Minnesota

Federal Agency Hears Testimony on Fate of Gray Wolves

Supporters of the Protections say Removal is Premature

BRAINERD, Minn. (AP) – Federal officials are weighing testimony from the only public hearing in the country on the government’s latest attempt to take gray wolves off the endangered and threatened species list. The proposal would return management of the predators to the states, potentially subjecting them to hunting and trapping. In most states it’s illegal to kill a wolf…

Suspect Sought in Fatal UTV hit-and-run Crash

Officials are Searching for the Driver

DETROIT LAKES, Minn. (AP) – Authorities are looking for the driver of a car that struck and killed a man operating a utility vehicle in northern Minnesota. The 27-year-old man was struck in Becker County Monday night in Maple Grove Township and was found unresponsive. He was taken to Sanford Hospital in Fargo, North Dakota where he died on Tuesday….

Judge Tosses ex-Minnesota Players’ Suit Against University

The University Said it Weclomed the Decision

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by nine former University of Minnesota football players who claimed their rights were violated after a woman alleged she was the victim of a gang rape in 2016. The Star Tribune reports that U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank found no merit to claims that the men were subjected to…

Boy Thrown From Mall Balcony Remains in Intensive Care

The boy has had More Than 15 Procedures

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The parents of a 5-year-old Minnesota boy who was thrown from a third-floor balcony at the Mall of America say their son remains in intensive care due to severe complications from the April attack. In an update on their GoFundMe page Tuesday, the parents of the victim, identified only as Landen, say he has had more than…

Legislative Auditor Will Investigate PolyMet Water Permit

Thr Auditor's Review Will Start Immediately

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Minnesota’s legislative auditor will investigate concerns over how state regulators handled an important water quality permit for the planned PolyMet copper-nickel mine. Rep. Rick Hansen, who chairs the Legislative Audit Commission and a House environment committee, says the auditor’s review will start immediately. An e-mail leaked last week indicates a top Minnesota Pollution Control Agency…

Ellison Says He’ll Defend Minnesota’s Abortion Restrictions

A Lawsuit was Filed Last Month by Advocacy Groups

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison says he’ll defend state laws restricting abortion against a legal challenge despite his strong personal support for abortion rights. Ellison told a forum in Fergus Falls last week his job is to defend Minnesota’s laws regardless of his personal opinions. The Star Tribune reports his comments marked the Democratic attorney…

Virginia Police Investigating Edgewood Vista Armed Robbery

Authorities say This is an Active Investigation

VIRGINIA, Minn. – Virginia police are actively investigating an armed robbery that took place at the Virginia Edgewood Vista Assisted Living facility early Monday morning. According to authorities, officers were dispatched to the facility at approximately 3:39 a.m. on reports of a robbery. Police learned from employees of the facility that two younger men wearing masks, bandanas, dark clothing, and…

Norm Coleman Escapes Boat Crash ‘a Little Shaken’ but OK

The Accident Happened on Lake Ada Near Park Rapids Saturday

(Photo credit: Norm Coleman/Facebook) ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Former U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman says he’s OK after a boat crash on a northern Minnesota lake. Coleman posted on his Facebook page that he was fishing on Lake Ada near Park Rapids on Saturday when another boat broadsided his. Coleman wrote that he leapt into the water right before the…

New Minnesota Laws Target Marital Rape, Wage Theft, Opiates

The new Minnesota Laws Will Take Effect July 1

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Starting July 1, Minnesotans who rape their spouses finally can be charged with sexual assault. Wage theft becomes a crime. And drug manufacturers will help shoulder the costs of the opioid epidemic. Those are some new Minnesota laws taking effect July 1 along with the state’s new $48 billion budget. Minnesota will have what sponsors say is…

SAKI Grant Leads to Criminal Sexual Conduct Conviction

A Sentencing Date has not Been set

DULUTH, Minn. – The first case to go to trial stemming from evidence collected in the Duluth Sexual Assault Kit Initiative has resulted in a man being found guilty of criminal sexual conduct. Kenneth Clark was charged after evidence suggested he sexually assaulted a Native American grandmother in his cab in 2012. The investigation was stalled due to miscommunication between…

Red Flag Warnings in Effect at Park Point Beaches

The Warning is due to Win and Wave Conditions

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Fire Department has issued a warning for dangerous swimming conditions for Park Point beaches effective immediately through 10:00 a.m. Saturday. The warning is due to wind and wave conditions that can support rip currents. Rip currents are life-threatening to anyone entering the water regardless of your swimming experience. There are currently no lifeguards at Park…

Jury Awards $585K to Minneapolis cop Over License Lookups

Attorneys for Krekelberg say Officers Searched her Data 74 Times

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – A federal jury has awarded $585,000 to a police officer who alleged that 58 fellow officers from the Minneapolis Police Department broke a federal privacy law by searching for her driver’s license data without a lawful purpose. Attorneys for Amy Krekelberg say the officers searched for her data 74 times, accessing information including her photograph,…

Duluth Police Local #807 Announces Endorsements

Duluth Police Union Announced Endorsements for the At-Large and 3rd District Races

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Police Local #807 announced their endorsements in the At-Large and 3rd District races for Duluth City Council Friday morning. According to a recent press release, the Duluth Police Local #807 is endorsing Arik Forsman and Noah Hobbs for councilor-at-large and Roz Randorf for 3rd District. “The individuals that we have chosen to endorse have demonstrated…

1 in 6 ER Visits or Hospital Stays Triggers ‘Surprise’ Bill

Congressional Lawmakers are Moving to Close the Loophole

WASHINGTON (AP) – A new study says about once in every six times someone is taken to an emergency room or checks in to a hospital, the treatment is followed by a “surprise” medical bill. The report Thursday from the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation also finds that depending on what state you live in, the odds can be much higher….

Minnesota State College System to Raise Tuition by 3%

Leaders say They Need to Raise Tuition to Keep up with Inflation

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The Minnesota State college system’s board of trustees has voted to raise tuition by 3% this fall as enrollment declines. The Star Tribune reports that the board of trustees approved a $2.1 billion budget for the 37 universities and community colleges in the system, which has lost almost a fifth of its enrollment over the past decade….

Duluth Police: Teen’s Death Ruled as Suicide

DULUTH, Minn. – According to the Duluth Police Department, Ausineese Dufault’s manner of death has been listed as a suicide following lab results from the Midwest Medical Examiner and the investigation of the DPD Violent Crimes Unit. A preliminary report confirmed last month that Dufault’s cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head. Authorities discovered Dufault, 16, dead…