>>DFL Lawmakers Vow to Avoid First Day of Minnesota House Session

(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Legislature is set to begin its 2025 session today (Tues 12pm), but there is uncertainty about how much work will be accomplished in the House.   D-F-L representatives were sworn in during a private ceremony on Sunday and are expected to skip today’s opening session in the House.   This boycott aims to prevent Republicans from electing a speaker or conducting other House business.   Secretary of State Steve Simon says the Minnesota Constitution requires 68 members to be present for a quorum, while Republicans currently hold 67 seats.   G-O-P House Speaker-designate Lisa Demuth has criticized the boycott as a “new low” for the D-F-L and plans to challenge any attempts to adjourn the House because of it.

 

>>Primary Election for Senate District 60 Seat of Late Senator Kari Dziedzic of Minneapolis

(Minneapolis, MN) — There’s a primary today (Tues) in Minneapolis for the Minnesota Senate District 60 seat of the late D-F-L Senator Kari Dziedzic.   Seven Democrats and two Republicans are on the ballot and one from each party will advance to the January 28th special election.   Doron Clark is the D-F-L-endorsed candidate in the primary.   Republicans are endorsing Abigail Wolters, who lost to Representative Mohamud Noor in the House District 60-B election in November.   Democrats are expected to win the special election in two weeks which would give the D-F-L back its one-vote majority in the state Senate.

 

>>Minnesota DHS Commissioner Harpstead Announces Resignation

(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota’s Department of Human Services head plans to step down next month.   D-H-S Commissioner Jodi Harpstead announced Monday that she’ll leave her position on February 3rd.   Governor Walz released a statement saying he was proud of Harpstead’s work running the largest agency in state government.   Harpstead has held the post since being appointed by Walz in 2019.

 

>>Office of Cannabis Management Accepting Public Comment on Rules

(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Office of Cannabis management is looking for public feedback on draft rules and regulations for the cannabis industry.   O-C-M spokesperson Jim Walker says Minnesotans can submit comments through the Office of Administrative Hearings website.   He says, “these rules are basically the rubric that are going to be laid out to determine how the market cannabis operates within Minnesota, and because of that, that prompts a 30 day formal comment period.”   Comments will be accepted until February 12th at 4:30pm. Officials hope to open the cannabis retail industry some time later this year.

 

>>JBS Foods to Pay $4 Million Under Child Labor Practices Agreement

(Chicago, IL) — J-B-S Foods will pay four million dollars to assist workers and communities affected by unlawful child labor practices under an agreement with the federal government.   The U-S Department of Labor says J-B-S will prioritize efforts to prevent illegal child labor and support victims in five communities including Worthington, Minnesota.   Officials say third party contractors providing sanitary services at the Worthington meat packing facility employed 22 children ages 13 to 17.   J-B-S also must create an advertising campaign to raise awareness about unlawful child labor.

 

>>Rochester Fire Chief Retiring This Week

(Rochester, MN) –Rochester’s long-time fire chief, Eric Kerska, is set to retire after a 30-year career.   Kerska joined the fire department in 1994 and held various positions before becoming chief in 2018.   In addition to his fire service, he also served in the Army and the National Guard for 32 years, rising to the rank of colonel.   A ceremony to honor Chief Kerska will take place on Friday afternoon at Fire Station One.

 

>>Man Suspected of Killing Girlfriend near Lake Crystal Dies in Hospital

(Lake Crystal, MN) — The Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office says the man suspected in the killing of a Lake Crystal woman has died.   Deputies say 64-year-old Gary Rodewald of New Ulm had been hospitalized with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.   Rodewald is accused of fatally shooting Kristi Joy Gardner of Lake Crystal last Thursday night.   Gardner was found dead in Rodewald’s garage.   Investigators say the two were in a relationship.

 

>>Moorhead Man Sentenced to 8 Years for Fargo Shooting

(Fargo, ND) — A Moorhead man will spend eight years in prison for aggravated assault with a firearm after he pleaded guilty to shooting another person in Fargo last year.   Cordell McFadden was arrested last March for the shooting that happened near South High School.   Fargo Police officers were called to the area after a report of a shooting in the early morning hours of March 30th.   The officers were also called to a hospital where someone was admitted with a gunshot wound to the chest.   Investigators learned the victim and McFadden had an argument.   McFadden was arrested later that day.   As part of the plea agreement, an attempted murder charge was dropped.

 

>>Vikings Fall to Rams in NFC Wild Card Playoff Game

(Glendale, AZ) — The Minnesota Vikings are out of the N-F-C playoffs after a 27-9 wild card loss to the Rams Monday night in Arizona.   Los Angeles took a 24-3 lead into the locker room at halftime and Minnesota could not mount a comeback in the second half.   Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold completed 25 of 40 passes for 245 yards, a touchdown, and an interception, lost a fumble, and was sacked nine times.   The Rams now move on to face the Eagles in the divisional round on Sunday night.

 

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