MINNEAPOLIS — A Minnesota judge has dismissed a third-degree murder charge filed against the former Minneapolis police officer who pressed his knee against George Floyd's neck, but the more serious second-degree murder charge remains. Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill's ruling was dated Wednesday and made public Thursday. Cahill said...
Pumpkin Weighing 2,350 Pounds Wins California Contest
HALF MOON BAY — Being cooped up at home due to the pandemic paid handsomely for a Minnesota horticulture teacher who used the extra time to constantly water and feed a massive pumpkin that won this year’s Half Moon Bay pumpkin contest. Travis Gienger, of Anoka, Minnesota, spent a lot...
Trump and Biden Hit Unlikely Battleground State of Minnesota
MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota has backed Democratic presidential candidates for nearly half a century and rarely receives much attention during the final stages of the race. This is when campaigns typically focus their resources on more traditional swing states like Florida or Pennsylvania. But Minnesota will feel like a genuine battleground...
California, Minnesota Churches Sue to Challenge COVID-19 Restrictions
Churches in California and Minnesota, backed by a conservative legal group, filed lawsuits this week against the governors of their states challenging restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus outbreak that they contend are violations of religious liberty. They’re the latest in a long series of legal challenges, many of them...
Minnesota Files Civil Rights Charge vs Police in Floyd Death
MINNEAPOLIS — The state of Minnesota filed a human rights complaint Tuesday against the Minneapolis Police Department in the death of George Floyd who died after an officer pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for minutes, even after he stopped moving. Gov. Tim Walz and the Minnesota Department of Human...
49ers Use Early Season Formula on Playoff Win vs. Vikings
SANTA CLARA — The formula that fueled a perfect first half of the season for San Francisco was more than enough to carry the 49ers into the NFC championship game. The Niners ran for 186 yards and completely shut down Minnesota's offense in a 27-10 victory in the divisional round...
Hmong Celebrate New Year in Fresno Amid Tight Security
FRESNO — Thousands of people gathered Thursday in Fresno to celebrate the Hmong new year amid heightened security in the wake of a neighborhood shooting that killed four people. The celebration, which runs through Jan. 1, features Hmong foods, dance, music and games along with sports tournaments, and it typically...
Former Fresno CC Wrestler Martinez Won't Face Minnesota Charges
Former Fresno City College wrestling standout Dylan Martinez, who was arrested in June in Minneapolis on suspicion of criminal sexual conduct, won't face charges. Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced Friday that Martinez and a University of Minnesota teammate, heavyweight Gable Steveson, wouldn't be prosecuted because of inadequate evidence. Conflicting...
Porterville Duo Face 20 Years in Minnesota Highway Drug Bust
Two Porterville men are in a Minnesota jail facing felony drug charges after a state trooper discovered nearly 40 pounds of marijuana during a search of their vehicle. Norberto Beltran-Corrales, 26, and James Kaykeo, 25, were stopped November 8 for traffic violations on Interstate 90, The Globe news site reports....
It's Back to Work for Bulldogs After Heartbreaking Loss Saturday
Minnesota's Antoine Winfield Jr. spoiled Fresno State's bid for a Power 5 win for a second straight year Saturday at Bulldog Stadium. And the loss left the Bulldogs at 0-2 for the first time since 2014 despite giving Power 5 teams Southern California and Minnesota all they could handle. Listen...