>>Special Election in Minnesota House District 40B Tuesday
(St. Paul, MN) — Voters in parts of Roseville and Shoreview will elect a new state representative today (Tues) in the Minnesota House District 40-B special election. Democratic candidate David Gottfried faces Republican Paul Wikstrom. If Gottfried wins, Democrats and Republicans would have a 67-67 tie in the House. A victory by Wikstrom would give Republicans a 68-66 majority in the chamber. D-F-L candidate Curtis Johnson beat Wikstrom by more than 75 hundred votes in the November election but was ruled ineligible for violating residency requirements.
>>House Passes Increased Whistleblower Protections, Other Fraud Bill Fails
(St. Paul, MN) — Two bills to prevent fraud and government waste in Minnesota had their day on the House floor Monday. A measure to increase protections for state employees who report fraud and abuse in state agencies passed by a unanimous vote of 133 to zero. Representative Kristin Robbins of Maple Grove says employees have been afraid to come forward with information due to fear of losing their jobs. This will give them even more protections for speaking out. Another bill which would require an auditor to bring forward additional reports to the legislature on state agencies failed to get enough votes.
>>Klobuchar, Smith Urged Feds Not to Cancel Leases on National Park Service Buildings
(Washington, DC) — U-S Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith are urging the Trump administration not to cancel leases for several National Park Service buildings in Minnesota. The lease cancellations include the headquarters of the Mississippi National River Recreation Area and the park’s visitor center at the Science Museum of Minnesota. The Democratic senators say the federal government has a responsibility not only to protect our national parks, but to maintain them. Klobuchar and Smith add that visitors to the area generate 22 million dollars in economic activity.
>>New Report Highlights Minnesota’s Population Trends
(Mankato, MN) — A new report from the Center for Rural Policy and Development highlights the role migration will have in Minnesota’s future population growth. It shows that birth rates are no longer keeping pace with death rates, making migration the key driver of Minnesota’s future population growth. According to the Minnesota State Demographic Center, by the late 2040s, any population growth the state experiences will be due to migration rather than natural increase. The report also shows that Minnesota has consistently lost residents on net to other U-S states over the past two decades.
>>State Health Officials Urging Vaccinations in Response to Measles Cases
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Department of Health urges residents to get vaccinated for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) after the first adult in the U-S has died with measles. Senior Epidemiologist Jayne Griffith says while Minnesota has zero measles cases currently, recent outbreaks in 2024 have put the department on high alert. She says they have a “really robust” surveillance system in Minnesota in terms of working with healthcare providers. Griffith says the most common way measles enters the state is by unvaccinated people flying to other countries, catching measles, and coming back home.
>>New Integrative Health Unit Ribbon Cutting at Dakota County Jail
(Hastings, MN) — A new Integrative Health unit is now operating at the Dakota County Jail. Officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday. This new unit will provide specialized care for incarcerated individuals with specific health needs, focusing on medical care, mental health, and substance use treatment. The unit can accommodate up to 26 people at a time and is the first of its kind in Minnesota. The development of the unit cost over $14 million and was funded by the American Rescue Plan Act.
>>Arraignment Hearing for Mankato Man on Federal Child Pornography Charges
(Minneapolis, MN) — A Mankato man is scheduled to be arraigned in U-S District Court today (Tues) on child pornography charges. Federal prosecutors say 39-year-old Mitchell Ray Williams engaged minor victims in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child sex abuse videos last fall. Court records show Williams possessed and advertised the availability of visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. He was indicted on three child pornography counts.
>>Fergus Falls Woman Charged for Threatening Son, His Girlfriend
(Fergus Falls, MN) — A Fergus Falls woman faces threats of violence and assault charges after threatening her son and his girlfriend with a gun. Forty-six-year-old Tami Hendershot was arrested Sunday morning by Otter Tail County deputies. Hendershot said she was fighting with her son when his girlfriend entered the room. Hendershot hit the girlfriend, who subsequently hit Hendershot. That’s when Hendershot reportedly grabbed a gun and told the girl, “I’m going to shoot you.” She made her first court appearance on Monday.
>>Mahnomen County Authorities Search for Missing Man
(Mahnomen, MN) — Authorities in Mahnomen County are looking for a missing, endangered man. Officers say 23-year-old Samuel Lavoy-Brunette is autistic and was reported to have left his grandparents’ home in Naytahwaush around 10:30 Monday morning. It’s believed he is on foot, wearing a gray t-shirt and black pants. Samuel is described as 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighs 175 pounds, has brown hair and eyes.
>>A Busy Free Agency Period for Minnesota Vikings
(Eagan, MN) — The Minnesota Vikings are busy as free agency begins in the N-F-L. The Vikes re-signed Pro Bowl cornerback Byron Murphy, Junior to a three-year, 66-million-dollar contract. The Purple are adding four-time Pro Bowl center Ryan Kelly from the Colts on a two-year, 18-million-dollar deal, and Eagles cornerback Isaiah Rogers is coming to Minnesota on a two-year contract worth 15 million. Quarterback Sam Darnold left the Vikings for a three-year, 100-million-dollar deal with the Seahawks, and safety Cam Bynum signed a four-year contract with the Colts for up to 60-million dollars.
