>>Lawmaker Proposes Increased Ag Budget
(St. Paul, MN) — The Chair of the House AG Committee is looking for a big boost in the state agriculture budget. Representative Paul Anderson from Starbuck is requesting a budget of $169 million, which includes a $17 million dollar boost to fight the bird flu and other issues in Minnesota. Anderson says farmers have a long list of concerns.
The budget proposed by the AG Committee is $18 million higher than the plan from Governor Tim Walz.
>>House Republicans Ask “Historic” Old State Flag Come Back, on Occasion
(St. Paul, MN) — Twenty-two House Republicans have proposed a bill to bring back the “historic” retired Minnesota state flag. The bill allows flying this flag at the Capitol, state properties, official state holidays, and during the legislative session. This comes after the flag was changed from showing a Native American riding away while a white settler plows his field to a two-tone blue flag featuring Minnesota’s shape and a white star. The change went into effect on May 11th last year. If this bill is approved, the old state flag would come back into play on May 11th, 2026.
>>Elk River Landfill Death Investigation
(Elk River, MN) — Police are investigating after a body was found at the Elk River landfill on Wednesday. Officials say a trucking company reported an employee missing around 9 a.m. and believed to be delivering a load to the landfill. Officers found the missing employee’s body at the scene. No foul play is suspected.
>>Coon Rapids Man Sentenced to 6 Years for Fatal Crash While High on Meth
(Stearns County, MN) — A Coon Rapids man has been sentenced to six years in prison for a fatal Stearns County crash. 54-year-old Chad Seitz pleaded guilty in December to criminal vehicular manslaughter while under the influence of methamphetamine and causing bodily harm with a vehicle. State troopers say the crash happened on Highway 55 between Belgrade and Brooten around 6:45 a.m. on January 22nd, 2024. Seitz’s car crossed the center line, hitting 41-year-old Cassie Mithaugen of Belgrade head-on. She was killed, and a three-year-old girl in the backseat suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
>>Mounds View Police Searches for Shooting Suspect
(Mounds View, MN) — Mounds View Police are searching for the suspect in a shooting Thursday. Officers found the man with a gunshot wound to his leg. Authorities began to look for suspect 20-year-old Alex Quevedo-Holmes, ordering a local shelter-in-place and school dismissal delay. Police say Quevedo-Holmes is described as 6 feet 2 inches tall, 168 pounds, with brown hair and eyes. Officials warn he is armed and dangerous. Anyone who sees him should call 911.
>>Former School Custodian Admits to Child Porn Charge
(Owatonna, MN) — A former Owatonna school custodian has admitted to a child pornography charge. In October, Steele County deputies began investigating 30-year-old Jeremy Alvarez after a tip from the Minnesota BCA that included his Yahoo email address. Investigators linked Alvarez to a Kik social media account that had downloaded suspected child sex abuse materials (CSAM). Alvarez was charged with five counts of child porn possession and entered a guilty plea to one of those counts on Thursday. He will be sentenced in June.
>>Wolverton Fire Spread to Multiple Buildings
(Wolverton) — A large fire in Wilkin County spread to several buildings on Thursday. Deputies responded to a 911 call reporting a garage on fire near propane tanks in Wolverton. Upon arrival, first responders discovered multiple buildings ablaze. The fire’s cause is under investigation, and no further information has been released.
