>>GNIP, Hennepin County Work to Overturn 1998 Murder Conviction
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Great North Innocence Project (GNIP) is working with the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office to overturn the 1998 conviction of Bryan Hooper. Despite multiple appeals, Hooper has spent 27 years in prison for the murder of 77-year-old Ann Prazniak. Today, GNIP and Attorney Mary Moriarty presented new evidence claiming Chalaka Young, currently serving a 10-year sentence in Georgia for battery, signed a handwritten letter admitting she killed Prazniak. Hooper had claimed Young was the suspect in his previous appeals, but this is the first time Young has agreed with the claim, saying her newfound sobriety pushed her to tell the truth. The petition asks for Hooper’s conviction to be vacated immediately after Young’s confession. Young has not been charged with Prazniak’s death.
>>Man Drowns at Tettegouche State Park
(Silver Bay, MN) — Another drowning death this summer at a northern Minnesota waterfall along Lake Superior’s North Shore. Lake County deputies and emergency personnel responded to Tettegouche Park near Silver Bay around 11:30 a.m. on Monday. A man had jumped off the High Falls and not resurfaced. The victim, 54-year-old Gregory Corniea, was found by an underwater DNR drone at the base of the falls. At the same park on July 4th, 25-year-old Hari Senagana was found at the base of Illgen Falls after struggling in the water.
>>Charges Filed Against Man Shot by Officer in Walker
(Walker, MN) – A Laporte man is facing multiple charges in Hubbard County in northern Minnesota after allegedly slashing tires and threatening to kill a police officer in Walker. 31-year-old Dillon Kloehn is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and use of deadly force against an officer. He was shot in the arm during the incident, treated at a Bemidji hospital, and arrested Friday night. Kloehn remains in custody on $400,000 bail.
>>Man Pleads Guilty to FOF Fraud Involvement
(Minneapolis, MN) — Another man pleads guilty to his role in the $250 million Feeding Our Future fraud scheme. 49-year-old Guhaad Said pleaded guilty on Monday to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Court documents say from December 2020 through January 2022, Said falsely claimed to serve over one million meals to children under the name Advance Youth Athletic Development, taking funds from a federal nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic. Said and his co-conspirators received about $2.9 million in funds during the scheme. He will be sentenced at a later date and faces up to 25 years in prison.
>>Child Predator Convicted of Failing to Register as Sex Offender
(Minneapolis, MN) — A federal jury has convicted a known child predator for failing to register as a sex offender. Public records say 54-year-old Randy Fuller was convicted in Fillmore County of first-degree sexual assault of a child. He was sentenced to 4.5 years in prison. Following his release, Fuller was mandated to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) and keep his registration current throughout 2039. Fuller did not keep his registration current and was previously convicted in Minnesota for this in 2000, 2010, and 2013. After moving from Iowa to Houston, MN, last December (2024), Fuller did not notify state and federal authorities, as required under SORNA. He was arrested and charged in January after officers were called to his home and learned he lived there. He acknowledged he was guilty of failure to register on tape on June 30th while in jail.
>>Solway House Fire Kills 2 Dogs
(St. Louis County, MN) — Two dogs are dead due to a house fire in St. Louis County. Fire personnel from Solwat, Cloquet, Hermantown, Grand Lake, Esko, and Industrial responded to a house fire around 1 p.m. Upon arrival, the home and a camper were engulfed in flames. Both were a total loss, and a nearby detached garage was damaged. No one was home at the time of the fire, and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
>>CentraCare Announces Staffing Changes
(St. Cloud, MN) – St. Cloud-based CentraCare is making staffing adjustments in response to rising costs and reimbursement rates that no longer cover the full cost of care. A spokeswoman says the moves are meant to protect the organization’s stability while maintaining high-quality service. Most affected positions are in administrative and support roles, though some patient care jobs are impacted. The number of layoffs will depend on how many employees can fill over 350 current openings, with internal candidates prioritized. CentraCare has more than 11,600 employees and operates 10 hospitals, 30 clinics, 160 outreach sites, and one medical school.
>>Fall Parade of Homes & Remodelers Showcase Set for September
(Roseville, MN) — Housing First Minnesota will host the 2025 Fall Parade of Homes & Remodelers Showcase Fridays through Sundays, September 5th-28th. This year’s tour features 317 new homes in 76 cities across the Twin Cities and Rochester metro areas, built by 76 different companies. Prices range from $299,900 to over $3 million, including four Dream Homes designed to inspire buyers and homeowners alike. The event celebrates community, creativity, and the possibilities of home.
>>Twins Fan Turnout Down
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Minnesota Twins are on pace for their lowest fan turnout in Target Field history. Attendance has dropped 43% since the ballpark opened in 2010. This season, the team is projected to sell just 1.8 million tickets—down from nearly 2 million last year. Back in April, the Twins recorded their smallest crowd ever at Target Field, with just over 10,000 fans in the stands.
>>Minnesota Wild Single-game Tickets on Sale Thursday
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Wild have announced single-game tickets will go on sale this Thursday, August 14th. The tickets available will be for the preseason and the regular season. The sale starts at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Wild website or through Ticketmaster. The Wild will also begin selling theme-pack tickets and other ticket packages on Thursday. The home opener is Saturday, October 11th, against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
