MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE

Child influencer protections, motorcycle lane splits and more: New laws taking effect July 1 in Minnesota

Mary Murphy — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 15:35:07 GMT

ST. PAUL — Tuesday marks a wide range of new laws going into effect in Minnesota, from allowing motorcycles to filter and lane split in traffic to ensuring minors are compensated for online content involving them.

Lane splitting and filtering

Motorcyclists will now be able to move between vehicles in traffic jams or slow-moving traffic under new lane filtering and splitting laws.

Lane splitting — maneuvering between lanes of moving traffic — and lane filtering — maneuvering between lanes of unmoving traffic — are now allowed when two or more lanes of traffic are traveling in the same direction.

A motorcycle can now legally lane split by passing another moving vehicle at no more than 25 miles per hour and no more than 15 miles per hour over the speed of traffic. Motorcyclists can legally lane filter by moving through stopped traffic at no more than 15 miles per hour over the speed of traffic in the relevant traffic lanes.

Lane splitting and lane filtering will not be permitted in drive-throughs, roundabout exits, school zones, work zones with single-lane travel and on-ramps to a freeway or expressway, as those areas are exempt under the new law.

Minors and content creation

New laws aimed at protecting child influencers will take effect Tuesday. The changes include requiring content creators who earn money from videos involving minors to set aside earnings for the minors in trust accounts.

The law applies to creators who feature minors in at least 30% of the content from the creator. Minors can also request that content about themselves be deleted after the age of 13.

Free water at large venues

Entertainment venues hosting 100 or more ticketed attendees must provide free water and allow sealed or empty bottles inside the venue. Venues will not be required to allow water in an exhibit, gallery or presentation space where beverages are prohibited as long as water is available outside the space.

Anti-Fraud measures

Though several anti-fraud measures failed to pass in the 2025 session, including establishing a state-wide Office of Inspector General, a few passed, including: allowing state agencies to withhold funds for up to 60 days from suspected fraudulent claimants, enhanced whistleblower protections and allowing government entities to disclose data relating to suspected or confirmed fraud, except where a provision of law specifically prohibits it.

Boating permits

Permits will now be required for people under 21 operating a boat, with the mandate expanding by age over time. By July 1, 2026, the permit requirement will expand to residents 26 and younger. In 2027, it will include anyone 31 or younger, and by 2028, all boaters 41 and younger will need a permit.

State symbols

Minnesota will adopt two new state symbols: the giant beaver as its state fossil and Ursa Minor as its state constellation.

Education

�� districts can now begin the school year on or after Labor Day for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years. Previously, schools were only allowed to start after Labor Day. The bill this session faced some pushback from the hospitality industry, which said the change could affect resort owners in the state who profit from the holiday weekend.

In an effort to address teacher shortages, the short-call emergency substitute teacher pilot program is now permanent. An emergency short-call substitute license can replace the same teacher or vacancy for up to 10 consecutive days.

Homeowners association mediator

A new common interest community ombudsperson position will be created within the Department of Commerce to assist unit owners, tenants and associations in understanding their rights and assisting in disputes between unit owners and homeowners associations. The Commerce budget set aside $350,000 a year for the new role.

The position comes after a bill to rein in HOAs across the state passed the Senate but stalled in the House. Original pitches from lawmakers included limiting fees imposed by HOAs and new foreclosure guardrails.

State budget

The full state budget for fiscal years 2026-27, coming in at $67 billion, takes effect this month. With an impending $6 billion budget deficit, lawmakers made steep cuts from the previous $72 billion state budget: $5 billion from the last biennium and $2 billion in net cuts. The highest cuts came in for human services, at $300 million.

]]>

Judge postpones hearing for Vance Boelter over living condition concerns

Mary Murphy — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 21:36:43 GMT

ST. PAUL — U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas Micko granted a request from Vance Boelter’s defense for his preliminary and detention hearing on Friday, June 27, to be moved to July 3, over concerns for his living conditions.

Boelter, suspect in the shootings of two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses, is currently being held in Sherburne County Jail. He made his second court appearance on Friday, in a green anti-suicide smock, during which he told the judge he hadn’t slept in “12 to 14 days.”

Boelter’s lawyer, federal defender Manny Atwal, said Friday it’s “difficult to communicate with him in person because he is sleep deprived,” and that Boelter has been in “that contraption,” referring to his suicide smock, since his arrest on June 15.

Atwal said that at the Sherburne County jail, he’s being held in a cell with his lights on 24/7, a mat with no pillow for sleeping, and an inmate next to him who has smeared feces on the cell.

Boelter briefly took the microphone in court and said he appreciates the request since he hasn’t slept, and said, “I've never been suicidal and I'm not suicidal now.”

Assistant U.S. attorney Harry Jacobs did not object to the request from Boelter’s defense and said that “the government has serious concerns about Mr. Boelter and a potential suicide.”

Sherburne County Sheriff Joel Brott on Friday afternoon rebuked Boelter’s description of the jail conditions. He called the complaints “offensive and disgusting” on the day that hundreds gathered at the Minnesota Capitol to pay their respects to Rep. Melissa Hortman, her husband Mark and their dog Gilbert.

“Claims made in court that deplorable jail conditions have prevented the alleged assassin from getting any sleep, and therefore require a continuance in the criminal case against him, are absurd,” Brott said in a news release. “Security cameras capturing the activity of the alleged assassin in his cell on ‘suicide precaution’ show he was resting peacefully with his eyes closed for seven straight hours, appearing to be asleep, from approximately 10:40 p.m. Thursday until 5:45 a.m. Friday.”

Brott described Boelter’s cell as “spotless clean,” and said that Boelter has a mattress with a pillow, and is offered a phone and shower daily. The sheriff said Boelter has not missed any meals at the jail.

“He is not in a hotel. He’s in jail, where a person belongs when they commit the heinous crimes he is accused of committing,” Brott said. “... He’s being treated like every other inmate in the same circumstance. It’s too late now to complain about the conditions in which he has put himself.”

Boelter faces both state and federal charges for the murder of Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, as well as the shootings of Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, who are in recovery. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thomson said on June 16 that the federal charges will be prosecuted first. If convicted, the federal charges carry a maximum punishment of life in prison or the death penalty.

The FBI special agent on Boelter's case, Terry Getsch, has already released his affidavit in support of the federal charges, which detail evidence against Boelter, such as recovered lists of other Minnesota politicians, weapons and an alleged confession letter.

Boelter’s preliminary and detention hearing will now be on Thursday, July 3, at 2:30 p.m. at the U.S. Courthouse in St. Paul.

]]>

Melissa and Mark Hortman lie in state at the Minnesota Capitol; Joe Biden visits

Mary Murphy — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 19:07:49 GMT

ST. PAUL — Hundreds of Minnesotans waited in line outside the Minnesota Capitol on Friday, June 27, to pay their respects to former Rep. Melissa Hortman, her husband Mark and their dog Gilbert.

Melissa Hortman, who was murdered on June 14 in what officials have called a political assassination, was the first woman, and one of fewer than 20 Minnesotans, to receive the honor of lying in state at the Capitol. The memorial ended just after 5 p.m., when the line for new visitors — which had wrapped around the Capitol at several points throughout the day — was cut off.

Among those who came to pay their respects in the Rotunda was former President Joe Biden, who prayed and kneeled before the Hortmans on Friday afternoon before leaving the Capitol.

Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-St.Paul, told Forum News Service before visiting the Capitol that she woke up Friday with a "soul-crushing sadness."

"I'm gonna join with Minnesotans to properly mourn what is a profound loss that we share," Murphy said. "It is right that they lie in state. A recognition not only of the profound contributions of Melissa Hortman and her family, but also recognition of the loss of her talent, of our innocence and this moment of political violence."

One of the Minnesotans whom Murphy joined Friday was Tom Keljik of St. Paul.

“This is exemplary of, really, the feeling from Minnesota that we don't want these kinds of things happening to our elected officials,” Keljik said. “We want to be able to honor each other's perspectives and figure things out for the citizenry, and so sad that she had to pay the price.”

Another who waited in line on Friday was Kim Bera, of Champlin, who said she was shocked this happened in Minnesota and that this "tragedy" will "mark a stain on our state."

“This goes well beyond politics … there is the … disagreement over policies … but this, it seems, is taking a step further in that … there is a personal vendetta or hatred for the actual people that are doing the legislating, not just the bills they're passing,” Bera said. “And that is a very dangerous step ... in the wrong direction."

Bera said for everyone’s safety, she wants people to remember that lawmakers are human.

“I think for everybody's safety, we have to remember everybody here is a human being and regardless of how they lead politically, they have families, they have friends, they … are pillars in the community and the amount of hatred that is being spewed against them personally is … that line that has been crossed here," Bera said.

The Hortmans were shot in their home in Brooklyn Park on June 14 in what officials have called a politically targeted attack. Also shot on June 14 were Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette, who are recovering.

Friday’s public service was followed by a private funeral service at 10:30 Saturday morning.

]]>

U.S. House passes resolution condemning Minnesota lawmaker shootings

Mary Murphy — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 20:02:35 GMT

ST. PAUL — The U.S. House unanimously passed a resolution Wednesday afternoon honoring the lives of House DFL Leader Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and condemning political violence.

The resolution, as introduced by Minnesota's Congressional delegation, honors Rep. Hortman for her “devotion to public service” and Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, with wishes for their full recovery. Rep. Hortman and her husband, Mark, were assassinated in a pair of politically motivated shootings in Minnesota on June 14. Sen. Hoffman and his wife were shot in a related attack and continue to recover.

The resolution calls on community leaders and elected officials to publicly and “unequivocally denounce acts of political violence and for citizens to "reaffirm the commitment … to a safe, civil and peaceful democracy in which violent rhetoric and acts are not tolerated.”

The resolution was introduced by U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith; Reps. Kelly Morrison (D-MN), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Tom Emmer (R-MN), Pete Stauber (R-MN), Angie Craig (D-MN), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Michelle Fischbach (R-MN) and Brad Finstad (R-MN); Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD); Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY); Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI).

Rep. Morrison spoke on the House floor Wednesday morning ahead of the vote, saying the shootings should become a “watershed moment” for the country.

“As elected representatives for the people of the United States of America, we have to take responsibility for our roles in this moment,” Morrison said. “As elected leaders, we play a prominent role in setting the tone ... In creating the atmosphere ... In shaping the narrative … In determining what becomes normalized. And this cannot be normalized.”

The resolution passed the U.S. House in a unanimous vote Wednesday afternoon. It was not clear when the Senate would take up the resolution for consideration.

The Hortmans and their dog Gilbert, who died as a result of the June 14 shootings, will lie in state on Friday, June 27 from 12-5 p.m. before a private funeral on Saturday.

]]>

How public should public officials be? Minnesota lawmaker shootings spark security, privacy debate

Mary Murphy — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 18:49:54 GMT

ST. PAUL — Conversations on the safety of public officials have surged following the shootings of two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses on June 14.

Secretary of State Steve Simon said Monday, June 23, that, “within hours” of the shootings, legislators reached out to his office and asked that their candidate filing information — including home addresses — be taken off of the secretary of state website. The same day, hours after the shootings, the Minnesota Legislature also scrubbed personal information from online lawmaker profiles.

Simon said the events of June 14 could renew discussions about additional security measures at the Capitol, such as metal detectors — but that the focus has now shifted beyond the grounds.

“So much of the debate about the security of public officials in Minnesota over the last couple of decades or so has understandably focused on security measures at the workplace,” Simon said. “But it's not lost on me that now the focus, sadly, has to be brought not only to security in the workplace, but security at all … There's no question that there will be a renewed emphasis or more attention paid to security outside of the workplace.”

Don Gemberling, Vice Chair of Minnesotans for Open Government, said Monday that the practice of publicly sharing lawmakers' personal information like home addresses has been around since as early as the 1920s, to ensure lawmakers are available to their constituents.

“I think, particularly before we had the kind of communication ability we have now, that being able to know where your legislator lived, what they did for a living, that kind of thing would really … help people to understand how to deal with them,” Gemberling said.

Minnesota law classifies information like addresses of public officials as public information, but does not require that information to be displayed in any way, Simon said Monday.

He said that if a member of the public asks for that information, his office would have to provide it, but that displaying that information on a website, for example, is not required.

As far as the addresses and personal info of public officials, Simon said he can “safely say we are taking it down indefinitely.”

Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, victims of the shootings on June 14, said in a June 19 statement that their family is “grappling” with a new reality.

“Choosing to work in the public sector, even in as limited a way as John’s career as a senator, has always meant sacrificing a level of privacy,” The Hoffmans said. “But now we are grappling with the reality that we live in a world where public service carries such risks as being targeted because someone disagrees with you or doesn’t like what you stand for.”

Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were fatally shot the same night as the attack on the Hoffmans.

Gemberling said he’s seen several pushes over the years for enhanced data privacy — none of which have been successful — and regardless of how the government decides to regulate personal information, it is out there anyway in the private sector, “for free or for hardly anything at all.”

A federal complaint filed against Vance Boelter, a suspect in the shootings of the Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses, said officers recovered a notebook in Boelter's SUV that contained lists of search engines and government websites that provided lawmakers’ personal information.

“Every bit of information that you could find on state websites, for example, that information, and far more information is available out in the private sector, which essentially is not regulated,” Gemberling said.

Gemberling said that he has friends in the Legislature and doesn’t want anything bad to happen to them, but doesn’t think taking down officials’ personal information is effective. He said it’s gotten harder over the years to access public officials.

“It's getting harder and harder to get access to the people who govern us,” Gemberling said. “Okay, it's also getting harder and harder to even get access to the people who run the government. Typically, what happens when you call these days … you get voicemail … If you try and send an email to somebody using their published email address, you'll get a response that says, ‘Oh, you have to fill out a form to send me an email.’”

As conversations continue, Simon said that Minnesotans will look back on June 14 as a “Before and after moment.”

“What happened on June 14, is really a before-and-after moment, right? And that when it comes to information that is public about elected officials, we will look back on that day as a before and after day, meaning there was before June 14, 2025, and after … the hinge point in how we think about these issues,” Simon said.

]]>

Rep. Melissa Hortman and Mark Hortman to lie in state with their dog, Gilbert, on Friday

Mary Murphy — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 18:16:05 GMT

ST. PAUL — Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark will lie in state at the Minnesota Capitol on Friday, June 27.

Gov. Tim Walz announced on Tuesday that the public will be able to pay their respects to the Hortmans, as well as their golden retriever, Gilbert, at the Capitol from noon to 5 p.m. on Friday. All three were fatally shot at the Hortmans' home on June 14.

Rep. Hortman will be the first woman, and one of fewer than 20 Minnesotans, to lie in state at the Capitol, Walz said in the announcement Tuesday, June 24.

A private funeral will be held on Saturday and is set to be live-streamed from the Department of Public Safety’s YouTube channel, according to the announcement from Walz.

The Hortmans were fatally shot on June 14 in what officials are calling politically targeted violence. Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were also shot on June 14 and are recovering from their injuries. The suspect in the shootings of the two lawmakers and their spouses, Vance Boelter, faces state and federal charges and has a hearing at the U.S. courthouse in St. Paul Friday.

]]>

Sen. John Hoffman and wife issue statement detailing ‘horrific night’ of lawmaker shootings

Mary Murphy — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 21:39:14 GMT

ST. PAUL — Sen. John Hoffman and his wife released a statement Thursday night recounting how they were shot in their home in what’s being called an act of targeted political violence.

The June 19 statement recounted the early morning hours of Saturday, June 14, when Sen. Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were shot in their Champlin home. The family attended the Humphrey Mondale dinner on Friday night, and were awoken at approximately 2 a.m. Saturday by the sounds of pounding on their front door, according to the statement.

John and Yvette Hoffman and their daughter, Hope, went to the entryway of the home and opened the door to a man identifying himself as a police officer, according to the statement.

“John initially lunged at the gunman as the weapon was pointed directly at him, getting struck nine times,” The Hoffmans' statement said. “As John fell, Yvette reached out to push the man and shut the door, succeeding before she was also hit eight times by gunfire. Hope then rushed to shut the door and secured the lock; she got to the phone and shared with the 911 operator that Senator John Hoffman had been shot in his home.”

In the statement, Sen. Hoffman and Yvette thanked Hope for her “brave actions and quick thinking,” as well as law enforcement and the community for their support.

“We are heartbroken to know that our friends Melissa and Mark Hortman were assassinated,” The Hoffmans said. “Our daughter Hope and Sophie Hortman went to school together, and we know that they — along with Colin Hortman — will have each other’s support as we all work through the devastating consequences of that horrific night.”

John and Yvette Hoffman are in recovery, according to the statement. Yvette is in stable condition, while Sen. Hoffman is in critical but stable condition.

“As a society, as a nation, as a community, we must work together to return to a level of civility that allows us all to live peacefully. The future for our children depends on that,” The Hoffmans said in the statement.

57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter, suspect in the Hoffmans’ shooting, as well as the assassination of House DFL Leader Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, has been charged with federal and state crimes. He is currently being held in Sherburne County Jail and, if convicted, faces maximum punishments of life in prison or the death penalty.

]]>

Lobbyist charged for allegedly making violent threats regarding Minnesota Capitol

Mary Murphy — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 20:13:47 GMT

ST. PAUL — Law enforcement on Thursday arrested 41-year-old Jonathon Bohn who allegedly sent a message threatening violence at the Minnesota Capitol, according to a criminal complaint.

According to a complaint filed in Carver County on Friday, June 20, Bohn sent several threatening text messages to an unnamed individual on Wednesday. Messages included, "Today I bought 500 bullets. I can’t wait to shoot one of you m** in the face," and "Excited to have my gun at the capitol and blow somebody’s f* face off," according to the complaint.

Bohn, who reportedly works as a lobbyist, was charged Friday afternoon with one felony count of threats of violence, with reckless disregard of risk. The offense carries a maximum penalty of 5 years' imprisonment, a $10,000 fine or both.

According to a Thursday night press release from House Republicans, Rep. Jim Nash, R-Waconia, also notified law enforcement on Wednesday of the text messages, which were received by one of his constituents.

“The threat was not aimed at any particular lawmaker, but the message did include a threat of violence at the Capitol,” the release said.

Bohn's next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 27.

The threat comes after two Minnesota lawmakers were shot in their homes on Saturday, June 14. House DFL leader Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were killed after being shot in their home in Brooklyn Park. Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were also shot in their Champlin home. Yvette is in stable condition, and Sen. Hoffman is in critical but stable condition, according to a Thursday statement from his family.

A suspect in the shootings, 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter, is being held in Sherburne County Jail. If convicted, he faces state and federal charges in the shootings, with maximum punishments of life in prison and the death penalty. His next court appearance is scheduled for June 27.

The Capitol Sergeant’s Office is not aware of any further threat to staff or members of the Legislature, according to the release from House Republicans.

]]>

Rep. Dave Baker: A dark day in Minnesota: A time to grieve, reflect, and heal

Rep. Dave Baker — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 16:00:00 GMT

This past week has marked one of the darkest chapters in our state’s history. The horrifying violence of June 14, 2025, that took the lives of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, has left a deep wound in our hearts and in our Capitol community. Senator John Hoffman and his wife were also wounded in the attack but, thankfully, are recovering from their injuries. As we mourn this tragedy, we must pause, reflect, and begin the long and challenging process of healing.

I’ve served eleven sessions in the Minnesota House, every one of them alongside Speaker Hortman. She served eleven terms, a remarkable 21-year career. I recall sitting with her on the Energy Committee early on, impressed by how sharp and well-versed she was in even the most complex policy discussions. Melissa was not just a colleague; she was a respected leader and a friend.

She led with strength, patience, humility, and grace. Whether it was calming a tense debate with a bit of humor or navigating difficult negotiations behind the scenes, Speaker Hortman was a steady hand and a brilliant strategist. She knew when to listen, when to act, and how to bring people together, even across party lines. Her leadership strengthened our institution, and her absence will be deeply felt for years to come.

Even as a member of the minority party and someone who often fought hard just to make my voice heard, I looked at her leadership with deep respect and awe. I was proud of this year’s election results when we broke the DFL trifecta, but that never changed my admiration for the kind of leader she was.

Senator Hoffman and I have worked closely together for years, especially on issues surrounding opioid abuse — a deeply personal issue for me — and public safety. He and his wife have been in my prayers every day since this tragedy unfolded. They, like Melissa and Mark, represent the very best of public service: people who show up, work hard, and care deeply about Minnesotans.

In the wake of this horrific event, I’ve been disappointed by some of the reckless and divisive rhetoric that’s surfaced online and in political circles. Let me be clear: Governor Tim Walz did not know the shooter. Vance Boelter was not part of any political inner circle. Governor Walz lost a friend and is grieving just as we all are.

This is bigger than politics. We lost two extraordinary people last weekend. Misinformation and finger-pointing only add more pain for those of us mourning and for the families trying to process this unimaginable loss.

We are public servants, yes, but we are also human beings. And in this moment, we must let ourselves grieve. We must put down the political weapons, silence the speculation, and come together, not as Republicans or Democrats, but as Minnesotans, united in sorrow and committed to healing.

Let’s take a breath. Let’s honor their lives. And let’s begin to heal.

]]>

In the wake of tragedy, Minnesota lawmakers call for truth, respect and humanity

Mary Murphy — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 17:53:27 GMT

ST. PAUL — As the state and country reel from deadly attacks on Minnesota lawmakers this weekend, local and national politicians are confronting a swirl of misinformation and speculation on the internet.

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, took to X Saturday and posted on his account “BasedMikeLee,” about the Saturday, June 14 shootings that injured Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, and killed Speaker of the House Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark.

“This is what happens … When Marxists don’t get their way,” Lee wrote. In a separate post, he said, “Nightmare on Waltz street” — seemingly a play on Gov. Tim Walz’s name. Lee has since deleted the posts.

The posts received swift criticism, including from Sen. Tina Smith and her staff.

Minnesota House Leader Rep. Harry Niska, R-Ramsey, took to X to denounce the posts, as well. Niska said Tuesday that Lee is someone he has met and has “had a lot of respect for,” but thought his actions were inappropriate.

“Well, there's been a lot of … people from all different angles, saying a lot of, I think, baseless and inhumane things on social media,” Niska said. “And it's … just disappointing. I just don't think there's any basis to, at this point in time, assign blame to anyone, including Governor Walz … what Senator Lee said, I didn't think was appropriate, if it was supposed to be a joke, I didn't think it was particularly funny.”

Vance Boelter was arrested Sunday night and has been charged in Saturday's shootings.

Niska said he wishes everyone could think more about “the actual humans that are involved … hurting and grieving because of the crime of Vance Boelter.”

Speculation on social media intensified after news entities reported that Walz had appointed Boelter to a state workforce board in 2019.

President Donald Trump, in an interview on Air Force One, was asked if he would call Walz about the assassination. Trump declined and said, “Why waste time?” Trump later added, “He appointed this guy.”

A spokesperson for Walz's office said Tuesday that Walz does not directly interview prospective members of the 60-person workforce development advisory board that Boelter was appointed to. The spokesperson said that Walz does not know Boelter and that there are thousands of volunteers who serve on state advisory boards.

Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul, said Tuesday that misinformation in politics is like “a cancer.”

“I watched … beginning on Saturday and continuing into these last days, people, I don't know who they are, busy building a ridiculous narrative around some partisan bent, and trying to ascribe that to a heinous madman who went to people's homes with the intention to murder them, and I find that unforgivable,” Murphy said.

“What we are experiencing in Minnesota is not a Democratic loss or Republican loss. It is a Minnesota loss," Murphy said.

On Sunday, hours before law enforcement announced Boelter had been caught following a two-day manhunt, Drew Evans, Superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, urged the public to wait for answers as the investigation is ongoing.

“We often want easy answers, just for complex problems, and this is a complex situation that our investigators are going to need time to sift through the information and evidence, and those answers will come,” Evans said.

Niska said Tuesday that he wants everyone to keep their humanity in view.

“We have to … keep our humanity in view when we have those disagreements, and each one of us has the right to our opinions and the right to be wrong," Niska said. "And one of the things that makes Vance Boelter and his crimes such an attack on our system is that he not only took Melissa Hortman’s life, but he did it to take her right to disagree with him … that's not something that we can accept as something that's within the bounds of our society.”

]]>