Latest news with #Hortmans
CBS News
19 hours ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Brooklyn Park hosts healing event in wake of deadly lawmaker shooting, break-in
Neighbors of slain lawmaker looking to regain sense of safety Neighbors of slain lawmaker looking to regain sense of safety Neighbors of slain lawmaker looking to regain sense of safety Healing is the next focus for Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, residents. After Saturday's assassination and attacks, the city held an event to help residents do just that. "We just still can't believe that it happened. We just want to get some peace back," resident Tammy Poquet said. Poquet and her daughter were two of many Brooklyn Park residents who attended the city's healing event on Thursday, hearing from the police department first-hand. "If somebody's pounding at your door, ask to see their badge," said Inspector Elliot Faust of the Brooklyn Park Police Department. "You can call 911 and ask the dispatcher, 'I've got somebody knocking on my door and I want to verify that.'" City leaders also spoke at the event. "Whatever you say sets the tone for what those families, the Hortmans and Hoffmans, and their friends may hear," Brooklyn Park Mayor Hollies Winston said. Fencing now surrounds the Hortmans' Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, home after a break-in overnight Wednesday. WCCO People who attended the event also had questions answered, like whether Vance Boelter was "working alone" or not. "There is no evidence to show there is a larger scheme at play here," Faust said. The meeting comes after the Hortmans' home was burglarized overnight on Wednesday. Neighbors now walk past a new fence surrounding their home that has been installed since the break-in. "We're working hard to get to the bottom of that," Faust said. But for people like Chris H., who says the Hortmans were his neighborhood friends, the citizens know they'll persevere. Attendees praised law enforcement for their swift actions during the attack.
Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Hundreds gather to remember prominent Minnesota lawmaker and husband slain in their home
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Hundreds of people, some clutching candles or carrying flowers to lay in front of a memorial, gathered outside Minnesota's Capitol on Wednesday evening for a vigil to remember a prominent state lawmaker and her husband who were gunned down at their home. As a brass quintet from the Minnesota Orchestra played, Gov. Tim Walz wiped away tears and comforted attendees at the gathering for former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, who were killed early Saturday in the northern Minneapolis suburbs. Colin Hortman, the Hortmans' son, embraced Walz and lay a photo of his parents on the memorial. The memorial, which sprang up outside the Capitol after the killings, features flowers, American flags, photos and sticky notes with such messages as, 'Thank you for always believing in me and in Minnesota' and 'We got this from here. Thank you for everything.' Wednesday's vigil also included a Native American drum circle, a string quartet and the crowd singing 'Amazing Grace.' Around the gathering, there was a heavy police presence, with law enforcement blocking off streets leading up to the Capitol and state troopers standing guard. The event didn't include a speaking program and attendees were instructed not to bring signs of any kind. The man charged in federal and state court with killing the Hortmans, Vance Boelter, is also accused of shooting another Democratic lawmaker, Sen. John Hoffman, and his wife, Yvette, at their home a few miles away in Champlin. They survived and are recovering. Federal prosecutors have declined to speculate about a motive. Boelter's attorneys have declined to comment on the charges. Hortman had served as the top House Democratic leader since 2017, and six years as speaker, starting in 2019. Under a power-sharing deal after the 2024 election left the House tied, her title became speaker emerita and Republican Rep. Lisa Demuth became speaker. Walz has described Hortman as his closest political ally and 'the most consequential Speaker in state history.' The Hortmans were alumni of the University of Minnesota, which held a midday memorial gathering on the Minneapolis campus. Rebecca Cunningham, the university's president, spoke during the event about the grief and outrage people are grappling with along with questions about how things got to this point. 'I don't have the answers to these questions but I know that finding answers starts with the coming together in community as we are today,' she said. Funeral information for the Hortmans has not been announced. Vancleave and Golden write for the Associated Press. Golden reported from Seattle. AP writer Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis contributed to this report.
The Hill
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Hundreds mourn slain Minnesota lawmaker, husband at vigil
Hundreds of people gathered outside the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul at dusk Wednesday for a candlelight vigil held in remembrance of slain state Rep. Melissa Hortman (D) and her husband, Mark. The Hortmans were gunned down at their home over the weekend by a shooter impersonating a law enforcement officer, surveillance video showed. Suspect Vance Boelter, 57, was arrested late Sunday and faces multiple state and federal murder charges. Authorities have not disclosed a motive in the attack, but Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), who attended Wednesday's vigil, has described it as 'politically motivated.' Boelter is also accused of shooting and seriously wounding state Sen. John Hoffman (D) and his wife, Yvette, shortly before the Hortmans were killed. Authorities said Boelter had notebooks that named dozens of lawmakers in what's thought to be a 'hit list.' The Associated Press reported there was no speaking program at the tearful remembrance ceremony Wednesday. Videos of the gathering showed throngs of people on the Capitol's steps and lawn, quietly holding candles as a string quartet played somber music. Hortman, 55, was a prominent lawmaker, serving as state House speaker for six years of her more than two decades in office. The AP reported that an impromptu memorial sprang up outside the Capitol after the killings with flowers, American flags, photos and personal notes with thankful messages.
CBS News
a day ago
- Business
- CBS News
Minnesota's first cannabis business license issued to company in Pine County
Minnesotans come together at State Capitol to honor the Hortmans, and more headlines Minnesotans come together at State Capitol to honor the Hortmans, and more headlines Minnesotans come together at State Capitol to honor the Hortmans, and more headlines Minnesota's Office of Cannabis Management issued the state's first cannabis business license on Wednesday to a company based out of Pine County. The office granted the license to Herb Quest, LLC, a microbusiness in Brook Park, which will primarily work to cultivate cannabis plants. "With our first licensed cultivator now able to begin growing plants, and more than 600 businesses within the final steps of completing their applications and securing approvals from local governments, we are now seeing the first pieces of Minnesota's adult-use market fall into place," said OCM Interim Director Eric Taubel. According to state data, more than 1,854 microbusinesses had applied for a license as of June 18. Of those, 667 had been "preliminarily approved." The office also announced several opportunities for prospective business owners to enter the market: a new application window for cannabis testing facilities and applications for cannabis event organizer licenses will open on Aug. 1. It's been legal to smoke cannabis and grow plants at home since 2023 in Minnesota.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hundreds gather to remember prominent Minnesota lawmaker and husband slain in their home
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Hundreds of people, some clutching candles or carrying flowers to lay in front of a memorial, gathered outside Minnesota's Capitol on Wednesday evening for a vigil to remember a prominent state lawmaker and her husband who were gunned down at their home. As a brass quintet from the Minnesota Orchestra played, Gov. Tim Walz wiped away tears and comforted attendees at the gathering for former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, who were killed early Saturday in the northern Minneapolis suburbs. Colin Hortman, the Hortmans' son, embraced Walz and lay a photo of his parents on the memorial. The memorial, which sprang up outside the Capitol after the killings, features flowers, American flags, photos and sticky notes with such messages as, 'Thank you for always believing in me and in Minnesota' and 'We got this from here. Thank you for everything.' Wednesday's vigil also included a Native American drum circle, a string quartet and the crowd singing 'Amazing Grace.' Around the gathering, there was a heavy police presence, with law enforcement blocking off streets leading up to the Capitol and state troopers standing guard. The event didn't include a speaking program and attendees were instructed not to bring signs of any kind. The man charged in federal and state court with killing the Hortmans, Vance Boelter, is also accused of shooting another Democratic lawmaker, Sen. John Hoffman, and his wife, Yvette, at their home a few miles away in Champlin. They survived and are recovering. Federal prosecutors have declined to speculate about a motive. Boelter's attorneys have declined to comment on the charges. Hortman had served as the top House Democratic leader since 2017, and six years as speaker, starting in 2019. Under a power-sharing deal after the 2024 election left the House tied, her title became speaker emerita and Republican Rep. Lisa Demuth became speaker. Walz has described Hortman as his closest political ally and 'the most consequential Speaker in state history.' The Hortmans were alumni of the University of Minnesota, which held a midday memorial gathering on the Minneapolis campus. Rebecca Cunningham, the university's president, spoke during the event about the grief and outrage people are grappling with along with questions about how things got to this point. 'I don't have the answers to these questions but I know that finding answers starts with the coming together in community as we are today,' she said. Funeral information for the Hortmans has not been announced. ___ Golden reported from Seattle. Associated Press writer Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis contributed to this report.
