Latest news with #KARE
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Minnesota lawmaker released from ICU following politically motivated shooting in June
Minnesota State Sen. John Hoffman has been released from a hospital intensive care unit and moved into a rehabilitation facility to continue his recovery from a politically-motivated attack in June, a family spokesperson tells CNN Tuesday. Though the family acknowledges that Hoffman 'still has a long recovery ahead,' spokesperson Bess Ellenson shared a photo taken Monday showing the senator looking upbeat, smiling, and flashing a thumbs up as he stands in front of a hospital room door with a rolling suitcase. Vance Boelter, 57, allegedly shot Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, in the June 14 shooting spree, which authorities say targeted Democrats and figures with connections to the abortion rights movement. Minnesota State Rep. Melissa Hortman, her husband, Mark, and the couple's golden retriever, Gilbert, were killed in the attack at their home. The Hoffmans shared a statement last month with their account of that night. The statement said the couple and their adult daughter, Hope, were awakened at 2 a.m. on Saturday, June 14, by a person shouting and pounding on their front door, identifying himself as a police officer. All three were in the entryway when the door opened, and the person pointed a gun at Hoffman. The senator lunged at the man, they wrote. Hoffman was shot nine times, his wife was shot eight times as she tried to close the door. Their daughter Hope, who was uninjured, was able to secure the door and call 911. Yvette Hoffman was released from the hospital on June 19, CNN affiliate KARE reported. Boelter was arrested following a 43-hour manhunt. He is facing federal and state charges, including murder, stalking, and weapons offenses.
NBC News
08-07-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
Minnesota state senator wounded in deadly political shootings is out of intensive care
The Minnesota state senator who, along with his wife, was among the first victims in a June shooting spree that took the life of a fellow lawmaker was released from intensive care. Wife Yvette, who was released five days after being treated for injuries sustained in the June 14 attack, confirmed Monday that Sen. John Hoffman is out of a hospital intensive care unit. Bess Ellenson, a spokesperson for the couple, said in a statement: "I can confirm John is out of the ICU and at a rehab facility." Ellenson sent a photo provided by Yvette Hoffman showing her husband smiling as he stands and gives a thumbs-up. NBC affiliate KARE of Minneapolis reported that the rehabilitation location is an acute care facility where Hoffman will remain for several weeks. He'll also undergo multiple surgeries, according to the station. The state senator, who lives in Champlin, about 20 miles north of central Minneapolis, was shot nine times, family members and officials have said, after lunging at the gunman claiming to be a police officer at his front door. Yvette, who was at her husband's side, was also struck multiple times by gunfire. Daughter Hope closed and locked the door and called 911 as the gunman fled, the family said. Hope's report helped lead police to two other residences occupied by fellow Democratically affiliated leaders in the Twin Cities region and allegedly targeted by the suspect. The shooter was able to open fire on state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, who were both killed in their home just after police arrived, authorities said. Vance Boelter, 57, of Green Isle, Minnesota, was charged in U.S. District Court with stalking and murdering Hortman and her husband, in addition to stalking and shooting Hoffman and his wife. U.S. Attorney for Minnesota Joe Thompson called the attacks "targeted political assassinations," though only one of the lawmakers was ultimately killed. Hortman and Hoffman are members of the state's Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.
NBC News
20-06-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
Minnesota lawmaker shot 9 times at his home in 'targeted' attack is in a critical condition
The Minnesota lawmaker who survived an attack by a gunman on his doorstep is still in a critical condition and has revealed details of the terrifying moment he and his wife were shot multiple times. Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, released a statement Thursday, obtained by NBC affiliate KARE of Minneapolis, outlining the events in the early hours of June 14. The Hoffmans continue their recovery in the hospital — Sen. Hoffman is in a critical but stable condition, while his wife is in a stable condition, the statement said. The suspected gunman, Vance Boelter, is accused of shooting them and killing the state's top legislator, Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz described the shootings as "targeted political violence." In the statement, the Hoffmans described the night of the shooting, which occurred after they returned to their Champlin home from a dinner. Their adult daughter Hope was also present. "At approximately 2:00 a.m., we were all awakened by the sounds of pounding on the front door and shouts of someone seeking entry, identifying himself as a police officer," the couple's statement said. "When the door was opened, all three of us were in the entryway. John initially lunged at the gunman as the weapon was pointed directly at him, getting struck nine times. As John fell, Yvette reached out to push the man and shut the door, succeeding before she was also hit eight times by gunfire," the statement continued. The couple's daughter then shut the door and locked it before phoning 911. "Her brave actions and quick thinking triggered the notice to public safety officials that a politically-motivated act was potentially underway," the statement said. The Hoffmans thanked the medical professionals who cared for them and the law enforcement officers who attended the scene and eventually caught Boelter after what became the biggest manhunt in Minnesota history. The couple also said they were "heartbroken to know that our friends Melissa and Mark Hortman were assassinated," adding that their daughters went to school together In the statement, the couple also thanked the local community and Fernbrook School, where Yvette Hoffman works, for organizing a GoFundMe page that has raised almost $200,000 to pay for medical expenses and increased security measures. Prosecutors said that notebooks found in Boelter's SUV and at his home showed the names of more than 45 state and federal elected officials. The Hoffmans reflected on the threat faced by public officials and said they understood that public sector figures sacrifice some level of privacy. "But now we are grappling with the reality that we live in a world where public service carries such risks as being targeted because someone disagrees with you or doesn't like what you stand for," they said.
The Hindu
19-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Newborn being treated for spinal muscular atrophy before symptoms set in
In perhaps a first in the country, a newborn found carrying the SMN1 gene mutation for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) through prenatal genetic screening is being administered presymptomatic treatment for SMA at the SAT Hospital here, thus minimising the infant's potential for future neuron damage. The infant, who is hardly three weeks old, is being administered presymptomatic treatment using Risdiplam, one of the rare disease-modifying drugs currently available for SMA, so that the infant will get the benefit of early initiation of treatment. This is a rare and very crucial step forward for the State in the management of rare diseases. SMA refers to a group of hereditary diseases that affect motor neurons, which are the specialised nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control movement of the body as well as skeletal muscle activity. The disease is currently not curable, even though several treatments have been developed for SMA that preserve motor neurons and improve muscle function to extend lives. In SMA, treatment early in life tends to provide more benefits. However, early diagnosis is fraught with many challenges. Most cases of SMA occur when the affected gene is passed down from the individual's parents. In this case, the mother is an SMA patient and through pre-natal diagnostic tests, it had been detected that the foetus was carrying the gene mutation associated with SMA. Though termination of pregnancy was an option, the woman chose to have the baby. Used in the West 'We do not normally get to diagnose SMA early before symptoms set in. Here, because of prenatal screening, we got a chance for early intervention and we thought we will try presymptomatic treatment, a protocol that is now being used in the West with very positive results,' V.H. Shanker, who heads the Genetics Centre at SAT Hospital said. The therapeutic time-window to treat SMA is narrow and early treatment, before the symptoms set in, improves motor function and outcomes. Early initiation of treatment with Risdiplam minimises motor neuron damage and maximises the potential for motor development, according to medical literature. Expensive drug 'SMA has no cure and presymptomatic treatment offers no guarantee that the child will not later develop the disease. However, the timing of the treatment is crucial and we hope that the infant will get the benefit of early treatment and that neuron damage can be minimised or prevented,' Dr. Shanker said. Health Minister Veena George said this was a rare opportunity for the State to potentially save at least one child from the debilitating disease. The State government is already giving Risdiplam, which is prohibitively expensive, to some 100 SMA patients for free, under its KARE (Kerala Against Rare Diseases), the State's initiative to devise a comprehensive care strategy to prevent and manage rare diseases.
New York Post
15-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Manhunt for alleged Minnesota assassin narrows — as cops find car on rural road and neighbors report gunshots
Police and federal agents swarmed the Minnesota farm community after discovering a car and a hat belonging to suspected assassin Vance Boelter — ordering residents to stay indoors and lock their homes and vehicles. The discovery was made on a rural road about 50 miles southwest of Minneapolis in Sibley County, near his last known address in Green Isle. 3 Feds and local cops have locked down a rural county southwest of Minneapolis tied to suspected political assassin Vance Boelter, where personal items of his were found. KARE 11 The massive manhunt, which involves federal agents and state and local cops, is underway after Boelter, 57, allegedly went on a shooting spree while posing as a police office early Saturday, which authorities are calling an act of 'targeted political violence.' Boelter is accused of executing former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in their home early Saturday, just prior to shooting and seriously wounding state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, in their house. Both politicians are members of the Democratic-Farmer-Laborer Party, the state's branch of the Democratic Party. Hours after the bloodbath, Boelter sent a chilling text message to two friends indicating he 'may be dead shortly' and saying he was 'sorry for all the trouble this has caused,' ostensibly referring to the quadruple shooting targeting Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses. Area residents told NewsNation they heard the sound of gunshots ringing out in the early morning hours Sunday, compointing suspicions Boelter might have taken his own life. His roommate at a house in North Minneapolis where the suspect lived a few days out of the week, told The Post that he didn't believe Boelter would be found alive. 3 A cowboy hat believed to belong to Boelter was found along the side of a roadway in rural Sibley County, Minnesota. KARE 11 'He's not going to jail. He's going to be a suicide because of the text,' Matthew said. His other roommate, best friend David Carlson, told The Post Boelter had been 'struggling' and that his personality had noticeably changed since he returned from the Democratic Republic of Congo several months ago. Boelter made numerous trips to the central African nation in the last few years in his capacity as CEO of a firm called Red Lion Group, about which little is known but which Boelter refers to on his LinkedIn profile. 3 A massive manhunt continues for Boelter, who allegedly went on a shooting spree of Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses Saturday. Minnesota Department of Public Safety Boelter claimed to have business ventures in Democratic Republic of Congo spanning fishing, farming, media, security and motorcycle-taxis. He wrote on his LinkedIn last month that he had just returned after a three-year stint in the country and was looking for work in the food service industry. His profile mentions positions he previously held with companies including 7-Eleven, Del Monte and Johnsonville. 'I thought his demeanor [changed], he wasn't as cheerful as he used to be. Since he got back from Africa, I guess,' he said, adding he got back four months ago and quit his job to go there. 'He came back and he was struggling a little bit. I thought it was normal struggles.'
