bridge that connects Duluth and Superior. Former President Joe Biden announced one-billion dollars for the project during a stop in January of 2024. Duluth protesters are calling on Republican Congressman Pete Stauber to speak up on the issue. They say Stauber voted against the infrastructure bill that included funding for the Blatnik Bridge.
>>County Road 9 Bridge near Rapidan Dam Demolished
(Mankato, MN) — A bridge near the Rapidan Dam in Blue Earth County is gone after being demolished using explosives Wednesday. Crews successfully blew up the three main sections of the County Road 9 bridge spanning over the Blue Earth River. In the coming weeks, the contractor will be working on removing the bridge beam debris and demolishing the standing bridge piers. Construction of a new bridge is scheduled to begin next year. The bridge was closed after last June’s historic flood event that resulted in the partial failure of the Rapidan Dam.
>>Police in Duluth Still Working to ID Infant Left at Shelter
(Duluth, MN) — Police in Duluth are still trying to determine the identify of a baby and the woman who dropped the infant off at the Safe Haven shelter on January 21st. Chief Mike Ceynowa says initial reports about the one-week-old child being left in the subzero cold were inaccurate. He says they learned infant was left inside the building with staff members. Ceynowa says the infant is healthy and staying with a foster family. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Duluth Police Department.
>>$8.5 Million Settlement in Wrongful Death of Construction Worker in St. Paul
(St. Paul, MN) — An 8.5-million-dollar settlement is reached in the wrongful death case of a St. Paul construction worker. Peter Michael Davis died at the age of 61 at work site near the Minnesota Children’s Museum. His wife filed the lawsuit against a concrete company and the driver of the truck that hit Davis. After the incident in September of 2022, the driver of the truck was taken to a local hospital and preliminary findings reported cocaine and T-H-C in his bloodstream. The company’s president and safety director did not consult the company’s medical review officer or go to a lab for testing, and instead took the driver to the hospital and relied on the driver to report his drug test results.
>>Edwards Drops 49 Points in Wolves Win Over Bulls
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Minnesota Timberwolves topped the Chicago Bulls 127-108 at Target Center Wednesday night to end a two-game losing streak. The Wolves outscored the Bulls 33-18 in the fourth quarter. Anthony Edwards went off for 49 points and nine rebounds and Naz Reid had 22 points, ten boards, and six assists. Minnesota plays at home again tonight (Thurs 7pm) against the Houston Rockets.
