Beltrami County DFL's 'Pizza and Programs' series to continue March 20
Mar. 18—BEMIDJI — The Beltrami County Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party invites the public to attend its next "DFL Pizza and Programs" session from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 20, at the Beltrami County DFL Office, 1510 Bemidji Ave. N.
This program series will offer informal discussions and dialogue with invited speakers who are community organizers and leaders.
This session will feature Sherry Kloha, part of the Indivisible Bemidji leadership team.
"All are welcome to come and learn about this organization that promotes a progressive agenda, a fairness, and common well-being for all citizens by fueling grassroots inclusive processes that support democracy," a release said.
The Beltrami County DFL is an organizing unit staffed by an all-volunteer team. To learn more, visit
beltramidfl.org.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indianapolis Star
17 minutes ago
- Indianapolis Star
Manhunt underway for Vance Luther Boelter in Minnesota lawmakers shooting
Authorities say a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband were killed and another lawmaker and his wife were injured at their homes by a man impersonating law enforcement in what Gov. Tim Walz called a 'politically motivated assassination.' Law enforcement officials identified the suspect as Vance Luther Boelter, 57. Officials on Saturday afternoon said they were still searching for Boelter, who was last seen in the Twin Cities area. They considered him armed and dangerous. Earlier on Saturday, authorities said they were searching for a suspect who impersonated law enforcement to gain access to the victims' homes, exchanged gunfire with police and fled on foot outside Minneapolis. Asked by reporters for his reaction to the Minnesota shooting, President Donald Trump replied, "Absolutely terrible. Absolutely terrible, and they're looking for that particular man." He spoke from the White House just before getting into his car for the short trip to the viewing stand for the Army parade. "Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America. God Bless the great people of Minnesota, a truly great place!" Trump said. Walz said state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were shot and killed, and State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette were shot multiple times and wounded in 'targeted shootings' in Brooklyn Park and Champlin, two neighboring suburban cities 10 to 20 miles outside Minneapolis. Walz said Hoffman and his wife were out of surgery and officials expected them to survive. Hoffman and Hortman are both members of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. (The Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) is a political party exclusive to Minnesota that was formed in 1944 when the Minnesota Democratic Party and the Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party merged.) Hortman was Speaker-Emerita of the House of Representatives, which is narrowly controlled by Republicans. House Speaker Lisa Demuth, a Minnesota Republican, said she was devastated by Hortman's loss. "She was respected by everyone at the Capitol as a formidable advocate for her values and her caucus," Demuth said in a statement. "She battled fiercely, but never let it impact the personal bond that we developed serving as caucus leaders." Multiple people had been detained for questioning but no one was in custody as of Saturday evening, Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said. Bruley said the shooter impersonated a police officer, complete with an SUV that appeared similar to real police vehicles, a vest, outfit and equipment. The shooter knocked on the victims' doors and used the ruse to "manipulate their way into the home," Bruley said. Minnesota 'No Kings': Protests canceled after two lawmakers shot, 1 killed Officials said they were still searching for Vance Luther Boelter, the 57-year-old suspect accused of shooting state lawmakers. Described as a white man who is 6 feet, 1 inch tall, Boelter was last seen Saturday morning in Minneapolis, according to Drew Evans, superintendent of the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. In an image shared by law enforcement officials, he was wearing a light-colored cowboy hat, dark-colored long sleeve shirt or coat and carrying a dark bag. Officials suspect he's still in the Twin Cities area, though he may be trying to leave the area. Evans said Boelter should be considered as armed and dangerous and urged members of the public to call 911. It's unclear whether additional people were involved in the shooting, Evans said. An FBI wanted poster shows a photo from one of the attacks that appears to show the gunman was wearing a latex mask. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has officially named Boelter as a suspect in the case, although he is not yet charged with any crime. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Boelter. Boelter is a St. Cloud State University graduate, according to SCSU spokesperson Zach Dwyer. Boelter wrote on his LinkedIn page that he was the CEO of a company called "Red Lion Group" and that he has traveled to Congo and several other countries, but those claims have not been confirmed. Boelter is also listed on a homemade web site of a company called Praetorian Guard Security Services, which lists him as director of security patrols. The website describes him as involved with 'security situations' overseas, including Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. The website described him as also having worked for a large oil refining company, a large food company based in Switzerland, and a large convenience retailer brand, based in Japan. None of those jobs or details could be confirmed independently on Saturday. On his LinkedIn profile, Boelter claimed to work as the general manager for a 7-Eleven location in Minneapolis from April 2016 to November 2021; a general manager at Greencore in Shakopee, Minnesota from July 2011 to April 2016; a Del Monte production system manager from April 2008 to July 2011 in Minnesota; an operations leader at Johnsonville Sausage from March 2004 to April 2008; and a supervisor at Gerber from February 1999 to March 2004. Last month he posted on LinkedIn that he was looking to "get back into the U.S. food industry," and that he is "pretty open to positions." In 2019, Minnesota Democratic Governor Tim Walz named Boelter and dozens of others to his Governor's Workforce Development Board, which according to the governor's web site assists the Governor in "developing, implementing, and modifying the State plan, review of statewide policies and programs, providing recommendations on actions to align and improve the workforce development system and programs," and other state matters. The governor's web site listed Boelter as a "business and industry representative." His appointment was effective from December 2019 to January 2023, according to the site. A spokesperson for Walz said the governor's office appoints thousands of people of all parties to boards and commissions. The workforce development board has over 60 people on it. They are unpaid, external boards created by the legislature, and Walz doesn't interview applicants, the spokesperson said. They aren't appointments to a position in the governor's cabinet, the spokesperson said. The shootings come as about 2,000 "No Kings Day" demonstrations around the country are planned to protest against the Trump administration. Authorities found papers with "No Kings" written on them in the back seat of the suspect's vehicle, Col. Christina Bogojevic with the Department of Public Safety said. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety asked people in Minnesota to stay home from all planned demonstrations on Saturday, Gov. Tim Walz said. "Out of an abundance of caution my Department of Public Safety is recommending that people do not attend any political rallies today in Minnesota until the suspect is apprehended," he said. There was no evidence that there was a specific threat to the "No Kings" rallies, but Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans said authorities were sharing the information about the papers found so the public remains informed. Planned "No Kings" protests in Minnesota were canceled to adhere with guidance from state officials, according to a statement from the coalition that organized the events. Given the targeted shootings of state lawmakers overnight, we are asking the public to not attend today's planned demonstrations across Minnesota out of an abundance of caution. Elected officials have described the shootings as a 'politically motivated assassination,' though law enforcement officials were still searching for clues behind the shooter's motives. 'This individual did this to instill fear into our community,' Brooklyn Park Mayor Hollies Winston said in a briefing Saturday afternoon. 'But they also wanted to create a distinct and singular point of view.' Inside the suspect's car, police found a 'manifesto,' including a list of other lawmakers, and papers saying 'No Kings,' which officials said was an apparent reference to ongoing protests around the country. Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said it was still premature to say what the motive was behind his writings. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said additional police resources have been used to check on the safety of public officials who may be at risk. Other police are actively participating in the search, he said in a Saturday Facebook post. 'Political violence is evil,' Frey said. 'It cannot be tolerated, and neither can those who condone it or make excuses for it.' Minneapolis, the largest city in the state, is located just south of Brooklyn Park and Champlin, where the shootings occurred. St. Paul, located next to Minneapolis, is the state's capital. Hoffman and Hortman are both members of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. Hoffman, 60, and his wife Yvette have one child and live in Champlin, according to his lawmaker profile. He was first elected in 2012. Hortman and her husband Mark have two children and live in Brooklyn Park, according to her profile. She was elected in 2004. Hortman served the people of Minnesota with compassion and grace, Gov. Tim Walz said. 'Our state lost a great leader and I lost the dearest of friends, Walz said. "She woke up every day determined to make this state a better place.' U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat who represents Minnesota, said she was "heartbroken" by the Hortmans' deaths. "Melissa was a good friend and we started in politics at the same time and were always there for each other. She was a true public servant to the core, dedicating her life to serving Minnesotans with integrity and compassion," Klobuchar said in a post to X. "This is a dark day today for Minnesota and for democracy, but we will not allow fear or violence to define who we are or how we move forward. We will stand together, we will stand strong," Department of Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson said. 'I cannot emphasize enough that this is not ok. Any type of against elected officials is not ok. Any type of violence against other people is not ok,' nearby Mounds View Mayor Zach Lindstrom said in a post. Officials say the shootings unfolded in the early morning hours Saturday. At about 2 a.m., authorities were called to respond to a report of a shooting in Champlin at Hoffman's home, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans said at the news conference. The Hoffmans had been shot and wounded and were transported to a hospital, where they underwent surgery. "The Hoffmans are out of surgery at this time and receiving care, and we are cautiously optimistic they will survive this assassination attempt," Gov. Tim Walz said. While law enforcement was responding at the Hoffman home, police in neighboring Brooklyn Park, who were helping on the scene, decided to proactively check on Hortman, Bruley said. When they arrived at Hortman's home, they saw what appeared to be a police vehicle with lights on and encountered a man dressed as an officer coming out of the home. The suspect shot at the officers, who returned fire, and then the suspect went back into the home and is believed to have fled on foot out a back door, Bruley said. Bruley said the suspect impersonated a police officer, complete with an SUV that is identical to real police vehicles, a vest, outfit and equipment. The suspect knocked on the victims' doors and used the ruse to "manipulate their way into the home," Bruley said. "It was not a real police officer," he said. "No question if they were in this room, you would assume they are a police officer." Hortman and her husband were both shot to death, officials said. Thousands of people were sheltering in place in the area as a massive search for the suspect unfolds, authorities said Saturday morning. Residents should not answer their doors to anyone claiming to be a police officer without first calling 911 to confirm their identity, Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said. Officers have been instructed to only approach people in pairs, so a single police officer knocking on someone's door would be a red flag, he said. Gov. Tim Walz said earlier Saturday morning he was briefed on 'targeted shootings' and had activated the State Emergency Operations Center in response. The Brooklyn Park Police Department issued an early morning shelter-in-place alert for a 3-mile radius around the Edinburgh Golf Course, the city of Brooklyn Park said in a post to Facebook. Law enforcement agencies including SWAT teams are conducting grid searches of the area for the suspect on Saturday. "We want to reassure the public that there is increased security in place for elected officials and others who may be at risk," Jacobson said.
Axios
9 hours ago
- Axios
Minnesota State Patrol asks people to stay home from "No Kings" protest after lawmaker shootings
The Minnesota State Patrol is urging residents to refrain from attending Saturday's " No Kings" protests across the state out of"an abundance of caution" following the targeted shootings of two Democratic state legislators. The big picture: Authorities are still searching for the assailant who fatally shot House DFL Leader Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark at their Brooklyn Park home early Saturday. State Sen. John Hoffman (DFL-Champlin) and his wife remain hospitalized following a separate attack at their residence overnight. Authorities say the suspect, who remains at large, was dressed like a police officer and driving an SUV similar to a police squad vehicle. What they're saying: Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) superintendent Drew Evans said at a news conference that investigators found "No Kings" posters inside the SUV, which the suspected shooter abandoned at Hortman's home when law enforcement arrived. "We have no understanding that any of the events would be targeted, but we also find it of interest to the public that these would be in there," Evans said, noting that an "active manhunt" remains underway. Gov. Tim Walz echoed the warning in a post on X, saying "out of an abundance of caution my Department of Public Safety is recommending that people do not attend any political rallies today in Minnesota until the suspect is apprehended." Zoom out: Organizers of the Twin Cities event initially issued a statement Saturday morning saying that they were "horrified by these acts of unspeakable political violence" but planned to proceed with their event. "We think it's important to gather peacefully. In the face of this horror, we will mourn and mark our determination for a peaceful, just, democratic future," they said. Yes, but: Just before noon, they said in a post on Bluesky that they were cancelling events not yet underway for the "safety of all involved." A separate demonstration planned for Northeast Minneapolis had already been canceled amid an ongoing shelter in place. What we're hearing: Organizers and speakers at the St. Paul rally addressed the "somber" turn of events as large crowds gathered on the state Capitol mall. "You could have made the choice to stay home, but you didn't. This choice is not free of risk — as is so evident today — and there are real reasons to feel fear," Indivisible Twin Cities leader Rebecca Larson told the crowd. "But today, you showed up … We cannot be deterred. We have to keep building this non-violent, peaceful movement." What's next: Evans said the BCA is reaching out to politicians whose names were included in what authorities have described as a manifesto recovered at the scene.
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Yahoo
St. Cloud-area officials react to shootings targeting Minnesota state lawmakers, 2 killed
Minnesotans woke up to the news that two DFL state lawmakers were shot early Saturday, June 14, morning. State Rep. Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, Sen. John Hoffman, DFL-Champlin, and their spouses were shot in their respective homes. The suspect, 57-year-old Vance Boelter, a St. Cloud State University graduate, allegedly posed as a police officer before shooting his victims, according to news briefing. Hortman and her husband, Mark, died from the gunshot wounds. Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were wounded but are still alive. More: Minnesota lawmakers shot in suspected targeted attacks; Rep. Hortman and her husband killed "Our state lost a great leader, and I lost a dearest of friends," Walz said. "(Rep.) Hortman was someone who served the people of Minnesota with grace, compassion, humor and a sense of service. She was a formidable public servant, a fixture and a giant for Minnesota." St. Cloud's state Rep. Dan Wolgamott, DFL-St. Cloud, said he'll miss Hortman, who served as one of his mentors. "Melissa taught me so much about making laws, serving constituents and how to be a true public servant," Wolgamott said. "I will miss her and Mark so much." Republicans are also responding to the shooting, condemning the act of violence. "I am devastated by the loss of Speaker-Emerita Melissa Hortman," Minnesota Speaker of the House Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, wrote in a statement. "She was respected by everyone at the Capitol as a formidable advocate for her values and her caucus. She battled fiercely but never let it impact the personal bond that we developed serving as caucus leaders." More: Suspect identified in Minnesota lawmakers shooting attended SCSU, reports say Demuth also has Hoffman and his wife in her thoughts. "My prayers are also with Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette as they recover from this horrific attack," she wrote. President Donald Trump also reacted to the shooting and condemned the act of violence. He was subject to an assassination attempt himself last summer during his 2024 campaign efforts. "Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America. God Bless the great people of Minnesota, a truly great place!" Trump wrote in a statement. This breaking news story will be updated as new information becomes available. Corey Schmidt covers politics and courts for the St. Cloud Times. He can be reached at cschmidt@ This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: Officials react to deadly shootings targeting Minnesota lawmakers
