Here's the latest news from across the state to start your day. ☕
WEATHER
☀️ Sunshine will start our Wednesday with highs reaching the 20s in the east and the low 30s in western Minnesota.
🌡️ During what is typically our coldest time of the year with an average high of 23 and low of 8, temperatures will warm into the 30s and 40s by the end of the week.
New lawsuits are promised over a rocky opening day in the state House. DFL Secretary of State Steve Simon, whose ruling to adjourn Tuesday’s session was ignored by Republicans, intends to ask the Minnesota Supreme Court to address it.
Nearly three dozen intrepid skaters took to Powderhorn Lake, which was home to national skating championships and even Olympic trials in the 1930s and ‘40s.
🗳️ DFLer Doron Clark, Republican Abigail Wolters win primary in Senate District 60 special election. The primary narrowed the field of candidates from nine to two. The state Senate is currently tied 33-33, and the winner of the Jan. 28 special election will tip the majority control in the chamber.
❌ Victim and immigration advocacy organizations oppose Laken Riley Act. The Laken Riley Act is named after a Georgia nursing student who was murdered while out for a run in February 2024 by an undocumented immigrant. Her death has sparked debate on immigration in the U.S. 🩰 U of M Dance Team prepares to defend national championship title in Florida. The reigning national champions of pom are hoping to continue their streak and snag the top spot in jazz this year at the most prestigious national dance competition at the collegiate level.
🚨 Straw buyer in Burnsville first responder shooting pleads guilty. As part of a plea agreement, prosecutors are dropping three other straw purchasing counts against Ashley Dyrdahl. She faces a possible sentence of 30 to 37 months.
🚓 Former police officer convicted in George Floyd's murder set to be released from prison. J. Alexander Kueng will return to Minnesota where he’ll be on supervised release. Under Minnesota law, most offenders serve the first two-thirds of their sentences in prison and the remainder on supervised release.
⚖️ Hegseth confronts allegations of misconduct as senators grill Trump’s choice for Pentagon chief. Minnesotan Pete Hegseth was combative at times, as he was forced to confront the allegations of misconduct and his own comments that are far from the military mainstream.
🏫 Fridley schools closed Wednesday due to reported threat to school safety. Classes and activities were canceled Wednesday at Fridley Public Schools after what officials say was a “reported threat to school safety.” Fridley school officials did not elaborate on the nature of the threat.
🏛️ Minnesota tribal leaders call for Biden to commute Leonard Peltier’s sentence. Peltier, a citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa in North Dakota, is currently serving two life sentences at a federal prison in Florida. Peltier has maintained his innocence since he was first imprisoned.
🚔 Police arrest St. Paul person accused of shooting at officer. St. Paul police arrested a person late Monday for allegedly firing a gun at an officer while fleeing a traffic stop. Authorities say police did not return fire, and no one was injured.
🚨 Minnesota man charged with hate crime in Belle Plaine assault. Federal charges were filed last week against 35-year-old Justin Anthony Kudla. He’s charged with using force and injuring a man because of his race at a bar in Belle Plaine on Feb. 3, 2024.
MUST LISTEN
🎧 Report: Hennepin County shelters are filling up, but the county isn’t tracking who it turns away. Hennepin County has stopped tracking how many people they’re turning away during the day, making it harder to know just how many people need a place to sleep in the county — and whether the county's resources match up.
🎧 Climate change and how to address it. Earth’s hottest year in recorded history was 2024. The previous hottest year was 2023. MPR News guest host Emily Bright and her guests talk about climate change and possible ways to address it.
Celebrate 20 years of music with The Current on Friday, Jan. 24, at First Avenue! Don’t miss Frank Black of the Pixies perform his solo album “Teenager of the Year” in its entirety with local Minnesota artists she’s green and DJ Jake Rudh opening the night.
