Walz State-Of-The-State Address Tonight; Unemployment Down; Criminal Vehicular Manslaughter Charge in Carlton Crash
>>Governor Tim Walz To Deliver His Sixth State Of State Address Tonight
(Owatonna , MN) — Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is scheduled to deliver his State of the State address tonight at Owatonna High School. He is expected to urge the Legislature to pass additional gun safety regulations, including storage provisions and increased penalties for straw buyers. Republicans will be on hand to provide a rebuttal to the governor’s address, likely renewing calls for fiscal restraint. (24/7 News Source)
>>Unemployment Down In MN
(Undated) — Initial filings for unemployment claims are on the decline in Minnesota. The U.S. Department of Labor has released its latest report, which says for the week ending on March 16th new unemployment claims fell to just over 36-hundred. That’s down from nearly 38-hundred filings the week prior.(24/7 News Source)
>>Report: MN Man Played Air Guitar In Vehicle Before Deadly Crash
(Carlton County, MN) — Investigators say a driver admitted to playing air guitar inside a moving vehicle immediately before a deadly crash in Carlton County last week. Twenty-one-year-old Brent Keranen of Pengilly reportedly told investigators he was “jamming out” to a good song on the radio when the vehicle’s airbags suddenly deployed. Sixty-one-year-old Justin McNeil of Moose Lake was walking on the shoulder of Highway 73 when he was hit and killed last Thursday. Police have charged Keranen with criminal vehicular manslaughter in connection with the crash.(24/7 News Source)
>>One-Million-Dollar Bond For Man Accused Of Shooting At Grand Forks Law Enforcement
(Grand Forks, ND) — A Grand Forks man who’s accused of shooting at law enforcement is in custody on a one-million-dollar bond. It happened as officers were attempting to serve a search warrant at a home last Friday, when suspect Jeffrey Simpson Jr allegedly exited a vehicle on the property and opened fire at them. None of the officers were hit, and Simpson was arrested. He faces four counts of attempted murder with a firearm, and his hearing and arraignment are scheduled for May 6th.(24/7 News Source)
>>State Senate Committee Advances Voting Rights Bill
(St. Paul, MN) — A state Senate committee is advancing a bill that would offer Minnesotans the right to challenge suspected discrimination at the polls. The Judiciary Committee passed the Minnesota Voting Rights Act yesterday and sent it to the full Senate for a vote. The bill would prohibit local governments from actions that could keep persons of color from voting, such as restricting voting hours or locations. It would also give individuals and groups a path to challenge voting practices before taking action in court.(24/7 News Source)
>>Minnesota Legislator Proposes Making It Legal For Women To Go Topless
(St. Paul, MN) — A Minnesota legislator is proposing a bill that would avoid charging a topless woman with indecent exposure. The co-sponsor of the proposed measure House DFL Representative Samantha Sencer-Mura of Minneapolis believes the current law is outdated. Sencer-Mura says her proposal isn’t likely to get a hearing this year at the Capitol. She hopes the legislation creates a discussion about society’s understanding of gender identity shifts.(24/7 News Source)
>>Duluth Pokes Fun At Billionaire Kathy Cargill
(Duluth, MN) — Duluth is poking fun at billionaire Kathy Cargill after she blasted the city in a Wall Street Journal interview. Cargill told the publication over the weekend that Mayor Roger Reinert had “peed in his Cheerios” by questioning her about her plans for property purchases on Park Point. Reinert posted a picture of pancakes and bacon on social media on Sunday, adding a hashtag abbreviation that stands for “If you know, you know.” A Duluth group is asking the community to donate boxes of Cheerios and other cereals this week that will be donated to local food shelves. A local bar has also joined the fun by introducing the Park Point People’s Pint, a pint of lager served with a generous portion of Cheerios on the side.(24/7 News Source)
