>>Governor Walz Still Hasn’t Called Special Legislative Session
(St. Paul, MN) – Governor Tim Walz and legislative leaders were scheduled to meet again Tuesday afternoon, but the special session still hasn’t been called. The governor said he will call the special session once all the budget bills are finished and revisors have time to update them. Lawmakers must pass a new state budget before June 30th to avoid a government shutdown. Layoff notices have already gone out to some state workers. Walz and D-F-L House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman were hoping to have a special session start as soon as today (Wed).
>>Majority of Minnesotans Say State Needs Office of Inspector General
(Minnetonka, MN) — A large majority of Minnesotans believe the state needs an Office of Inspector General to stop fraud, waste, and abuse in government agencies. Seventy-two percent of registered voters in a poll by the conservative think-tank the American Experiment approved of the idea while 24 percent oppose it. Those in favor won’t see the office created anytime soon. While the Senate passed the bill, it failed to get enough votes in the House to come up for discussion. The poll was conducted for “Thinking Minnesota” magazine and will be published this summer.
>>OCM Prepares for Cannabis Business License Lottery on Thursday
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management will award 249 cannabis business licenses on Thursday during three lotteries. O-C-M interim director Eric Taubel says this is a really big deal for the state. He says licenses will be awarded in three categories: cultivation, manufacturing and mezzobusiness. A digital lottery machine will draw the numbers of the winning applicants. Taubel says they will also award 75 retail licenses to social equity applicants. The lottery will be live-streamed on the Office of Cannabis Management’s You Tube channel.
>>Alexandria Walmart Stabbing Suspect Identified
(Alexandria, MN) — The man who allegedly stabbed a stranger inside a Walmart store in Alexandria is being identified. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office says 28-year-old Torrian Burt of South Bend, Indiana, was arrested in Alexandria on Saturday morning. He is currently in custody on felony second-degree assault charges. When interviewed, Burt described the act as “impulsive” and said the victim was not previously known to him. The victim’s current medical condition is unknown.
>>New Boat Operator’s Permit Law Takes Effect July 1st in Minnesota
(Undated) — A new boater education law goes into effect on July 1st in Minnesota. D-N-R spokesman Adam Block says for the first time, people older than age 17 will be required to have an operator’s permit. He says anyone 12 years of age or older and born after June 30th of 2004, must complete and obtain a valid watercraft operators permit to operate a motorboat and or a personal watercraft on Minnesota waters. By July 2026, the permit requirement will expand to residents 26 and younger. Block says the move is to help make our waterways safer. There’s more information on the law change on the D-N-R’s website.
>>Minnesota DNR Fawn Study in 5th and Final Year
(Undated) — The Minnesota D-N-R is in its final year of its fawn study, trying to get updated data on the state’s baby deer. Project lead Sam Overfors says one of the things they hope to learn is what is killing fawns, whether it be predators or disease. Overfors says they also want to know more about fawn habitats, including why they might choose certain locations. He says the data will help them better manage the fawn and overall deer population. If you come across a fawn while out in the wild, don’t disturb it, as that could be detrimental to the animal.
>>State Softball Quarterfinals Postponed by Rain and Wet Conditions
(North Mankato, MN) — The quarterfinals of the Minnesota State Softball Tournament resume today (Wed) in North Mankato. The Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) postponed the games Tuesday afternoon due to rainy and wet conditions. A full day of softball is planned today on the six fields at the Caswell Park Complex.
>>8-0 Minnesota Lynx Cruise Past Phoenix Mercury at Target Center
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Minnesota Lynx topped the Phoenix Mercury 88-65 at Target Center Tuesday night to move to 8-and-0 this season. Napheesa Collier had 18 points and 11 rebounds and Natisha Hiedeman also scored 18 for Minnesota. The Lynx hit 12 three-pointers, with Kayla McBride, Alanna Smith, and Karlie Samuelson each making three. The 5-and-3 Mercury were missing All-Star forward Alyssa Thomas. The Lynx play Paige Bueckers and the Wings on Sunday in Dallas.
