>>Yelling on Minnesota House Floor During Debate over Paid Family Leave
(St. Paul, MN) — Members of the Minnesota House Republican minority continued yelling for nearly two minutes at the stroke of midnight (Wed), after Speaker Melissa Hortman cut off debate and went to a vote on a bill to make changes to the state’s new paid family and medical leave program that takes effect in 2026, and then adjourned until Friday morning. House G-O-P Minority Leader Lisa Demuth says silencing the Republican minority is “absolutely shameful” and Democrats shut down debate because they didn’t prioritize their time well enough. A D-F-L Caucus spokesman says last year’s debate on the actual paid family leave bill was a little over seven hours, but last night’s debate on technical fixes was at the eight-hour mark. Three days remain in the legislative session when lawmakers can pass bills.
>>Bonding Bill Remains in Limbo at Minnesota State Capitol
(St. Paul, MN) — A bonding bill for public works projects remains in limbo at the State Capitol, after Republican leaders gave Democrats a list of other things they want, before they’ll provide needed votes to pass it. G-O-P Senator Karin Housley from Stillwater says the only time the D-F-L has wanted to work with Republicans is on the bonding bill, where they need votes. Among Republicans’ demands: 30 million dollars for emergency medical services, and drop plans for an E-R-A (Equal Rights) and abortion rights constitutional amendment. Capital Investment Committee chair Senator Sandy Pappas of St. Paul says there’s always worry that there might not be a bonding bill this year. But she told reporters, “I think we’ll get there.” Only a few days remain in the legislative session.
>>Governor Walz Announces $6.2 Million in Child Care Access Grants
(St. Paul, MN) — The state of Minnesota is awarding more than six million dollars in grants to expand child care across the state. Governor Tim Walz says this funding is expected to increase childcare program capacity by over 22-hundred slots in Minnesota. Walz says these grants will increase access to child care and help more Minnesotans enter the workfoce, growing our labor force and economy. The grants are going to 21 organizations across the state, 15 of which are in greater Minnesota.
>>State Trooper Londregan Pleads Not Guilty to Fatal Shooting of Ricky Cobb II
(Minneapolis, MN) — Minnesota State Trooper Ryan Londregan is pleading not guilty in connection to the fatal shooting of Ricky Cobb the II during a traffic stop on Interstate 94. Twenty-seven-year-old Londregan told a Hennepin County judge Wednesday that he is innocent of second-degree murder, manslaughter, and assault in the death of Cobb last summer in north Minneapolis. The judge set a September 9th trial date and a pretrial hearing is August 12th. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office is using a team of federal prosecutors in the Londregan trial.
>>Students Protest in Hinckley Over Removal of Native American Graduation Song
(Hinckley, MN) — Students are protesting a decision by the Hinckley-Finlayson School Board to remove a Native American song from this year’s graduation ceremony. More than 50 students staged a protest Wednesday and plan to continue walkouts until they are heard by district leaders. An online petition with over two thousand signatures demands the return of “The Ojibwe Traveling Song.” Native American students make up more 23 percent of the student population at Hinckley-Finlayson High School.
>>Fire Activity About Normal for Mid-May in Minnesota
(Grand Rapids, MN) — Fire officials say wildfire activity is about normal for the middle of May in Minnesota. Leanne Langeberg of the Interagency Fire Center says,” we’re seeing reports of fires daily…and throughout Minnesota… It really depends on the day.” She says fires are transitioning from grasslands to conifer trees and heavier vegetation. Crews are battling a wildfire in the Superior National Forest that was beyond a prescribed burn area near Tofte (TAHF’-tee). A total of 795 fires have burned about 11-thousand-500 acres so far this year in the state
>>Woman Arrested in Mankato on Felony Drug and Robbery Warrants
(Mankato, MN) — A 27-year-old woman is jailed in Mankato on outstanding robbery and narcotics felony warrants. Investigators with the Minnesota River Valley Drug Task Force and Mankato police found 868 M-30 pills that tested positive for fentanyl and a loaded weapon. Officials conducted a traffic stop Tuesday on a vehicle driven by the woman, finding nearly 27 M-30 pills, cocaine, fentanyl powder, and other drugs, as well as a loaded handgun in her purse. A search of the suspect’s home led to 841 more pills, coke and fentanyl.
>>Timberwolves Host Nuggets in ‘Must Win’ Game 6 of West Semifinals
(Minneapolis, MN) — It’s win or go home for the Timberwolves tonight (Thurs 7:30pm) in Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Nuggets at Target Center. Denver beat Minnesota 112-97 Tuesday night to take a three games-to-two lead in the best-of-seven series. Wolves point guard Mike Conley missed Game 5 due to a sore right Achilles tendon and is listed as questionable. Minnesota looks to win on its home floor tonight and force a Game 7 Sunday in Colorado.
