>>IA Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Killing Algona Police Officer
(Algona, IA) — The northern Iowa man found guilty of murdering Algona Police Officer Kevin Cram was sentenced this morning (WED) to life in prison. 44-year-old Kyle Ricke (rick-EE) was found guilty of first-degree murder in July. Ricke filed for a new trial in August but was shut down. He has no possibility for parole or probation and is ordered to pay $150,000 to Cram’s widow. Ricke was ultimately found and arrested in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota.
>>Moorhead Police ID Homicide Victim Found Near Red River
(Moorhead, MN) — Police in Moorhead say 14-year-old Jaelyn Walker of Moorhead is the victim of a homicide early Tuesday morning. She was reported missing Monday evening, and her body was recovered early Tuesday near the Red River. Investigators say the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office will release her cause and manner of death. Officers are asking for the public’s help in finding a Samsung Galaxy phone that was believed to be near where Walker’s body was found.
>>Governor Tim Walz, the Democrat’s candidate for vice president, will address the national convention tonight in Chicago
(Wednesday). Carleton College analyst Steven Schier (SHEER) says what to expect. “The job of the vice-presidential nominee is to be the attack dog, and I think we’re already seeing that from Tim Walz. And he will be drawing a contrast between the dark alternative of Trump and the bright alternative, as he would put it, of Harris.” Schier says it will be interesting tomorrow night (Thursday) to see how Democrat presidential candidate Kamala Harris combines the specifics people want from her with the themes that have moved her so far.
>>Mankato Man Sentenced to 48 Years for Beating, Choking, Raping Ex-Girlfriend
(Mankato, MN) — A Mankato man has been sentenced to 48 years in prison for beating, choking, and raping his ex-girlfriend in August 2023. The assault happened after 40-year-old John Olson was released from jail for a prior assault on Chelsea Zamudio that July. Zamudio says she sustained a brain injury, 22 broken bones, and was “legally dead for eight minutes.” She adds she only escaped Olson’s assault by playing dead.
>>State Grants Available to Producers to Help Combat Avian Influenza
(St. Paul, MN) — To combat the spread of avian influenza on Minnesota farms, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for grants to help livestock producers buy and install preventative equipment for their operations. MDA spokeswoman Courtney VanderMay says grants are between 500 dollars and 10 thousand dollars. The program reimburses 80 percent of the eligible cost up to 10,000 dollars, so essentially, there is a 20-percent match, but that up to 2,000 dollars can also reduce 20 percent for personal time and labor). Examples of eligible equipment include lasers, sound machines, and other measures to scare wild species away from livestock operations; isolation pens; electronic animal ID systems; air filtration systems; Danish entry systems; and truck washes.
>>Muslim Community Calling for Justice Following a Shooting
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Minnesota Muslim community is calling for justice after 75-year-old worshipper Abdul Kareem was shot while leaving a mosque Monday evening. Masjid An-Nur Resident Imam Makram El-Amin says Kareem saw the suspect across the street criminally dealing and asked him to leave. The man drove away, made a U-turn, and shot Kareem at least three times. Minneapolis Police have confirmed a person is in custody who they believe is responsible for the attack.
>>ARAC Grants of Up to $4K for Historically Oppressed Artists Open
(Duluth, MN) — The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council (ARAC) is offering grants of up to $4,000 to individual artists of color, people with disabilities, people over 65 years old, veterans, and LGBTQ+ people. Officials say the funding is designed to help historically oppressed, unseen, or unheard voices carry out “a well-planned project allowing them to grow as artists.” Applications are due September 15th via the online grant management system (https://aracouncil.org/individual-artist-project-grant-1). The grant is funded through the McKnight Foundation, a Minnesota-based family foundation that advances Midwest climate solutions, an equitable and inclusive state, and the arts and culture of Minnesota.
