Minnesota News Briefs: State Senate holds contentious hearing on 'right-to-work'
Minnesota News-- Hundreds of union workers packed the State Capitol today as a Senate committee debates a controversial bill that would give employees in unionized industries the option *not* to join a union and *not* to pay dues.
ST. PAUL -- Hundreds of union workers packed the State Capitol today as a Senate committee debates a controversial bill that would give employees in unionized industries the option *not* to join a union and *not* to pay dues.
Susan Mason with Minnesota Nurses Association calls it an attack on the middle class. But Hutchinson Senator Scott Newman says he's never heard the author of the bill indicate that he intends to try and kill unions. Union members promise a big campaign to defeat the proposed constitutional amendment if Republicans put in on the ballot this fall.
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A western Minnesota man is under arrest for making threats against the federal courthouse and police in Fargo, North Dakota. The 43-year-old Battle Lake man was arrested over the weekend by U-S Marshals, FBI agents and local authorities. He tried to flee his home, struggled with officers and had to be subdued with a Taser. Fargo police say the suspect has made threats against the department in the past. He's scheduled to appear today in federal court.
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Four adults and four juveniles are facing charges in Pequot Lakes for allegedly selling marijuana and prescription drugs. The arrests were made following a four-month investigation. The Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office says in some cases, narcotics were sold within the grounds of Pequot Lakes High School. The juveniles are currently at a detention facility. All the suspects are being held pending formal charges.
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The unidentified newborn found dead in the Mississippi River last fall will be buried next month in Winona. The two-day-old girl was found in a canvas tote on Labor Day near Winona. The bag also held several other items including, two 9-inch angel figurines and a bracelet with an eye pendant. Winona County Sheriff Dave Brand says the girl who they have been calling "Baby Angel" will be given a Christian burial April 7th at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. The investigation into her death is still ongoing.
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A Minnesota man is dead after his ATV crashed 30 miles northeast of Duluth Saturday night. The St. Louis County Sheriff's office says the 56-year-old man from Wyoming, Minnesota rolled his ATV and died at the scene. He was not wearing a helmet. Sheriff's officials say his name is being withheld pending notification of family members.
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Minneapolis police are investigating a fatal shooting that took place over the weekend. Officers were dispatched to a residence on Emerson Avenue North Saturday at around 10:30 p.m. When police arrived, they found the gunshot victim with a wound to his upper body. Several people were detained at the scene until investigators arrived. The victim was taken to North Memorial Medical Center where he died. So far, no arrests have been made.
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Minnesota companies exported five-point-one billion dollars worth of goods in the fourth quarter of 2011 - setting a new record. Katie Clark with the Department of Employment and Economic Development says in June Governor Dayton will be hosting a trade mission to China. Clark says for small and mid-sized companies across the state considering exporting, trade missions are the perfect introduction to a new market. The application deadline for the China trade mission is this Thursday.
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Starting this spring, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will begin reassessing deer population goals around the state. This comes after receiving a number of complaints from hunters about the scarcity of deer. The DNR's Steve Merchant says there are over 100 deer permit areas in the state, and it will likely take a couple of years to assess each one. He says the last time this was done was between 2005 and 2007. He says there will also be a public input process similar to what the DNR used before. The agency plans to listen to stakeholders prior to setting bag limits for the 2012 deer season.
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