ELECTION 2022-MINNESOTA-GOVERNOR

Democrats fear broadcaster Hepola could be spoiler for Walz

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The entry of former broadcaster Cory Hepola into the Minnesota governor’s race as a centrist third-party candidate adds a new challenge to Gov. Tim Walz’s re-election bid. And Democrats are already calling him a spoiler. Hepola has been a host on WCCO Radio and anchor on KARE-TV. He told reporters Wednesday that Minnesotans are tired of a “broken, toxic two-party system.” Hepola said he’s running on a platform of better education, public health and economic opportunities. Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Chairman Ken Martin was quick to criticize Hepola’s candidacy, fearing it could siphon votes from Walz and elect a conservative Republican instead.

AP-US-AMELIA-EARHART-HELMET-AUCTION

Helmet worn by Amelia Earhart sells for $825,000 at auction

A leather helmet that Amelia Earhart wore on a flight across the Atlantic in 1928 and later lost in a crowd of fans in Cleveland sold at auction for $825,000. A spokesperson for Heritage Auctions says the helmet went to an anonymous bidder in an online-only sale that closed Sunday. The seller was Anthony Twiggs. The 67-year-old Minnesotan had tried for years to prove that the leather aviator’s helmet he had inherited from his mother was really Earhart’s. The helmet was finally authenticated using photo matching. Earhart disappeared over the Pacific Ocean in 1937.

APARTMENT FIRE-FATALITY

1 dead, 2 injured in St. Paul apartment building fire

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Authorities say a one person died and two others were injured after a fire in a St. Paul apartment building. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office said 73-year-old James Sparks died from Tuesday's blaze, which was contained to one unit. Two others were hospitalized. St. Paul Fire Department officials say the fire was likely caused by smoking. There was a smoke detector in the unit where the fire started but it wasn’t working. It was the first fire fatality of the year in St. Paul. All other residents of the building were able to return to their units.

GAS STATION-HOSTAGES

Woman with gun holds hostages at St. Paul convenience store

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Police say a woman with a gun who was holding hostages at a St. Paul gas station was arrested without injuries to those involved. Officers were called to a Speedway station Tuesday afternoon on a report of the woman threatening people with a firearm. SWAT officers and crisis negotiators worked to establish communication with the woman and after an hour at least one gunshot was fired inside the convenience store. Officers then made an emergency entry to the store and arrested the 31-year-old woman without force. She was booked into the Ramsey County Jail.

CARBON CAPTURE PIPELINE

Oil driller invests in carbon-capture pipeline for Midwest

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s biggest oil driller says it will commit $250 million to help fund a proposed pipeline that would gather carbon dioxide produced by ethanol plants across the Midwest and pump it underground for permanent storage. Billionaire oil tycoon Harold Hamm’s Continental Resources said Wednesday it's making the investment into Summit Carbon Solutions’ $4.5 billion pipeline. There are 31 ethanol facilities across Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and the Dakotas where emissions would be captured and piped to North Dakota to be buried. Continental officials say they have no plans to use the gas for enhanced oil recovery.

ELECTION 2022-GOVERNOR-MINNESOTA

Former broadcaster Cory Hepola runs for Minnesota governor

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Former WCCO Radio personality Cory Hepola is running for governor as a centrist third-party candidate. Hepola made the announcement Tuesday with a video posted on Twitter as his campaign website went live. Hepola is a native of Otter Tail County in northwestern Minnesota. He disclosed that he was considering a run in an interview with Minnesota Public Radio on Feb. 8. That turned out to be his last day at WCCO Radio, where he had hosted a morning show since January 2019. Hepola also formerly anchored at KARE -TV. Another third-party candidate, former wrestler Jesse Ventura, won Minnesota’s gubernatorial race in 1998.

CARRY PERMITS

Minnesota sheriffs issue record of over 100K gun permits

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota sheriffs issued a record of more than 100,000 permits to carry firearms last year. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension says the total of was nearly 10,000 higher than the nearly 97,000 permits issued across Minnesota in 2020. And the BCA says it's the highest total of permits granted since the Minnesota Personal Protection Act was enacted in 2003. The law generally requires sheriffs to issue carry permits to any applicant who passes a background check and completes a training course. Bill Hutton of the Minnesota Sheriffs’ Association says fear of crime is likely a major driver of the increase.

VOTING BILL-ZUCKERBERG-MINNESOTA

Minnesota GOP moves to block Zuckerberg cash from elections

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A Minnesota Senate elections committee begun considering a bill to block local governments from using outside money for election expenses. The bill mirrors efforts by Republican legislatures across the country after a foundation funded by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg awarded $400 million to help local governments facilitate the 2020 election amid the pandemic. Nobody testified against the bill Tuesday before it was laid on the table for possible consideration later. The Center for Tech and Civic Life sent hundreds of million of dollars to election offices across the country ahead of the 2020 election. There’s suspicion on the right that Zuckerberg’s money benefited Democrats.

News from © The Associated Press, 2022