>>Missing Clearwater Teen
(Clearwater, MN) — Clearwater Police are asking for the public’s help finding a missing 16-year-old. Chase Ronning ran away from his rural Bagley home on Monday morning. He was last known to be in Moorhead later that day and is believed to be heading to Donna, Texas. Ronning is described as white, 6 feet tall, 150 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. There’s concern for his mental health and well-being.
>>Woman Hits Deer, Dragged by Car in Willmar Crash
(Willmar, MN) — A young woman is in the hospital after a crash with a deer resulted in her being dragged by her car. Kandiyohi County deputies responded to the crash at a rural intersection near Willmar around 9 p.m. Tuesday. Investigators say 18-year-old Landrie Miller of Kerkhoven was heading north when she hit a deer. Miller got out and was briefly dragged by her SUV. On arrival, deputies found her car in a ditch. Miller was airlifted to the hospital. Her condition is unknown.
>>Judge Dismisses MPD Lawsuit Against Alpha News for “Fall of Minneapolis”
(Minneapolis, MN) — A Hennepin County judge has dismissed a defamation lawsuit by a Minneapolis police assistant chief against Alpha News. The October 2024 lawsuit claimed reporter Liz Collin and her team defamed Katie Blackwell in the documentary “Fall of Minneapolis” and Collin’s book that it was based on, “They’re Lying: The Media, the Left, and the Death of George Floyd.” The doc criticized MPD and others’ responses to the 2020 police murder of George Floyd, including Blackwell’s testimony for the prosecution in the 2021 trial of former MPD officer Derek Chauvin. Judge Edward Wahl says Alpha News met the legal standards and that Blackwell’s reputation has not been harmed.
>>Blaine Man’s Tax Crimes Include Identity Theft, Swindling
(St. Paul, MN) — A Blaine man faces 10 charges for tax crimes, including insurance fraud, theft by swindle, and identity theft. Through his job as a broker, Kevin Meyers is alleged to have submitted hundreds of supplemental insurance policy applications using the personal information of others without their knowledge or consent. This earned him over $600,000 in advanced commission payments in 2018 and 2019. Once the policies were terminated, Meyers refused to return the payments. He claimed the stolen money as income on his taxes and overstated business expenses. Meyers owes over $111,000 in income tax, penalties, and interest. He faces a maximum penalty of 50 years in prison, a $100,000 fine, or both.
>>Gov. Walz Announces New Way to Track Federal Cuts
(St. Paul, MN) — Governor Tim Walz announced a new way to track cuts coming from the federal government and the impact on services to Minnesotans. State agencies report federal funding disruptions and cuts to the Minnesota Management and Budget. The MMB will track it and post it to a new state website. So far, the state agency has reported disruptions and cuts to grants tracking measles and bird flu, heating assistance, and mitigating flooding. Walz says by creating this website, the state government can keep Minnesotans informed on what is known and what’s coming next. In fiscal year 2025, Minnesota was awarded 687 federal grants and awards totaling more than $23 billion. (mn.gov/mmb/budget/federal-investments/data-and-reporting)
>>Agriculture Budget Passes House Committee
(St. Paul, MN) — The House Agriculture Committee passed its new budget with a unanimous vote. The budget bill includes $17 million in additional funding agreed upon by both Democrats and Republicans. The $172 million bill also includes more money to address food insecurity in the state at a time when the Trump Administration has made cuts to the USDA. When it comes to consumers, the bill has more funding to prevent the spread of the bird flu and for the testing of milk, meat, and pet food sold by retailers. The bill now heads to the Ways and Means Committee.
>>Maple Grove Medical Device Manufacturer Announces Layoffs
(Maple Grove, MN) — A medical device manufacturer in Maple Grove is laying off 101 employees. Teleflex notified the Minnesota Department of Employment and Development the facility will be completely closed by March of 2026. Layoffs are expected to begin on July 1st.
