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Wolgamott just the latest Minn. lawmaker with DWI charge
St. Cloud Democrat Dan Wolgamott is the latest of many Minnesota lawmakers cited for impaired driving in recent history.
MINNEAPOLIS — When Rep. Dan Wolgamott was booked into jail on suspicion of DWI last Friday in Kanabec County, he joined a long list of lawmakers from both sides of the aisle who’ve been cited for impaired driving.
At least four current Minnesota state legislators have been cited for DWI offenses in just the past three years. Republican Rep. Matt Grossell of Clearwater, Democrat Tou Xiong of Maplewood, and GOP Sen. John Jasinski of Faribault round out that roster.
Those who work to prevent drunk driving assert that public officials, especially those who write the laws, should be held to a higher standard in the court of public opinion.
“How can they continue to make these stupid choices? Because these are choices! They’re the ones making the rules! They know! They’re writing the book!” Jon Cummings, who heads Minnesotans for Safe Driving, told KARE Tuesday.
Cummings, who lost his son to a drunk driver, has been working for the past 20 years to create tougher laws and more prevention of driving while intoxicated.
“These lawmakers get some bad publicity, but nothing really happens to them. They don’t lose their jobs. They don’t do time. Maybe they pay a fine.”
Rep. Wolgamott, a third-term Democrat from St. Cloud, was pulled over by a Minnesota Highway State Patrol Trooper on July 7. The trooper said he’d gone out looking for Wolgamott’s vehicle after someone called police, saying they saw a man drinking in the parking lot of a liquor store.
As of Tuesday night, there were no formal charges yet, but the case drew widespread attention. That’s due in part to Wolgamott taking on a higher profile role in the House this year, acting as the speaker pro tempore subbing for House Speaker Melissa Hortman during House proceedings.
“The demographics of the impaired driver match exactly the demographics of our society, and anybody who uses alcohol or uses any other substance,” Paul Aasen of the Minnesota Safety Council, told KARE.
“Every single restaurant you go into these days has got alcohol available, and it doesn’t matter if it’s in the middle of Crookston or in downtown Minneapolis. And it cuts across all age groups.”
He said it’s important for persons in the public eye to apologize for impaired driving and share their stories.
“If you’re a law enforcement official you’ve got an extraordinary level of responsibility and talking about your experience, if you happen to be somebody who was driving impaired, would be very impactful. Same goes for lawmakers; same goes for corporate leaders, social leaders.”
Rep. Grossell, a former sheriff’s deputy, recently pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor DWI, which was connected to a February 11 traffic stop. It came four years after Grossell was arrested by Saint Paul police for disorderly conduct and trespassing after an episode when police were called to a hotel near the Capitol on the report of an intoxicated individual.
Sen. Xiong was still a member of the House when he was cited for a DWI in January of 2022. He was elected to the Senate the next year.
Sen. Jasinski was cited in Faribault in October of 2020, and later talked about it while arguing against the bill that legalized recreational marijuana in the state.
“I got pulled over a couple years back for an alcohol-related offense. I tested .09, so folks, I was one beer over, one beer too many. And folks I’ve always been very careful about it.”
One of the most widely reported legislative DWI’s involved the late Sen. Jim Metzen, who was pulled over on his way home to South St. Paul on the final night of the 2007 session.
He admitted he’d had something to drink at a post-session party at the Kelly Inn near the Capitol. He apologized on camera after he entered a guilty plea in Dakota County District Court.
“I’m very sorry for what happened, not so much for myself, but for my friends and family,” Metzen told KARE at the time.
“And we probably learned a lot from this experience. I think it will probably make me a better person.”
Metzen died in 2016 after a long battle with lung cancer.
The “Westopolis” name is meant to highlight the cities’ vibrancy and proximity to Minneapolis.
The marketing and tourism organization formerly known as Discover St. Louis Park has rebranded this fall with a bold, new name:
The organization, which launched in 2011 and grew to also incorporate Golden Valley in 2017, began using the “Westopolis” name this month. According to Westopolis President and CEO Becky Bakken, the name is designed to highlight the vibrancy and urban character of St. Louis Park and Golden Valley, which both border Minneapolis and have a combined population of nearly 75,000.
“A lot is behind the name,” Bakken said. “Westopolis just kept speaking to us. In this process, we really leaned into the fact that we are the closest neighbor to downtown Minneapolis. To be honest, we are closer to downtown than parts of Minneapolis are. And it really felt like our primary differentiator.”
Bakken said the change to “Westopolis” is also meant to help the organization communicate better with event planners and out-of-town vendors, who sometimes confuse “St. Louis Park” with St. Louis, MO. Between St. Louis Park and Golden Valley, the cities boast nine hotels with nearly 1,500 combined rooms, and the tourism organization now known as Westopolis plays a key role in drawing visitors and filling those rooms.
“When people are looking for a place to go, that aren’t from this area, they know the big city. They know Minneapolis. We wanted to make sure they knew how close we were to that, and once they’re here they discover all the other things,” Bakken said. “The name is unique, it’s different. It’s not on a map, we understand that. We think the name is edgy, and when we’re working with planners, they’re gonna lean in and say, ‘tell me more about this place.'”
This week, Westopolis is enjoying a nice boost from the Twin Cities Film Fest, a staple of St. Louis Park that draws talent and crew members to the city’s West End from across the country. It’s the kind of annual event that Westopolis would love to see more of in the coming years.
“The West End was sort of the rationale for why Discover St. Louis Park — and now Westopolis — exists. It’s this great area that is a real driver for visitors,” Bakken said. “But both communities have their thing. Golden Valley has a big chunk of Theodore Wirth that we love to claim, and Brookview that has a lot of outdoor activities, so we really like to lean into this urban oasis.”
To unveil the new brand, Westopolis rolled out a website and held a launch party this fall.
“Change is change, and that’s always interesting,” Bakken said, “but mostly people are really excited about the new name and we’re ready to market the new name.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey questioned the legality of the new measure while issuing his veto on Wednesday.
MINNEAPOLIS — The City of Minneapolis will move ahead with new carbon fees after a contentious back and forth at City Hall concluded with the council overriding the mayor’s veto.
The new fees, which target carbon emissions from city businesses, will be implemented on July 1, 2025, according to the council.
Minneapolis already has a pollution fee system, known as the Pollution Control Annual Registration or PCAR. The fees go into the city’s Green Cost Share program, helping pay the costs companies incur bringing down their emissions.
The current PCAR system covers emissions of other air pollutants, including volatile organic compounds, heavy particulates, and sulfur oxides, nitrous oxides, lead, and carbon monoxide. Companies are required to report their emissions levels to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, which, in turn, charges fees of $100 per ton.
The City Council voted Oct. 2 to add carbon dioxide to the list. The resolution seeks to impose a $452 per ton fee for carbon dioxide.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey questioned the legality of the new measure while issuing his veto on Wednesday.
“I am all on board for PCAR fees—but it’s time the Council stops playing games and follows the processes in place to enact lasting change,” said Mayor Jacob Frey, in a statement to KARE.
Before his veto was overridden, Frey had told KARE that if the measure were to move forward, companies hit with the fees would likely sue the city and win.
Council Member Robin Wonsley, who co-authored the measure, took to X (formerly Twitter) to respond to Frey’s veto on Wednesday night.
Wisconsin law enforcement said Katrina Baur, and her partner, Jesse Vang, are facing charges in connection with 3-year-old Elijah Vue’s death, including obstruction.
TWO RIVERS, Wis. — About a month after 3-year-old Elijah Vue’s remains were recovered from a private property in Wisconsin, state authorities announced Thursday that charges have been filed against the boy’s mother and her partner.
Wisconsin law enforcement said Katrina Baur, and her partner, Jesse Vang, are facing charges in connection with 3-year-old Elijah Vue’s death, including obstruction.
Vue went missing in February and it wasn’t until September that his body was recovered and identified.
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