>>State Senator Bruce Anderson of Buffalo Dies
(St. Paul, MN) — State lawmakers are mourning the loss of state Senator Bruce Anderson. The Republican from Buffalo served in Senate District 29 since 2012. Before that, Anderson served in the Minnesota House from 1995-2012. Anderson had a long military career serving in the Navy during the Vietnam War and in the Minnesota National Guard and Air Force Reserve. At the Capitol, he chaired various veterans’ committees. Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson called Anderson a “dedicated public servant, loving family man and dear friend to many at the capitol.” Senator Anderson died unexpectedly Monday at age 75. A special election will be held to fill his seat.
>>Representative Hemmingsen-Jaeger Running for Senator Mitchell’s Seat
(Woodbury, MN) — State Representative Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger of Woodbury plans to run for the Minnesota Senate seat of Nicole Mitchell. Her attorney announced Monday that Mitchell will step down by August 4th. Hemmingsen-Jaeger said on social media that it has been an honor to represent 47-A in the Minnesota House since 2022, and it is her intention to run for the upcoming special election to represent District 47 as its next senator. She is an assistant House D-F-L floor leader. The special election hasn’t been scheduled.
>>DFL lawmakers Continue to Raise Alarms on Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill”
(Minneapolis, MN) — Democratic Minnesota lawmakers are voicing concerns about how President Trump’s reconciliation bill will impact Minnesotans. Congresswoman Ilhan Ohmar says it will kick 17 million Americans off their health care plans and cut $186 billion from the SNAP program. Republicans argue the bill makes tax cuts permanent, cuts wasteful spending, and secures the border. Senator and Minneapolis mayoral candidate Omar Fateh says the bill will negatively impact college affordability and access to higher education for Minnesotans. The Minnesota D-F-L recently endorsed Fateh over current Mayor Jacob Frey.
>>2nd Cannabis Retailer License Lottery Set for Tuesday Afternoon
(St. Paul, MN) — A second lottery is being held today (Tues 3pm) for 570 Minnesota cannabis businesses seeking retailer licenses. Jim Walker of the state Office of Cannabis Management says social equity applicants who were not selected during that first round are going to be put into the pot with the general applicants. Walker says 75 applicants will be selected for cannabis retailer licenses using a digital lottery drawing system. Today’s lottery will be streamed on the O-C-M’s You Tube channel.
>>U of M Study Finds Rural Hospital Closures Led to Higher Prices at Nearby Hospitals
(Minneapolis, MN) — New research from the University of Minnesota shows rural hospitals closures led to higher prices at nearby hospitals. School of Public Health assistant professor Caitlin Carroll says after a rural hospital closed, prices at nearby surviving hospitals went up almost 3.6%, an average of about $500 per inpatient stay. Carroll says the study also found rural hospitals that eventually closed charged 6% less than nearby hospitals, so closures forced patients into high-priced facilities. The research team analyzed 54 rural hospitals that closed between 2014 and 2018.
>>1 Person Killed, 1 Injured in Plane Crash near Granite Falls Airport
(Granite Falls, MN) — Authorities say one person is dead and another injured after a plane crash Monday afternoon near the Granite Falls Airport. The Yellow Medicine County Sheriff’s Office received a call about a jet with two people on board having engine trouble. Emergency personnel were then called to a plane crash near Highway 23. Deputies says crews found one person on the side of the road receiving medical treatment. The second occupant died at the scene. The F-A-A and National Transportation Safety Board have been notified and will conduct the investigation.
>>Authorities ID Infant Who Died in Big Lake
(Big Lake, MN) — Sherburne County authorities are identifying the infant who died in a Big Lake home Friday as Gideon Mwangi. First responders were called to a report of a six-month-old child who was unresponsive and not breathing. Paramedics tried life-saving measures, but Mwangi died at the scene. Preliminary autopsy results show the cause of death was bacterial meningitis. Investigators say the home was extremely dirty and cluttered and has since been declared unlivable. The child’s death remains under investigation, and no arrests have been made.
>>Nevis Man Dies in Hubbard County Swimming Accident
(Nevis, MN) — A young man died of injuries suffered in a swimming accident over the weekend in northern Minnesota. The Hubbard County Sheriff’s Office says deputies were called to Lake Belle Taine near Nevis early Saturday for a possible drowning. Bystanders were performing C-P-R on 22-year-old Aiden Thompson of Nevis and despite their efforts, he died at the scene. Deputies say a group had gone swimming and as they were leaving the water, one of the swimmers jumped off the dock and discovered Thompson lying face down. An autopsy later confirmed he died from a broken neck.
>>Twins Fall to Dodgers in Series Opener
(Los Angeles, CA) — The Minnesota Twins dropped the series opener to the Dodgers 5-2 late Monday night in Los Angeles. Will Smith hit a pair of home runs for L-A, Shohei Ohtani went deep, and Andy Pages also homered. Byron Buxton hit a lead-off homer against Ohtani, who allowed one run, four hits and struck out three Minnesota batters over three innings. Twins starter David Festa gave up four runs in five-and-a-third innings for his fourth loss. Right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson is scheduled to start tonight (Tues 9:10pm) at Dodger Stadium.
