>>Minnesota Legislature Considers Bidding on Ruby Slippers from Wizard of Oz
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota lawmakers are considering a bill that could put the state in the bidding for one of four known pairs of Dorothy’s ruby slippers from the “Wizard of Oz.” The iconic footwear was on loan to the Judy Garland Museum in the film star’s hometown of Grand Rapids, but the slippers were stolen in 2005, not recovered until 2018 and recently returned by the F-B-I to owner and collector Michael Shaw, who plans to put them on world tour, and then on auction. The bill — dollar amount currently left blank apparently to give the state a negotiating advantage — would send the slippers to the Minnesota Historical Society, require they be publicly displayed, and allow a loan to the Garland Museum.
>>Possible Compromise on Sports Betting Bill at State Capitol
(St. Paul, MN) — A significant move toward a compromise on legalizing sports betting in Minnesota — but backers acknowledge that major hurdles remain. Representative Zack Stephenson of Coon Rapids says he has an agreement with charitable gaming interests that would give them part of the tax proceeds from legal sports wagering, in exchange for them dropping objections to e-pulltab regulations passed just last year. But it’s still up-in-the-air whether Minnesota’s horse tracks or pro sports teams will get a piece of the action, and what role Native American tribes would play. Stephenson says, “”‘ve been telling people it’s generally about a 50-50 chance that we get it done this year. ”
>>2 Winter Storms Headed to Minnesota This Week
(Chanhassen, MN) — Minnesota is expected to receive a couple blasts of late season snow this week. Tyler Hasenstein (HA’-zen-stine) of the National Weather Service says a clipper system arrives in western Minnesota Thursday afternoon and exits the southeast corner of the state Friday morning. He says right now we’re looking at a pretty broad area of about two to five inches mainly in the southern half of the state and then there probably will be a narrow band somewhere of some higher amounts. Hasenstein (HA’-zen-stine) says another winter storm system packing more moisture and the potential for heavier snow is expected on Sunday.
>>Crews Battle Grass Fire in Mille Lacs County
(Milaca, MN) — Multiple agencies are working to control a grass fire in Mille Lacs County. The fire was reported Tuesday about ten miles north of Milaca. State and local fire crews are working with the U-S Fish and Wildlife Service to contain the fire, which had burned about 100 acres as of last night. The Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Office was asking people to avoid the area of Highway 169 and 230th Street East.
>>Body Discovered in Minnesota River at Granite Falls
(Granite Falls, MN) — Authorities in Yellow Medicine County are investigating after a body was recovered Tuesday from the Minnesota River in Granite Falls. Police say a man walking on a path near Highways 212 and 23 discovered the body in the water. Investigators say they don’t believe the person’s death is suspicious. The Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office is working to identify the remains and the cause and manner of death.
>>Red Lake Mother Charged with Torture, Abuse and Neglect of 3-Year Old
(Red Lake, MN) — A mother from Red Lake is now charged with torture, abuse and neglect of her three-year-old son, after a statewide Amber Alert was issued Friday night for her alleged abduction of the child. Thirty-five-year-old Jennifer Stately is in custody and faces multiple felony charges. Investigators say her son hadn’t been bathed for days and was covered with open sores, which hospital staff said could be from a burn caused by heat or chemicals. There was a double-fatal house fire also on Friday in the area of Stately’s Red Lake home, but officials aren’t saying if the two incidents are connected.
>>Eden Valley Man Draws 9-Year Sentence for Sexually Assaulting Boy
(St. Cloud, MN) — A Stearns County judge is sentencing an Eden Valley man to more than nine years in prison for sexually assaulting a teenage boy. A jury found 35-year-old Jessee Kuhns guilty of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. The sexual assault occurred in April 2022 at Kuhns’s home. The boy told investigators that he didn’t know what to do because he didn’t want to see Kuhns get mad and admitted to witnessing Kuhns’s angry outbursts prior. Court records allege after the assault took place, Kuhns told the boy not to say anything because he was already on a “list.
>>Apple Valley Man Sentenced for Possession of Meth, Fentanyl and Firearms
(Minneapolis, MN) — A man from Apple Valley will spend 13-and-a-half years in federal prison after getting caught with methamphetamine, fentanyl and firearms last July. Court documents say police were trying to arrest 31-year-old Timothy Wetzstein on outstanding warrants when he fled on foot and threw away a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol. He was arrested following a short chase and searches of his car and backpack led to quantities of drugs, three more guns and 11 thousand dollars in cash. Prosecutors say Wetzstein pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine and fentanyl with the intent to distribute.
>>Minnesota Gopher Men’s Basketball Tops Butler in NIT at Indianapolis
(Indianapolis, IN) — The Gopher men’s basketball team is celebrating a 73-72 win at Butler Tuesday night in the first round of the N-I-T. Guard Elijah Hawkins made two free throws with five seconds remaining and Minnesota held on for the one-point victory at Indianapolis. Dawson Garcia led the Gophers with 25 points and Hawkins added 11 and 15 assists. The U of M will face the winner of today’s (Wed) game between Indiana State and S-M-U in the second round.
>>MN Boys State Basketball Tournament Begins at Target Center & Williams Arena
(Minneapolis, MN) — The 2024 Minnesota Boys State High School Basketball Tournament tips off today (Wed) in Minneapolis. Defending champion Wayzata plays Rogers in the first Class 4 A quarterfinal at 10 am at Target Center. The Class 2 A quarterfinals are also being played on the Timberwolves’ home court this evening. Jackson County Central faces Albany at 6 pm and Pelican Rapids and Lake City meet in the late game. The Class 3-A quarterfinals are at Williams Arena on the U of M campus. Stewartville takes on top-seed Totino Grace in the first matchup at 10 o’clock this morning. Two Class 2-A quarterfinal games are also at the Barn tonight. Waseca faces number-one seed Breck at 6 pm while Minnehaha Academy plays Pequot Lakes at 8. The Class A quarterfinals begin Thursday at Target Center.
