ABORTION-MINNESOTA

Minnesota Senate Democrats try to force abortion debate

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Senate Democratic minority has tried unsuccessfully to force consideration of nine abortion and health-related bills that the Republican majority has kept bottled up in committee. The leak of a draft U.S. Supreme Court opinion that would overrule the landmark Roe v. Wade decision has energized both sides of the abortion debate in Minnesota. Democrats knew they lacked the votes to prevail Thursday. But Senate Minority Leader Melisa López Franzen says her fellow Democrats wanted to send a message to Minnesotans. She says they'll fight to protect privacy and reproductive rights, including the right to abortion, while Republicans won’t.

STORM CHASERS-PERILS

Storm chasers face host of dangers beyond severe weather

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The deaths of four storm chasers over the last two weeks have underscored the inherent dangers of pursuing severe weather events and navigating traffic. A meteorologist from Mexico was killed in a car crash on Wednesday while chasing violent weather in Minnesota. Three University of Oklahoma students were killed on April 30 when a semitrailer struck their vehicle while they were returning from chasing a tornado in Kansas. Greg Tripoli is an atmospheric and oceanic scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He says storm chasing can produce useful data but more often students want the thrill of seeing a tornado. He says the biggest danger that chasers face is a car accident as people travel at high speeds pursuing storms.

SPORTS BETTING-MINNESOTA

Minnesota lawmakers remain at odds over sports betting bill

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota lawmakers remain at odds over sports betting legalization bill. The House prepared to take up the proposal Thursday evening despite a lack of support in the Senate. The House bill would put Minnesota’s Native American tribes in control by allowing in-person wagering at tribal casinos and allowing tribes to partner with mobile betting companies. The Senate bill includes the state’s two horse racing tracks. Republican Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller says the House bill doesn’t have the support it needs to pass in the Senate because it only lets tribal casinos in on the action.

BIRD FLU-FOX

DNR: Fox kit tests positive for bird flu in Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A baby fox has tested positive for the bird flu in Minnesota, the first confirmed case in a wild mammal in the state. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says the kit found in Anoka County died, as did two red fox kits in Ontario, Canada who tested positive for the avian flu last week, the first reported cases in a wild mammal in North America. The University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory alerted the DNR, which monitors the health of the state’s wildlife. The National Veterinary Services Laboratory later confirmed the positive test earlier this week.

MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE-LIQUOR SALES

Minnesota lawmakers consider loosening state's liquor laws

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota lawmakers are considering lifting a cap on growler sales and letting local distilleries sell normal-sized bottles of their spirits direct to drinkers. The bill slated for debate in the House on Wednesday would further chip away at a system that long prevented direct sales to consumers. The bill was written to benefit the state’s five largest breweries: Summit in St. Paul, August Schell in New Ulm, Surly and Fulton in Minneapolis, and Castle Danger in Two Harbors. They've all grown to the point where they can no longer sell half-gallon jugs known as growlers from their taprooms.

CANADA-FLOODING

Floodwaters force thousands to evacuate in western Canada

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — All 4,000 people in the Northwest Territories town of Hay River were ordered to evacuate as floodwaters reached the community’s downtown area. Chief April Martel of the Kátl’odeeche First Nation told her entire community to leave for safer ground on Wednesday as western Canada struggles with some of the worst flooding in decades. Earlier in the day, a section of ice broke away, sending a fresh surge of water toward Hay River. The downtown was covered in a foot or more of water within minutes. Some residents reported being rescued from their homes by boat.

ELECTION 2022-MINNESOTA-GOP CONVENTION

Minnesota GOP seeks candidate who can topple Democrat Walz

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Endorsing a candidate who can topple Democratic Gov. Tim Walz will top the agenda when Minnesota Republicans gather in Rochester for their state convention Friday and Saturday. They’ll choose from a field led by Dr. Scott Jensen, a physician skeptical of coronavirus vaccines and mandates; former Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka; and Black business executive Kendall Qualls. The Minnesota GOP’s inability to win a statewide race since 2006 has made Minnesota a rare Midwest state with Democrats in charge, and the 2,200 delegates are hungry to change that. Minnesota Democrats will hold their state convention in Rochester one weekend later.

MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE-SPEAKER

Minnesota House speaker tests positive for coronavirus

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman says she has tested positive for the coronavirus. But the Brooklyn Park Democrat says she won’t be sidelined in the final days of the 2022 legislative session. She says she's “fully vaccinated, boosted, and feeling fine.” And she says she'll continue to participate in end-of-session negotiations remotely. But Hortman’s need to self-isolate will complicate efforts by House Democrats to reach compromises with the Senate Republican majority before the mandatory adjournment date of May 23. Lawmakers have yet to agree on what to do with around $7 billion of the state’s $9.25 billion budget surplus.

News from © The Associated Press, 2022