>>Governor Walz Signs Medical Debt Fairness Bill
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesotans are receiving support from the state to shield them from the adverse effects of medical debt on their income and credit. Governor Walz conducted a ceremonial bill signing Monday for the Minnesota Debt Fairness Act. The new law prohibits healthcare organizations from refusing treatment to patients due to unpaid medical bills. It also prevents medical debt from affecting credit scores and establishes new limits on medical debt collection. Walz says the new law should provide Minnesotans security during their most vulnerable times.
>>State Ag Commissioner Petersen Not Sure Farm Bill Gets Done This Year
(St. Paul, MN) — State Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen says he’s getting concerned about the chances of Congress passing a new Farm Bill this year. He says, “as we get into midsummer and, all of a sudden, midsummer becomes late summer and you have an August recess and then you get back and you got an election, two months to go by the time they get back in September.” Petersen says it puts a lot of stress on farmers — and the dairy industry, for example, needs to know about the “safety net.” Petersen indicates the main sticking-points are spending and the always-controversial Nutrition Title — which includes SNAP (food stamps). Petersen says he’s an optimistic person but “I’m not sure that this gets done this year.”
>>Rangers Searching for Kayaker from Minnesota in Grand Teton National Park
(Moose, WY) — The search continues in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming for a missing kayaker from Minnesota. Park rangers say 43-year-old Wesley Dopkins of St. Paul was last seen Saturday afternoon paddling on Jackson Lake. Search crews located Dopkins’ kayak, paddle and dry bag floating off of an island Saturday night. Officials say Dopkins was kayaking with a friend who lost sight of him and landed at a marina and reported the situation.
>>Edina Boy Dies 6 Days after Being Pulled from Apartment Swimming Pool
(Edina, MN) — A five-year-old boy from Edina died in the hospital six days after he was pulled out of a swimming pool at an apartment complex. A person on the scene says they pulled the boy, identified as Vishagan Alagushankar, out of the pool and performed C-P-R until paramedics arrived. The medical examiner has ruled it an accidental drowning. The Hennepin County Sheriff’s office is investigating the circumstances leading up to the boy’s death.
>>Recovery Efforts Continue for Submerged Vehicle in Minnesota River
**MEDIA REFERENCE**
(Bloomington, MN) — Recovery efforts continue on the Minnesota River in Bloomington after a vehicle went into the water and became submerged, but officials aren’t saying whether they believe someone is inside. The Star Tribune quotes a Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman that “we always operate as if there is someone inside until we find out otherwise.” Strong current made it unsafe for divers to enter the river on Sunday, and attempts to pull the vehicle out were also unsuccessful.
>>BCA Investigating Death of 13-Year-Old at Wilmar Youth Facility
(Wilmar, MN) — The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating the death of a 13-year-old at a juvenile healthcare facility in Wilmar. Police were called to Prairie Lakes Youth Programs shortly before 8 am Monday after staff members discovered the unidentified teen. Unfortunately, attempts to revive the boy were unsuccessful. The B-C-A is leading the investigation because the facility is state-licensed.
>>Carver County Authorities Investigating Fatal Shoot of Family Dog
(Young America Township, MN) — Authorities in Carver County are investigating a weekend shooting that left a dog dead in Young America Township. Sheriff’s deputies say a family member was walking the dog to the end of a rural driveway Saturday evening and lost sight of it. The dog returned home about 15 minutes later suffering from gunshot wounds and was taken to a veterinarian where it had to be put down. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the Carver County Sheriff’s Office.
>>Closures Begin for Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth
(Duluth, MN) — Attention drivers in Duluth: Prepare for potential traffic delays due to the upcoming Grandma’s Marathon. The Northwest Iron parking lot was closed Monday for race set-up and deliveries. A pedestrian bridge installation over Canal Park Drive may cause brief delays on Wednesday and Thursday. Further closures will be in place on Friday and Saturday in preparation for the races. Duluth is expecting more than 20,000 runners this weekend.
>>Minnesota Twins Shortstop Correa Named A-L Player of the Week
(Minneapolis, MN) — Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa is being honored as the American League Player of the Week. Thirty-one-year-old Correa hit .548 with three home runs, nine R-B-Is, nine runs scored, and an .871 slugging percentage last week. He had a career-high five hits in last Wednesday’s win over the Rockies and hit two homers in the first game of a doubleheader against Oakland on Sunday. The Twins are scheduled to open a three-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays tonight (Tues 6:40pm) at Target Field.
