>>Minnesotans with Disabilities Act Unveiled

(St. Paul, MN) — A bipartisan group of lawmakers is sponsoring the Minnesotans with Disabilities Act. The bill would enshrine federal protections of reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities into Minnesota law. It mirrors the federal law of 1973, which offers strong protection from discrimination based on disability in programs that receive federal funding. The measure is now waiting for introduction in the House and Senate. The bill was unveiled Tuesday after a huge rally in the Capitol attended by hundreds of people living with disabilities and those who care for them.

>>House Committee Approves Free Tuition to Children of Veterans With Disabilities

(St. Paul, MN) — A bill that would give children of veterans with disabilities free tuition has passed a Minnesota House committee. The House Higher Education Finance Committee advanced the proposal that would cover the tuition, fees, and books for students of veterans who are 100 percent permanently disabled. The students could attend college at a Minnesota State or University of Minnesota school. Representative Mary Frances Clardy of Inver Grove Heights says investing in these students is not just a benefit but a recognition of the sacrifices made by these veterans.

>>State Lawmakers Looking at Bitcoin Act

(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota could become one of the first states in the nation to use Bitcoin for state investments, retirement plans, and tax payments. The proposal from Senator Jeremy Miller of Winona was announced Tuesday. The bill aims to expand the state’s financial landscape and create new financial opportunities for residents. Miller says he wants to put Minnesota at the forefront of the digital revolution and make the state a trailblazer regarding cryptocurrency. Texas, New Hampshire, Colorado, and the federal government are looking at similar proposals.

>>House Bill Would Expand ATV Access to More Roadways in Minnesota

(St. Paul, MN) — A Minnesota House bill would expand A-T-V access to some roads across the state. Republican Representative Roger Skraba of Ely says the legislation is critically important for greater Minnesota cities and rural communities where A-T-Vs are not just for recreation but also a practical mode of transportation. MnDOT and other opponents cite safety concerns with the bill. It would let communities with less than 25,000 people adopt ordinances allowing A-T-Vs on a roadway or trunk highway’s shoulder.

>>Closing Arguments Completed in Feeding Our Future Fraud Trial

(Minneapolis, MN) — The jury is expected to begin deliberations this morning (Wed) in the federal Feeding Our Future fraud trial. Closing arguments concluded Tuesday afternoon. Feeding Our Future founder Aimee Bock and restaurant owner Salim Said are the defendants in this case. Bock is accused of orchestrating a scheme that embezzled 250 million dollars in taxpayer funds intended for feeding low-income children. Said is accused of falsely claiming to provide meals to thousands of children using federal funds. If found guilty, both co-defendants could face decades in prison.

>>DPS Releases Results of Oral Fluid Testing for Drug-Impaired Drivers

(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Department of Public Safety is releasing the results of a pilot program that could lead to new oral fluid testing tools that would detect drug-impaired driving. Office of Traffic Safety Director Mike Hanson says the tools are built to detect recent use of drugs. Hanson says during the pilot program, they detected more than one drug in 62% of tests and found that 90% of drivers who tested positive for alcohol with a preliminary breath test also tested positive for one or more drugs at the same time. Hanson says the program was voluntary for drivers, and his office submitted the program results to state legislators.

>>Heavy Band of Snow Expected to Hit Southern, Southeastern Minnesota

(Chanhassen, MN) — Parts of far southern and southeastern Minnesota along Interstate 90 are expected to get hit today (Wed) by a narrow band of heavy snow. National Weather Service Meteorologist Paige Veserat says the metro area might only get a trace. She says snow will be actively falling in the Rochester and Albert Lea areas, where five to nine inches are possible. A blizzard warning and winter weather advisories are in effect. Many people are traveling to the boy’s state basketball tournament in Minneapolis.

>>Authorities in Mankato ID Gas Station Employee Stabbed to Death

(Mankato, MN) — Police in Mankato are identifying the gas station employee who was fatally stabbed early Tuesday morning. Officers say 34-year-old Dennis Vosika was found unresponsive on the floor of a Kwik Trip with knife wounds and died in the hospital. Investigators used surveillance video to identify the suspect and arrested 28-year-old Michael Miller at his home a short time later. They say Miller is a known customer and is now facing a second-degree murder charge.

>>7 Injured in Suspected Drunken Driving Crash in Chisago County

(Rush City, MN) — Chisago County authorities believe impairment was a factor in a crash last Friday that left seven people injured and a four-year-old in critical condition. Sheriff’s deputies say a car crossed the centerline and collided head-on with an S-U-V near Rush City. The 36-year-old woman driving the car and two children were taken to the hospital. The four-year-old boy remains in critical condition, and a three-year-old was released into protective care. Officers say the S-U-V driver and three child passengers suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The car’s driver was taken into custody and toxicology results are pending.

>>High School Boys Volleyball Kicks Off First Season

(Updated) — Boys high school volleyball has officially begun its inaugural season as a sanctioned sport under the Minnesota State High School League. The M-S-H-S-L voted to approve this in 2023, and now there are over 90 teams competing in boy’s volleyball. Like other major sanctioned sports, schools will provide transportation to matches, and the schools will fund coaches’ salaries. The state tournament is scheduled for early June at St. Thomas University.