>>More Information Released About Gunman in Killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO

(New York, NY)  —  We are learning more about the suspected gunman who shot and killed UnitedHealthcare C-E-O Brian Thompson in midtown Manhattan.  It’s believed the gunman arrived in New York last month on a bus from Atlanta, passing through the Port Authority Bus Terminal.  The suspect is believed to have checked into a hostel on the Upper West Side on November 30th, where he stayed until the shooting occurred.  N-Y-P-D investigators have released new surveillance photos of the man they suspect carried out the killing.  In these photos, he is seen smiling at the hostel’s front desk clerk with his mask down.  Additionally, authorities say he checked into the hostel using a fake New Jersey driver’s license.

>>Visitation Friday Evening for Red Lake Tribal Police Officer Jesse Branch

(Red Lake, MN)  —  A large law enforcement turnout is expected this weekend at the funeral for Red Lake Tribal Police Officer Jesse Branch.  Thirty-five-year-old Officer Branch was killed in a crash while responding to a call on November 27th.  There’s a visitation for Branch later today (Fri 6-8pm) at the Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home in Bemidji.  His funeral is Saturday at 1pm in the Humanities Building in Red Lake and the burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in Bemidji.  Flags have been flying at half-staff in Minnesota in honor of Officer Branch.

>>State Senator Gustafson Wants to Establish Office of Inspector General in Minnesota

(St. Paul, MN)  —  A D-F-L state lawmaker plans to introduce a bill at the Capitol next month that would create an Office of Inspector General in Minnesota.  Senator Heather Gustafson of Vadnais Heights says the statewide office would conduct independent, objective audits and investigations into any entity public or private that is receiving taxpayer funding.  She says the goal is preventing another 250-million-dollar Feeding our Future fraud scheme.  Illinois and Florida are among the states with an Office of Inspector General.

>>Minneapolis Council Rejects City’s Plans for George Floyd Square

(Minneapolis, MN)  —  The Minneapolis City Council is rejecting the city’s plan for George Floyd Square and sent it back to committee.  Some council members prefer a proposal to build a pedestrian mall at the site of Floyd’s murder in south Minneapolis.  The city plan would have rebuilt streets and allowed traffic to move through 38th Street and Chicago.  Mayor Jacob Frey says this move makes it unlikely that construction on George Floyd Square can start in June.

>>Minneapolis City Council Fails to Override Mayor’s Veto of Labor Standards Board

(Minneapolis, MN)  —  The Minneapolis City Council failed Thursday to override Mayor Jacob Frey’s veto of its proposed Labor Standards Board.  Originally passing the council 9-3, their version would allow the mayor to appoint three of the 15 board members instead of half and would require a simple majority for a recommendation to the council instead of a supermajority.  Frey posted on social media, “I’m grateful for the Council Members who joined me in recognizing we need a balanced Labor Standards Board with participation from both business and labor—the proposal I vetoed didn’t.”  Local members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Healthcare Minnesota and Iowa say it’s “incredibly frustrating that despite advocacy from groups representing tens of thousands of workers and residents in Minneapolis, the Mayor and some Council Members have chosen to side with low-road employers who’ve said they would refuse to come to the table if their workers and community are there.”

>>New Brighton Man Sentenced to 162 Months for Fatal Road Rage Shooting

(Minneapolis, MN)  —  A New Brighton man is sentenced to 13-and-a-half years in prison for a deadly road rage shooting in Minneapolis.  Twenty-five-year-old Dhaha Hassan was convicted of second-degree murder without intent in the November 2023 shooting of 34-year-old Randy Burris.  Investigators say Hassan was driving the wrong way on a ramp, and when Burris got out of his vehicle to confront him, they began to argue.  Hassan then stepped out of his car and shot Burris multiple times.  Hassan gets credit for 384 days already served.

>>Fargo Man Charged with Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

(Fargo, ND)  —  A Fargo man is being held in Cass County Jail on possession of child sexual abuse material charges.  Benjamin Chartier was arrested Wednesday after an investigation found he was uploading videos of children being sexually abused by other kids and adults on the messenger app Kik.  Court records show seven files were found on Chartier’s cell phone cloud storage, including videos of children ages 3 to 16 years old.  Investigators also found messages from Chartier and others about a sexual attraction to children.

>>Lusten Mountains Opens Friday for Ski and Snowboard Season

(Lutsen, MN)  —  Lutsen Mountains is opening for the ski and snowboard season today (Fri)on the North Shore.  Chief marketing officer Greg Fisher says crews have been making snow 24/7 – plus they received more than a half foot of real stuff.  He says the snow that Mother Nature provided enhances and makes snowmaking go even further because that will have fallen on the ground, pile up, and any snow that we make on top of it is going to stick around.  Fisher says they’re opening the first runs of the season on the Eagle Mountain peak which is served by the new Raptor Express high-speed chair lift.  Lutsen calls itself the largest ski area in the Midwest.

>>Gopher Volleyball Tops Western Kentucky in NCAA Tournament Opener

(Lexington, KY)  —  The 15th-ranked University of Minnesota volleyball team is headed to the second round of the N-C-A-A Tournament.  The Golden Gophers topped Western Kentucky in four sets Thursday in the opening match in Lexington, Kentucky.  Junior outside hitter Julia Hanson of Savage led Minnesota with 13 kills and eight digs while senior Lydia Grote went for 12 kills and five digs.  Minnesota faces the host Kentucky Wildcats tonight (Fri 7pm) with the winner advancing to next weekend’s Sweet 16.

>>Vikings LB Greenard Named NFC Player of the Month for November

(Eagan, MN)  —  Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard is being honored as the N-F-C Defensive Player of the Month for November.  Greenard had eight tackles for loss, four sacks, one forced fumble, and 16 tackles last month.  The Vikings defense allowed the fewest rushing yards per game (58.8), had the second-most sacks (14), and the third-most interceptions (4) in November.  Greenard signed as a free agent with Minnesota this spring after four seasons with the Houston Texans.  The Purple host the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

>>Northfield Woman Wins 2024 Women’s US Amateur Pool Championship

(Orlando, FL)  —  A Northfield, Minnesota woman takes home the grand prize in this year’s Women’s U-S Amateur Pool Championship.  Kindra Prestegard was the only Minnesota pool player to make it to the championships and wound up stealing the whole thing.   The double-elimination tournament was held at the Hyatt Regency in Orlando, Florida.  Prestegard won a trophy, a jacket, an all-expenses-paid trip to a pro billiard event, and a guaranteed spot for next year’s competition.