BODIES DISCOVERED-MINNESOTA

7 bodies found in Minnesota home; cause of deaths not known

MOORHEAD, Minn. (AP) — Authorities say the bodies of seven people were discovered inside a twin home in a northwestern Minnesota city but did not say how they died. Police said the victims included four adults and three children. They were found just before 8 p.m. Saturday by family members conducting a welfare check at the home in Moorhead. Those family members called police. There were no signs of violence or forced entry into the residence, police said. Authorities are not actively seeking any suspects. The bodies were taken to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office in St. Paul, where autopsies will be conducted.

FEDERAL JUDGE CONFIRMED

US Senate confirms Menendez as federal judge in Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — U.S. Magistrate Judge Kate M. Menendez has been confirmed by the Senate to fill Minnesota’s federal court vacancy. Menendez was nominated by President Joe Biden in September. She appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee in early November to take questions and talk about her five-year stint as a magistrate judge. Menendez previously served as a federal public defender for more than 18 years. Her experience includes several adjunct law professor roles, including at the University of Minnesota, Hamline University and St. Thomas University. Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith said in a joint statement Saturday that Menendez was recommended by the judicial selection committee, comprised of prominent members of Minnesota’s legal community.

DAUNTE WRIGHT-OFFICER TRIAL-POTTER

Experts: Potter missed chance to explain Taser-gun mix-up

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The former Minnesota police officer who shot and killed Daunte Wright alternated between tears, statements of remorse and clipped, matter-of-fact answers as she testified at her trial on manslaughter charges in the death of the Black motorist. But Kim Potter’s testimony on Friday was notably scant on a key element of her defense – that she made a mistake when she drew her handgun instead of her Taser and killed Wright during a traffic stop last April in Brooklyn Center. Some legal experts said it appeared to be a missed opportunity for Potter to tell jurors how a mix-up might have occurred and what she was thinking — and that some jurors were likely waiting to hear just that.

PLANNED PARENTHOOD-PRESIDENT-RESIGNS

Leader of Planned Parenthood in upper Midwest stepping down

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The president of Planned Parenthood’s affiliate in the upper Midwest says she is stepping down from her position next year. Sarah Stoesz oversaw the organization for nearly 20 years and grew it into one of the largest Planned Parenthood affiliates in the country as it expanded from Minnesota and South Dakota to incorporate North Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported. The five-state organization provides health care to more than 100,000 patients each year. Stoesz does not plan to step down until October while the organization searches for her replacement.

BC-US-DAUNTE-WRIGHT-OFFICER-TRIAL

Kim Potter on Daunte Wright death: 'I'm sorry it happened'

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The suburban Minneapolis police officer who shot and killed Black motorist Daunte Wright said she's sorry it happened. Kim Potter was the last witness Friday before the defense rested in her trial. She's charged with manslaughter in Wright’s death during an April 11 traffic stop in Brooklyn Center. Potter has said she meant to use her Taser to subdue Wright when he pulled away from officers and got back into his car as they tried to arrest him on an outstanding warrant. She shot him with her handgun instead. Potter said the situation “just went chaotic” after Wright tried to get back into his car.

SHERIFF-DRUNKEN DRIVING

Hennepin County sheriff pleads guilty to drunken driving

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Hennepin County’s sheriff has pleaded guilty to drunken driving. Dave Hutchinson entered the plea Thursday to the misdemeanor charge and said he has enrolled in an outpatient treatment program to address his issues with alcohol. Hutchinson crashed his SUV on Interstate 94 near Alexandria on Dec. 8 at 2:30 a.m. after attending a state sheriffs conference. Hutchinson’s blood alcohol was 0.13%. The legal limit to drive is 0.08%. The sheriff said in a statement that the crash was a “wakeup call” for him. He suffered three broken ribs and head and hip injuries when he rolled the SUV.

SEVERE WEATHER-NEBRASKA-IOWA

At least 24 tornadoes confirmed this week in Nebraska, Iowa

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — At least two dozen tornadoes tore through parts of Nebraska and Iowa earlier this week as part of a powerful storm system that swept across the Great Plains and Midwest earlier this week. The National Weather Service on Friday confirmed tornadoes that stretched across a swath from south-central Nebraska to northeastern Iowa. The service says more tornadoes in those states are likely to be confirmed as storm teams continued to assess damage on the ground Friday. The service says nine of those tornadoes rated an EF2, with wind speeds of 111-135 mph. The others were moderate EF1 or weak EF0 tornadoes.

BC-US-ELECTION 2022-THREE SIMPLE WORDS

Republicans resist saying 3 simple words: 'Joe Biden won'

They are just three little words, but they have become nearly impossible for many Republicans to say: “Joe Biden won.” It's a measure of election denialism within the Republican Party. Former President Donald Trump’s lies about a stolen election have so taken hold among GOP voters that many of the party’s candidates either believe them — or fear the political repercussions of refuting them. That sets up a surreal dynamic for next year’s elections, where the toughest question posed to GOP candidates — particularly those running in primaries — may be one with a one-word answer.

News from © The Associated Press, 2021