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Behavior of two Minnesota lawmakers called into question following DWI arrest

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Behavior of two Minnesota lawmakers called into question following DWI arrest


SAINT PAUL, Minn. (KTTC) – Minnesota House leaders from both sides of the aisle are reviewing the conduct of two GOP representatives following a traffic stop last week.

Rep. Elliott Engen was arrested on suspicion of DWI. The Lino Lakes lawmaker has since been charged with a misdemeanor drunk driving offense.

According to a White Bear Lake police report, Engen denied drinking after officers stopped him early Friday morning. He later registered a 0.13 blood alcohol concentration (BAC).

Also in Engen’s vehicle was Rep. Walter Hudson of Albertville, the report stated, and another passenger who has not been named.

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Hudson told police that one of the alcohol bottles found in the vehicle belonged to him. He was also carrying a legal firearm. In Minnesota, it is against the law to carry a weapon with a BAC above 0.04.

Hudson has not been charged with any crime.

Both lawmakers have apologized in statements, with Engen writing that “poor choices were made.”

Questions are being raised about the conduct of Rep. Elliott Engen and Rep. Walter Hudson following traffic stop on March 26 in White Bear Lake.(KTTC)

About 12 hours before the March 27 traffic stop, a former Minnesota House staffer—who held a nonpartisan position—posted a a photo of Engen and Hudson drinking alcohol at a St. Paul restaurant. According to Brian Basham, who worked as a public information services writer, the picture was taken around 2:30 p.m.

Food delivery driver and former House staffer Brian Basham recognized Engen and Hudson at a...
Food delivery driver and former House staffer Brian Basham recognized Engen and Hudson at a St. Paul burger joint about a mile away from the Capitol.(Brian Basham)

That was shortly before the start of a House floor session and during a time where both lawmakers were scheduled to be in a committee meeting. KARE 11, our NBC partner in the Twin Cities, reported archived video shows both members’ chairs vacant on the Republican side of the room for that meeting. The seats remained empty during testimony about a bill related to student attendance rates.

Jump to 3:30 p.m., Engen and Hudson were back in the Capitol, where they voted to block DFL proposals around limiting ICE and banning assault weapons. Both elected officials spoke publicly on the House floor.

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DFL House leader Zack Stephenson called the situation a serious matter that deserves immediate attention.

In a statement, he asked, “Were Rep. Engen and Rep. Hudson intoxicated during the House floor session on Thursday, when votes were taken on critical public safety measures?”

House Speaker Lisa Demuth said she would be addressing the matter directly with the two members.

“The decisions made in this incident were unacceptable and fall short of the expectations I have for conduct of legislators,” she wrote in a statement.

Engen is seeking the GOP endorsement for the state auditor position.

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The Minnesota legislature is on recess this week and will return to the Capitol on April 7.

Several state lawmakers from both parties have been arrested and charged for impaired driving offenses.

Most recently, DFL Sen. Tou Xiong of Maplewood pleaded guilty late last year for driving while intoxicated. He is not seeking reelection in 2026.

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Copyright 2026 KTTC. All rights reserved.

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Minnesota weather: Rain and storms possible late Thursday

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Minnesota weather: Rain and storms possible late Thursday


Minnesota weather forecast.  (FOX 9)

Most of Minnesota will be under a marginal risk of severe weather on Thursday, with rain and rumbles expected.

Thursday weather forecast 

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Local perspective:

A line of storms is expected to develop in west-southwest Minnesota on Thursday and grow in coverage as well as intensity tracking east into the early evening.

Large hail and damaging winds are the prevalent threats, but an isolated tornado is also possible along the line.

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Isolated showers are expected to form in the western part of Minnesota on Thursday morning. 

Rain chances in the Twin Cities area increase in the afternoon, as a line pushes through with possible thunderstorms. 

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Stay Sky Aware with FOX 9 for the latest. 

The Source: This story uses information from the FOX 9 weather forecast. 

Weather ForecastMinnesota
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TikToker’s ban from St. Paul parks lifted after appeal, agent says

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TikToker’s ban from St. Paul parks lifted after appeal, agent says


A TikTok creator is no longer banned from parks in St. Paul, Minnesota, after appealing the city’s restriction, according to his agent.

St. Paul Parks and Recreation Director Andy Rodriguez earlier this month accused Josh Liljenquist of going to Pig’s Eye Park to “harass, record and profit from vulnerable adults residing there without said individuals’ permission.” Liljenquist, who is known for giving away food and cash in his videos, denied the allegation.

On Wednesday, Liljenquist’s agent shared a new letter from the city.

“Based on an evaluation of the facts of this situation as they were relayed during your appeal meeting, I will be rescinding your ban from our parks, effective immediately,” the letter from Rodriguez read.

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Rodriguez also wrote the city expects “all residents and visitors to our parks to abide by the rules.”

“Our responsibility is to ensure park spaces remain safe, respectful, and accessible for all, and we appreciate your partnership in that effort,” the letter read.

Liljenquist told WCCO he has only recorded at Pig’s Eye Park once, and it was with the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office’s consent. He said he and his videographer always get consent from individuals they film, too.

Local organizations that work with people experiencing homelessness are split on Liljenquist’s impact. Sue Phillips, director of the Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing, said his content “is exploiting people experiencing homelessness/housing instability.” Feeding St. Paul founder Michael Brendale, on the other hand, said, “Josh has changed many lives, taken people off the streets.”

Liljenquist told WCCO he films his efforts instead of making them private in hopes of “inspiring other people to do it, showing that it doesn’t take a lot of money, it doesn’t take a lot of resources to go out there and do something for somebody.”

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5 tornadoes confirmed in Friday’s outbreak in southeastern Minnesota

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5 tornadoes confirmed in Friday’s outbreak in southeastern Minnesota


The National Weather Service confirmed that at least five tornadoes touched down in southeastern Minnesota on Friday, including four that hit Olmsted County. At least another three twisters were confirmed in southwestern Wisconsin.

The NWS was still analyzing data and other information to determine if more tornadoes occurred in the area.

The storms started Friday afternoon, with the first tornado touching down north of Sargeant in Mower County around 1:45 p.m. The short-lived EF0, with top wind speeds of 80 mph, traveled about 3 miles northeast into rural Dodge County near the unincorporated town of Oslo. It lasted for about five minutes in total, the weather service says, and caused minor damage to a grain silo before dissipating.

A new tornado formed a few minutes later, less than a mile away south of Oslo. The storm was also considered an EF0, with wind speeds around 80 mph. Lasting less than 10 minutes, it traveled 4 miles into Olmsted County, causing light damage to farm outbuildings and trees.

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The line of storms seemed to pick up intensity as it entered Olmsted County.

Around 2:17 p.m., the EF2 tornado that would later hit Marion Township first touched down just northeast of Stewartville. The weather service estimates that the twister had wind speeds of about 130 mph and traveled nearly 10 miles northeast, before dissipating around 2:31 p.m. Multiple homes were severely damaged with roof removal and partially collapsed exterior walls.

An EF1 tornado was also confirmed to have hit near Potsdam around 2:30 p.m.

The first portion of the tornado was weak, the weather service said, with mainly EF0 damage. On the second portion of the 12-mile track, the tornado intensified to produce approximately 100 mph winds with tree and farm outbuilding damage. It lifted around 2:54 p.m.

A second EF2 tornado was confirmed in Olmsted County around 2:46 p.m. about 5 miles east-northeast of Viola and traveled about 7.5 miles, ending in Wabasha County, a few miles south of Plainview, around 3 p.m. Maximum wind speeds were around 125 mph. The storm affected mainly rural areas and damaged trees and outbuildings. One farmhouse lost a roof and a garage roof, the weather service said.

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No injuries were reported in the Minnesota-Wisconsin outbreak.

Friday was a historic day for the NWS La Crosse office, which issued 26 tornado warnings – the most for any one day since the office opened in 1995.



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