Minnesota
Wisconsin lawmakers consider Capitol security needs after Minnesota assassinations
In the hours after a man shot two Minnesota lawmakers in their homes on Saturday, Wisconsin’s legislative leaders issued a rare joint statement.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, were joined by Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer, D-Racine, and Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein, D-Middleton, in condemning political violence after reports that the shootings were a politically targeted assassination and assassination attempt.
“No one should ever fear for their lives because of their service to their community,” the leaders wrote. “Political violence accomplishes nothing, and is never the answer.”
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But in the days since, even after the revelation that at least 11 Wisconsin officials were named in a manifesto by the alleged shooter, lawmakers have differed about security needs for elected officials in the state.
Speaking before the Assembly convened for a standard session on Wednesday, Vos said it was important to “take a breath and look at what’s going to be the actual best potential solution, as opposed to a knee-jerk reaction.”
“The thing that’s most scary is this didn’t occur in a Capitol (building),” he added. “It occurred at someone’s home. So the idea of trying to make the Capitol into a fortress, I don’t know if that necessarily would even have ever done anything … to help the awful situation that happened in Minnesota.”
Vos said Republicans planned to discuss next steps but expressed doubts about the efficacy of making the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison less immediately accessible.
His caucus is not necessarily united in their response, however. Over the weekend, Sen. Chris Kapenga, R-Delafield, said on WISN-TV that he wanted to see metal detectors and a ban on members of the public carrying firearms at the Capitol.
On the other side of the aisle, Democratic leaders were more vague about prospective security changes, citing safety concerns.
“I feel safe in our Capitol building. I think we’re going to continue to have conversations to make sure that everyone else feels safe as well,” Hesselbein said.
Asked about metal detectors specifically, Neubauer declined to comment.
“We’re not going to comment at this point on specific security measures, but are open to longer-term conversations to ensure that everyone feels safe,” she said.
Heightened security measures went into effect at the Capitol this week. Wisconsin State Capitol Senate Sergeant at Arms Timothy La Sage announced Monday that Capitol Police were implementing “updated measures.” He gave few specifics, citing “operational integrity,” and did not specify whether the measures would be in place permanently.
This isn’t the first conversation about Wisconsin officials’ personal safety in recent years, a time when experts say heightened polarization has led to increased threats against politicians, judges and civil servants.
Two years ago, an armed man entered the state Capitol demanding to speak with Gov. Tony Evers. He was arrested and released, then returned and was arrested again. Evers at the time did not discuss security changes made afterwards, but said, “Anytime something like this happens, obviously they (Capitol police) reevaluate.”
Just days before the Minnesota shootings, the Legislature’s budget-writing committee considered a proposal to increase funding security for Wisconsin Supreme Court justices. The request comes amid increased threats against federal judges in recent months, and as the Legislature’s nonpartisan budget office has identified dozens of “credible, identified threats” against Wisconsin Supreme Court justices in the last three years — and dozens in just the first few months of this year.
The GOP-held Joint Finance Committee ultimately rejected Evers’ $1 million budget request, arguing the Capitol Police force protects justices, too.
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Minnesota
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Minnesota
Utah Mammoth take down Minnesota 5-2 to end the Wild’s winning streak at 6
The Wild were taken down by the Utah Mammoth 5-2 on Friday night to end Minnesota’s winning streak at six games.
Lawson Crouse scored twice and U.S. Olympian Clayton Keller had a goal and two assists for Utah.
Logan Cooley and Barrett Hayton also scored and Karel Vejmelka made 21 saves to help the Mammoth rebound from a 4-2 home loss to NHL-leading Colorado on Wednesday night in their return from the Olympic break. Utah began the night in the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference.
U.S. Olympian Matt Boldy scored and assisted on Kirill Kaprizov’s goal for Minnesota. Second behind Central Division-rival Colorado in the West, the Wild are 9-2-1 in their last 12. They beat the Avalanche 5-2 on Thursday night in Denver.
Cooley opened the scoring with a short-handed goal with 6:37 left in the first period. The former University of Minnesota star got the puck on the right side off a deflection and put a shot between Wallstedt’s legs for his 15th goal.
Keller scored his 18th at 4:26 of the second. Nick Schmaltz forced a turnover on a forecheck and fed Keller on the right side.
Crouse made it 3-0 at 7:49 of the second. He came down the middle, took a pass from Keller and beat Wallstedt with a backhander.
Kaprizov countered for Minnesota on a power play with 5:57 left in the second. He has 33 goals this season.
Hayton made it 4-1 on a power play at 1:19 of the third, and Crouse added his 16th of the season on a tip with 7:12 to go.
Boldy got his 35th of the season with 5:57 remaining.
Up next
Wild: Host St. Louis on Sunday.
Mammoth: Host Chicago on Sunday.
Minnesota
Shorthanded Clippers can’t keep pace with Anthony Edwards and Minnesota
Anthony Edwards scored 31 points, Donte DiVincenzo added 18 and the surging Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Clippers 94-88 on Thursday night.
Jaden McDaniels and Ayo Dosunmu each scored 12 points and Rudy Gobert had 13 rebounds to help the Timberwolves improve to 5-1 since Feb. 9 and 3-1 since the All-Star break.
Edwards, returning to the site of the All-Star Game, where he was the MVP, was 12 for 24 from the floor and sealed the victory with a step-back three-pointer over two defenders for a 92-88 lead with 42.9 seconds left.
Minnesota improved to 2-0 on a three-game trip.
Derrick Jones Jr. scored 18 points and Bennedict Mathurin added 14 for the Clippers, who struggled from the outset with a season-low 38 points in the first half. Kris Dunn had 11 points for the Clippers (27-31), who have lost three consecutive games for the first time since December.
The Clippers struggled on offense without star Kawhi Leonard, out because of ankle soreness. The Clippers shot 40.5% from the floor, including 18.2% (four for 22) in the second quarter. Minnesota shot 43.4% in the game.
The Timberwolves (37-23) scored just 15 points in the second quarter and still topped the Clippers, who had 11. Minnesota led 44-38 at halftime behind 12 points from DiVincenzo and 11 from Edwards.
The Clippers led by six in the third quarter and were up 68-63 heading into the fourth. Edwards’ drive and reverse layup put the Timberwolves up for good at 76-74 with 7:40 remaining.
The Clippers pulled within one three times in the last 2½ minutes, but Edwards answered each time. He scored the Timberwolves’ last nine points.
Up next for Clippers: vs. New Orleans on Sunday night.
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