>>Minneapolis Man Found Guilty on 2 Counts of Murder for 2023 Driveby Shooting
(Minneapolis, MN) — A Hennepin County jury found a Minneapolis man guilty today of first- and second-degree intentional murder in a 2023 drive-by shooting. On August 9th, Minneapolis police responded to a report of shots fired. Officers found Stevi Palacio with a gunshot wound to the back. She was pronounced dead at the hospital. A car involved in the shooting was found abandoned in an underground garage the next day. Investigators learned that a vehicle driver and 27-year-old Tremaine Bucholz pulled up to the victim, and Bucholz fired at her several times, the van fleeing once she was hit. Bucholz will be sentenced on December 30.
>>Minneapolis Man Sentenced to 24 Years in Prison for Federal Kidnapping, Fraud, ID Theft
(St. Paul, MN) — A Minneapolis man faces 24 years in prison and $5,000 in restitution after being convicted in May of federal kidnapping, fraud, and identity theft. Court documents say on September 13th, 58-year-old Raphael Nunn was masked when he forced a woman in Arden Hills at gunpoint to drive to an ATM and withdraw money. Nunn was connected to the crime through surveillance footage and was arrested nine days later. Evidence at his home showed Nunn had stolen from a second victim and robbed a third at gunpoint, using the women’s credit cards for personal purchases.
>>MN-Based UnitedHealthcare CEO Murdered in NYC
(Undated) – Minnetonka-based UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson is dead after a shooting this morning outside a Manhattan hotel. 50-year-old Thompson was in New York for an investor’s conference. Police are offering a $10,000 reward for information on what they described as a homicide. They said the shooting occurred at about 6:40 a.m. Eastern time. New York City Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch says this was a brazen attack. She explains, “It appears the suspect was lying in wait waiting for several minutes. As the victim was walking to the conference hotel, the suspect approached from behind and fired several rounds, striking the victim at least once in the back and at least once in the right calf.”
>>MN State Budget Forecast
(St. Paul, MN) – The latest economic forecast warns soaring costs for special education and long-term care for aging Minnesotans will push the state budget into multi-billion-dollar deficits later in the decade unless lawmakers intervene. Republicans say spending cuts in all areas of state government must be on the table. Governor Tim Walz responds he’s not going to punish, for example, the State Patrol, the prison system, and snowplow drivers stating, “You could cut many entire agencies — in their entirety — and not make a dent… because of where the costs are on long-term care.” But Republican Senator Eric Pratt from Prior Lake says state agencies must also be scrutinized, noting “billion dollars in fraud that has been going.” Pratt is talking about the Feeding Our Future scandal and other problems identified by the legislative auditor. Neither Republicans nor Democrats will speculate on ways of reducing costs for long-term care and special education.
>>Former Cass County Deputy Charged with CSAM, Wife on Administrative Leave
(Fargo, ND) — A former Cass County Sheriff’s deputy has been charged with 10 counts of possessing child pornography, and his wife, also with the department, is on administrative leave. Carson Quam resigned in September after Sheriff Jesse Jahner learned of the investigation accusing Quam of having pornography picturing children 2-14 years old having sex with adults. Jahner says they put Quam’s wife Kayla on leave to not interfere with the investigation.
>>Rochester Police Investigate Series of Break-Ins Targeting Asian Residents
(Rochester, MN) — Rochester Police are investigating a series of break-ins that appear to be targeting Asian residents. Police say five burglaries happened from November 13 through December 3, all five victims being Asian. Most of the home robberies happened in northwest Rochester, stealing valuables like cash, jewelry, and passports. Anyone with information on any of the cases is asked to call RPD.
>>MN-Based Restaurant Chain CHI-CHI’s Revived After 20 Years
(Minneapolis, MN) — After 20 years, Minnesota-based Mexican restaurant CHI-CHI’s is making a comeback. The chain announced its new agreement today with the state’s Hormel Foods. CHI-CHI’s was founded in 1975, boasting over 200 locations countrywide.
