The Dakota Dispatch

Latest News

  • Minneapolis Plane Crashes in Toronto

    Minneapolis Plane Crashes in Toronto

    TORONTO, Feb. 17, 2025 – A Delta flight that took off from Minneapolis-St. Paul airport (MSP) Monday crash landed in Toronto. All of the 80 passengers and crew on board survived.

         Investigators, led by Canadian authorities, are trying to determine what caused the Delta Air Lines regional jet to flip upside down while landing at about 2:15 p.m. Monday. Winds gusted to about 40 m.p.h. near the time of the crash. The plane left MSP shortly after 11:45 a.m. after a delay.

      Twenty-one people were injured.

         A passenger described the crash on national television: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzdAUW7hUjY

  • Sen. Smith Fades Away

    Sen. Smith Fades Away

    Washington, D.C., Feb. 13, 2025 – Sen. Tina Smith announced she won’t seek reelection to a U.S. Senate seat originally handed to her by political appointment, opening the floodgates to a field of mediocre candidates seeking to take her place, including Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, and Ilhan Omar.

    Smith’s tenure was unextraordinary. She primarily walked lockstep with progressive liberals supporting radical legislation related to climate change and abortion. Her main function seemed to be standing behind her fellow Minnesota senator, Amy Klobuchar, at press conferences nodding in agreement.

    Smith was first appointed to the Senate in 2017, following the forced resignation of Sen. Al Franken, a former television comedian “cancelled” during the Me Too movement, a campaign against sexual harassment.

    Smith’s fundraising was below average, according to campaign financing reports. At about $3 million, her funding was a fraction of Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s $21 million. Donations came from a few large corporations and banks, some individuals, and out-of-state political action committees and donors, according to campaign finance reports.

    Smith recently sought to alter local zoning laws under the guise of providing “affordable housing,” a measure that many believe will hurt neighborhoods.

    • Who’s Who at the Zoo?

      Who’s Who at the Zoo?

      Apple Valley, MN, Feb. 7, 2025 — No vacation is complete without a trip to the zoo. While refusing to show up for work at the state capitol for more than three weeks, state reps Erin Quade, John Huot, and Robert Bierman took a trip to the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley. The trio promised taxpayer money for a new operating room at the zoo.

      According to its annual reports, the zoo already collects millions in revenue every year from admission fees, alcohol and food sales, donations, and grants. The zoo, which is only open to the public six hours a day, charges about $22 for each adult admission and $10 for parking. In addition to it’s ticket revenues, the zoo frequently hosts special events and concerts and runs fundraising campaigns such as a current campaign charging $15 to name a bug that will be fed to a zoo animal.

    • Library Event Cancelled

      Library Event Cancelled

      The Dakota County library cancelled a race-based event which would have restricted access to the Galaxie library on Saturday morning, one of its busiest times.

      The event, “Bringing Black Books to Life,” a product of the Minnesota Black Authors Expo, had been scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 8. Signs at the Galaxie Avenue library alleged the event was “cancelled due to weather.”

    • Look! In the Sky! It’s a Turd. It’s a Plane. It’s …

      Look! In the Sky! It’s a Turd. It’s a Plane. It’s …

      Minnesota inventor Caleb Olson has unveiled the “Poopcopter,” an aerial drone designed to detect and remove dog waste.

      https://calebolson.com/blog/2024/09/27/poopcopter-unveiling.html

    • Klobuchar Confronts Kash

      Klobuchar Confronts Kash

      Washington, D.C. , Jan. 30, 2025 – Sen. Amy Klobuchar is behaving badly.

            After an angry performance at President Donald Trump’s inauguration, where she seemed determined not to acknowledge his election by referencing him by name and title, Klobuchar this week lashed out at Trump’s cabinet nominations.  Klobuchar confronted FBI director nominee Kash Patel with a podcast transcripts and past alleged statements like an angry ex-wife bringing up ancient history.

            During cross-examination at Patel’s confirmation hearing this week, Klobuchar accused Patel of having an “enemies list.”

            “The only thing this body is doing is defeating the credibility of the men and women of the FBI,” Patel replied to Klobuchar. Patel reminded Klobuchar he had been endorsed by more than 300,000 law enforcement officers to be the next FBI director.

       Klobuchar’s fellow senators criticized her for going three minutes over her 7-minute time limit to criticize Patel.

      Klobuchar left the hearing early.

    • Quade, Huot Continue Vacation

      Quade, Huot Continue Vacation

      EAGAN, Minn. Jan. 27, 2024 – State sen. Erin Maye Quade and rep. John Huot, never known for their work ethic, have continued their vacation from the legislature, refusing to show up for work.

         Quade and Huot have claimed they are shirking their duties as part of boycott by democrat state legislators.

         While families have been hurt by chaos at the state unemployment insurance agency, Quade, a democrat puppet, has limited her focus to canned legislative bills written by the national democrat committee. The issues Quade has focused on include “hair discrimination” and so-called “deep fake” videos, which Quade introduced by appearing in a video with a blurred background. Quade refused to produce an unedited version of the video showing from where she was speaking.

         The state legislators have provided no explanation of their whereabouts or when they will return to work.

    • Klobuchar Seeks Inaugural Spotlight

      Klobuchar Seeks Inaugural Spotlight

      Washington, D.C., Jan. 20, 2025 – Minnesota senator and failed presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar inserted herself into the Presidential Inauguration this week as head of the bipartisan committee.

         Klobuchar, who has vocally opposed President Donald Trump, appeared annoyed as Trump made his inaugural address to the nation. Dressed in everyday business clothes, she wore a smug expression and rolled her eyes as President Trump spoke. She showed little concern about the technical issues during the event, such as when singer Carrie Underwood’s accompanying music failed to play. Underwood behaved like a consummate professional and sang without the planned accompaniment, encouraging the audience to join in for a patriotic sing-a-long.

    • Minnesota CEO Fatally Shot

      Minnesota CEO Fatally Shot

      New York, Dec. 4, 2024 – Investigators are searching for the killer of Minnesota resident and United Healthcare Chief Executive Officer Brian Thompson, who was shot outside a New York City hotel while preparing for his company’s annual investor conference.

         A $10,000 reward was posted for information leading to the capture of Thompson’s killer, a masked gunman who fled into the city after shooting Thompson, age 50, in the leg and chest early Wednesday morning.

      Thompson’s wife, Paulette, told police her husband had been receiving threats, according to a national news report.

    • Virnig Sues, You Pay

      Virnig Sues, You Pay

      Taxpayers are stuck with the legal bills for Minnesota state rep Bianca Virnig’s employment issues. The state legislature approved $10,391.40 in legal fees for Virnig, a state representative installed by special election last summer.

      The legal fees stemmed from Virnig’s dispute with her employer, BrightWorks, which provides services to the school district. Virnig claimed the nonprofit cut her hours after she devoted her time to campaigning and holding office.

      Virnig was unsuccessful for her first run for office. Like many democratic candidates, she then ran for ISD 196’s school board and won after receiving an endorsement from the district’s teachers’ union. She was part of an entire board comprised of teachers’ union-endorsed candidates, which approved pay raises for teachers and staff, special “bonuses” for administrators, and large budget increases.