>>Red Flag Warning for six counties in west-central, northwest MN
(Various) — The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for six west-central and northwest Minnesota counties through 8 p-m tonight (Mon) due to extreme fire risk. The counties are Clay, Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Polk and Wilkin. A Red Flag warning means fires can spread quickly and become out-of-control due to strong wind gusts and low relative humidity.
>>State senator arrested in Detroit Lakes on suspicion of burglary
(Detroit Lakes, MN) — State Senator Nicole Mitchell, a Democrat from the Saint Paul suburb of Woodbury, was arrested early this morning (Mon) in Detroit Lakes in west-central Minnesota on suspicion of first-degree burglary. Police Chief Steve Todd says the homeowner called police, and officers and deputies searched the residence and found 49-year-old Mitchell, who was taken to Becker County Jail. The county attorney’s office is reviewing the report and will determine whether Mitchell will be charged. Senate Republican Minority Leader Mark Johnson says he’s “shocked by the news,” the public expects a high standard of conduct from legislators and “as information comes out, we expect the consequences to meet the actions, both in the court of law, and in her role at the legislature.” The Senate Democratic Caucus says they’re “aware of the situation” and have no comment pending further information. Mitchell was elected in 2022 and is a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve and a former T-V meteorologist.
>>Man shot by officers during standoff in Target parking lot in Woodbury
(Woodbury, MN) — Officers shot a man after an altercation and a standoff outside a Target store today (Mon) in the Saint Paul suburb of Woodbury. Authorities say they were alerted to a vehicle in the parking lot with stolen license plates and when the man returned he fought with them when they attempted to arrest him. They say officers disengaged when they saw the man had a gun and called in a SWAT team which attempted negotiations as the man, believed to be in his 50s, barricaded himself in the vehicle. They say officers fired less-than-lethal weapons, but when the man got out of the vehicle and pointed the gun in the direction of the officers, they fired on him. The man was taken to Regions Hospital. His condition has not yet been released.
>>Walz appoints Gaïtas, Hennesy to MN Supreme Court
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Supreme Court will again have a female majority when two new justices that Governor Tim Walz appointed today (Mon) take the bench. Court of Appeals Judge Theodora Gaïtas and Stearns County Judge Sarah Hennesy will succeed retiring Justices G. Barry Anderson and Margaret Chutich. The governor lauded Hennessey for a “brilliant legal mind,” authenticity and “curiosity and care about the world,” adding she understands the needs of smaller counties with limited resources. And the governor says what always impressed him about Gaïtas, a state Court of Appeals judge, is “an understanding that justice is not a one-size-fits-all proposition,”
>>MPCA says it will take water-quality samples along entire length of Mississippi River in MN
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is marking this Earth Day (MON) by announcing it will take water-quality samples along the Mississippi River’s entire 650-mile stretch in Minnesota for the first time in a single year. Commissioner Katrina Kessler says water monitoring has never been more important as new pollutants continue to constantly enter Minnesota’s lakes and rivers. Kessler says, “Clean water and water quality is foundational to safe drinking water, enjoyable recreation, tourism activities and the vibrant economy in Minnesota.” Officials say water and aquatic life samples from over 50 strategic locations between Bemidji and the Iowa border will give a complete picture of water quality on the section of the Mississippi River within Minnesota. Commissioner Kessler says data collected now through September will help direct resources to prevention and cleanup projects along the river for decades.
>Richfield Home Total Loss After Fire, Woman Hospitalized
(Richfield, MN) — A woman is hospitalized and a home is a total loss after a gas explosion and fire this morning (MON) in the Minneapolis suburb of Richfield. Officers arrived to find the home on fire and rescued a woman inside. She is expected to survive. Officials say a shed about a half-block away also caught fire due to falling power lines. The cause is under investigation.
>>Driver leads Wright County Deputies on chase before crashing in St. Michael
(St. Michael, MN) — A driver from southeastern Minnesota is hospitalized after leading Wright County authorities on a chase and crashing in St. Michael. Sheriff’s deputies say they tried to pull over 44-year-old Corey Pratt of La Crescent late Sunday night but he fled on Highway 101. The suspect vehicle later made contact with a patrol car on an off-ramp and rolled over. First responders extricated Pratt from the pickup and he was airlifted to Regions Hospital in St. Paul. Investigators say evidence found at the scene indicates that alcohol was a factor.
>>Homeless Rochester Man Sentenced to Nearly 8 Years in Prison for M-30 Fentanyl Pills
(Rochester, MN) — A homeless Rochester man has been sentenced to nearly eight years in prison for possessing hundreds of fentanyl pills. October 3rd, 2023, In early October 2023, Rochester police stopped a vehicle driven by a man the officer knew to have a canceled license. A white powder was spotted on the floor, prompting a search that turned up an open pack of marijuana and 665 M-30 fentanyl pills. The driver, 41-year-old Lydelle Mack, also had $5,600 in cash on him.
>>Prior Lake Man Owes Over $150,000 in Income Tax Due to Tax Fraud
(St. Paul, MN) — A Prior Lake man owes over $150,000 in income tax after being charged with 10 felony counts of tax fraud. Officials say Ryan Keenan earned nearly $1.7 million through his business, Claim Pro Construction LLC, but did not file taxes from 2018 to 2022. Investigators say Keenan filed returns in previous years and told them he knew that he needed to file his taxes. Due to each charge carrying a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a $10,000 fine or both, Keenan faces a maximum penalty of 50 years in prison and $650,000 in penalties, plus the owed income tax.
>>CAIR MN Attends Lino Lakes City Council Meeting to Advocate for Muslim-Friendly Development
(Lino Lakes, MN) — Minnesotan members of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) are speaking out tonight (MON, 6:30 p.m.) at the Lino Lakes City Council meeting to advocate for the Madinah Lakes project, which proposes “Muslim-friendly” housing options. CAIR-MN says this comes after significant opposition fueled by Islamophobic sentiments, noting increasingly frequent biased incidents in Minnesota. The Madinah Lakes project is a proposed 156 acre-development in Lino Lakes offering single-family homes, townhomes, row homes, apartments and senior living condos — with a mosque at the center.
