Several female Democratic Senators today are calling on Senator Al Franken to resign amid a new allegation of sexual harassment. A woman tells Politico that Franken tried to forcibly kiss her after recording his radio show in 2006–three years before Franken took office. The woman, who is not identified in the story, is reportedly a former Democratic congressional aid and was in her 20s when the incident is alleged to have happened. She says Franken told her of the attempted kiss “it’s my right as an entertainer.” Franken calls the allegation “categorically not true.” Franken is currently cooperating with an ethics committee investigation of his behavior related to several previous allegations of sexual misconduct. The Senators calling for Franken to step down are Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Margaret Hassan of New Hampshire and Patty Murray of Washington.
There were more than 400 crashes around the state during Monday’s storm. The State Patrol reports three-dozen injury-related collisions including one in the western Minnesota town of Benson where an 87-year old man died when a pickup collided with an SUV he was riding in.
Health officials are assuring the public that two cases of tuberculosis in Kandiyohi County are isolated and there is no risk to anyone else. The conditions were discovered among two people associated with the Willmar Senior High School. The Department of Health does not think the two cases are connected and there are no recommendations for broad screening at this time.
Emergency assistance is on the way to Renville County after Monday night’s snow storm which paralyzed roads and stranded drivers. Governor Dayton’s executive order means the state will cover costs of emergency services including help from members of the National Guard and the use of the armory as a shelter in Olivia.