Minnesota mom charged with killing son; body found in trunk

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A mother was charged Monday in the death of her 6-year-old son whose body was found in the trunk of her bloodied car in a Minneapolis suburb last week.

Julissa Thaler, 28, of Spring Park, is charged with second-degree intentional murder in the death of Eli Hart. Court records do not list an attorney who could speak on her behalf.

Family members said that the boy’s father, Tory Hart, of Chetek, Wisconsin, was trying to win custody of his child when Eli was killed.

According to a criminal complaint, preliminary autopsy findings say the child was shot up to nine times.

Police said they found the boy’s body after pulling Thaler over in Mound on Friday. They had received a call about a car driving on a tire rim with the back window smashed out.

The complaint said Thaler left the traffic stop before officers opened the trunk. Police went to her apartment, but Thaler wasn’t there. The washing machine was running, and it contained clothes she had on during the traffic stop, according to the charging document.

Officers caught up with Thaler nearby and noticed that she had blood and other biological evidence in her hair, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.

Eli was placed back with his mother in December after spending nearly a year in foster care because she failed to properly care for him, records showed.

Family members said the child’s behavior changed after his mom regained custody and he started misbehaving in school and showing signs of anxiety.

Thaler remained jailed on $2 million bail ahead of a court appearance on Tuesday.

A 27-year-old Minneapolis man has been arrested and remains jailed on suspicion of murder. Monday’s charges say Thaler and the man went to a gun range so she could learn how to use a firearm.

USS Minneapolis-St. Paul commissioned for service

DULUTH (AP) — The USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul has been activated for service in the U.S. Navy.

A weekend commissioning ceremony was held in Duluth for the Freedom class-littoral combat ship. It measures nearly 400 feet and can travel at speeds greater than 40 knots, the equivalent of about 46 mph.

According to officials, the ship is designed to have significant maneuverability and will utilize a state-of-the-art system that combines diesel and gas turbines with steerable water jet propulsion, KBJR-TV reported.

Gov. Tim Walz had a special message for the crew during the commissioning ceremony Saturday.

“To the crew, when you sail the world’s oceans to whatever nation calls you, in order to defend the freedoms that we enjoy, know that the pride and patriotism of all Minnesotans sails with you. May the USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul protect you,” Walz said.

The ship has a flight deck that’s about 1.5 times larger the most naval warships and can accommodate a crew of 140 service members.

On Monday, the USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul heads to its home base at the naval station in Mayport, Florida to await orders.

The ship was built in Marinette, Wisconsin, using Iron Range iron ore. Its commissioning, originally planned for 2021, was delayed by a problem with its propulsion system.

North Dakota extends deadline for gas pipeline proposals

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A panel that regulates North Dakota’s energy industry voted Monday to extend the deadline for proposals to build a natural gas pipeline from western North Dakota’s oil patch to the eastern part of the state.

The three-member, all-Republican North Dakota Industrial Commission headed by Gov. Doug Burgum moved the deadline for proposals to Aug. 15 after no applications were received by the deadline this month.

The North Dakota Legislature in November set aside $150 million in federal coronavirus aid to help construct such a trans-state pipeline for natural gas, which is a byproduct of oil production. The idea, pushed by Burgum, was to help cut down on the wasteful flaring at well sites and pipe it to communities in the gas-poor eastern part of the state, hoping to spur industrial development.

Despite the promised subsidies, no applications were submitted for the pipeline.

WBI Energy, a subsidiary of Bismarck-based MDU Resources Group, said the project is not viable due to regulatory uncertainty, limited in-state demand and rising construction, labor and land-acquisition costs. MDU resources is North Dakota’s only Fortune 500 company.

WBI Energy owns and operates more than 3,700 miles of transmission and storage pipelines in the Dakotas, Minnesota, Montana and Wyoming.

House kills Reynolds’ plan to send $55M to private schools

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds’ proposal to divert about $55 million from public schools to private school scholarships will not pass in the Iowa House because of a lack of Republican support, House Speaker Pat Grassley said Monday.

Reynolds’ plan to provide taxpayer-funded scholarships for up to 10,000 students to attend the private school of their choice was one of her top priorities for the legislative session. The measure passed the Senate in March with only Republican support but won’t clear the House, despite the GOP holding a 60-40 edge in the chamber.

The opposition largely came from lawmakers in rural areas and smaller communities who were concerned about the loss of money to public schools. Reynolds targeted at least one Republican, Jon Thorup of Knoxville, by supporting his opponent in the upcoming June primary election because of his opposition to her bill.

“It doesn’t look like were going to be able to put the votes together in the House this year to pass that, however, we want to continue to work with the governor to get something achieved that’s been a big priority of hers moving toward next session and we’ll work on that in the off season,” Grassley said.

Reynolds’ spokesman said Monday she had no comment. She said last week she will keep working to pass the proposal.

Grassley said the session likely will end this week. Adjournment has been delayed over the issue of private school scholarships.