>>Senator Hoffman Released from Hospital ICU Moved to Rehab Facility
(Champlin, MN) — State Senator John Hoffman of Champlin is out of the hospital intensive care unit and in a rehabilitation facility. His family announced Monday that he was moved to transitional care and shared a picture of him leaving the hospital. Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were shot multiple times on June 14th before the alleged gunman assassinated former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband in Brooklyn Park. Yvette was released from the hospital about a week after the shootings and continues to recover.
>>Minnesota House Fraud Prevention Committee Meeting at Capitol
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota House Fraud Prevention Committee is hosting an informational hearing today (Tues) at the State Capitol. Chair Kristin Robbins of Maple Grove says they will be questioning the Department of Human Services on how they try to prevent Medicaid fraud. She says with federal cuts pending to Medicaid payments, it’s even more important to stop fraud to protect every dollar for Minnesotans. One of Robbins’ priorities for the next legislative session is to pass the bill to establish a state Office of Inspector General.
>>Minnesota, Wisconsin Republicans Urge Canada to Reduce Wildfire Smoke
(Washington, DC) — Republican members of Congress from Minnesota and Wisconsin are urging Canada to use stronger forest management practice to mitigate wildfire risk. They sent a letter to the ambassador after another wave of Canadian wildfire smoke is affecting the Upper Midwest. One part says, “our constituents have been limited in their ability to go outside and safely breathe due to the dangerous air quality the wildfire smoke has created.” The letter is signed by Minnesota Representatives Michelle Fischbach, Brad Finstad, Tom Emmer, and Pete Stauber. A 21-person crew of D-N-R firefighters left Monday for Lynn Lake, Manitoba.
>>MNA Nurses Hit Picket Lines in Twin Ports
(Duluth, MN) — Hundreds of nurses and healthcare workers hit the picket line this morning (Tues) outside six Essentia Health facilities in the Duluth area. The nurses are unhappy with staffing issues and want safer guidelines in place to protect them on the job. The unfair labor practice strike will be held from 7 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. at several facilities. Another strike involving more than 400 Essentia’s East Market Advance Practice Providers will begin this Thursday.
>>HealthPartners Workers Begin Strike Today in Stillwater
(Stillwater, MN) – Healthcare workers at HealthPartners Stillwater Medical Group are on strike this morning (Tues). They’re starting a 4-day unfair labor practice strike against their employers. The workers will picket each day outside the Stillwater facility. They’re holding a rally at noon today. The union says they have met seven times with management but still no push on raises and increasing benefits. Ninety-nine percent of the members voted in favor of the strike.
>>Father of Missing Columbia Heights Arrested in Connection to His Death
(Columbia Heights, MN) — The father of ‘Manny’ Collins, Junior of Columbia Heights is under arrest in connection with his death. The Anoka County Sheriff’s Office says 38-year-old Jordan Dupree Collins, Senior was arrested Monday and booked on suspicion of second-degree murder. Sixteen-year-old Manny went missing May 8th, and his remains were found June 28th at the Waste Management Landfill in Elk River. Police said they had a person of interest in the case but didn’t publicly identify him as Manny’s dad. He hasn’t formally been charged, and Manny’s death remains under investigation.
>>15-Year-Old Girl Accused of Axe Attack on Mother in Carlton County
(Corona Township, MN) — A teenage girl is in the Arrowhead Juvenile Detention Center in Duluth after an alleged axe attack on her mother. The Carlton County Sheriff’s Office says the 40-year-old victim called 9-1-1 early Sunday to report that her 15-year-old daughter assaulted her while she was sleeping. Deputies say the woman was found conscious with several lacerations and injuries and airlifted to a Duluth hospital. The girl was taken into custody pending assault charges. An axe was recovered from the mother’s bedroom.
>>Brooklyn Park Police Search for Missing, Endangered 16-Year-Old
(Brooklyn Park, MN) — Brooklyn Park police are asking for the public’s help finding an endangered, missing 16-year-old. Tyrone Harris was last seen on Monday leaving a Brooklyn Park home on foot . He’s described as Black, five feet eight inches tall, weighs 153 pounds, and has brown hair and eyes. Tyrone was last wearing a red hooded sweatshirt, camo sweatpants, and black Nike shoes.
>>Minnesota Twins CF Buxton to Participate in All-Star Home Run Derby
(Minneapolis, MN) — Twins center fielder Byron Buxton is participating in the Home Run Derby at next week’s All-Star Game festivities in suburban Atlanta. Buxton has 20 homers through 73 games this season. He’ll be competing against Ronald Acuña Junior of the hometown Braves, Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, and James Wood of the Nationals. Thirty-one-year-old Buxton grew up about 190 miles from Atlanta in southeast Georgia. The Twins open a three-game series with the Chicago Cubs tonight (Tues) at Target Field.
