>>Afton Woman Cited After MnDOT Footage Shows She Caused a 3-Vehicle Crash
(Afton, MN) — A 53-year-old Afton driver has been cited for her role in a three-vehicle crash that left an SUV in a retention pond today (FRI). State Patrol says around noon, at the intersection of MN Highway 95 and Hudson Road, a white Ford Expedition started to turn left where another SUV was moving. The white SUV hit a blue truck, spinning it around and sending it backward into a pond. A tire came off one of the SUVs and hit a third vehicle. MnDOT camera footage shows the SUV driver that went into the pond made to dry land. No one was injured.
>>Governor Walz Gets Heightened Security Detail As Vice Presidential Candidate
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and his wife are getting increased security. They will receive a new level of protection since the governor was selected this week as the vice presidential nominee. The change will call for more Secret Service, Minnesota State Patrol, and Homeland Security detail at Walz’s temporary residence. With the election just three months away, there are signs of elevated security on the campaign trail.
>>Former St. Cloud Man Sentenced to 7.5 Years in Prison for Sexually Abusing a Minor
(St. Cloud, MN) — A former St. Cloud man has been sentenced to 7.5 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually abusing a minor. Police say the investigation began when a woman called authorities last October, telling them 49-year-old Gregory Barrett had sexually abused her from six years old until she was 13. The victim said she came forward after learning Barrett was trying to watch his stepdaughter in the shower. The abuse happened at St. Cloud and St. Augusta residences. Barrett pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal sexual conduct in May.
>>Prison For Former Minnesota High School Football Coach For Raping Woman
(Grand Rapids, MN) — A former northern Minnesota high school football coach is going to prison for raping a woman in his apartment. Ethan Hardy of Deer River was sentenced this week in Itasca County Court to 12 years behind bars. A jury recently convicted him of criminal sexual conduct. Hardy was found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman in her apartment in September 2022. The defendant is expected to serve the first seven years in prison and the rest on supervised release.
>>CA Man Pleads Guilty to Scamming MN Woman Out of $110K
(Owatonna, MN) — A California man has pleaded guilty to one count of theft by swindle after scamming a southern Minnesota woman out of $110,000. In late May, 30-year-old Zihao Xu began communicating with a 70-year-old Owatonna woman, stating she needed to contact “Microsoft Support.” Over multiple days, the victim withdrew $50,000 in cash, converted to cryptocurrency through a Faribault ATM, sent it to the scammer, purchased gift cards for the scammer, and eventually withdrew another $50,000 in cash. Xu claimed to be an “undercover agent” while visiting her home to pick up the $50,000. Xu is scheduled to be sentenced in October.
>>PUC Approves Xcel Energy’s Revised Resilient Minneapolis Project
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has approved Xcel Energy’s revised project to enhance resilience for developed communities. The Resilient Minneapolis Project (RMP) is a pilot to install rooftop solar, a battery energy storage system, and microgrid controls at the Minneapolis American Indian Center, the Sabathani Community Center, and a resiliency hub spread across multiple buildings in North Minneapolis. PUC previously approved the project cost at $9 million, which will now be matched by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Resilience and Innovations Partnership (GRID) grant.
>>Stolen Minneapolis Puppy Returned to Owner, Suspects Still at Large
(Minneapolis, MN) — A Cane Corso puppy stolen from a 78-year-old man in Minneapolis earlier this week has been returned by a good Samaritan who bought and returned the dog. Around 4 p.m. Monday, the victim was knocked to the ground by assailants and his puppy stolen. Police say the person who bought the dog later learned it was stolen and contacted the police to return it to its rightful owner. Minneapolis Police are still asking for information on the suspects involved (photos can be found on their website) and asking anyone who recognizes them to call.
>>Gov. Walz Joins the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum
(St. Paul, MN) – It’s official: the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum is adding Governor Tim Walz to its collection. This comes after a camouflaged Harris-Walz 2024 campaign hat with an orange print completely sold out after launching Tuesday. Officials say Walz’s Bobblehead is available for preorder and is expected to ship by December of this year, along with a Kamala Harris Bobblehead release.
