Minnesota
Minnesota elk meeting, October Options Accessible Deer Hunt coming up on Outdoors Calendar
To get an event in the Outdoors calendar, contact Brad Dokken at (701) 780-1148, (800) 477-6572 ext. 1148 or by email at
bdokken@gfherald.com
. Deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesdays.
- Oct. 12: 14th Annual Chili Bowl Walleye Tournament, Lake of the Woods and Rainy River at Border View Lodge, 3409 MN-172, Baudette, Minnesota. Entry fee $300 per boat, with a tournament limit of 75 two-person teams. Prime rib dinner and rules meeting the night before the tournament. Info: borderviewlodge.com, info@borderviewlodge.com or (800) 776-3474.
- Sept. 10: DNR-hosted meeting to discuss elk management and where it’s headed in northwest Minnesota, 6 to 8 p.m., Northland Community and Technical College Performance Arts Theater, 1101 Highway 1 East, Thief River Falls. Info:
dnr.state.mn.us/elk/index.html.
- Sept. 13-15: Wild Outdoor Women (WOW) fall session, Lake Metigoshe State Park, ND. For ladies at least 16 years of age or older looking to learn or refine skills related to a variety of outdoor recreational activities. Activities and topics on tap include canoeing, kayaking, fly-tying, archery, fly-fishing, TREEmendous trees, pollinators, fall birding, waterfowl basics, bike maintenance and more. Info:
parkrec.nd.gov/events/wild-outdoor-women-wow-fall.
- Sept. 17: Grand Forks Audubon, 7 p.m., Edgewood Grand Forks, 1800 47th Ave. S. Seth Owens, an avid birdwatcher, wildlife photographer and education and outreach coordinator for Pheasants Forever North Dakota, will talk about regional grouse species. Info: Rolf Paulson, rolfpmd@yahoo.com.
- Oct. 10-12: 29th Annual Accessible Deer Hunt for Persons with Disabilities, Rydell National Wildlife Refuge, 17788 349th St SE, Erskine, Minnesota. Hunting hours for the event are from noon through the end of legal shooting hours each day. The accessible hunt is open to a maximum of 20 people of any age or disability, and applications are now available. The hunt is coordinated by Options Interstate Resource Center for Independent Living in East Grand Forks in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Applications are available by calling Options at (800) 726-3692. If applications exceed openings, participants will be selected based on severity of disability, ability to hunt in other locations other than Rydell, hunting experience as a person with a disability, and hunting experience at Rydell Refuge. If all is equal, a random drawing will take place. For more information, contact Randy Sorenson of Options at (218) 779-7408, (218) 773-6100 or (800) 726-3692.
- Oct. 13: Third annual “Walk for the Wild” event, Rydell National Wildlife Refuge. Free 5K and fundraising event will include a designated 5K route with three different paved, yet scenic trails. Either take a guided trail walk or go on your own. All 5K finishers will receive an official “Walk for the Wild Finisher” sticker. Additional activities on tap throughout the day, as well. Info: Gregg Knutsen, refuge manager, (218) 686-4329 or gregg_knutsen@fws.gov.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources webinars are free and begin at noon Wednesdays. Pre-registration is required at
mndnr.gov
. Webinars also are recorded and available online. Upcoming series topics are as follows:
- Sept. 11: Exploring Minnesota’s wildlife and aquatic management areas. Learn the history of the WMA/AMA program, the purposes of these lands and the variety of recreational opportunities they offer. Participants will also learn about the system-wide planning process currently underway to ensure consistent and holistic management of WMA and AMA lands into the future.
- Sept. 18: From seeds to canopies: collecting seeds and cones for the Minnesota State Forest Nursery. Webinar will cover seed collection techniques, tree identification tips, and the importance of this program in supporting reforestation efforts on both public and private lands.
- Sept. 25: Managing moose in Minnesota: challenges and opportunities. Learn which factors influence moose survival and productivity and what recent research has shown to be the major challenges to moose recovery in Minnesota.
- Oct. 2: Preserving the memory of your harvest. Meadow Kouffeld, Natural Resources Sciences instructor, wildlife biologist and taxidermist, talks about ways to preserve and honor your harvest. From photography and decorative tail fans to euro skulls and life size mounts, the webinar will touch on what hunters can do to make the most of their harvest from field to finished display.
- Oct. 9: Fun and easy campfire treats for fall cookouts. Naturalist Pam Welisevich from Dodge Nature Center shares some of her favorite simple and easy treats made over the fire.
- Oct. 16: Bobcats in Minnesota. Minnesota DNR wildlife staff will discuss the history of bobcats and their management in Minnesota, recent population trends and important aspects of their biology and ecology. They will also share preliminary results from an ongoing radiotelemetry study in northern Minnesota.
- Oct. 23: Late season pheasant hunting. Pheasant hunting experts will discuss where to find pheasants once the crops are out and the snow is flying and how to prepare for hunting once the weather turns colder.
- Oct. 30: Deer hunting secrets. Minnesota DNR outreach staff and lifelong deer hunters Jeff Ledermann and Kraig Kiger will share their top 10 list, plus a few extra tips, to bag a deer.
- Nov. 6: Minnesota’s redhorses. Redhorse are a fascinating group of Minnesota native fish and actually include several different species: golden, silver, greater, river, shorthead and black redhorse. Devon Oliver, Minnesota DNR fisheries scientist, will share recent research on these fascinating fish, how to identify them, and where they are found in Minnesota rivers and streams. We will also talk with Corey Geving, expert native rough fish species angler, about how to catch them as they make great table fare.
- Nov. 13: Fall birding and photography tips. Monica Bryand, executive director of the Urban Bird Collective, will share tips on photographing birds, some of her favorite birding spots for the fall migration, and the work of the UBC.
- Nov. 20: Accessible hunting and fishing stories and opportunities. Join us for a discussion with Capable Partners to hear stories about accessible hunting and fishing in Minnesota. Webinar also will share opportunities for people who have a disability to be supported in hunting and fishing in Minnesota.
- Nov. 27: What’s up with perch in Minnesota? Beth Holbrook, Minnesota DNR fisheries research scientist, has been looking into changes in Minnesota’s yellow perch populations. She will share the latest research results and what that means for perch as an important prey for big game fish and for anglers who are targeting perch. Scott Mackenthun, DNR area fisheries supervisor, will discuss how to improve your chances to catch perch through the ice this winter.
Minnesota
Vikings Have a Dubious Connection to the Dexter Lawrence Trade
Of the many terrible roster decisions Minnesota sports teams have made over the past 30 years, the worst of the bunch may have been trading Randy Moss to the Raiders for the No. 7 pick in the draft and linebacker Napoleon Harris.
Why are we bringing up a trade that happened 21 years ago? Because the New York Giants traded defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals for the No. 10 pick in this week’s NFL Draft. It was the first time a non-quarterback has been traded for a top-10 pick since the infamous Moss trade in 2005.
Minnesota traded Moss for the Raiders’ first-round pick, Harris, and a seventh-round pick on March 2, 2005. The Vikings used the No. 7 pick on wide receiver Troy Williamson, who never panned out in the NFL. He had 24 catches for 372 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie, 37 receptions for 457 yards and zero touchdowns in 2006, and just 18 catches for 240 yards and one touchdown in 2007.
Williams led the league with 11 dropped passes in 2006. Minnesota traded him to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a sixth-round pick after the 2007 season, where he played in 10 games over two seasons and totaled just eight catches for 64 yards. He was cut before the start of the 2010 season, and that was a wrap on the former South Carolina speedster’s NFL career.
Moss didn’t put up jaw-dropping numbers with the Raiders for two seasons, but he set an NFL record with 23 touchdown catches in 2007 with the New England Patriots. He caught 47 touchdowns in 48 regular-season games with the Patriots from 2007 to 2009.
Whether it was trading Moss to the Raiders, the Timberwolves sending Kevin Garnett to the Boston Celtics — or drafting Ricky Rubio AND Johnny Flynn over Steph Curry — or the Twins cutting David Ortiz and watching him become one of the greatest players in MLB history with the Boston Red Sox, Minnesota sports teams have a long history of making terrible decisions.
The Bengals, meanwhile, gave up the 10th overall pick for one of the best defensive tackles in the league. They’ll likely get great production from Lawrence, while the Giants are now under pressure to get the 10th pick right. New York also holds the No. 5 pick in Thursday’s first round of the draft.
By the way, the Vikings had two picks in the first round of the 2005 draft. After taking Williamson, they used the No. 18 pick on defensive end Erasmus James. He was just as much of a bust as Williams, playing in 23 games in three years with the Vikings. He had four sacks as a rookie, but injuries wiped out most of his 2006 and 2007 seasons before he was traded to Washington for a conditional seventh-round pick.
James was cut by Washington in December 2009, marking the end of his NFL career.
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Minnesota
Boldy, Eriksson Ek help Wild cruise past Stars in Game 1 of Western 1st Round | NHL.com
Kirill Kaprizov had a goal and two assists, and Ryan Hartman had a goal and an assist for the Wild, who are the No. 3 seed in the Central Division. Wallstedt made 27 saves in his Stanley Cup Playoff debut, and Zuccarello had three assists.
“I was definitely nervous,” said Wallstedt, a rookie. “I think it shows that it means something to you. I like a little bit of nerves. I think it’s something good. There were definitely some nerves throughout the day and then a little bit extra rolling into the game. But after the national anthem was over and the first couple pucks started coming, you’re good.
“I wanted to play and I felt like I have been going good. I was a little surprised (to get the start). But I was very excited as soon as I got the news. I just wanted to make sure I was ready today.”
Jason Robertson scored, and Jake Oettinger made 23 saves for the Stars, who are the No. 2 seed in the Central.
“We didn’t deserve to win,” Dallas forward Mikko Rantanen said. “I think two power-play goals for them, two a little-bit bounces for them where we had guys in the right spot. Just even keel. Playoffs are like this. Sometimes you lose a game, you can feel like you’re done. But that’s the mentality you need to have, you’ve got to reset and learn from mistakes.
“First 30 minutes, we didn’t win enough battles. They were just that little bit stronger in the battles and that’s why they were able to make us defend more than we want to. Just got to be stronger.”
Game 2 is here on Monday (9:30 p.m. ET; FDSNWI, FDSNNO, Victory+, ESPN, TVAS2, SN360).
“We prepped for a couple days coming into this one. Now, we will gather information from this game and continue to move forward,” Minnesota coach John Hynes said. “For me, it’s game to game and day to day. We want to continue to get better. We won and they [Dallas] lost. It’s not so much being satisfied where you’re at or that’s what it is. We need to continue to find ways to get better.”
Eriksson Ek gave the Wild a 1-0 lead at 5:35 of the first period on the power play. He scored on a one-timer from the left hash marks to finish a tic-tac-toe passing play with Zuccarello and Boldy, who found an open Eriksson Ek with a pass from the goal line.
“I think every team in the playoffs talks about not getting too high or too low. Just enjoy every day and each game and then we will go from there,” Eriksson Ek said. “I think we played pretty good today. The next game is a new game, so we just have to do it over and over every game. We know they are probably not the happiest with that game, so I am sure it’s going to be hard next game.”
Minnesota
ICE agent assault charge marks a ‘milestone’ for Minnesota prosecutors
Minnesota prosecutors charged a federal immigration agent with assault accusing him of involvement in a February road-rage incident.
Trump administration ends Minnesota immigration operation
Border Czar Tom Homan announced the end of Minnesota’s immigration operation after fatal shootings heightened tension and community backlash.
Minnesota prosecutors charged a federal immigration agent with assault, saying the agent was involved in a February road-rage incident during the Trump administration’s Operation Metro Surge.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr., 35, faces two counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, according to April 16 Hennepin County court records. He has a nationwide warrant for his arrest.
On Feb. 5, prosecutors said Morgan allegedly drove illegally on the shoulder of a congested Minnesota highway in an unmarked SUV and pointed his weapon at two people in another car.
Morgan is the first agent charged in Operation Metro Surge, the controversial Minneapolis-area federal immigration operation that resulted in two American citizens fatally shot by federal officials, according to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.
The charges “reflect an important milestone in our efforts to seek accountability for the harms inflicted on our community during Operation Metro Surge,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said in an April 16 video statement.
Second-degree assault with a gun has a presumptive sentence of 36 months in prison if convicted, she said.
“Mr. Morgan’s conduct was extremely dangerous,” she said, adding his actions could have led to “another disastrous incident” in the community.
Neither ICE nor the Department of Homeland Security immediately responded to email requests for comment. A cell phone listed for Morgan, identified as a Maryland resident, didn’t immediately respond to a call or text message.
The incident came less than two weeks after two Customs and Border Protection officers shot and killed Alex Pretti, 37, during a protest in Minneapolis. Pretti would be the second American killed during Metro Surge after an ICE agent in early January fatally shot Renee Good, 37, while she drove her SUV in Minneapolis near an immigration operation.
Later in February, the Trump administration drew down Metro Surge, which officials called the largest immigration operation in modern American history.
Investigators said they interviewed Morgan, who identified himself as the driver. Morgan told investigators he and the other ICE employee were returning from a surveillance shift. Morgan said he feared for his life and others’ safety, so he pulled up alongside the vehicle and drew his Glock 19 firearm. He said he identified himself as police.
State investigators said neither Morgan nor the other ICE agent reported the incident to an ICE supervisor.
The April 16 warrant, signed by District Court Judge Paul Scoggin, said there was a “substantial likelihood” Morgan would fail to respond to a summons, and officials couldn’t locate him.
On April 18, Daniel Borgertpoepping, a spokesperson for the county attorney’s office, said there is no knowledge of Morgan being arrested yet.
Eduardo Cuevas is based in New York City. Reach him by email at emcuevas1@usatoday.com or on Signal at emcuevas.01.
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