Minnesota News

Essentia Health may acquire CHI in North Dakota, Minnesota

FARGO  – Fargo and Duluth-based Essentia Health and CommonSpirit Health have signed a letter of intent for CommonSpirit-owned facilities operating under the CHI brand in North Dakota and Minnesota to join Essentia Health. The deal would include CHI St. Alexius Medical Center in Bismarck and 13 critical access hospitals, along with associated clinics and living communities now operated by CommonSpirit…

Republicans Reject Mask Mandate in Minnesota Senate Chamber, House Has One

State Sen. Mark Johnson/(R) East Grand Forks & State Sen. Ann Rest/(D) New HopeST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota Senate Republicans reject a mask mandate for members and staff in the Senate chamber. The 36-31 vote encourages mask-wearing, but does not require them. All 34 Republicans and the chamber’s two independents favored the looser policy, while all 31 Democrats backed the…

Minnesota GOP lawmakers silent on blame for Capitol siege

MINNEAPOLIS – The four Republicans in Minnesota’s congressional delegation split on whether to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the Electoral College. But they remained silent on whether President Trump and other GOP leaders bear any blame for the violence at the U.S. Capitol. Minnesota Democrats held little back on a day when top Democratic leaders called for Trump’s removal…

LIVE: Insurrection at the Capitol and Trump

What to be prepared for.

Calls to remove President Trump from office on the grounds he’s unfit to lead are coming now from his own political party. But political scientists here at home say invoking the 25th Amendment might not be seen as worth it, with just 13 days to go to the end of the Trump Administration. Republicans and Democrats in both the House…

Local members of Congress react to insurrection at U.S. Capitol

WASHINGTON — Politicians from both sides of the aisle across Minnesota and North Dakota took to social media to condemn the actions of those who stormed our nation’s Capitol. Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach of Minnesota wrote: “Respectful disagreement is fundamental to our democracy. The violence that we’re seeing, especially toward law enforcement, is unacceptable.” Sen. John Hoeven and Congressman Kelly Armstrong of…

Walz loosens Minnesota’s COVID-19 restrictions

INDOOR DINING CAN RESUME JAN. 11

ST. PAUL, Minn. (KVRR) – Gov. Tim Walz has announced several changes to a long list of coronavirus-related executive orders. The loosened restrictions will go into effect Jan. 11. “The situation in Minnesota is undeniably better than it was last month,” Walz said. “We have reasons to be optimistic, and Minnesotans’ sacrifice and commitment to their communities helped change the…

Fire deaths increased in Minnesota in 2020

MINNEAPOLIS – Careless smoking was the leading cause of fatal fires in Minnesota in 2020. Fifty-three people died in fires last year, a 13% increase over 2019. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety says seven deaths last year were attributed to careless smoking, the fifth consecutive year it led to fatal fires. Six victims died in fires that were attributed…

Fire destroys second floor apartment in Moorhead

MOORHEAD, Minn. (KVRR/KFGO) – Fire has gutted a second floor apartment at 1916 18th Avenue South in Moorhead. Assistant Fire Chief Benton Hicks says a building alarm came in just before 2:00 a.m.Wednesday. While firefighters were en route, it was upgraded to a working fire. When crews arrived, there was heavy smoke visible from the apartment building which is on…