>>Minnesota House Leaders Discuss Possible Tie Next Session
(St. Paul, MN) — Leaders of the Minnesota House are discussing the possibility of a tied chamber next session. Republicans gained enough seats for a 67-67 tie which could end the Democrats’ trifecta at the State Capitol. G-O-P Minority Leader Lisa Demuthsays, “this is the opportunity for us to work together with our colleagues and Democrats across the aisle and find ways to best serve Minnesotans.” The Minnesota Constitution forbids the House from having two speakers at a time. House Speaker Melissa Hortman said she was confident that she and Minority Leader Demuth would be able to navigate the divide.
>>Minnesota Sends Majority of Women to Congress for First Time
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota is sending more women than men to Congress for the first time next year. State Senator Kelly Morrison won the 3rd District seat of Congressman Dean Phillips on Tuesday night. Senator John Marty of Roseville says, “It’s very good and I keep thinking 25 years ago there had only been one woman in Congress in the entire history of Minnesota and now Democrats are solidly women.” D-F-L Representatives Ilhan Omar, Angie Craig, Betty McCollum, and Republican Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach, all won re-election. G-O-P Congressmen Tom Emmer, Pete Stauber and Brad Finstad were also re-elected.
>>Itasca County Voters Re-Elect Dead County Commissioner
(Grand Rapids, MN) — Itasca County voters re-elected a dead commissioner to office Tuesday, triggering a special election. Officials say 57-year-old Michael “Burl” Ives died in September, but the incumbent commissioner still beat his opponent by two thousand votes. A special election will be scheduled to replace Ives on the county board.
>>Jury Deliberations Continue in Fravel Murder Trial in Blue Earth County
(Mankato, MN) — The jury in the Adam Fravel murder trial will continue deliberations this morning in Blue Earth County. The prosecution and defense gave their closing arguments Wednesday morning before the case went to the jury. Fravel is charged with first- and second-degree murder charges in the killing of Madeline Kingsbury of Winona last year. He could face a life prison sentence if convicted of the first-degree murder of his ex-girlfriend and mother of his children. A few jurors had questions during deliberations about premeditation and intentional second-degree murder.
>>Pipestone County Man Charged with 2nd Degree Murder in Girlfriend’s Death
(Pipestone, MN) — Prosecutors in Pipestone County are charging an Edgerton man with the second-degree murder of his girlfriend. Deputies called to a possible assault Saturday found the woman dead and 35-year-old James Benson at the scene with scratches on his face and arms. The criminal complaint says the victim had no pulse, marks on her throat and an extension cord wrapped around her legs. The medical examiner determined she likely died of asphyxia. Benson’s first court hearing is next Tuesday.
>>Morrison County Renews Interest in 8-Year-Old Murder Case
(Morrison County, MN) — The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help solving an eight-year-old murder case that’s gone cold. Terrence Brisk was killed on November 7th, 2016 while hunting on his parent’s property. Brisk was fatally shot with his own rifle while deer hunting. Evidence shows Brisk was an avid outdoorsman, and he most likely interacted with the suspect before the shooting. There is a $30,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest and conviction.
>>16-Year-Old Boy Shot in North Minneapolis
(Minneapolis, MN) — A 16-year-old boy is injured after a shooting in north Minneapolis on Wednesday evening. Police were called to an alley and found the teen wounded. The victim told officers he heard a vehicle and gunfire before he was shot. No arrests have been made.
>>Convicted St. Cloud Sex Trafficker Charged with Felony Prostitution
(St. Cloud, MN) — A convicted sex trafficker is charged with promoting and profiting from prostitution in Stearns County. Prosecutors say 33-year-old Ashley Pick of St. Cloud is accused of trafficking two women from February through May of this year. Police say they found text messages on Pick’s phone showing negotiations between her and sex buyers where women were hired for sex acts. Pick was previously sentenced to seven years in prison in 2018 for aiding and abetting prostitution promotion.
>>Molson Coors Closing Historic Leinenkugel’s Brewery in Chippewa Falls
(Chippewa Falls, WI) — Multinational brewer Molson Coors plans to close the Leinenkugel’s Brewery in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. The move will end more than 150 years of brewing in the northwestern Wisconsin city where “Leinie’s” was born. Molson Coors is shutting down the Chippewa Falls brewery and Leinenkugel’s 10th Street Brewery in Milwaukee on January 17th. More than 50 workers are expected to lose jobs in Chippewa Falls. One of the main free entertainment stages at the Minnesota State Fair is named “ The Leinie’s Lodge.”
>>No Winter Weather Expected in Minnesota for Weeks
(St. Paul, MN) — Old Man Winter is in no hurry to arrive in Minnesota. Pete Boulay of the State Climatology Office says if you’ve enjoyed the weather over the past week or so, the active weather pattern will continue. He says, “the outlook from the Climate Prediction Center pretty much for all of November has a tendency for above normal temperatures and above normal precip, too. So no real sign of winter either but maybe staying on the wet side.” Boulay says drought conditions are improving but parts of the state could use significant precipitation. Areas west of the Twin Cities received four to five inches of snow on Halloween.
>>Canadian Pacific Holiday Train Coming to 20 MN Towns
(Minneapolis, MN) — The one-thousand-foot Holiday Train is coming to 20 Minnesota towns for the winter season. The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train is a “pop-up concert experience” that will feature 14 decorated train cars and free musical performances. From December 10th through the 16th, the Holiday Train will make stops in La Crescent, Winona, Wabasha, Hastings, Cottage Grove, St. Paul, Golden Valley, St. Louis Park, Minneapolis, Loretto, Buffalo, Annandale, Eden Valley, Glenwood, Alexandria, Detroit Lakes, Mahnomen, Plummer, Thief River Falls, and Elbow Lake.
>>Gopher Men’s Hoops Routs Oral Roberts in Season Opener
(Minneapolis, MN) – The Golden Gopher men’s basketball team routed Oral Roberts 80-57 in the season opener Wednesday night at Williams Arena. Dawson Garcia scored a game-high 30 points for Minnesota, Parker Fox added 13, and Mike Mitchell had nine assists. The U of M’s six-game homestand continues Saturday against Nebraska-Omaha.
