>>Fraud Prevention Bill Overwhelmingly Passes Minnesota House
(St. Paul, MN) – Legislation approved overwhelmingly in the Minnesota House will offer fraud prevention and protections for whistleblowers who want to report fraud in state agencies. The state Government Policy bill passed 131-to-1 Thursday and now heads to the Minnesota Senate. Under the proposed law, state employees would be required to report any violations they see with state funding and grants. The measure is also seeing bipartisan support in the Senate.
>>Bill Approved by Minnesota House Increases DWI Penalties
(St. Paul, MN) — A bill passed Thursday in Minnesota House increases penalties for drunken driving convictions. It was in response to a D-W-I crash last year at the Park Tavern in St. Louis Park that killed two people and injured nine. Representative Larry Craft of St. Louis Park told members about drinking and driving, “I do ask if anyone is listening to this. Please think twice about this. It caused such a devastating hole in my community. ” The bill lengthens the license revocation period, adds an ignition interlock system to the offender’s car, and they would be required to undergo a treatment and rehabilitation program.
>>Governor Walz Signs Scuba Diver Safety Act
(St. Paul, MN) — Governor Tim Walz has signed the Brady Aune and Joseph Anderson Safety Act into law. The bill is named after two young men who drowned working for aquatic plant management companies. Both were removing lake weeds using scuba equipment without proper training. The new law includes additional safety and health requirements for people conducting scuba diving at a place of employment. It also requires employers to have the presence of a standby diver on scene, and all divers must go through first aid and C-P-R training.
>>Minnesota State Trooper Charged with Producing Child Pornography
(St. Paul, MN) — Federal prosecutors are charging a Minnesota state trooper with production of child pornography. The U-S Attorney’s Office says Jeremy Plonski was arrested and will remain in the Sherburne County jail pending a detention hearing. The patrol says Plonski has been an employee of the agency since 2022 and has been placed on administrative leave while an internal affairs investigation is conducted. Plonski has also been a member of the Minnesota National Guard since 2013.
State Patrol Statement:
“The allegations in this case are appalling and indefensible,” the Minnesota State Patrol said in a statement. “The conduct described is a serious violation of the law, of human decency and of the oath every member of the State Patrol swears to uphold. These allegations represent a betrayal of the community, victims, and of every member of law enforcement who wears their uniform with integrity and honor. We will fully support the federal investigation and prosecution, and will cooperate to the fullest extent possible. No badge, no title and no position will ever place anyone above the law. Protecting the vulnerable is our duty. Anyone who violates that duty has no place in this organization or in our profession.”
>>4th Victim Dies from Minneapolis Shooting, Man Arrested
(Minneapolis, MN) — Another victim in a fatal Minneapolis shooting has died and a suspect is in custody. Police say a shooting on Tuesday killed a man and two women in south Minneapolis. Now, a fourth victim has died from his injuries. The U-S Marshal’s Service NorthStar Fugitive Task Force and an F-B-I SWAT team arrested 34-year-old James Ortley without incident. He’s booked in the Hennepin County Jail for probable cause murder. Police are also investigating two other homicides that happened in south Minneapolis.
>>2nd Grade Student Brings Gun to St. Paul Elementary School
(St. Paul, MN) — Police in St. Paul say a second-grade student brought a gun to class Thursday at Bruce Vento Elementary. Officers say they were called to the school after a staff member found a gun in the student’s jacket pocket It was not loaded and no threats were made. Investigators say the child brought the gun to show friends.
>>Pennock Woman Sentenced to 5 Years Probation in Robbery, Assault of Man
(Litchfield, MN) — A Kandiyohi County woman will serve five years’ probation after pleading guilty to robbing and attacking a man last June. Meeker County prosecutors say 21-year-old Ariyanna Pillatzki of Pennock and two others took an Olivia man to see a camper, parked it near a lake and took $23,000 in cash from the victim. Pillatzki then struck the man with a car, and one of the other suspects stabbed him. In February, Pillatzki pleaded guilty to second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon. Her co-defendants face attempted homicide, assault, and robbery charges.
>>April Weather was ‘Fairly Average’ in Minnesota
(St. Paul, MN) — The weather this April will go down as “fairly average” in the state record books. Pete Boulay of the State Climatology Office says the month started with an April Fools Day snowstorm across a good chunk of central Minnesota and ended with severe weather and a tornado in the south. The statewide average temperature was about a half-a-degree above normal and precipitation was a third of an inch above normal. Boulay says the rain in the second half of April really helped the drought situation.
>>Vegas Knights Eliminate Minnesota Wild from Playoffs in Game 6
(Saint Paul, MN) — Another first-round playoff exit for the Minnesota Wild. The Golden Knights beat the Wild 3-2 in Game 6 at The X Thursday night to win the series four games-to-two. Mark Stone scored the go-ahead goal for Vegas in the third period. Ryan Hartman netted both goals and Filip Gustavsson made 20 saves in the loss for Minnesota. The Wild haven’t advanced to the second round of the N-H-L playoffs since 2015.
>>Tickets on Sale Friday for Timberwolves Second Round Playoff Series
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Minnesota Timberwolves will face either the Golden State Warriors or the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference semifinals. Tickets for three more potential playoff games at Target Center go on sale today (Fri) at noon. The Wolves advanced to the second round by beating the Lakers 103-96 in Game 5 Wednesday night in L-A. Golden State has a 3-2 lead over Houston and can close out the first-round series with victory tonight in San Francisco.
