>>Vulnerable Adult from Fergus Falls is Missing
(Fergus Falls, MN) — A vulnerable adult from Fergus Falls is missing. Police say 44-year-old Joshua Ard has been missing since the end of June. He’s described as white, 5 feet 6 inches tall, 220 pounds, with brown hair and eyes, and a brown beard.
>>Winona Woman Arrested in Child Torture Case
(Winona, MN) – A video showing a three-year-old boy bound with duct tape, crying, and being dragged to a closet where a person with a mask and blanket is waiting has led to the arrest of a Winona woman. 20-year-old Joseline Puente Gundersen was arrested Tuesday for child torture. The Winona Police Department says a co-worker of Gunderson’s saw the video on social media and alerted law enforcement. The boy and his mother were staying at Gundersen’s residence when the incident occurred. It’s unclear at this time if the mother was involved, but the spokesperson did say investigators are looking for at least two other suspects.
>>Plymouth Man Charged with Embezzling $1M from Employer
(Minneapolis, MN) — A Plymouth man faces four counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering for allegedly embezzling over one million dollars from his former employer. Fifty-two-year-old Christopher Septon worked for Ellis Properties, a family-run commercial real estate business in Minneapolis, from 2010 to 2024. He charged more than $800,000 on the company credit card, directing the payments to his accounts. Septon also impersonated the City of Minneapolis, the Metropolitan Council, the MDA (Minnesota Department of Agriculture), and the MPCA (Minnesota Pollution Control Agency) to fraudulently take money. He made his initial court appearance on Tuesday.
>>Gunshots Fired at Woman in Elba
(Elba, MN) – Gunshots were fired at a woman in Elba on Tuesday night. According to the Winona County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO), the woman was getting out of her car in the parking lot of an apartment building in the 1100 block of South Main Street when shots hit her vehicle. Deputies say the woman ducked down in her car as the shots hit the door and windshield. She suffered cuts to her face resulting from shrapnel or broken glass and was taken to a hospital in Rochester. Investigators are searching for the shooter.
>>Walz Chooses Executive Director of Office of Cannabis Management
(St. Paul, MN) – Governor Tim Walz has made it official by naming Eric Taubel as the Executive Director of the Office of Cannabis Management. Taubel has held the position of interim director since January. Taubel previously served as the office’s general counsel. This office is responsible for developing operational and regulatory systems to launch and oversee Minnesota’s regulated cannabis and intoxicating hemp markets. In making the announcement, the governor said he is confident the office will continue to prioritize public health and safety, consumer confidence, and market integrity.
>>Minneapolis Mayor Unveils 2026 Budget
(Minneapolis, MN) — Mayor Jacob Frey has unveiled his 2026 budget for the City of Minneapolis. The mayor announced his new budget emphasizes protecting services, supporting workers, and continuing to deliver on the city’s priorities like affordable housing, public safety, climate, and public health investments. The mayor’s $2 billion proposed budget includes $23 million in smart savings, no layoffs, and no interruptions to core city services. He also supports continued recruitment practices to rebuild the Minneapolis Police Department.
