>>$3.7 Billion Budget Surplus Could Mean Larger Bonding Bill

(St. Paul, MN) — The larger projected state budget surplus allows lawmakers, if they wish, to borrow about 150 million dollars more for public works projects — with state guidelines allowing nearly one billion dollars for a bonding bill. Governor Tim Walz proposed 819 million dollars last month, but appears willing to consider a somewhat larger number. But Minority Leader Lisa Demuth (DAY-muth) says House Republicans are not committing at this point whether they’d agree to a higher number — or even put up votes for a bill. She says they want no wasteful spending in the bill and funding for roads, bridges and wastewater.

 

>>Congressional Delegation Honors Burnsville First Responders with Resolution

(Washington, DC) — Minnesota Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith, and Representative Angie Craig are sponsoring a resolution in honor of the three fallen Burnsville first responders and the surviving officer. The resolution extended condolences to the victims’ families, praises Sergeant Adam Medlicott’s bravery, acknowledged all first responders, and expressed support for law enforcement officers nationwide. Officers Paul Elmstrand, Matthew Ruge, and firefighter Adam Finseth were fatally shot February 18th while responding to a domestic call. Medlicott sustained injuries but survived. There was a moment of silence for the Burnsville first responders on the U-S House floor.

 

>>Warmest-Ever December through February in Minnesota

(St. Paul, MN) — This December through February will go down as the warmest-ever meteorological winter in Minnesota. Pete Boulay (BOO’-lay) with the State Climatology Office says this will be a winter to remember for warmth. He says the preliminary numbers show the average statewide temperature was around 25 degrees which is ten degrees above normal. This winter edges out 1997-1998 which had an average temp of 22-point-two degrees. He says Minnesota only had 13 days of “real” winter where the temperature was below normal. Warroad had the most snow in the state with about 40 inches.

 

>>Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff Wraps up Trip to Minnesota

(Undated) — Second gentleman Doug Emhoff will conclude his two-day visit in Minnesota today(Fri). The husband of Vice President Kamala Harris was in Minneapolis Thursday to deliver a speech at a political finance event for the Biden Victory Fund. Emhoff is visiting Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport today as part of the Biden administration’s Investing In America Tour.

 

>>Bloomington Teen Pleads Guilty in Fatal Dakota County Drug Overdose

(Hastings, MN) — A 19-year-old suspect is pleading guilty to third-degree murder in connection with drug overdose of a 15-year-old girl from West St. Paul. The Dakota County Attorney’s office says Parker Benson of Bloomington admitted to selling fentanyl-laced pills to the victim in April of 2022 when he was age 17. She was found unresponsive in bed by her mother and later died in the hospital. Investigators say a blue pill was located at the scene and cell phone conversations between the victim and Benson show he agreed to sell four pills he claimed were Percocet. He’ll be sentenced April 18th.

 

>>Driver Ejected and Killed in Aitkin County Rollover Crash

(Aitkin, MN) — The Minnesota State Patrol is investigating a deadly rollover crash in Aitkin County. The report says 50-year-old Jeffrey Martinson of Aitkin was ejected from his pickup when it off Highway 47 at a curve and rolled Thursday morning. Martinson died in the hospital. State troopers say he wasn’t wearing a seat belt, and that alcohol wasn’t involved.

 

>>Police Make 2 Arrests in Stabbing in Champlin

(Champlin, MN) — Two people are jailed in the northwest metro and a victim is hospitalized after a stabbing Wednesday night in Champlin. Officers say the wounded man was treated at the scene and taken to the hospital in stable condition. Police say a man was taken into custody Thursday morning and a woman was also arrested. Charges are pending against the two suspects.

 

>>FBI Offers $15K Reward for Finding Missing 3-Year-Old Wisconsin Boy

(Two Rivers, Wisconsin) — The F-B-I is offering a $15,000 reward for information leading to the location or safe return of a missing three-year-old Wisconsin boy. Elijah Vue was last seen February 20th at a Two Rivers residence, where officials say his mother, 31-year-old Katrina Baur of Wisconsin Dells, sent him to stay with 39-year-old Jesse Vang , who is now charged with child neglect. There is also $1,000 tip reward issued by Manitowoc County Crime Stoppers. Baur is faces one felony count of party-to-a-crime child neglect and two counts of resisting an officer.

 

>>Twins Born on Leap Day in Duluth Hospital

(Duluth, MN) — A Duluth couple is welcoming twins born on Leap Day. Sara Olsen had the boys Thursday morning at Essentia-St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth. Adam was born at 8:57 am and Axal followed at 9am. Sara and Eric Olsen have three other children under the age eight. Hospital officials say the mother and twins are doing well. The Social Security Administration says the odds of twins being born on Leap Day are 1 in 50 thousand.

 

>>CentraCare Giving Out Free Colon Cancer Testing Kits

(St. Cloud, MN) — Thirteen CentraCare locations in Minnesota are offering free take-home colon cancer tests from today (FRI) through April 15th in honor of Colon Cancer Awareness Month. Adults ages 45 and older can pick up the kits, but only a limited number are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Officials emphasize that colon cancer is one of the deadliest cancers, despite being preventable if detected early, with nearly 70 percent of people diagnosed have no family history of the disease.

 

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