KTOE Noon News 2-6-25
Top Stories for Noon 2-6-25
- Vehicle Hits Kennedy Elementary, No Injuries Reported
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Redwood Falls Man Injured in Multi Vehicle Crash near Nicollet
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VINE Unveils New Floral Collaboration and Artwork of Interest Exhibit
- The bridge near the Rapidan Dam in Blue Earth County is gone after being demolished using explosives Wednesday. Crews successfully blew up the three main sections of the County Road 9 bridge spanning over the Blue Earth River. In the coming weeks, the contractor will be working on removing the bridge beam debris and demolishing the standing bridge piers. Construction of a new bridge is scheduled to begin next year. The bridge was closed after last June’s historic flood event that resulted in the partial failure of the Rapidan Dam.
- A Winona man is going to prison for using social media apps to sexually extort dozens of girls. Valentin Quintana was sentenced yesterday to 27 years behind bars. The 31-year-old defendant pleaded guilty to one count each of producing, distributing, and possessing child sex abuse material. Prosecutors say Quintana used apps like Snapchat and Instagram to threaten, sexually manipulate, and exploit at least 65 girls between the ages of nine and 15. The youngsters were from places like Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, New Zealand, and elsewhere
- The stalemate in the Minnesota House is no more. Democrats and Republicans have a confirmed agreement in place. Republican Representative Lisa Demuth will serve as Speaker of the House through the end of next year. Republicans will control House committees until a special election is held to fill a vacant seat next month. The House GOP holds a 67-66 majority pending a special election to fill an empty seat that Governor Tim Walz set for March 11. Meanwhile, Democrats say they will be in session today.
- Minnesota Congresswoman Angie Craig is sponsoring a bill that she says would protect access to contraception and defend healthcare providers’ ability to distribute contraceptives. It would create a statutory right for people to obtain birth control, I-U-Ds, and condoms and grants the Attorney General the ability to take civil action against any state or government official that implements or enforces legislation to prevent access to contraceptives. Craig says in a statement, “Access to birth control should be a given, but with extreme Republicans chipping away at women’s protective rights by the day, we have no choice but to enshrine this protection into law.”
