>>Klobuchar says Security Stepped Up for Certification of Election Results
(Washington, DC) — Senator Amy Klobuchar says the U-S Capitol will be secure today (Mon) for the certification of the 2024 presidential election. The Minnesota Democrat tells CNN’s “State of the Union” in the years since the January 6th insurrection, officials have upgraded security measures in Washington, D-C. Klobuchar said, “we have, as you note, a new police chief, increased morale, many hundreds of more officers, and we have a plan and a strategy in place.” She also says Capitol police now have better equipment and can more easily call in the National Guard if need be.
>>Congresswoman Morrison Believes Bipartisan Bills Can Pass the US House
(Washington, DC) — New Minnesota Congresswoman Kelly Morrison believes she can get bi-partisan legislation passed in the Republican-controlled U-S House. The 3rd District Democrat says she and a conservative state senator co-authored a bill that extends health care for new mothers from 60 days to 12 months. Morrison says she was raised in a Republican family and that “common ground” is in her D-N-A. She won the seat of former Congressman Dean Phillips and was sworn in on Friday.
>>Minnesota House GOP to Preview 2025 Legislative Session
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota House Republicans plan to preview the 2025 legislative session during a news conference today (Mon 12:15pm) at the State Capitol. The G-O-P will have a one-vote lead for at least a couple weeks before a January 28th special election in House District 40-B. D-F-L candidate Curtis Johnson won the November election over Republican Paul Wikstrom by 75-hundred votes, but a judge ruled Johnson was not living in the district. The Republican Party of Minnesota filed a lawsuit claiming the governor cannot schedule a special election until 22 days after the first day of the legislative session which begins January 14th.
>>Hospitality Minnesota Opposes New “Junk” Fee State Law
(Minneapolis, MN) — Not everyone in the state is supporting a new law that bans so-called “junk” fees on customer bills. Angie Whitcomb of Hospitality Minnesota says many restaurants need that five to 15 percent wellness fee to provide health care to their workers. She says, “I think it’s important to remember that service fees are not junk fees. They are dedicated funds that go directly to employees in either wages or benefits.” Whitcomb says that fee or surcharge is transparent and listed on the restaurant’s menu. The most popular provision in the law bans Ticketmaster and other sellers from adding large service fees at the end of a ticket purchase.
>>Dog Dead, Man Injured in Rice Lake House Fire
(Rice Lake, MN) — Authorities in St. Louis County say dog is dead and a man is injured after a fire Saturday evening in Rice Lake. Deputies say crews were called following a report that the homeowner was experiencing possible smoke inhalation and burns. The home was fully engulfed in flames when they arrived. The victim was found at a neighbor’s house and brought to a Duluth hospital for treatment. Investigators do not suspect foul play.
>>2 Huskies Shot Dead in Lake of the Woods County
(Baudette, MN) — Two huskies found shot and killed in Lake of the Woods County in have their owner looking for answers. Ramona Rowett of Baudette, along the Minnesota-Canadian border, says two of her huskies ran away on Christmas Eve during a leash change in Zippel Bay State Park. The dogs, Tucker and Maple, were found shot dead five days later. Rowett filed a police report, believing hunters killed her dogs.
>>5 Displaced in Minneapolis Home Fire
(Minneapolis, MN) — The American Red Cross is assisting three adults, two children, and a cat displaced by a house fire early Sunday in north Minneapolis. Crews responded to reports of a fire in a one-and-a-half story home due to a possible domestic incident. Officials say there was fire, heavy smoke, and water damage. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
>>Authorities ID 21-Year-Old Killed in North Minneapolis Shooting
(Minneapolis, MN) — A 21-year-old man from Brooklyn Center is the victim of a deadly shooting Friday night in north Minneapolis. Police found Bobby Glen Hawkins with life-threatening gunshot wounds and he was taken to North Memorial Medical Center where he died. No arrests have been made in the killing of Hawkins.
>>Lions Rout Vikings in Battle for NFC North Title and Top Playoff Seed
(Detroit, MI) — The Minnesota Vikings are the fifth seed in the N-F-C playoffs after getting blown out by the Lions 31-9 in the regular season finale in Detroit. Sam Darnold had a rough Sunday night, completing 18 of 41 passes for 166 yards and zero touchdowns. Minnesota managed just three field goals against a banged-up Lions defense. Jahmyr Gibbs scored four touchdowns as Detroit won the division and clinched the number one seed in postseason. The Purple play at the Rams in the Wild Card round next Monday night. L-A beat Minnesota 30-20 at home in late October.
