>>Minnesota House to Vote on Proposed ERA/Abortion Rights Amendment
(St. Paul, MN) — Democrats plan to bring an E-R-A (Equal Rights) and abortion rights constitutional amendment proposal to a vote in the Minnesota House today (Fri p-m) after several delays. The D-F-L blames the delay n Republican filibusters while others say it’s because Democrats needed to round up more votes in the Senate. House G-O-P Minority Leader Lisa Demuth points to a recent poll finding 64 percent of Minnesotans want Equal Rights and abortion rights as separate constitutional amendments. But Democrats don’t appear to be going that route. House Speaker Melissa Hortman says Senate D-F-Lers, “had a pretty intensive caucus (meeting) to make the final determination of, would they accept the language that we were sending and would they put it on the ballot? …They’re ready to take it as-is.” Passage by the legislature would put the proposed amendment on the ballot in 2026.
>>Trump to Headline Minnesota GOP Fundraiser in St. Paul
(St. Paul, MN) — Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to travel to Minnesota today (Fri ) to headline a fundraising dinner for the Minnesota Republican Party. Trump will be the featured speaker at tonight’s Lincoln Reagan dinner in St. Paul. The ex-president had previously stated that he would not return to Minnesota if he lost the state in 2020. Despite losing by seven percentage points to President Joe Biden that year, Trump has expressed optimism about his chances to turn the state red in the November election. The last Republican president to win Minnesota was Richard Nixon in 1972.
>>Community Activists to Protest Trump’s Appearance at Lincon-Reagan Dinner
(St. Paul, MN) — Local community activists are gathering in St. Paul tonight (Fri 5pm) to protest the arrival of former President Donald Trump at the Minnesota Republican Party’s Lincoln-Regan Dinner. Minnesota Immigrants Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) members simply say “he is not welcome in Minnesota and we are going to make sure he knows it.” Leaders claims Trump was instrumental in dismantling Roe v. Wade, and his primary campaign focus has been,” the mass detention and deportation of immigrants and deadly militarization of the border.
>>U of M Professor Downplays Dow Hitting Record-High 40K Points
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Dow Jones Industrial Average topped 40-thousand points for the first time ever Thursday, but some economists are downplaying the significance of the record. University of Minnesota Professor Christopher Phelan (FAY’-lin) says the stock market high is great news if you’re thinking about selling, but things just got more expensive for those thinking of buying. He says, “It’s generally a good thing, though, if the market valuation of American companies is considered to be high, because that’s forward looking, it means that people are relatively confident about the future.” Professor Phelan (FAY’-lin) says the S&P 500 is a better indicator of the market than the Dow index which is comprised of the stocks of only 30 major companies.
>>Minneapolis Police Investigating 2 Deadly Shootings Thursday Afternoon
(Minneapolis, MN) — Police in Minneapolis are investigating two deadly shootings that happened Thursday afternoon. Officers say they found a man in his 20s with gunshot wounds on the North Side around noon and he died in the hospital. That shooting reportedly followed an argument among a group of people. Authorities responded to a possible drug overdose near Uptown two hours later and discovered a man his 30s who had been shot. That victim also died of his injuries at Hennepin Healthcare. Police Chief Brian O’Hara says there’s nothing to indicate the deadly shootings are related.
>>Man Rescued from Grain Bin in Southwest Minnesota Dies
(Balaton, MN) — The Murray County Sheriff’s Office says the man rescued from a grain bin in southwest Minnesota Tuesday afternoon did not survive. Authorities identified the victim as 48-year-old Bruce Larson of Balaton. Deputies say Larson became partially submerged in the grain and people at the scene couldn’t find him right away. Paramedics arrived and were able to extricate him. Investigators say Larson died from his injuries.
>>Nortech Systems Announces Pending Closure of Blue Earth Plant
(Blue Earth, MN) — A manufacturing plant in southern Minnesota will close by the end of this year. Nortech Systems has informed the state of Minnesota that it plans to shut down its Blue Earth facility, laying off more than 70 employees. The first layoffs will happen at the beginning of September, followed by another phase at the beginning of October. The plant will close on December 13th. The company says it is consolidating its operations and will offer all employees in Blue Earth jobs at other facilities.
>>Minnesota State Patrol Explosive Sniffing K-9 to Retire
(St. Paul, MN) — A Minnesota State Patrol K-9 is hanging up her leash after more than eight years of service at the State Capitol. Matka, the State Patrol’s only explosive-sniffing K-9 since 2016, will be celebrated with a retirement party today (FRI) at the State Capitol. The Hungarian vizsla regularly kept workers and visitors safe by checking out capitol buildings for threats, responding to calls about suspicious or unattended bags, and doing bomb sweeps.
>>Fry Fire in Superior National Forest 75% Contained
(Duluth, MN) — A wildfire in the Superior National Forest near the North Shore is nearing containment. The Fry Fire was first reported on Wednesday afternoon in the Tofte Ranger District. Officials say that a prescribed burn had escalated, damaging over 200 acres. A forest spokesperson said Thursday that containment had reached 75%, and currently there are no threats to structures or reported closures.
>>Wolves Rout Nuggets to Force Game 7 of Western Conference Finals
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Minnesota Timberwolves routed the Denver Nuggets 115-70 at Target Center Thursday night to force a decisive Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals. Anthony Edwards led the Wolves with 27 points, Jaden McDaniels scored 21 and Karl-Anthony Towns had ten points and 13 rebounds. Minnesota led the defending N-B-A champions by 50 points late in the second half. Game 7 will be Sunday at Ball Arena in Denver.
>>High School Hockey Players Now Required to Wear Neck Protectors
(Undated) — The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFSA) will require all high school hockey players to wear neck protectors when on the ice. This comes after Hibbing, Minnesota native Adam Johnson was fatally cut in the neck by a skate while playing in South Yorkshire, England last October. The man accused of manslaughter in the case has just had his bail extended through June 26th, though no charges have been filed.
>>Canterbury Park Slates 8 Races for Saturday’s Open to 30th Racing Season
(Shakopee, MN) — Canterbury Park will open its 30th season of live horse racing on Saturday with an eight-race program featuring 77 horses. The first race begins at 5:15 p.m. and includes one of the best Minnesota-bred thoroughbreds in recent years, Thealligatorhunter, trained by Tim Padilla.
