Minnesota

Appeals Court Reinstates Lawsuit Over Same-Sex Wedding Video

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – A federal appeals court has reinstated a lawsuit filed by two Minnesota filmmakers who want the right to refuse to film same-sex weddings. Carl and Angel Larsen, who run Telescope Media Group in St. Cloud, sued the state in 2016, saying Minnesota’s public accommodation law would result in steep fines and jail time if they offered services…

Some Call for Expanded Lifeguarding on Duluth’s Beaches

Duluth YMCA Says Exapanding Lifeguard Services is Difficult

DULUTH, Minn. (AP) – The ever-present danger of rip currents in Lake Superior has some people in Duluth calling for more to be done to improve public safety. Retired police officer Dennis Hoelscher tells Minnesota Public Radio News that lifeguard services need to be improved. Lifeguards don’t work on “red flag” days that have high risk of rip currents. Hoelscher…

Update: Search Continues for Missing Northland Woman

UPDATE:  (St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office press release) The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office is still in search of information regarding the whereabouts of Priscilla Sohm. Over the past month Priscilla has been in contact with her family. Unfortunately, she is unwilling to come home or ask for assistance. Priscilla is diagnosed with mental health issues that designate her as…

Two Canoeists Rescued After Capsizing on Leech Lake

Sheriff Burch Credits the use of Life Jakcets for the Canoeists Safe Outcome

CASS COUNTY, Minn. – A mother and son canoeing on Leech Lake were rescued Monday night after their canoe capsized leaving them stranded in the water for hours. According to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, authorities received a report of two overdue canoeists on Leech Lake around 2:52 p.m. on Monday. Responding officers learned that a 56-year-old female, of Monticello,…

UPDATE: All-Clear After University of St. Thomas Evacuates Building

UPDATE: ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – The University of St. Thomas has issued an all-clear after receiving a bomb threat that forced the evacuation of a building on its St. Paul, Minnesota, campus. In a series of alerts posted to its website and social media pages, the university said Tuesday the threat was for the John Roach Center, a classroom…

Loss in Trust Account tax Case Could Cost Minnesota Millions

The State Will Have to Repay About $67 Million in Rebates

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – A court defeat in a case over the way Minnesota taxed trust accounts in other states could end up costing about $130 million this budget cycle. The Minnesota Department of Revenue estimated it will have to repay about $67 million, plus interest, in rebates over the next two years for overtaxing some trust accounts. It…

Mayor Larson Pick Shawn Krizaj as Next Duluth Fire Chief

City Council Will Vote on the Resolution Monday

DULUTH, Minn. – A familiar face in the Duluth Fire Department has been recommended to permanently fill the position as Fire Chief. Shawn Krizaj, a 22-year-veteran of the department, has been recommended by the city to take on the Fire Chief position. “Shawn has been an incredible asset to the Duluth Fire Department,” Mayor Emily Larson said. “Through his leadership…

New Guidelines for Rebates Follow Scrutiny of Fallon Award

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Minnesota’s film and TV production incentive program is changing after questions were raised about past awards, including $267,000 for Jimmy Fallon’s “Tonight Show.” Minnesota Public Radio News reports the board that runs the Snowbate program announced the changes Monday. Awards would not go to shows built around a national event in Minnesota, nor to projects…

Hermantown Farmer’s Market Canceled for Rest of Summer

The Last Five Events are not Expected to be Rescheduled

HERMANTOWN, Minn. – The Hermantown Farmer’s Market has closed for the rest of the summer season. According to a recent press release, health changes for the market’s major produce vendor and market manager has caused the market to cancel the remaining scheduled events. The Market was originally scheduled from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. each Monday from July 15 to…

Line 3 Protesters Rally at Enbridge’s Bemidji Office

Six Members of the Group Chained Themselves to a Gate

(Evan Frost/Minnesota Public Radio via AP)BEMIDJI, Minn. (AP) – Dozens of people rallied outside the Bemidji office of Enbridge Energy to protest the company’s proposed Line 3 oil pipeline replacement. Protesters say that six members of their group chained themselves to a gate early Monday. Enbridge’s Bemidji office closed for the day. Enbridge spokeswoman Juli Kellner says that over the…

Changes Coming to MSP Airport Security Checkpoints

The Remodeling is Expected to be Completed by Mid-December

(courtesy: Fox 9) MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – According to the MSP Airport, starting Monday, August 19, travelers who do not have TSA PreCheck will only be able to use the North Security Checkpoint at the airport. The airport says this change is due to remodeling in the ticket lobby of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport’s Terminal 1. The upcoming security changes include:…

Students Returning to School Damaged by Explosion in 2017

Two People Were Killed in the August 2, 2017 Explosion

Image from Fox 9 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Students will return to Minnehaha Academy next week, two years after a natural gas explosion leveled part of the Minneapolis campus, killing two staffers and injuring nine other people. Brick salvaged from the rubble as well as stone stair treads have been incorporated into the new construction. Two wooden benches in the lobby…