Hagedorn staff to visit Elmore

ELMORE — Congressman Jim Hagedorn’s staff will host mobile office hours on Tuesday in Elmore. This is an opportunity for constituents to seek help they need with a federal issue or agency.

The event will be held from 3-4 p.m. at the Elmore City Clerk’s Office, 202 S. Highway 169, Elmore, MN 56027. No appointment is needed.

Mobile office hours are designed to bring constituent services to the doorstep of the residents in need of assistance. Members of Congress frequently handle casework that helps people solve problems with Social Security, passports, veterans benefits, USDA farm programs and more.

Workers reach tentative deal

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The union representing 1,800 HealthPartners workers in Minnesota says it has reached a tentative labor agreement and averted a strike that was scheduled to begin today.

The Service Employees International Union says the agreement was reached early Tuesday after 17 hours of negotiations. Union members will vote on it next week.

The union represents nurses, physicians assistants, dental hygienists and other caregivers.

The union had previously voted overwhelmingly to begin a seven-day strike Feb. 19.

The tentative agreement includes wage increases of 7.5% over three years, protection of some healthcare benefits and protection of overtime pay, according to the union.

Its members work at more than 30 HealthPartners clinics across the Twin Cities.

The Bloomington-based health care provider operates eight hospitals, 55 primary care clinics, 22 urgent care locations and numerous specialty practices in Minnesota and western Wisconsin.

Group home resident stabbed

WEST ST. PAUL (AP) — A resident of a state-run mental health group home has killed another resident in West St. Paul, according to police.

Officers were called to the group home about 4 a.m. Monday on a report of a disturbance and found the victim was stabbed in the face. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A 38-year-old resident was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports a third resident and a staff member were also in the home at the time of the stabbing.

Department of Human Services spokesman Christopher Sprung says it’s too early to say what led to the stabbing.