BC-MN-XGR-SESSION PREVIEW

Spending, crime top lawmakers' agendas for 2022 session

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota legislative leaders and Democratic Gov. Tim Walz will spend much of the session trying to agree on how to make use of the state’s enormous $7.7 billion surplus and more than $1 billion in federal aid. Walz and Democrats want to use the funds on several programs while Senate Republicans want to give that money back to Minnesotans in the form of permanent tax cuts. Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have pointed to crime as a major issue this session, and it will likely carry over as a campaign issue in November.

AP-US-GEORGE-FLOYD-OFFICERS-CIVIL-RIGHTS-POLICE-CULTURE

2nd trial in Floyd killing centers on clash of duty, code

CHICAGO (AP) — A federal trial against three former Minneapolis police officers seeks to hold them responsible for not stopping George Floyd’s murder. The men face a rarely used charge accusing them of violating Floyd's civil rights. Legal experts hope the case also can change long-standing police culture that breeds reluctance to rein in fellow officers. Floyd's killing prompted many police departments to adopt policies requiring officers to intervene if a co-worker puts someone in danger. Experts say federal charges in this case send a strong message that failing to do so means consequences severe enough to outweigh fears of being ostracized or even put in danger by fellow officers for stopping and reporting misconduct.

BEARGREASE

Longest sled dog race in Lower 48 states is off and running

DULUTH, Minn. (AP) — Mushers and teams in the longest sled dog race in the contiguous United States have hit the trail. The 300-mile John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon kicked off Sunday morning from Billy’s Bar in Duluth. The teams are headed to Grand Portage in far northeastern Minnesota. There are three other races for shorter distances, including the Junior Beargrease 120 for young mushers. This year’s race marked the return of spectators along the trail. They were not allowed to cheer them on last year because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Beargrease is a qualifier for the Iditarod, the premier race for mushers, in Alaska in March.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-RESTAURANT MANDATE

Judge upholds Minneapolis vaccine-or-test rule for eateries

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Hennepin County judge has upheld Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey’s vaccine-or-test mandate for bar and restaurant customers after several business owners asked for a temporary restraining order against the initiative. The mandate that took effect this month requires customers to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative virus test within three days to dine at restaurants licensed by the city. In the ruling issued late Friday, Miller said the bar and restaurant owners who filed suit were speculating that the mandate was the cause of their losses, when sales could have dropped because patrons are trying to avoid the omicron variant and the cold. The complaint says that business owners support vaccines, but argued that Frey doesn’t have legal authority for such an order.

HOME HEATING HELP

North Dakota receiving record funds for home heating costs

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota is getting a record $46.4 million from the federal government to help low-income residents cover heating costs this winter, which is more than twice what the state gets in a typical year. The Biden administration is distributing an additional $4.5 billion nationwide for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and cold-weather states are receiving the largest share. Minnesota received nearly $274 million in home energy assistance for needy residents. The funding boost is part of last year’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan coronavirus relief package. It has more than doubled the normal funding level of the program nationally.

SQUAD CAR-FATAL

Deputy strikes, kills woman with squad car in Morristown

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Rice County Sheriff’s Office deputy struck and killed a Faribault woman in Morristown early Saturday morning. Authorities say the on-duty deputy, was driving a squad car near the around 2 a.m. and was not responding to an emergency at the time. The 52-year-old woman is thought to have been in the roadway. Deputies attempted lifesaving efforts, and local fire and rescue responded, but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The State Patrol is handling the investigation. No further information has been made available.

ORGANIZED THEFTS-CHARGES

6 charged in organized thefts from Twin Cities stores

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Six people have been charged with being among nearly 20 who plotted and ambushed several retail outlets in the Twin Cities on Black Friday over the Thanksgiving weekend. Best Buy stores in Burnsville, Blaine and Maplewood were targeted, as well as a Dick’s Sporting Goods outlet in Richfield. Televisions, computer tablets, a hoverboard and other electronics totaling more than $26,000 were taken by the armloads from the Best Buy stores. Mob thefts also occurred elsewhere in major cities around the country in November.

GEORGE-FLOYD-OFFICERS-CIVIL RIGHTS

Defense: 3 officers at Floyd killing not trained adequately

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — An attorney for one of the three former Minneapolis police officers on trial for allegedly violating George Floyd's civil rights says the police department didn't adequately train new officers on certain policies and taught them to obey their superiors. Federal prosecutors say officers J. Alexander Kueng, Tou Thao and Thomas Lane had a duty to intervene when Officer Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck for 9 1/2 minutes, but they did nothing and failed to start CPR after Floyd stopped breathing. The former head of the police department's training division says the officers didn't follow the department's use-of-force policy when Floyd was killed. But Kueng's attorney says training is lacking and new officers are taught to obey senior officers.

News from © The Associated Press, 2022