>>House Republicans to Cast Secret Ballots in Speaker Race
(Washington, DC) — U-S House Republicans begin a series of secret ballots this morning (8am CT start) to again try to choose a speaker before a floor vote — that after Minnesota Congressman Tom Emmer and seven rivals made pitches to their G-O-P colleagues last night (Mon). Earlier in the day, Emmer posted “Thank you, Mr. President” along with a video of Trump in New Hampshire saying about Emmer, “I think he’s my biggest fan now because he called me yesterday and he told me, I’m your biggest fan…. I’ve always gotten along with him, and I get along with all of them really.” But some of Trump’s advisors have been openly critical of Emmer. Oklahoma Republican Kevin Hern, one of Emmer’s rivals for speaker, told C-N-N he spoke with Trump and the former president indicated he was not planning to endorse any of the declared candidates at this stage.
>>Minnesota’s Smith is Co-Founder of the New Senate Mental Health Caucus
(Washington, DC) — Minnesota Senator Tina Smith is a co-founder of a new bipartisan Senate Mental Health Caucus along with Senators Joni Ernst of Iowa, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and, and Alex Padilla from California. Smith says, “Mental health care is health care and it should be available to everyone. No matter who you are or where you’re from. And yet that’s not the case for so many Americans.” She says legislation passed last year included more resources for mental health care, especially for young people in schools.
Smith has openly spoken on the Senate Floor about dealing with depression when she was in college.
>>Judge Rejects Plea Agreement in Minneapolis Carjacking Murder
**MEDIA REFERENCE**
(Minneapolis, MN) — A Hennepin County judge is rejecting a plea deal for a 20-year-old man involved in a carjacking murder in Minneapolis when he was 15 years old. District Judge Michael Burns said defendant Husayn Braveheart is not particularly amenable to probation, as attorneys on both sides argued. The Star Tribune reports the victim’s mother, Catherine Markey, said after the hearing, “I’m feeling hopeful that perhaps… they will actually prosecute this case sincerely and not just fold up and be defense attorneys.” A spokesman for the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office says they disagree with the judge’s decision — that Braveheart’s treatment “would likely end if he goes to adult prison and he would likely come out worse than when he went in.”
>>Martin County Prosecutors Consider Charges After 4-Year-Old Fatally Shoots Brother
(Fairmont, MN) — Authorities in southwest Minnesota’s Martin County are considering whether to file charges against two adults after a four-year-old boy fatally shot his brother in a moving pickup truck last week. Court records say the child’s mother and her boyfriend had gone back into their home to retrieve a toy, and the boyfriend told law enforcement he believed during that time the child crawled up to the front seat and grabbed a gun and ammunition from the passenger side door. He said as they were driving just outside of the town of Welcome, they heard a gunshot and looked back and saw the two-year-old child had been shot in the head. Law enforcement seized three rifles, ammunition, and weapons magazines in a search of the boyfriend’s pickup truck.
>>Authorities Continue to Investigate 8 Dead Dogs Dumped on Grey Cloud Island
(Golden Valley, MN) — The Animal Humane Society and Anoka County Sheriff’s Office continue the investigation into the eight dead dogs dumped on Grey Cloud Island near Cottage Grove last week. Investigators are trying to find who was responsible and how the dogs died. Animal Humane Society manager Liv Hagen says they seized 22 dogs from an animal rescue in Andover and then on Friday got an additional eight dogs from a foster volunteer that were also owned by the rescue. She says ll the dogs needed food, water, baths, grooming, and medical care, but hopes that some of the pups could be up for adoption as early as next week.
>>Minnesota Ranked 8th-Safest State by WalletHub
(Undated) — Personal finance website WalletHub is ranking Minnesota as the eighth safest state in America. The study ranked across 52 key safety indicators grouped into five categories, Personal and Residential Safety, Financial Safety, Road Safety, Workplace Safety, and Emergency Preparedness. On a scale from 1-25, Minnesota ranked third in fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles of travel, fifth in share of insured population, and seventh in fatal occupational injuries per 10 thousand full-time workers. Iowa ranked 11th, Wisconsin is 22nd and North Dakota is 27th safest state.
>>Vikings Upset 49ers on Monday Night Football in Downtown Minneapolis
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Minnesota Vikings topped the San Francisco 49ers 22-17 on Monday Night Football at U-S Bank Stadium. Kirk Cousins threw for 378 yards and two touchdowns to rookie wide receiver Jordan Addison, and Greg Joseph kicked three field goals. Vikings safety Cam Bynum intercepted Niners quarterback Brock Purdy twice late in the fourth quarter. The Purple improve to 3-and-4 and will play at rival Green Bay this Sunday.
>>Timberwolves Sign Jaden McDaniels to 5-Year Contract Extension
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Minnesota Timberwolves are signing Jaden McDaniels to a five-year, 136-million-dollar contract extension. The number 28 pick in the 2020 N-B-A draft was entering the final year of his rookie contract this year. McDaniels averaged 12 points and four rebounds last season and has become one of the league’s best defenders. The Wolves open the new season tomorrow (WED) night in Toronto against the Raptors.