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The Hill
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
What we know in the aftermath of the Minnesota shootings
Tremors spread though the political world on Monday after the weekend's fatal shooting of a Democratic lawmaker and her spouse in Minnesota, and another shooting, allegedly by the same perpetrator, that injured a second lawmaker and his wife. The suspect, Vance Boelter, 57, was apprehended late Sunday. He faces murder charges in state courts. On Monday, federal prosecutors also charged him with murder. Boelter is accused of killing Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman (D) and her husband, Mark, at their home in a Minneapolis suburb in the early hours of Saturday. Prosecutors allege that, shortly before, he had shot state Sen. John Hoffman (D) and his wife, Yvette, at their home. The Hoffmans have undergone surgery and are expected to survive. Here's what we know so far. A major development Monday came with the unveiling of the federal charges against Boelter — and the details from prosecutors that accompanied those charges. Boelter has been charged with murder and with stalking. Federal prosecutors allege that the suspect had visited a total of four lawmakers' homes. In addition to the two where shootings took place, he is said to have visited an address where his target was not home, and to have left another address without opening fire, perhaps because of a police presence there. Prosecutors did not identify the lawmaker, but state Sen. Ann Rest (D) identified herself, saying that she had been told that Boelter had been close to her home during the hours in question. She thanked local police officers for having 'saved my life.' Authorities said other documentation appeared to show that Boelter had been planning the attacks for months. Boelter apparently had a list of targets, as well as copious other plans. Both of Minnesota's senators, Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D) and Tina Smith (D), have confirmed that they were on the list. An unnamed law enforcement officer told the New York Times that Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Kelly Morrison (D-Minn.) and Angie Craig (D-Minn.) were also among the targets. Boelter's lists also extended beyond Minnesota. Abigail Leavins, a reporter for a website that covers politics in Wisconsin, said that Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) were also confirmed to be among the potential targets. Lawrence Andrea of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.) was on the list, too. Multiple media outlets have reported that all the politicians allegedly targeted are Democrats. The list also appears to have included some addresses associated with reproductive rights, including abortion providers and Planned Parenthood clinics. Federal authorities have declined to identify a clear and specific political motive so far. But media interviews of Boelter's friends and acquaintances have formed a picture of a socially conservative, vigorously anti-abortion figure who, at least one friend said, supported President Trump in last year's election. In one clip available online, he delivers a sermon to an audience in Africa complaining that many American churches 'are so messed up they don't know abortion is wrong.' His roommate told reporters that Boelter was 'a Trump supporter' who 'would be offended if people called him a Democrat.' The tragedy of the killings was soon followed by a political firestorm. The instigator was Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), who on Sunday tweeted a photo of the suspect with the caption, 'This is what happens when Marxists don't get their way.' A short time after, Lee sent another post with two photos of the suspect, including one in which he was wearing a mask, with the caption 'Nightmare on Waltz Street.' This was widely interpreted as a reference to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), Vice President Harris's running mate in the 2024 election. Influencers within the online right have been floating a conspiracy theory about Walz and the shooter, based on the fact that Walz had reappointed Boelter to a state economic panel in 2019. Democrats and liberals reacted furiously. Klobuchar told MSNBC on Monday that she 'condemned' what Lee had done, and said she would 'speak to him about this' when they next met. 'What I'm going to tell him is: This isn't funny,' Klobuchar added. Smith, at the Capitol, told reporters she was also seeking out Lee for a conversation. The Hill's Al Weaver posted a photo of the two in conversation soon afterward. Weaver also reported that Smith told reporters she wanted Lee to hear from her directly 'about how painful that was and how brutal that was to see that on what was just a horrible, brutal weekend.' Caroline Gleich, who was the Democratic nominee in last year's Senate race in Utah — ultimately losing to Lee's colleague Sen. John Curtis (R) — told The Hill in a video interview that Lee's tweets were 'absolutely despicable.' Lee has not deleted the tweets. His office did not respond to an invitation to comment. The hours since the shooting have seen significant misinformation. The Minnesota Star Tribune was among the news outlets trying to push the tide of confusion back. It noted that many members on the state board on which Boelter once served 'were not politically connected [nor] would have meaningful access to the governor.' Board members are purportedly appointed because of their insights into particular industries or areas of knowledge, not because they reflect a governor's ideology. A source in Walz's office also told the Star Tribune the governor did not know Boelter. The news organization also noted that, contrary to online speculation, Boelter's wife had never served as an intern for Walz. There appears to have been some confusion over another person with the same name, married to someone else. But at times, careful reporting seems little match for the tsunami of often-erroneous social media speculation. Reams have been written about the growing polarization of American politics over the past couple of decades. But there is a lot of evidence that the nation's political gulf just keeps getting wider and more bitter. The shootings in Minnesota are sure to produce more questions about where this will all lead. Trump himself was almost killed last July during a rally in Pennsylvania. A California man in April pleaded guilty to trying to kill conservative Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Several men were convicted in a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) in 2020. With no end in sight to the enmity in the political system, attention is turning to increasing security for lawmakers and others in public life. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) — along with the top Democrat on the House Administration Committee, Rep. Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) — wrote to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Monday asking to increase the amount of money available to lawmakers to bolster security.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Veterans who served our country also deserve a monthlong celebration
While I have no issue recognizing and celebrating the LGBTQ+ community, I am wondering why an entire month is set aside each year? After all, we have Veteran's Day, Memorial Day, Father's Day, Mother's Day, and even one day is set aside to celebrate the birth of our country. Why is this particular community worthy of a month long celebration? Surely, veterans who have served or lost their life in service to this country deserve as much as this group. Pam Schuldt, Milwaukee Opinion: We asked readers about wake boats on Wisconsin lakes. Here's what you said. Opinion: Not flying pride flag an act of acquiescence by Wisconsin Historical Society Here are some tips to get your views shared with your friends, family, neighbors and across our state: Please include your name, street address and daytime phone. Generally, we limit letters to 200 words. Cite sources of where you found information or the article that prompted your letter. Be civil and constructive, especially when criticizing. Avoid ad hominem attacks, take issue with a position, not a person. We cannot acknowledge receipt of submissions. We don't publish poetry, anonymous or open letters. Each writer is limited to one published letter every two months. All letters are subject to editing. Write: Letters to the editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 330 E. Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 500, Milwaukee, WI, 53202. Fax: (414)-223-5444. E-mail: jsedit@ or submit using the form that can be found on the on the bottom of this page. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Why is the LGBTQ+ community worthy of a monthlong celebration?
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Sections of I-894 will be closed this weekend near Milwaukee. Here's what to know
Sections of Interstate 894 will be closed June 13-16 as the Wisconsin Department of Transportation continues its roadwork on the highway. This comes after parts of I-894 were closed June 6-8 to accommodate paving on the westbound section of the interstate. Here's a look at the I-894 road closures, according to WisDOT: Eastbound I-894 is scheduled to close from the Hale Interchange to the Mitchell Interchange for paving from 11 p.m. June 13 to 5:30 a.m. June 16. Westbound lanes will remain open. The I-894 eastbound exit ramp to Loomis Road will close at 9 p.m. June 12. If there's poor weather, the closure of I-894 eastbound will be rescheduled to July 18 to 21. WisDOT is urging drivers to use I-41, I-43 and I-94 to bypass the closures. For the most up-to-date road conditions, visit This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: I-894 section will be closed this weekend. Here's what to know
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
In separate shootings, a Milwaukee child was shot and killed, two teens injured
A Milwaukee 12-year-old was shot and killed on the city's northwest side. The shooting happened on the 5000 block of North 73rd Street at about 1:19 a.m. on June 13, the Milwaukee Police Department said in a news release. Authorities have yet to arrest anyone and continue to investigate the fatal shooting. The shooting of the child was at least the eighth so far this year, according to data from the Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission updated through May 25. Twenty-three other children or teenagers have been the victims of non-fatal shooting, the data shows. In all, there have been 58 reported homicides this year in Milwaukee, according to police data. That's an uptick from the same time period last year, when there were 51. The 12-year-old's death happened after other notable shootings took place in the city, including of other youth. Two 17-year-olds were shot on the 3000 block of North 14th Street on June 12. One of injured took themselves to the hospital, while the other was transported by authorities, police said. That shooting is being investigated, but police said it appeared it was related to a dispute between two groups. Police continue to seek unknown and known suspects. A 30-year-old Milwaukee police officer was also injured in a shooting that took place on the 4600 block of West Hampton Avenue at about 6:46 p.m. That officer shot and injured a 39-year-old man during the incident. Police arrested a 19-year-old man following as well. It followed the officers chasing the two men, after receiving a report of two people "flashing guns," Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman said. The police are asking anyone with information on the shooting of the 12-year-old and the teenagers to contact the department at 414-935-7360 or, to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at (414) 224-Tips or P3 Tips. David Clarey is a public safety reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at dclarey@ This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: In separate shootings, a Milwaukee child was killed, two teens hurt
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
Milwaukee police seeking critically missing 48-year-old man
The Milwaukee Police Department is seeking the public's assistance in locating a critical missing person, Jesus Figueroa-Torres. Figueroa-Torres, 48, was last in contact with an acquaintance the afternoon of June 12 near South 23rd and West Lapham streets in Milwaukee. He may be driving a red 2012 Toyota 4Runner SUV with Wisconsin license plate number: ASD-4967. There is a possibility he is traveling to Illinois. Figueroa-Torres is described as a Hispanic male, 5 feet, 8 inches tall, weighing around 200 pounds, with a light complexion and a bald head. He was last seen wearing black jogger-style sweatpants, a navy blue t-shirt, and a gray baseball cap. Anyone with any information is asked to call the Milwaukee Police Department District 2 at 414-935-7222. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee police seeking critically missing 48-year-old man
