Star Tribune
Deputy injured when vehicle struck his squad while at a crash scene on a central Minnesota highway
A deputy was seriously injured Sunday night after a vehicle collided with his squad car on a central Minnesota highway while he was responding to another crash.
On Sunday just before 10 p.m., deputies from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to assist the Minnesota State Patrol on a report of a crash on westbound Interstate 94 near Evansville. The initial accident involved a vehicle that had slid off the road and struck cable barriers in the median. The Minnesota State Patrol reported snow and icy road conditions.
While deputies were on the scene, another westbound vehicle crashed into a parked sheriff’s office squad car from behind. A deputy was in the car when it was struck. The squad car had its lights activated and several flares had been placed in the roadway to warn drivers.
Both the deputy and the driver of the second vehicle were taken to Alomere Health Hospital with serious injuries. The second crash caused significant delays in westbound traffic. The incident is under investigation by the Minnesota State Patrol.
Epshteyn, who served briefly in a mid-level role in Trump’s first White House, became a central player in Trump’s life after he left office in 2021. He was one of the architects of Trump’s legal team and strategy as the former president faced an array of criminal and civil threats after the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol and his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
Epshteyn himself was indicted on state charges in Arizona related to alleged efforts by Trump allies to subvert that election and has pleaded not guilty. He holds the title of senior counsel and senior adviser to Trump, but even before the review he was not expected to take a role in the incoming administration.
”I am honored to work for President Trump and with his team,” Epshteyn said in a statement. ”These fake claims are false and defamatory and will not distract us from Making America Great Again.”
Eric Trump, the president-elect’s son who went to college with Epshteyn, told Fox News that if the reported allegations were true, his old friend might not be around the campaign much longer.
”Listen, I have known Boris for years, and I have never known him to be anything but a good human being,” Eric Trump said Monday. ”So, that said, I will tell you, my father’s been incredibly clear. You do not, you do not do that under any circumstance. And, believe me, there will be repercussions if somebody was.”
The investigation into Epshteyn was first reported by the conservative website Just the News.
The state Department of Corrections and local law enforcement are investigating the death of an inmate at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Faribault.
Around 12:30 p.m. on Nov. 21, an inmate was found unresponsive at the prison, according to department spokesman Aaron Swanum. Staff provided medical aid including CPR and the use of a defibrillator as an ambulance was called for. At about 1 p.m., medical responders pronounced the person passed away.
No further details about the inmate and how they died were available Monday.
Star Tribune
Trump threatens to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China on first day in office
NEW YORK — President-elect Donald Trump is threatening to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China as soon as he takes office as part of his efforts to crack down on illegal immigration and drugs.
The tariffs, if implemented, could dramatically raise prices on everything from gas to automobiles. The U.S. is the largest importer of goods in the world, with Mexico, China and Canada its top three suppliers, according to the most recent Census data.
Trump made the threats in a pair of posts on his Truth Social site Monday evening in which he railed against an influx of illegal migrants, even though southern border crossings have been hovering at a four-year low.
”On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders,” he wrote, complaining that “thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing Crime and Drugs at levels never seen before,” even though violent crime is down from pandemic highs.
He said the new tariffs would remain in place ”until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country! ”
Trump also turned his ire to China, saying he has ”had many talks with China about the massive amounts of drugs, in particular Fentanyl, being sent into the United States – But to no avail.”
”Until such time as they stop, we will be charging China an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs, on all of their many products coming into the United States of America,” he wrote.
It is unclear whether Trump will actually go through with the threats or if he is using them as a negotiating tactic before he takes office in the new year.
