Author: The Associated Press

Wisconsin Senate Passes Sexual Assault Kit Protocols

The Proposals Have Broad Bipartisan Support

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – The Wisconsin Senate has overwhelmingly approved two bills that would establish protocols for handling sexual assault evidence kits. A backlog of untested kits has been an issue in Wisconsin and across the country for years. The proposals have broad bipartisan support. The measures were developed by lawmakers, victims’ rights advocates, law enforcement representatives and others. Under…

Central Minnesota Grapples With Disposing CWD-Positive Deer

Legislators Have set Asider $50,000 for Dumpsters in Disease Areas

BRAINERD, Minn. (AP) – Wildlife officials in central Minnesota are discovering it’s not easy to get rid of deer carcasses infected with chronic wasting disease. The disease was discovered in a wild deer in Crow Wing County earlier this year, the first confirmed case in the state outside of southeastern Minnesota. Legislators have set aside $50,000 to set up dumpsters…

Pedestrian Standing on Interstate Dies When Struck by 2 Cars

The Man Appeared to be Under the Influence

WYOMING, Minn. (AP) – Authorities say a 19-year-old man who was standing in the middle of Interstate 35 in Wyoming, Minnesota was struck and killed by two cars. The Star Tribune reports that the incident happened shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday. The Minnesota State Patrol says in its report the man was standing on the stripe dividing the two southbound…

Salmonella, Hepatitis A Reported at Crow Wing County Jail

The Source of the Bacteria has not Been Determined

BRAINERD, Minn. (AP) – The Minnesota Department of Health is investigating cases of salmonella and hepatitis A at the Crow Wing County Jail. The sheriff’s office says one inmate has tested positive for salmonella, a bacteria that causes gastrointestinal illness. Other inmates and staff have also reported intestinal illnesses. The source of the bacteria has not been determined. One inmate…

Duluth Police Officer Case Could go to Supreme Court

Huot has not Asked to Return to his Position

DULUTH, Minn. – The City of Duluth has decided to petition the Supreme Court to review the case of the former Duluth police officer who was fired for dragging a handcuffed man through a downtown skywalk in 2017. Last month, the Minnesota Court of Appeals affirmed an arbitrator’s 2018 decision to reinstate Huot stating it did not violate public policy….

Feds: Minnesota Paid for Care for Dead Medicaid Recipients

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – A federal audit estimates that Minnesota made $3.7 million in unallowed payments to managed care organizations from 2014 to 2016 for dead people who had been enrolled in Medicaid. The inspector general at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said in a report Wednesday that the unallowed payments happened because the state didn’t…

Walz Willing to Consider Paying College Athletes

Walz Says Athletes Have a Right to Agent Representation

(courtesy: Office of Gov. Tim Walz) ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Gov. Tim Walz says he’s willing to look at legislation that would allow college athletes in Minnesota to hire agents and make money off endorsements, like the law just signed in California. Walz says he’s always been fairly uncomfortable with NCAA rules that prohibit athletes from earning endorsements. California’s…

Minnesota House to Open Mini-Session on Wednesday in Winona

WINONA, Minn. (AP) – Members of the Minnesota House will gather in Winona and other southeastern Minnesota communities Wednesday for a three-day mini-session. More than 100 lawmakers from both parties have registered. They’ll participate in tours and informational field hearings on a wide range of topics. No votes will be taken. It’s the first time the House has held a…

Minnesota Regulators Restart Line 3 Pipeline Review Process

(AP Photo/Jim Mone, File) ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Minnesota utility regulators have unfrozen the approval process for Enbridge Energy’s plan to replace its aging Line 3 crude oil pipeline across the state. The Public Utilities Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to direct the state Commerce Department to conduct a further environmental review on the potential effects of spills in the…

Federal Judge Rejects Challenges to PolyMet Land Swap

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – A federal judge has rejected challenges by several environmental groups to a land swap needed for the planned PolyMet copper-nickel mine in northeastern Minnesota. U.S. District Judge Joan Ericksen dismissed the four challenges late Monday. She ruled that the groups lacked the necessary legal standing to block the land exchange between PolyMet and the federal government. She…

Boy, 9, Takes Wrong Turn on 5K Race, Wins 10K Race Instead

Lovell Finished the Race in Just Over 48 Minutes

SARTELL, Minn. (AP) – It took 9-year-old Kade Lovell longer than expected to finish his 5K race, but only because he was busy accidentally winning a separate 10K race. Lovell’s mother became worried when he didn’t cross the finish line of the Francis Franny Flyer 5K in Sartell, Minnesota, on Sept. 21. The St. Cloud Times reports she drove along…

Husky Gets Approval to Start Superior Refinery Rebuild

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Husky Energy says it’s been given approval to rebuild its oil refinery in Superior after an explosion and a series of fires last year. Husky says it will start the $400 million plan immediately with the goal of resuming partial operations in 2021. “Our continued investment in this refinery and the community will support the Superior-Duluth regional…

Water Certification Denied for Line 3; Re-Filing Expected

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Minnesota pollution regulators have denied a water quality certification for Enbridge Energy’s proposed Line 3 upgrade, but it may be a short-lived victory for opponents of the project. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency announced the denial Friday. The agency said the move was necessary because the state Court of Appeals had ruled in June that…