Latest news with #WrightCounty
CBS News
3 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Republican Minnesota Sen. Bruce Anderson dies unexpectedly at age 75
Longtime Republican Minnesota Sen. Bruce Anderson died unexpectedly on Monday, his GOP colleagues said in a statement. He was 75. Anderson is a U.S. Navy veteran who served in the Vietnam War, and he spent more than 30 years in the Legislature. He was first elected to the Minnesota House in 1994 before moving to the Senate following his election in 2012. He represented Wright County and three communities across neighboring Hennepin and Meeker counties. "I'm saddened to learn Senator Bruce Anderson passed unexpectedly today. Bruce was a dedicated public servant, loving family man, and dear friend to many at the Capitol and in Buffalo," said Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, R-East Grand Forks, in a statement. "We offer our condolences and prayers for comfort for the entire Anderson family." His family has asked for privacy and will share a statement at a later time. He and his wife Ruth lived in Buffalo and together have eight children and 12 grandchildren, according to his biography on the Senate GOP website. Anderson focused on issues impacting agriculture, veterans, broadband and public safety during his time at the State Capitol. Senate Democrats in a statement said they are saddened by the loss, calling him "a great champion" for farmers and veterans. "I served with Bruce in both the House and Senate, and will fondly remember him for the way he approached this work and treated his colleagues," said Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul, in a statement. "He was a decent, kind colleague, and a dedicated family man, and I feel fortunate to have known and worked with him." He joined the U.S. Navy after graduating from high school and years later also joined the Minnesota Air National Guard and U.S. Air Force Reserves. He grew up on a dairy farm in rural Minnesota. Former Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch, a Republican whom Anderson succeeded in the Senate, said in a post on social media that he was a mentor and a friend who "changed hearts and minds through hard work and lots of conversation" in what once was a DFL-leaning district. Gov. Tim Walz will eventually call a special election for the vacancy left by his death. It comes as there will be another special election in September for former DFL House Speaker Melissa Hortman's seat after she was shot in a politically motivated attack last month. There will be yet another vacancy and subsequent special election in the Senate when Sen. Nicole Mitchell resigns from office following her felony burglary conviction. Her attorney said that will happen no later than Aug. 4.
CBS News
04-07-2025
- CBS News
8 fall into Wright County river while tubing; no injuries reported
Vance Boelter says in court he wants 'truth' to come out, and more headlines Vance Boelter says in court he wants 'truth' to come out, and more headlines Vance Boelter says in court he wants 'truth' to come out, and more headlines No injuries have been reported after eight people fell into the Crow River while tubing in Wright County, Minnesota, on Friday, according to the sheriff's office. County officials received a 911 call from a person on the 11000 block of 36th Circle Northeast in St. Michael around 9:55 a.m. The caller said several people had tipped their tubes in the river and were hanging onto tree branches. Responding sheriff's deputies saw a man and a boy hanging onto a tree branch, and they weren't able to swim to shore, officials said. The deputies later learned that two adults and six children had tipped their tubes. The sheriff's office said the eight people were either rescued by first responders or were able to make it to shore. The Dayton, Hanover, Maple Grove, Rogers, and St. Michael fire departments, Dayton Police Department and Hennepin County Sheriff's Office assisted the sheriff's office during the incident.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
FEMA funds aid Missouri counties hit by severe weather
WRIGHT COUNTY, Mo. — The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced today that federal disaster assistance is coming to Missouri following severe weather that tore through multiple counties in March and April. Here in Southwest Missouri, Wright County will be receiving some of those funds, after a tornado hit rural parts of the county on March 14th. The Amish community was mostly impacted; due to religious reasons, the Amish would not speak on camera. Neighbors that live nearby tell Ozarks First they do not believe their Amish neighbors will accept any of the federal funding. 'We appreciate FEMA and I just hope that the Amish does take some help. I doubt it, but I hope that they do,' Gwen Reed says. Today, President Trump announced federal funding for over a dozen Missouri counties, including multiple counties in our viewing area. The funding is to help recover from severe weather that hit on March 14 and 15, as well as March 30, through April 8. 'It was pretty devastating and pretty scary. When it hits so close to here, it makes you a little more alert,' Reed says. For the March 14th storms, federal funding is available for individuals or local governments and non-profits impacted by the severe weather. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing or home repair, low-interest loans and other programs. Rex Cole helped his Amish neighbors rebuild after the tornado. He tells Ozarks First they have their own ways of paying for supplies after disaster strikes. 'They won't take no funds. No money. If they worked for me and they got hurt, they won't come to me for funding to pay for any medical bills. They take care of all their own stuff,' says Cole. The Webster County Office of Emergency Management says they have not received many details yet on the specifics of the funding or how much the county can receive. Cole says he is glad the government is not overlooking rural areas like his. 'That's even better to me that they're hitting more rural areas instead of the big cities. I mean, because they need just as much funding as everybody else does. So yeah, it's a great thing,' Cole says. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
