>>Opening Statements Tuesday in Senator Mitchell’s Burglary Trial
(Detroit Lakes, MN) — Opening statements begin this morning (Tues 9am) in the Becker County burglary trial of state Senator Nicolle Mitchell. The jury of ten men and five women was seated late Monday afternoon. The Democratic senator from Woodbury pleaded not guilty to first-degree burglary and possession of burglary tools for an April 2024 break-in at her stepmother’s home in Detroit Lakes. Mitchell claims she went there to get some of her late father’s belongings and that her stepmother has Alzheimer’s disease and memory issues.
>>Governor Walz Announces $33 Million for Minnesota Small Businesses
(St. Paul, MN) — A big boost for small businesses in Minnesota. Governor Tim Walz is hosting a roundtable discussion today (Tues 10:15am) to announce $33 million dollars for small businesses in the state. Funding will come from the State Small Business Credit Initiative. This fund has a total of $97 million dollars to be given away over three phases. The governor will be joined by economic leaders and small business owners.
>>Minnesota Joins Lawsuit Suing Trump Administration over Education Funding
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota is one of more than 20 states suing the Trump administration for freezing funding for education investments. Attorney General Keith Ellison says over $70 million in funding for Minnesota is believed to currently be frozen. Ellison says essential summer school and afterschool programs, which provide childcare to working parents of school age children, are already being impacted. In the past, Minnesota has used the funding for several things including programs that promote effective classroom instruction, community learning centers and adult education and workforce development efforts. The A-Gs argue the freeze violates the federal funding statutes and regulations authorizing these critical programs and appropriating funds for them.
>>BCA Releases More Information in Officer-Involved Shooting near Frazee
(Frazee, MN) — The Minnesota B-C-A is identifying identified the man shot by officers near Frazee last week as 36-year-old Todd Ole Burris of Bemidji. Investigators say two officers fired their weapons—Becker County Lieutenant Luke Sweere and Detroit Lakes Officer Philip Vaughn. Both are on critical incident leave. Deputies were responding to a domestic assault when Burris fled a traffic stop. The chase ended at a rest stop, where Burris allegedly pointed a gun at officers. He was shot in the legs and remains hospitalized. No officers were hurt. The B-C-A recovered a handgun and is reviewing body camera footage.
>>Chase Leads Impaired Driver into Ottertail River
(Frazee, MN) — A dramatic river chase Monday night ended with a man in custody after hours of evading police. Frazee Police responded to a report of an impaired driver. When officers tried to arrest the suspect, he ran—eventually diving into the Ottertail River and hiding in cattails and mud. Multiple agencies, drones, and rescue boats were called in. After nearly four hours, 28-year-old Cole Franzen of Detroit Lakes was finally taken into custody. He faces charges including D-W-I, fleeing, obstruction, and violating a felony court order.
>>Target USA Cup Draws nearly 1200 Teams from 27 States, 18 Countries
(Blaine, MN) — The 40th annual Target U-S-A Cup continues this week at the National Sports Center in Blaine. Communications officer Sara Soli says this is the largest youth soccer tournament in North America with nearly 12-hundred teams from 27 states and 18 countries. The players range from age 8-U to 19 and there are multiple division per age group and lots of games. Soli says they’re prepared for heat and possible severe weather. Last year’s Target U-S-A Cup had an economic impact of more than 36 million dollars on the state.
>>Minnesota Lynx Win Second of Back-to-Back Games at Chicago
(Chicago, IL) — The Minnesota Lynx rallied past the Chicago Sky 91-78 Monday night at Wintrust Arena. The Lynx trailed by two points at halftime and outscored the Sky 47-32 in the second half. Napheesa Collier had 29 points, Courtney Williams scored 18, Kayla McBride added 17, and Bridget Carlton finished with 11 points. Minnesota rebounded from a loss at Chicago on Saturday. Angel Reese led the Sky with 22 points and ten rebounds and former Gopher Rachel Banham had 15. The 19-and-4 Lynx are back home Wednesday afternoon to play the 15-and-6 Phoenix Mercury.
>>Buxton Falls in Semifinal of Home Run Derby in Atlanta
(Atlanta, GA) — Byron Buxton made it to the semifinals of the M-L-B Home Run Derby Monday night at the Atlanta Braves ballpark. The Twins All-Star center fielder hit 20 homers in the first round to advance but only had seven long balls in the second round. Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh won this year’s Home Run Derby. Raleigh leads the league with 38 homers this season. Buxton and pitcher Joe Ryan will represent the Minnesota Twins in tonight’s (Tues) All-Star Game.
