>>White Powder Found in Suspicious Package Sent to Secretary of State Office
(St. Paul, MN) — A “nonhazardous” white powdered substance was in the suspicious package delivered to the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office that caused an evacuation Friday. It was sent by the “United States Traitor Elimination Army.” Legislative leaders say several other secretaries of state and state election officials received similar suspicious packages earlier this month. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon says “Fear and intimidation of election workers will not be tolerated…our focus remains on delivering a free, fair, accurate, and secure election.” The F-B-I, U-S Postal Inspection Service, and State Patrol are still investigating.
>>Craig Sponsors New Bill to Make Year-Round E-15 Sales Nationwide
(Washington, DC) — Congresswoman Angie Craig is lead sponsor of a new bi-partisan bill that would allow year-round sales of E-15 nationwide. Craig says Minnesota drivers already have access to 15 percent ethanol fuel in the summer months and one of her staffers found a 40-cent price difference between E-15 and regular gasoline. She says we should offer that to the rest of our country. Craig says adding more ethanol to our fuel lowers costs for consumers and expands markets for farmers. A federal rule prohibits sales of E-15 between June and mid-September, but Minnesota is one of eight states to receive an emergency waiver from the E-P-A.
>>MN Soybean Growers President Less Optimistic on New Farm Bill
(Wells, MN) — Commodity groups continue to push Congress for a new Farm Bill this year. Minnesota Soybean Growers Association president Darin Johnson says executive leadership visited Washington, D-C earlier this month and he feels less optimist following the trip. Johnson says, ” the House and Senate are still a fair ways apart on it, and not a lot of communication is actually happening between them. The Senate obviously hasn’t brought anything to the table as far as the farm bill goes.” The current Farm Bill extension expires today (9/30), and Congress did not include another extension in the continuing resolution that passed last week.
>>MN BCA Identifies St. Paul Police Officers Who Fatally Shot Belle Plaine Suspect
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota B-C-A is naming the two St. Paul police officers who fatally shot a suspect Thursday in Belle Plaine. Officers Aaron Bohlen (10 years on the force) and Lance Christianson (20 years on the force) are on standard critical incident leave. Agents say the suspect, 29-year-old Seantrell Murdock of Belle Plaine, was being investigated for a shooting in St. Paul’s Lowertown neighborhood that killed a local artist, 66-year-old Carrie Kwok. Murdock was shot while leaving his home, officers citing he had a handgun. He was airlifted to H-C-M-C where he ied of his injuries. No other injuries were reported. The investigation is active and ongoing.
>>Missing Farmer Rescued by Helicopter Team in Winona County
(Pleasant Valley, MN) — Authorities in Winona County say a farmer is recovering from serious injuries suffered in an incident and helicopter rescue in the Pleasant Valley area. The sheriff’s office was called to a report of a person who was working on fence and didn’t return Saturday afternoon. A round 35 first responders were called to assist in the search and the victim was located about an hour later in remote hard to access area. Deputies say a helicopter team used ropes to pull the victim out and transport him to the hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries.
>>4 Duck Hunters Rescued from Capsized Boat on Douglas County Lake
(Alexandria, MN) — Authorities in Douglas County are using a weekend boating accident to highlight the importance of life jackets. The sheriff’s office says a duck hunting boat with two adults and two kids capsized Saturday on Bird Lake near Osakis. The four hunters were hanging onto the boat but having a hard time staying afloat because their waders were full of water. Deputies rescued all four and they were treated for hypothermia. Officers say none of the hunters were wearing a life jacket and there wefre not enough in the boat for all the occupants. They say this is another reminder that all watercraft users should wear life jackets.
>>NAMI Walks Minnesota 5-K Event Raises $509K
(Minneapolis, MN) — Organizers say around three thousand people attended the 18th annual NAMI Walks Minnesota 5-K in Minnehaha Park. NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) state director Sue Abderholden says Saturday’s event raised 509 thousand dollars for the work they do. She says,”what it really is is to raise awareness around mental illnesses and to promote mental health.” Abderholden says it was a beautiful day with an energized and hopeful group. Buses from across Minnesota came to Minneapolis for the 5-K walk, resource fair and other activities.
>>Minnesota Vikings Edge Packers in Green Bay to Remain Undefeated
(Green Bay, WI) — The Minnesota Vikings outlasted the Packers 31-29 in Green Bay Sunday to improve to 4-and-0. The Purple had a 28-7 lead before the 2-and-2 Pack rallied within two points late in the fourth quarter. Sam Darnold threw for 275 yards and touchdowns to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Josh Oliver. Addison also ran for a T-D. Darnold was intercepted once and lost a fumble. Green Bay Q-B Jordan Love had four touchdown passes and three picks. The Vikings play the Jets Sunday in London.
