>>Winter Weather Advisory Issued for Western and Central Minnesota
(Chanhassen, MN) — Forecasters say a clipper system is expected to bring accumulating snowfall to western Minnesota this evening (Thurs) and then move east across the state. The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory tonight through Friday morning along a line from Alexandria to St. Cloud to the Twin Cities. Those areas could receive two to five inches of snow by tomorrow. There is a chance for even heavier snowfall in parts of Minnesota late Saturday night into Sunday.
>>Busiest Days of Spring Break Travel at MSP Airport
(Minneapolis, MN) — The terminals at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport are packed with spring break travelers. M-S-P spokesman Jeff Lea (lee) says they’re expecting up to 48 thousand passengers on today (Thurs) and Friday and they will be the busiest days yet this spring break travel season. He says there could be about 45 thousand passengers on Sunday. He recommends reserving a parking spot ahead of time and checking with your airline to make sure the flight is on time especially with snow in the forecast this evening into Friday morning.
>>Judge Recommends Legal Marijuana Now Party Lose its Major Party Status
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota D-F-L is cheering a judge’s recommendation to the state Supreme Court that the Legal Marijuana Now Party lose its major party status. District Court Judge Edward Wahl said the L-M-N-P does not have the state committees required by statute and did not conduct any conventions in Minnesota’s eight congressional districts and at least 45 legislative districts in the 2022 election. His order also says the Minnesota Supreme Court should declare that the Legal Marijuana Now Party does not meet all the statutory requirements to maintain its status in the August primary and November general election. D-F-L Chair Ken Martin filed the petition and said he was pleased with the court’s findings.
>>Court Appearance for State Trooper Ryan Londegren
(Minneapolis, MN) — Prosecutors and defense attorneys for State Trooper Ryan Londregan (LON-druh-gan) — who’s accused of murdering Ricky Cobb — are before a judge this morning (Thurs) after court filings revealed Hennepin County chief prosecutor Mary Moriarty stopped working with a use-of-force expert who said the trooper acted reasonably to protect his partner. That dispute has entered the legislative arena, with House Republicans demanding a hearing on a bill stating that prosecution of any officer accused in a suspect’s death can only proceed if there’s a grand jury indictment. Moriarty says her office follows the rules of criminal procedure “in thousands of cases every year” and “we will litigate this case in court, which is where it belongs.”
>>GOP Delegation Wants Moriarty Removed from Prosecution of State Trooper
(Washington, DC) — The four Republican U-S House members from Minnesota are demanding Governor Tim Walz take prosecution of the state trooper murder case away from Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty. In a letter to the governor, Representatives Tom Emmer, Pete Stauber, Michelle Fischbach and Brad Finstad say Moriarty “ignored an independent use-of-force expert chosen by her own office,” who stated that Trooper Ryan Londregan (LON-druh-gan) acted as a reasonable officer would have. They say Londregan still being charged with second-degree murder and other offenses can lead them to only one conclusion: “this prosecution is politically motivated.” The U-S representatives say they will also request the Judiciary Committee in the Republican-controlled U-S House conduct an investigation. DFL Congresswoman Angie Craig is also calling for state leaders to take over or reassign the Trooper Londregan case from the Hennepin County Attorney’s office.
>>No Charges in Fatal St. Paul Police Shooting in February 2023
(St. Paul, MN) — Prosecutors will not be charging two St. Paul police officers in connection to the fatal shooting of a man armed with a knife in February of 2023. The Ramsey County and Minnesota Attorney General’s offices decided charges aren’t warranted against Officers Noushue Cha and Abdirahman Hahir. Investigators said 65-year-old Yia Xiong ran at the officers with a large knife and Officer Cha deployed a Taser and Hahir fired his rifle at Xiong. The 39-page report concludes the use of deadly force by the officers was legal under Minnesota law.
>>Judge Grants Order in Trial of Madeline Kingsbury’s Murder Suspect
(Winona, MN) — A Winona County judge’s order restricts access to audio and video statements previously made by Adam Fravel to law enforcement as the trial in the murder of Madeline Kingsbury moves forward. Fravel is charged with the first-degree murder of his former partner Kingsbury, who was also the mother of the couple’s two children. Fravel’s attorney says the restrictive order is to prevent access to recorded statements Fravel made on three different occasions because they “contain a substantial amount of material facts and information that has not previously been made public.” The defense is also seeking a change of venue, alleging Fravel would not receive a fair trial in Winona County due to extensive media coverage.
>>State Fines Moorhead Assisted Living Facility
(Moorhead, MN) — A Moorhead assisted living facility is facing fines and must make corrective actions after a resident fell multiple times and suffered severe bruising, including two brain bleeds. Farmstead Care of Moorhead says it will appeal the findings by the Minnesota Department of Health. According to the M-D-H report, inspectors began investigating the facility after a resident was admitted to an intensive care unit. Hospital staff reported the woman had bruises so severe, and in varying stages of healing, that they first suspected abuse. The patient’s husband fully supports Farmstead Living and said the allegations are 100% false.
>>Breckenridge Man Charged with Raping Woman in Apartment
(Breckenridge, MN) — A west central Minnesota man is accused of raping a woman at an apartment building in Breckenridge. Wilkin County authorities say 49-year-old Emery Hagen is charged with two felony counts of criminal sexual conduct. The victim told officers that Hagen forced himself on her and she showed them bruising on her ribcage. Police say it was obvious the victim was very intoxicated. When Hagen was asked if the victim was lying about her allegations of the sex not being consensual, he said she was not. His next court appearance is set for March 27th.
>>Postal Truck Involved in 3-Vehicle Crash near Rockford
(Rockford, MN) — The Minnesota State Patrol says a postal truck was involved in a three-vehicle crash near Rockford Wednesday morning on Highway 55. Troopers say the postal truck and another pickup were westbound when they crashed before they hit an eastbound pickup. The report says the postal truck driver, 61-year-old Thomas Molitor of Buffalo, and the driver of the first pickup, 53-year-old Erik Sorenson of Buffalo, were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The other pickup driver wasn’t hurt.
>>Winona State University Names Janz as New President
(Winona, MN) –Winona State University is naming Doctor Kenneth Janz as its new president effective immediately. Janz brings more than 30 years of management and administrative experience from working in K-12 and public higher education institutes. Janz has been serving as W-S-U’s interim president since August 2023. He succeeded President Scott Olson after he was appointed chancellor of Minnesota State.
