Crime, Law and Justice

Local leaders call for state action allowing cities to pass gun restrictions
Local leaders say if legislators allow cities to act, they would seek bans on public possession of assault weapons; bans on devices that convert semiautomatic firearms into automatic firearms; and the ability to prohibit the possession of guns in public spaces like community centers and parks.
Supreme Court rejects Alex Jones' appeal of $1.4 billion defamation judgment in Sandy Hook shooting
The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and left in place the $1.4 billion judgment against him over his description of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting as a hoax staged by crisis actors. 
Pennsylvania man pleads guilty in arson attack at governor’s mansion while Shapiro’s family slept
A man who scaled a security fence in the middle of the night and set fire to the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion has pleaded guilty to attempted murder and other charges. Cody Balmer entered the plea Tuesday for the April attack that caused millions of dollars in damage to the state-owned building in Harrisburg. 
Hundreds of DWI cases in doubt after breathalyzer goof
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has ordered law enforcement agencies statewide to inspect and verify their breathalyzer machines after calibration errors made hundreds of DWI tests inadmissible in court. The agency has also suspended use of the devices until they’re reviewed and will now handle all future maintenance to prevent similar mistakes.
Family sues Crow Wing County over 2024 death of man in jail
Robert Slaybaugh, 57, was booked into the jail in February 2024 on suspicion of drunk driving. He was later found unresponsive in his cell. The lawsuit claims the county ignored red flags that he was at risk of suicide.
Feeding Our Future defendant pleads guilty days before trial
A Minneapolis man pleaded guilty Friday to wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy in the Feeding Our Future case, admitting he helped fabricate documents that funneled $17 million in bogus meal reimbursements to S&S Catering.
Activists, artists work to restore vandalized George Floyd mural
George Floyd’s face was painted over in an iconic mural at 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in Minneapolis, according to a video posted to social media Friday morning by Marcia Howard. 
Eagan police ignored man's stroke symptoms during traffic stop, wrongful death suit alleges
The family of a 50-year-old postal worker from Cottage Grove has filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit alleging that Eagan police and jail staff mistook his stroke symptoms for drug impairment after a DWI arrest. The suit claims officers ignored clear signs of medical distress and left Kingsley Fifi Bimpong without treatment for hours, leading to his death.