Latest Minnesota news, sports, business and entertainment at 9:20 p.m. CDT

AP-US-MINNESOTA-LEGISLATOR-TRAFFIC-STOP

Embattled Rep. John Thompson defends conduct in traffic stop

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A Minnesota lawmaker who’s been a longtime critic of police is defending his conduct during a traffic stop for his adult daughter that turned into a verbal confrontation. St. Paul police say Rep. John Thompson, of St. Paul, arrived Sunday after they pulled over his daughter for expired license tabs and for swerving out of her lane. Chief Todd Axtell on Monday accused him of attempting “to intimidate and bully police officers” who were doing their jobs. Thompson on Tuesday denied misusing his position, saying he was just trying to help his daughter who was having a mental health episode.

GEORGE FLOYD-OTHER OFFICERS

Trial of 3 ex-officers in Floyd death won’t be livestreamed

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minnesota judge has ruled that the trial of three fired Minneapolis police officers charged with aiding and abetting George Floyd’s killing will not be livestreamed. Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill cited the threat of COVID-19 to allow livestreaming of last year’s murder trial of Derek Chauvin in Floyd’s death. But he said in an order filed Monday evening that the pandemic has receded to the point that he cannot override the other three officers’ objections to live audiovisual coverage. The trial for former Officers Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng is set to begin in June. Prosecutors and a coalition of media organizations including The Associated Press had argued for allowing live televised coverage again.

AP-US-BIDEN-MONDALE-MEMORIAL

Biden to speak at memorial Sunday for former VP Mondale

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — President Joe Biden plans to speak at a memorial service on Sunday for former Vice President Walter Mondale, who died last April at age 93. The service was delayed by the pandemic. Biden will travel to Minneapolis for the event at the University of Minnesota. Biden has described Mondale as a “dear friend and mentor” and “one of our nation’s most dedicated patriots and public servants.” White House press secretary Jen Psaki says Biden wanted to attend because of the “important, personal relationship” he had with Mondale. Other speakers include Gov. Tim Walz, U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE-MINNESOTA

House OKs unemployment insurance bill with frontline bonuses

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota House has passed a bill to replenish the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund and provide bonuses for frontline workers, after months of stalemate. The bill approved late Monday includes $2.7 billion to replenish the trust fund and pay back the federal government for jobless aid, and $1 billion for $1,500 checks for frontline workers who took risks during the pandemic. Negotiations appeared to stall when leaders failed to reach a deal by March 15, triggering a payroll tax hike on employers. The Senate did not concur with the House version and voted Tuesday to send the bill to a conference committee.

MISSING GIRL-WISCONSIN

Police arrest juvenile suspect in death of 10-year-old girl

CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. (AP) — Police investigating the death of a 10-year-old girl in western Wisconsin say they’ve arrested a juvenile suspect known to the victim. The body of Illiana “Lily” Peters was found Monday morning near a walking trail in Chippewa Falls. Police said her death was a homicide. Chippewa Falls Police Chief Matthew Kelm during a brief news conference Tuesday evening declined to provide the age or sex of the suspect, whether the suspect was related to Lily or where the arrest occurred. He said there was no longer any danger to the public. Kelm says officers executed a search warrant at an address in the block where Lily had gone to visit her aunt on Sunday, when she went missing.

SEVERE WEATHER-UPPER MIDWEST

Blizzard could leave North Dakotans without power for days

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Ugly weather in North Dakota has left at least 19,000 people in the western part of the state facing days without power. It also left thousands residents along the Red River that separates the state from Minnesota dealing with flash flooding. A blizzard over the weekend snapped hundreds or thousands of power poles in western North Dakota. A spokesman for a 100-year-old utility company called the destruction the worst ever in its system. At the same time, Minnesota sent National Guard members to help sandbag near the North Dakota border against the rising Red Lake River. The National Weather Service originally warned of a record crest on the river but it topped out below that mark.

MINNESOTA SENATE-PUBLIC SAFETY

GOP-controlled Senate passes public safety bill

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Republican-controlled Minnesota Senate passed a public safety omnibus bill featuring provisions that are sharply different from Democrats’ ideas on how to tackle crime. It includes about $100 million aimed at recruiting and retaining more police officers and stiffer penalties for crimes like carjacking. The bill passed on a 48-19 vote after hours of debate. Democrats say the GOP majority’s package doesn’t include enough money. House Democrats’ public safety package includes $150 million in funding. Democratic Gov. Tim Walz’s own proposal would give $300 million in grants to local governments.

MINNESOTA LEGISLATOR-TRAFFIC STOP

New criticism for Rep. John Thompson over traffic stop

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A state lawmaker expelled by Democrats from their caucus last fall faces new criticism after police say he yelled at officers after his daughter was pulled over. Police in St. Paul say state Rep. John Thompson arrived at a scene Sunday where officers had pulled over his adult daughter for expired tabs and for swerving out of her lane. Chief Todd Axtell said in a social media post that Thompson “jumped out and immediately began interfering by yelling and questioning the traffic stop and identifying himself” as a state legislator. The chief accused Thompson of attempting “to intimidate and bully police officers” doing their job. Thompson didn’t immediately respond to phone and email messages seeking comment.