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ELECTION 2022-MINNESOTA-GOVERNOR

Walz launches reelection campaign in divided Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota’s Democratic Gov. Tim Walz has launched his campaign for a second term in an increasingly divided state, saying he has made the tough calls necessary to beat back the COVID-19 pandemic and revive the economy. The former high school football coach made the announcement in a YouTube video posted Tuesday that shows him standing on a football field. The former congressman won office in 2018 on a theme of “One Minnesota,” a slogan he’s using again for 2022. But the fissures in Minnesota politics have grown deeper since then, mostly disagreements over his management of the pandemic, as well as the unrest and spike in crime that followed the death of George Floyd.

FATAL HIGHWAY SHOOTING

Judge won’t lower bail in case of apparent road-rage killing

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A judge has refused to lower bail for a Chicago man accused of fatally shooting a Twin Cities man on a Minnesota highway after an apparent road-rage incident. Jamal L. Smith is being held on $3.5 million bond in connection with the July death of 56-year-old Jay Boughton. Investigators have said Boughton was shot in the head as he drove his son home from a baseball game in the Minneapolis suburb of Plymouth. Defense attorney Emmett Donnelly complained that Smith’s bail is more than three times that of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. Prosecutors said the 33-year-old Smith is not only a risk to flee but is a danger to the public. Smith is charged with first- and second-degree murder.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-MINNESOTA-EVICTIONS

Evictions rise as state COVID-19 protections begin to lift

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Housing experts say rental evictions are rising in Minnesota as state protections adopted because of COVID-19 are beginning to east. As of last week, a 15-day notice is no longer required before an eviction notice is filed over delinquent rent. Lease terminations can also occur more easily. For some, a pending application for financial aid through RentHelpMN can be a lifeline. The program distributes federal money aimed at preventing pandemic-related problems. To date, nearly 50,000 applications have come in through RentHelpMN for assistance tied to past-due rent or utilities. About $144 million has been distributed with many more requests pending.

NEW BISHOP-CROOKSTON DIOCESE

New Crookston bishop says sexual abuse victims are priority

CROOKSTON, Minn. (AP) — The new bishop of the Crookston diocese says he has learned important lessons about how the Roman Catholic church should respond to abuse by priests. Bishop Andrew Cozzens is replacing Bishop Michael Hoeppner, who resigned earlier this year at the request of Pope Francis after an investigation into whether he covered up sexual abuse in the Crookston diocese. Cozzens started his previous job as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis just days before a sexual abuse investigation there became public. He says he’s seen how difficult it can be to change the culture of the church in order to deal with the sexual abuse crisis. He says abuse victims should be the church’s priority.

AIR GUARD-NEW COMMANDER

1st woman to lead state Air National Guard assumes duties

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The first woman to lead the Minnesota Air National Guard has officially assumed her duties. Command Chief Master Sgt. Lisa Erikson is the most senior enlisted member of the Minnesota Air Guard. She’s in charge of about 2,000 airmen located at two separate wings and the command headquarters. Erikson has 32 years of service in the Air Force and has held six different duty positions. She began her career as a jet engine mechanic on the C-141 cargo aircraft. At one point she was in charge of the 148th Medical Group that deployed to Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-MINNESOTA

Minnesota offers kids gift cards and scholarships for shots

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota will offer $200 gift cards and a shot at five $100,000 scholarships as incentives for students ages 12-17 to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Gov. Tim Walz announced the incentives Monday. Young people who start and complete their vaccine series over the next six weeks will be eligible for the Visa gift cards. But all Minnesotans ages 12-17 who’ve completed their vaccine series anytime by mid-December are eligible for the scholarships, which will be good at any public or private nonprofit school in the state. The five drawings will be conducted weekly starting Nov. 15. Registration opens Nov. 9.

TRAFFIC DEATHS-MINNESOTA

Minnesota nears 400 traffic deaths this year, outpacing 2020

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota public safety officials say nearly 400 people have died in traffic crashes on Minnesota roads this year, putting the state on pace to see the highest number of traffic fatalities since 2007. Officials say there have been 384 traffic fatalities in 2021. That’s a 23% increase over this time last year. At the current pace, Minnesota could see about 475 traffic fatalities this year — that’s the most the state has recorded since 2007, when 510 people died on Minnesota roads. Speed has been the largest contributing factor in this year’s fatalities.

GEORGE FLOYD-OFFICER TRIAL

Derek Chauvin hires lawyer to represent him on appeal

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Derek Chauvin has hired an attorney to represent him as he appeals his murder conviction in the death of George Floyd. Attorney William Mohrman filed a document with the court on Friday saying he would represent Chauvin on his appeal. This comes after the Minnesota Supreme Court denied Chauvin’s request to use a public defender in the appeal process, saying a review of his debts and assets shows he’s ineligible. Mohrman is a partner with Mohrman, Kaardal & Erickson, a law firm that has been involved in cases challenging the 2020 presidential election results and COVID-19 vaccine mandates for health care workers.