>>Young Brooklyn Park Man Missing, May be in Minneapolis
(Brooklyn Park, MN) – A 23-year-old man from Brooklyn Park is missing. Police say Antonio Prince was last seen on Thursday. He’s believed to have left overnight and may be with his brother in Minneapolis. He’s described as Black, five feet nine inches tall, 175 pounds, with black hair and beard and brown eyes.
>>Authorities ID Driver Killed in Car vs. Train Crash in Coon Rapids
(Coon Rapids, MN) – Anoka County authorities are identifying the woman killed in a car versus train crash in Coon Rapids on New Year’s Day. The Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office says it was 43-year-old Sara Barber of Coon Rapids who had stopped on railroad tracks and was hit by an oncoming freight train around 3:44 p.m. Thursday. The BSNF Railway is working with local officials to determine what happened. They say the rail crossing had working gates, flashing lights, and bells.
>>Owatonna Appeals Judge Sentenced for DWI in Steele County
(Owatonna, MN) – A Minnesota Court of Appeals judge has been sentenced after pleading guilty to driving while intoxicated in Steele County. Judge Renee Worke will serve one year of supervised probation, complete community service, undergo a chemical dependency evaluation, and pay a fine. The sentence follows a November 29th incident in Owatonna, where Worke’s vehicle was found stuck in a snowbank. Authorities say her blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit.
>>State Responds to Child Care Assistance Questions
(St. Paul, MN) – Minnesota’s Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) says investigating fraud and protecting taxpayer dollars remain top priorities for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), which helps 12,000 working families afford care for 23,000 children each month. DCYF reports 55 open investigations into providers receiving CCAP funds, ranging from compliance checks to in-depth reviews. Officials say they work closely with law enforcement and can suspend payments if credible evidence of fraud exists. The agency also confirmed recent on-site checks at centers named in a viral video, saying all were operating as expected except one that wasn’t yet open for the day. The agency warns that unvetted claims can disrupt investigations and create safety risks for families.
>>Former Rep. Her Becomes St. Paul’s 47th Mayor, 1st Female, 1st Asian-American Mayor
(St. Paul, MN) – It’s official, former Representative Democrat Kaohly Vang Her is St. Paul’s 47th mayor, the city’s first female and first Hmong-American mayor. Her thanked her parents, who she says “carried my siblings and me on their backs to come to this country for a better life.” She says, “When I entered this race with just three months to campaign, I was told it would be impossible to win. The people who said that did not know that I was raised by parents who were relentless in their pursuit of safety, security, success, and the American dream.” Her campaigned on speeding up business permitting and licensing and said she’s meeting with local business leaders about investing in the city.
>>Anoka-Hennepin Educators, District Continue Contract Mediation as Strike Nears
(Anoka-Hennepin, MN) – Anoka-Hennepin educators and the district are back at the drawing board today after contract talks led nowhere on Monday. AH Educators Minnesota (AHEM) President John Wolhaupter says they were given worse offers than before, despite “paying more for healthcare and having lower salaries than our peers in other districts.” Wolhaupter says they’ve done their research and the money is there. The district says it’s hurting from a recent loss of $22.2 million to its budget due to the new paid leave law. The strike of over 3,000 educators could begin as soon as next Thursday if no deal is reached.
>>MDR Reminds, Encourages Minnesotans to Start Tax Prep Early
(St. Paul, MN) – It’s never too early to get a head start on your tax prep work. Minnesota Department of Revenue (MDR) Spokesperson Ryan Brown encourages people to start pulling together income and financial documents that they’re getting either from their employer or financial institutions, such as W-2s, 1099s, 98, and other income statements that they may need to report for tax purposes. This includes credits and deductions for education or charity. For more information, visit the Department of Revenue’s website.
>>Minnesota Wild at Anaheim Ducks on Friday Night
(Anaheim, CA) – The Minnesota Wild play the Anaheim Ducks tonight at 9:30 p.m. in Southern California. The Wild lost 4-3 to the Sharks in a shootout on New Year’s Eve in San Jose. Minnesota is 2-0-1 on the seven-game road trip. The Ducks fell to the Lightning 4-3 in overtime on Wednesday night. Four members of the Wild are playing for Sweden in the 2026 Olympics in Italy. Goaltenders Filip Gustavsson and Jesper Wallstedt, defenseman Jonas Brodin, and forward Joel Eriksson Ek will represent their home country in Milan next month.
