>>Minnesota Senate Republicans Plan to Expel Senator Justin Eichorn
(St. Paul, MN) — Republicans say they will attempt to expel Senator Justin Eichorn of Grand Rapids this morning (Thurs 11am) from the Senate. Eichorn is facing federal charges for solicitation of a minor for sex in Bloomington. Governor Tim Walz commented on Eichorn’s arrest and charges Wednesday afternoon. Walz told reporters, “Look this issue of human trafficking is a big one. We bipartisanly fight that together. I see Republican leadership came right out and asked the senator to resign as those charges are happening. ” Senate G-O-P Minority Leader Mark Johnson says he is hoping for a quick resolution.
>>Feeding Our Future Founder Bock, Said Await Federal Sentencing
(Minneapolis, MN) — Feeding Our Future founder Aimee Bock and accomplice Salim Said are in custody awaiting sentencing on federal wire fraud, conspiracy and bribery charges. Assistant U-S Attorney Joe Thompson says the evidence proved that Bock was the head of the nation’s largest COVID scheme from day one. He says she signed every fraudulent claim submitted to the state and cut 240 million dollars’ worth of checks to every defendant in the case. Said falsely claimed that he served millions of meals to children from his Safari Restaurant food site. It only took a federal jury about five hours to convict Bock and Said. Bock’s attorney plans to appeal.
>>St. Paul Requests State Pay Half of $769 Million in Renovations at Xcel Energy Center
(St. Paul, MN) — The city of St. Paul and Minnesota Wild want the state to cover half the cost of a 769-million-dollar renovation project at Xcel Energy Center. The project calls for overhauling the N-H-L arena along with the neighboring Roy Wilkins Auditorium and St. Paul River Centre. Wild owner Craig Leipold would contribute close to 216 million dollars and St. Paul and Ramsey County intend to cover about 159 million dollars. Mayor Melvin Carter is expected to make the request today (Thurs) to the Minnesota House Capital Investment Committee.
>>Wednesday’s Snowstorm Dumps Up to 10 Inches in Southeastern Minnesota
(Chanhassen, MN) — Folks in southern and southeastern Minnesota are digging out from Wednesday’s snowstorm. The National Weather Service says Caledonia topped the snowfall list with 10 inches, Chatfield received 8 inches, seven inches in St. Charles and La Crescent, 6.8 inches in Austin, 6.5 in the Winona area, and 5.6 inches at Rochester Airport. Forecasters say strong winds created blizzard conditions on Interstate 35, I-90, and other roads yesterday afternoon in the southeast corner of the state.
>>Minnesota and Dakotas Region Preps for Red Cross Giving Day March 26th
(Minneapolis, MN) — Officials with the American Red Cross Minnesota and Dakotas region are hoping the community supports Red Cross Giving Day on March 26th. Regional chief development officer Megan Steffer says the goal is 30 thousand donations next Wednesday. She says it’s an effort to get the word out about the work that the Red Cross is doing in our communities and to rally the public behind supporting that mission to make sure we have the funds that are needed to be there to provide help and hope. Steffer says donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to 250 thousand dollars thanks to Ford philanthropy. You can make donation online at redcross.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS.
>>Mora Woman High on Meth in Chisago County Crash That Injured 7 People
(Center City, MN) — Chisago County prosecutors say a Mora woman was high on meth when she caused a crash near Rush City that left seven people injured. Thirty-six-year-old Ashlee Klapperick is charged with six counts of criminal vehicular operation in connection with Friday’s crash. Sheriff’s deputies say Klapperick crossed the centerline and collided head-on with an S-U-V. She and two children in her car were taken to the hospital and a four-year-old boy remains in critical condition. The S-U-V driver and three child passengers were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
>>Sartell Man Pleads Guilty to Check Forgery, Theft-by-Swindle
(Sartell, MN) — A Sartell man is pleading guilty to check forgery and theft-by-swindle charges related to his exploitation of vulnerable adults and defrauding homeowners. Prosecutors say 42-year-old Travis Peterlin is required to pay over $77,000 in restitution to his victims. The criminal complaint says he’s accused of using his power of attorney over his vulnerable mother to steal more than $170,000 in cash and buy an $86,000 S-U-V in her name. Peterlin is also charged for convincing a woman to loan him over $50,000 to buy a pickup and trailer that he never bought and collected checks worth thousands for work he never did or inflated in price.
>>Minnesota Wild, Gustavsson Shut Out Seattle at the X
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Wild are celebrating a 4-0 win over the Seattle Kraken Wednesday night in St. Paul. Goaltender Filip Gustavsson made 34 saves for his fifth shutout of the season. Ryan Hartman, Matt Boldy and Liam Ohgren scored first period goals and Boldy added an empty-netter in the third. The Wild close out their seven-game homestand Saturday against Buffalo at the X.
