>>Missing IGH Man Found Safe
(Inver Grove Heights, MN) — A missing Inver Grove Heights man is safe. Police were searching today for 25-year-old Tyler VanMeeteren, who was last seen leaving an Inver Grove Heights home around 9 a.m. on Monday.
>>2 MN Men Federally Charged with Machinegun Possession, Related to High School Graduation Shootings
(St. Paul, MN) — Two men are being federally charged with owning machineguns related to two graduation ceremony shootings in Minneapolis. Court documents say on May 30th, University of Minnesota Police (UMPD) responded to a shooting at the Mariucci Arena, which was hosting the Wayzata High School graduation ceremony. Officers found two victims, both graduates in the ceremony, who suffered gunshot wounds. After some investigation, officers found and arrested 20-year-old Hamza Said and recovered a Glock 9mm semiautomatic pistol with a conversion switch. On June 6th, Minneapolis police responded to a shooting at the Burnsville High School graduation ceremony, and officers arrested 18-year-old Amiir Ali. In a traffic stop on June 3rd, Ali was stopped, and a Glock 10mm semiautomatic firearm with a conversion switch was found under his seat. He told officers the driver, himself, and another passenger were heading to the Edina High School Graduation Ceremony, which was in the same location Wayzata’s had been four days earlier. Both men are in custody pending further court appearances.
>>Duluth Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Sexually Abusing Minor, Creating Child Porn
(Duluth, MN) — A 40-year-old Duluth man faces 30 years in prison for producing child pornography of a minor he sexually abused. On April 17th, Jeffery Niemi pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a minor under the age of fourteen. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office began investigating Niemi in October 2024 after Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) reported finding digital files of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). The files came from an investigation in Queensland, Australia, but facial recognition technology identified Niemi from the files. 26 videos and 21 images were recovered; evidence matching items in the videos was found in Niemi’s Duluth home.
>>Pine Island Man Arrested for 6 Rochester Burglaries
(Rochester, MN) — A Pine Island man is in custody for allegedly burglarizing ATMs at five Rochester businesses and a school. 47-year-old Jason Krukow was arrested Tuesday after a search warrant of his home and other places related to the investigation. Burglaries were reported from March 25th through April 13th at Whistle Binkies, Zen Fusion, Chip Shots, Haley Comfort System/The Purple Goat, Byron High School, and Rochester Sand and Gravel. Police say Krukow faces multiple degrees of property damage charges and burglary.
>>Le Sueur County Deputies Investigate Sports Bar Break-In
(Le Sueur County, MN) — The Le Sueur County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information about a weekend bar break-in to come forward. Deputies responded to Neisen’s Sports Bar on State Highway 99 in Kasota Township on Sunday on reports of a break-in. The owners told deputies the bar has been closed since a fire, but the suspect(s) broke in between 5 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Sunday. The suspect(s) stole copper pipes from the bathroom and utility room and copper wiring from electrical panels. There was also extensive damage to an empty ATM. It’s unknown how much the damages will cost.
>>MPCA Air Quality Alert for Central, Southern MN
(Undated) — Central and southern Minnesota are in an orange air quality alert from now until 11 p.m. tomorrow. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) says the Twin Cities metro, 11 cities, and five Tribal Nations will all be affected by smoke from wildfires in northwest Canada. The orange alert means the air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups, and pollution may aggravate heart and lung disease. Officials say the smoke will linger along a frontal boundary, then stall over southern MN. Upcoming rainfall on Thursday is expected to help reduce smoke in some areas. Campfires are discouraged, and no burning permits will be issued or activated until it’s over.
Areas included: Twin Cities metro, Brainerd, Alexandria, Albert Lea, Marshall, Worthington, Hinckley, St. Cloud, Ortonville, Mankato, Moorhead, Duluth, and the Tribal Nations of Upper Sioux, Mille Lacs, Prairie Island, Leech Lake, and Fond du Lac.
>>Sen. Smith Demands Trump Admin. Investigate Scam DMV Texts
(Washington, D.C.) — Democratic Senator Tina Smith is pressing U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Trump administration to investigate scam Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) texts plaguing Minnesota. Residents across the state are reporting fake text messages from scammers impersonating the DMV, demanding online payment for a traffic violation or risk prosecution, damaged credit scores, and loss of license. These messages have also been reported in Georgia, New York, Indiana, Florida, New Jersey, and Colorado. Smith says she expected a response from the DOJ no later than next Friday.
>>Minnesota Twins Claim Pitcher Wentz Off Waivers from Pirates
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Minnesota Twins are adding a left-handed pitcher to the bullpen. The team claimed Joey Wentz off waivers today from the Pirates. Wentz went 2-and-1 with a 4.15 ERA in 19 games for Pittsburgh this season. He split the 2024 season between the Detroit Tigers and the Pirates. The Twins moved starter Pablo López to the 60-day injured list with a shoulder strain. Wentz is expected to be uniform for Thursday’s game at Target Field.
