>>Rochester Police Search for Missing Homeless Man
(Rochester, MN) — Rochester police are searching for a missing homeless man. 30-year-old Dalton Barry was last seen early this morning. He frequents southwestern Minnesota but has no address. Dalton is described as white, five feet 10 inches tall, 175 pounds, with reddish-blond hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing black pants, a dark-colored t-shirt with a white t-shirt underneath, but no coat or shoes.
>>Suspect Arrested in Lutsen Resort Lodge Arson Case
(St. Paul, MN) – State investigators have arrested a suspect in the February 2024 fire that destroyed the historic Lutsen Resort Lodge. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) says 41-year-old Bryce Campbell, the lodge’s owner, was taken into custody on Wednesday in Southfield, Michigan. Campbell faces three felony arson charges and one count of insurance fraud. Investigators allege he set the fire to collect an insurance payout. Campbell remains jailed in Michigan awaiting extradition to Minnesota. The BCA says the blaze started in the lodge’s basement near the boiler room.
>>Ex-Minnesota EMT Admits to Causing Severe Brain Injury to Infant
(Hancock, MN) – A former western Minnesota emergency medical technician has admitted to shaking a two-month-old baby boy, causing severe brain damage. 37-year-old Crystal Searle pleaded guilty to child endangerment resulting in substantial harm to Murray Foss in a Donelly home. Prosecutors say Searle also failed to call 911 after the incident in March of 2022. Under a plea agreement, she faces a jail term of no more than six months and will pay restitution to the family. Sentencing is scheduled for February 3rd.
>>MN Budget Estimates $2.5B Surplus Now, $3B Deficit Later
(St. Paul, MN) – State officials have released the budget forecast and project a $2.5 billion surplus in the current budget but a nearly $3 billion deficit in the next. Minnesota Management and Budget Commissioner Erin Campbell says this stems from higher income tax collections in the near term, slower economic growth in the future, significant increases in healthcare costs, and increased forecast spending. Campbell credited the governor and the Legislature for working to lower the projected deficit, which was estimated to be around $6 billion this time last year.
>>Crash Sparks Gas Leak, Evacuations Near Alexandria
(Alexandria, MN) – A crash north of Alexandria early Wednesday caused a major natural gas leak and forced evacuations. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office says a vehicle struck a gas overflow pipe on County Road 42 around 2:30 a.m. The driver, 42-year-old Samantha Porter of Carlos, was arrested, and deputies believe alcohol was a factor. Officials called the leak “very significant,” prompting evacuations, power shutoffs, and road closures. CenterPoint Energy says about 525 customers in Carlos and Alexandria could be without service into Friday as crews work to repair damage. Drivers are urged to avoid the area.
>>U.S. House Seeks Environmental Records on Mine Near Boundary Waters
(Birch Lake, MN) – The U.S. House Natural Resources Committee is demanding environmental records related to a proposed mine near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Earlier this week, the committee requested information from three environmental groups, seeking evidence of possible coordination with the Biden administration to block mining in the Superior National Forest. The inquiry marks an escalation in the long-running battle over Twin Metals, a controversial copper-nickel mining project in northeastern Minnesota. The committee’s request, however, does not carry the legal weight of a subpoena.
>>Minnesota National Guard Remembers Fallen Sergeant Turcotte
(West St. Paul, MN) – The Minnesota National Guard is remembering Sergeant Nicholas Turcotte from Maple Grove, 19 years after his death in Iraq. 23-year-old Turcotte was in an armored vehicle escorting a convoy on December 4th, 2006, when the vehicle rolled and crashed in Nasiriyah. Sergeant Turcotte was serving with the 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry. Guard officials are asking Minnesotans to take a moment today to remember Turcotte.
>>Rep. Omar Honors Mpls Fire Chief Tyner’s Retirement on MN House Floor
(St. Paul, MN) – Representative Ilhan Omar spoke on the Minnesota House floor today to honor Minneapolis Fire Department Chief Byran Tyner, who will retire at the end of this year. Omar says Tyner gave over 30 years of service to Twin Cities’ communities, “serving as the second Black chief in the department’s history and leading Minneapolis Fire through some of the city’s most significant public safety challenges, including the Covid-19 pandemic.” Tyner will stay in the city but transition into a new role as Executive Director of the Phyllis Wheatley Community Center in Minneapolis.
>>DL Search Warrant Executed in Stolen Firearm Investigation
(Detroit Lakes, MN) – Law enforcement executed a search warrant in Detroit Lakes on Wednesday as part of an investigation into a stolen pistol. The Becker County Sheriff’s Office says deputies, Detroit Lakes Police, and the Lakes Area SWAT Team searched a home around 4:55 p.m. The firearm, reported stolen earlier near Frazee, was believed to be in the possession of a 27-year-old man living at the address. The investigation remains ongoing.
