Midwest

MN GOP vows recall efforts as Dem lawmakers threaten to skip work for two weeks

Published

1 year ago

January 13, 2025

MN GOP vows recall efforts as Dem lawmakers threaten to skip work for two weeks

The Minnesota Republican Party vowed to pursue constitutional recalls against any Democratic legislator who refuses to show up at the state legislature’s first day of session on Monday.

Democrats have threatened to boycott the first two weeks of the session in an effort to block Republicans from taking advantage of a narrow and temporary majority in the state legislature. Minnesota GOP Chairman Alex Plechash argued at a Monday press conference that intentionally skipping work would expose Democratic lawmakers to election recall efforts.

“Minnesotans expect one thing from their elected officials: to show up and do the job they were sent here to do. That’s a basic duty, not a special request,” Plechash said, speaking at the Minnesota state capitol.

Republicans currently enjoy a 67-66 seat majority in the state House and could use that majority to set legislative rules for the next two years when the session begins on Tuesday. Their advantage is likely temporary, however, with a special election in a lean-Democratic district scheduled for January 28. The previous Democratic lawmaker in the district, Curtis Johnson, won his election in November, but was later disqualified after courts determined he did not truly reside in the district.

WALZ EDUCATION APPOINTEE WHO CALLED FOR THE US GOVERNMENT TO BE ‘OVERTHROWN’ UNDER GOP FIRE: ‘INSURRECTION’

Minnesota Republicans and Democrats are in a showdown over the opening weeks of the state’s legislative session. ( John Autey / MediaNews Group / St. Paul Pioneer Press via Getty Images)

Republicans will therefore enjoy a majority for at least the two weeks between the start of session on Tuesday and the special election at the end of January. Republicans are also contesting the election of another Democrat, Rep. Brad Tabke, who won re-election by 14 votes after county elections officials lost 20 absentee ballots in one precinct.

“We are committed to holding every lawmaker accountable. If you don’t show up for the job, you shouldn’t keep it,” Plechash said.

PRO-ACCOUNTABILITY BOSTON CITY COUNCILOR HAS WORST ABSENCE RECORD: REPORT

GOP Attorney Ryan Wilson says Minnesota law requires that a recall petition receives at least 25 signatures from voters in a given district. Once obtained, the petition is then sent to the Minnesota Supreme Court to determine whether the cause for the recall meets legal standards.

Minnesota Democrats, led by Gov. Tim Walz, are attempting to hamstring a slim Republican majority. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Wilson said the GOP would be basing its recall requests on “nonfeasance,” or the failure to perform an act that is required by law.

MINNESOTA SCHOOL DISTRICT REMOVES LGBTQ CHILDREN’S BOOK WITH NUDITY, DESPITE OBJECTIONS

If the state Supreme Court approves that reasoning, the petition would then need to be signed by at least 25% of the number of voters in the district who cast ballots in the November election. If it passes that threshold, the district would then hold a recall vote.

“We’ve never had a situation like this in the history of the legislature, where 66 members of a caucus are unwilling to show up for work,” Wilson said.

Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman leads a session of the Minnesota State Legislator at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul. (Getty Images)

Republican state Rep. Pam Altendorf argued Democrats are only facing a disadvantage “because of cheating.” She added that the lawmakers are “acting like sore losers and not coming to work.”

The Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.

Anders Hagstrom is a reporter with Fox News Digital covering national politics and major breaking news events. Send tips to Anders.Hagstrom@Fox.com, or on Twitter: @Hagstrom_Anders.

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Nebraska

Nebraska State Patrol investigates attempted murder/suicide in Kearney County

Published

6 minutes ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Nebraska State Patrol investigates attempted murder/suicide in Kearney County

MINDEN, Neb. (KSNB) – The Nebraska State Patrol, with assistance from the Kearney County Sheriff’s Office and Kearney County Attorney’s Office, is investigating an attempted murder/suicide in rural Kearney County.

The Kearney County Sheriff’s Office was called to the scene Saturday afternoon.

According to NSP, three children and a woman had gunshot wounds, with the woman found dead.

The three children were transported by ambulance to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney and treated for their injuries. Two of the children have since been transported to Children’s Hospital in Omaha.

NSP said all three children are expected to survive. The children are all under the age of 12.

This investigation is ongoing. Law enforcement said there is no ongoing threat to the public.

According to NSP, names are not being released at this time to protect the identities of the victims.

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North Dakota

After falling short a year ago, West Fargo United wins ND girls hockey state title

Published

42 minutes ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

After falling short a year ago, West Fargo United wins ND girls hockey state title

FARGO — One season ago, a Cinderella run for the West Fargo United girls hockey team came up just short in the state championship game.

United, the No. 7 seed, fell to Legacy/Bismarck in the 2025 final.

This time around, the team had momentum swaying in its favor, riding nine consecutive wins into Saturday’s title game against Grand Forks at Scheels Arena.

Led by goals from a pair of senior captains, United capped its redemption season with a 10th straight victory, fending off the KnightRiders 2-1 to claim the North Dakota girls hockey state tournament championship.

“It just means everything,” said United’s Payton Stocker, whose goal at the 12:31 mark of the second period gave her team a 1-0 lead. “We’ve worked so hard and throughout the season, it’s just been such a battle. Winning and coming out on top is just such a great feeling.”

West Fargo United captains react as they are presented the team’s 2026 state championship hockey trophy after defeating Grand Forks on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at Scheels Arena in Fargo.

Eric Hylden / Grand Forks Herald

Stocker was followed up in scoring by United captain Rachel Spanier. The defenseman fired a slap shot from the left point that beat Grand Forks goaltender Kylie Schmaltz to make it 2-0 with 35 seconds remaining in the middle frame.

Reagan Wilson locked things down in net for United, finishing with 23 saves and picking up an all-tournament team nod.

“This is my first year of high school hockey,” the sophomore goaltender said. “I can’t believe coming in here and winning a state title with all of these girls. I just love them so much.”

While it was the senior duo of Stocker and Spanier finding the net for United on Saturday, contributions were seen across the board.

Sophomore Emma Hassler also put forth an all-tournament campaign with five goals and an assist for six points over the three-day stretch.

030226 WFGOUnited3.jpg — Grand Forks’ Dustee Balek’s shot is blocked by West Fargo United goalie Reagan Wilson in the North Dakota girls hockey state championship game on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at Scheels Arena.

Freshman Kaylee Augdahl finished the tournament with four points — including

a double-overtime winner

over Fargo North/South in Friday’s semifinals — and junior Liana Williamson added three assists.

“It wasn’t just us (seniors),” said Stocker, who joined Hassler and Wilson on the all-tourney team. “It was everyone collectively. Being seniors, it feels a lot better. It was a great feeling.”

United, the No. 5 seed this year, capped its season with a record of 17-9-0.

“These girls are awesome,” first-year United head coach Kennedy Blair said. “They’ve worked super, super hard since last April. Wake up early in the mornings, go into off-ice training, on-ice training and all that.

“This group of girls is really special. They’re a really close-knit group, and they trusted our coaching staff coming in as a first-year group.”

030226 WFGOUnited2.jpg — West Fargo United players pose for the camera as they wait for the 2026 state championship hockey trophy after defeating Grand Forks on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at Scheels Arena.

Blair knows a thing or two about winning championships. She was a North Dakota state champion goaltender with the former Bismarck Blizzard co-op and also won an NCAA Division I national title with the Wisconsin women’s program in 2021.

Yet, she never imagined ending her first year as a high school varsity coach with a state championship.

“No, I didn’t,” said Blair, who also won North Dakota High School Coaches Association Coach of the Year honors. “But I had belief in these girls that we could get to the state championship again.”

It’s the United co-op’s first-ever state title — which consists of West Fargo, West Fargo Sheyenne and West Fargo Horace high schools.

Prior to Saturday, the last time a West Fargo girls program won the state title was in 2014 when it was still a standalone program competing as the Packers.

“It’s amazing considering United hockey has never won a championship game,” Wilson said.

Grand Forks, the tournament’s No. 2 seed, ended its campaign with a 21-5-0 record.

Ella Yahna’s fourth goal of the tournament — which came on a 2-on-1 rush with the assist from teammate Reese Meagher, put the KnightRiders within one shot with 8:17 remaining in the third.

Grand Forks, however, was unable to find the equalizer as its bid for a first state championship came up just short.

“I thought we came out in the first and we had a tough time,” Grand Forks head coach Kelly Kilgore said. “I felt we battled some nerves. I really liked our second period … We carried the play and tilted the ice a little bit back in our favor. The shots kind of started to really turn in our favor.”

Stocker said she wouldn’t have wanted to win a state title as a senior with any other group of teammates.

“(They mean) everything,” Stocker said. “We’re so tight and they’re all my friends. Leaving them is going to be hard. But they mean everything to me. We’re all so close and I love them a lot.”

FIRST PERIOD: No scoring.

SECOND PERIOD: 1, WFU, Stocker (Augdahl, Hassler), 12:31. 2, WFU, Spanier (Augdahl, Stocker), 16:25.

THIRD PERIOD: 3, GF, Yahna (R. Meagher), 8:43.

SAVES: WFU, Wilson 7-13-3—23. GF, Schmaltz 7-3-14—24.

030226 KnightRiders2.jpg — Grand Forks’ Reese Meagher skates past West Fargo United’s Reaghen Mathias in the first period of the North Dakota girls hockey state championship game on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at Scheels Arena.

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Ohio

Purdue vs. Ohio State Prediction, How to Watch, Odds, Channel – Mar 1

Published

48 minutes ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Purdue vs. Ohio State Prediction, How to Watch, Odds, Channel – Mar 1

Data Skrive

The No. 8 Purdue Boilermakers (22-6, 12-5 Big Ten) will try to continue a three-game road winning streak when they take on the Ohio State Buckeyes (17-11, 9-8 Big Ten) on Sunday, March 1, 2026 at Value City Arena. The matchup airs at 1:30 p.m. ET on CBS.

The Boilermakers are a 5.5-point favorite against the Buckeyes when the Boilermakers and the Buckeyes meet. The game’s over/under is set at 150.5.

Continue scrolling to get all the information before betting on the Purdue-Ohio State clash.

Purdue vs. Ohio State How to Watch & Odds

When: Sunday, March 1, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. ET
Where: Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio
TV: CBS
Live Box Score: FOX Sports

Boilermakers vs Buckeyes Betting Information
Favorite	Spread	Favorite Spread Odds	Underdog Spread Odds	Total	Over Total Odds	Under Total Odds	Favorite Moneyline	Underdog Moneyline
Boilermakers	-5.5	-114	-106	150.5	-110	-113	-277	+220

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Purdue vs. Ohio State Prediction

Pick ATS: Purdue (-5.5)
Pick OU: Over (150.5)
Prediction: Purdue 79, Ohio State 73

Learn more about the Purdue Boilermakers vs. the Ohio State Buckeyes game on FOX Sports!

Purdue vs. Ohio State Betting Insights

Betting Line Implied Predictions

Based on the spread and over/under, the implied score for the encounter is Boilermakers 78, Buckeyes 72.
The Boilermakers have a 73.5% chance to claim victory in this meeting based on the moneyline’s implied probability.
The Buckeyes sit with a 31.2% implied probability to win.

Key Spread Facts

Purdue has covered 13 times in 28 games with a spread this season.
Ohio State has won 13 games against the spread this season, while failing to cover 15 times.
When playing as at least 5.5-point favorites this season, Purdue has an ATS record of 9-12.
When playing as at least 5.5-point underdogs this season, Ohio State has an ATS record of 3-2.

Key Total Facts

In 15 games this season, the Boilermakers and their opponent have combined to score more than 150.5 points.
There have been 15 Buckeyes games this season with more than 150.5 points scored.
The Boilermakers and Buckeyes combine to average 162.1 points per contest, which is 11.6 more than the total for this game.

Key Moneyline Facts

Purdue has been the moneyline favorite 24 times this season. They’ve gone 19-5 in those games.
Ohio State has won two, or 18.2%, of the 11 games it has played as underdogs this season.
When it has played as a moneyline favorite with odds of -277 or shorter, Purdue has a record of 16-1 (94.1% win percentage).
Ohio State has not won as an underdog of +220 or more on the moneyline this season in four games with those odds or longer.

Purdue vs. Ohio State: Recent Results

Boilermakers vs Buckeyes Recent Games
Date	Favorite	Spread	Total	Favorite Moneyline	Underdog Moneyline	Result
1/21/2025	Boilermakers	-9.5	140.5	-549	+403	73-70 OHIOST

Purdue vs. Ohio State: 2025-26 Stats Comparison

	Purdue	Ohio State
Points Scored Per Game (Rank)	82.6 (48)	79.5 (100)
Points Allowed (Rank)	69.5 (66)	73.1 (159)
Rebounds (Rank)	10 (102)	7.7 (311)
3pt Made (Rank)	9.4 (66)	7.8 (175)
Assists (Rank)	19.8 (3)	14.1 (159)
Turnovers (Rank)	8.8 (11)	9.9 (64)

Purdue 2025-26 Key Players

Ohio State 2025-26 Key Players

FOX Sports created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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