Republican Scott Jensen announced his candidacy for governor on Thursday.

Jensen, a family physician and former state senator, unsuccessfully ran against Democratic Gov. Tim Walz in 2022 when he took 44% of the vote. He is the second high-profile Republican to announce in a 2026 bid, alongside Republican Kendall Qualls , who also ran in 2022.

“Minnesotans want their state back,” Jensen said in a statement on his candidacy. “We remember the days when our communities were safe, our schools were strong and our leaders put people — not politics — first. That’s the Minnesota we’re going to fight to bring back.”

Walz has yet to decide whether he will seek a third term as governor and is expected to announce a decision around the end of summer, his staff said. Walz has ruled out other offices, such as the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Tina Smith.

— Forum News Service

7-year-old critical after being hit by car

A 7-year-old was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after a driver struck her in St. Paul Wednesday night.

Officers responded to the vehicular crash on the East Side about 7:30 p.m. It happened at White Bear Avenue and Fifth Street.

After officers began life-saving measures on the girl, St. Paul Fire Department medics arrived and took over, said Sgt. Toy Vixayvong, a St. Paul police spokesman. They took her to the hospital and police said her condition remained critical on Thursday.

The driver was cooperative with police and the man showed no signs of impairment, Vixayvong said. Investigators spoke with the driver and he was released at the scene. The investigation is ongoing, including into the circumstances of the crash.

— Mara H. Gottfried

Woman, 43, killed in highway crash

A 43-year-old Hastings woman was killed in a two-vehicle crash on U.S. 61 near Kingsborough Trail in Cottage Grove around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Minnesota State Patrol identified the deceased as Crystal Rae Maciewski, who had been driving a Chevrolet Equinox southbound on U.S. 61 when she collided with a Hyundai Genesis near Kingsborough Trail. Her Chevrolet rolled over, causing her to be ejected. She was not believed to be wearing a seat belt, according to State Patrol.

The other driver, a 22-year-old Cottage Grove woman, did not suffer serious injuries. Road conditions were dry and alcohol was not believed to be a factor in the crash, according to State Patrol.

Traffic was temporarily rerouted from southbound U.S. 61 while State Patrol conducted an accident reconstruction. No further information was available on Thursday.

— Frederick Melo and Mary Divine

City Council to consider limited bicycle taxis

Bicycle taxis are allowed in Minneapolis during morning and late afternoon rush hours, but not in St. Paul.

Should that change?

The St. Paul City Council is leaning toward yes. On Wednesday, the council held a brief public hearing on an ordinance amendment to allow pedicab drivers to operate for hire on public streets between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., and between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays.

The amendment clarifies that pedicab drivers are allowed to pull up to two three-person trailers, transporting a total of up to six passengers at a time.

Pedicab operators would still be subject to licensing and safety inspections under the ordinance changes, which according to a staff report are intended to “enhance the vibrancy of downtown, support local businesses, and provide residents and visitors with scenic, sustainable travel options that reflect the city’s environmental values.”

The hearing drew a single speaker, who was supportive of the amendment, and a handful of supportive letters from the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce, Twin Town Pedicabs and others.

The council will host a final vote next Wednesday.

— Frederick Melo

Madison clerk accused of breaking election law

Wisconsin elections officials declared Thursday that the former clerk of the state’s capital city broke several laws related to not counting nearly 200 absentee ballots in the November presidential election, but they stopped short of recommending criminal charges be brought.

The bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission voted 5-1 to accept a report finding that the former Madison clerk, Maribeth Witzel-Behl, broke five election laws. The commission delayed a vote on ordering the city of Madison to take additional steps to improve election security.

No outcome of any race was affected by the missing ballots. Witzel-Behl resigned as Madison city clerk in April amid investigations into the missing ballots.

The investigation was not a criminal probe and the elections commission does not have the power to bring charges. The report does not recommend that prosecutors do so.

There is no intention to refer the case to prosecutors for possible charges, commission chair Ann Jacobs said after the meeting. The goal of the probe was to find out what happened and stop it from happening again, she added.

Charges could be brought by the Dane County attorney’s office or the state Department of Justice. Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne said his office would review the case.

— Associated Press