>>MN BCA Identifies Victims, Officers Involved in Fatal Freeborn County Shooting
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota BCA has identified all of those involved in a shooting in Freeborn County on Tuesday, resulting in two people dead. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office says 44-year-old Nathaniel Bailey of Albert Lea died of a gunshot wound. 66-year-old Brenda Kruse of Albert Lea died from a gunshot wound, and her death was ruled a homicide. Five law enforcement officers, all from different departments, are on critical incident leave for their involvement in the shooting. Officers involved include, Mower County Sergeant Katlynne Fisher, with eight years of experience; Steele County Deputy Sean Robbinswith; 11 years of experience; Freeborn County Deputy Darik Weigel, with eight years of experience; Albert Lea Police Detective Sy Vanthavong, with 24 years of experience; and a Faribault County Sheriff’s Office Deputy, whose name is being withheld due to undercover status, per Minnesota Statute 13.82, Subdivsion 17(a)). Around 7 p.m. on Tuesday, officers were sent to an Albert Lea home on a report of a man texting a woman that he had just killed his mother. The man, identified as Nathaniel, fled in a vehicle. Officers found the car near Austin and attempted a traffic stop. Nathaniel fled again, now back to the home. Once returned, Nathaniel came out of the vehicle with a handgun, and officers fatally shot him. A search of the property turned up Kruse’s body. The investigation is active and ongoing.
>>2 Nevada Residents Charged for Voter Registration Fraud in MN
(Minneapolis, MN) — The FBI is prosecuting two Nevada residents in Minnesota for conspiracy to engage in voter registration fraud. Court documents say from 2021 through 2022, Ronnie Williams and Lorraine Combs created and used fake names and information to fill out voter registration applications. They turned it into Foundation 1, which submitted it to county election offices across the state. Foundation 1 paid Williams for the registrations, which he split with Combs.
>>Mankato Police Investigate Shooting That Injured 1
(Mankato, MN) — Mankato police are investigating a shooting at an apartment complex on Thursday. Officers responded to reports of multiple gunshots at Cedar Meadow Apartments around 11:30 p.m. They found a man suffering a single gunshot wound. The victim was taken to the Mayo Clinic Health System-Mankato. Investigators believe the man was specifically targeted. No arrests have been made.
>>AG Ellison Praises $55M Bonding Bill Investment for Mental Health Treatment
(St. Paul, MN) — Attorney General Keith Ellison is praising part of the state’s recently passed bonding bill that puts more financial resources into expanding treatment capacity in the state. A $55 million investment will fund 50 new beds in mental health facilities in Minnesota. This comes after multiple deputies, police officers, and other authorities testified that without an open bed, those having a mental health crisis are being held in jails, despite never being convicted of a crime. Ellison says the bill will improve wait times, which had grown to almost 60 days on average for Anoka-Metro Regional Treatment Center (AMRTC) in 2023.
>>Rep. Craig Introduces Legislation for Affordable Housing
(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Representative Angie Craig introduced legislation to address the affordable housing crisis in the country. This bill would allow the federal government to better track and study housing loss across the United States. Craig’s bill, called FIND, the Federal Inquiry into the Nature and Documentation of Housing Loss Act, would create a task force to investigate the types and reasoning behind the loss of homes. This measure is endorsed by housing advocates, including the National Association of REALTORS.
>>I-94 Closure in Minneapolis this Weekend
(Minneapolis, MN) – A warning for drivers: I-94 will be closed around downtown Minneapolis starting tonight until early Monday morning. Both sides of I-94 will be closed between I-35 and Huron Boulevard beginning tonight at 9 p.m. MnDOT crews will be doing bridge work in the area until Monday at 5 a.m. Drivers are encouraged to use the official detour route, including I-35W, Highway 36, and I-35E. It’s a busy Saturday too with the Lynx at home, The Weeknd in concert at U.S. Bank Stadium, and a large protest at the state capitol.
>>Rosemount-Native to Serve with U.S. Naval Aviation Warfighters
(Pensacola, FL) — A Rosemount native will serve in the U.S. Navy with the next generation of naval aviation warfighters. Ensign Smith joined the Navy 10 months ago and is now a student at the Naval Aviation School Command (NASC) in Pensacola, Florida. Smith says the skills and values he finds similar in Rosemount and the Navy are hard work and loyalty. He’s a 2012 graduate of Rosemount High School who graduated from North Dakota State University in 2017 with a degree in architecture.
