>>Milaca Woman Dies in Icy Benton County Crash
(Foley, MN) — A Milaca woman is dead after a crash in Benton County Wednesday. Deputies responded around 4:00 p.m. to a two-vehicle crash. 31-year-old Amanda Nieman died at the scene. The other driver, 43-year-old Margaret Henry, and her eight-year-old passenger were brought to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Deputies believe ice, snow, and gusting winds contributed to the crash.
>>Man Charged with Murder Following WI Standoff
(Hudson, WI) — A man faces first-degree murder and mayhem charges following an hours-long standoff in Hudson, Wisconsin. Police responded to a home around 3:00 p.m. Wednesday after speaking on the phone with 54-year-old Chad Haworth, who made comments indicating someone in the home was in danger. Haworth refused to come out for several hours, saying he would commit suicide by cop. Eventually, he came out and was arrested. A woman was found dead inside.
>>Suspect Arrested in Fatal Bloomington Hit and Run
(Bloomington, MN) — A suspect in a fatal hit-and-run in Bloomington Thursday is in custody. A 911 caller brought an injured person to officers around 8:45 p.m. after finding him lying in the road. The 21-year-old man was brought to Hennepin Healthcare, where he died. Police arrested a 21-year-old man in Apple Valley today, who is believed to have hit the victim with his SUV.
>>Over 20lbs of Meth Intercepted in Eagan Drug Deal
(Eagan, MN) — A massive methamphetamine bust in Eagan ended with two men in custody Monday. 26-year-old Luis Lopez-Velaquez and 33-year-old Christian Monter-Gutierrez met in a parking lot for a drug deal. The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office Violent Crime Enforcement Team moved in to arrest the men, intercepting just over 20 pounds of meth, packaged in individual baggies. They both face multiple felony drug charges.
>>37th FOF Defendant Pleads Guilty
(Minneapolis, MN) — A Lakeville man has pleaded guilty today to wire fraud connected to the $250 million Feeding Our Future fraud scheme. 33-year-old Abdinasir Abshir is the 37th defendant to plead guilty for their role in exploiting the federally funded nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic. From April 2020 through January 2022, Abshir and co-conspirators falsely claimed to have served 1.6 million years to children through his food site, Stigma-Free Mankato. In exchange for program participation, he paid over $100,000 in bribes and kickbacks to a Feeding Our Future employee. On February 18th, 2025, Abshir attempted to obstruct the trial by talking to a cooperating witness in the U.S. vs. Aimee Bock and Salim Said trial. Abhsir also acknowledged an enhancement will be added for attempted tampering. He will be sentenced later.
>>Special House Election Next Tuesday
(St. Paul, MN) — Voters will choose a new representative next Tuesday in the Minnesota House. The House is divided 67-66 in Republicans’ favor. This comes after Democrat Curtis Johnson was disqualified from taking office after failing to meet residency requirements. The empty seat has prevented Republicans from passing bills, as Secretary of State Steve Simon ruled that 68 votes are needed. Nominees for the 40B seat are Democrat David Gottfried and Republican Paul Wikstrom, who challenged Johnson’s residency status in court.
>>Bill Would Add Construction Zone Safety to Driver’s License Testing
(St. Paul, MN) – A bill in the Minnesota Senate would work to improve work zone safety by adding this to driver’s license testing and education courses. The bill’s author, Senator Ann Johnson Stewart of Minnetonka, says the bill is needed because more than 3,600 construction workers were injured and 44 died during the years 2018-2022. The bill would require that driver’s license testing cover items including safe speeds in work zones, duties of the driver in work zones, and what the signs and markings mean. The bill is in the Senate Transportation Committee.
>>Minnesota DNR is Working to Fix Altered View of EagleCam
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota D-N-R officials say they are aware that the EagleCam is no longer showing the nearby nest with a pair of eagles. It’s believed the high winds this week may have impacted the camera’s view. They say they are working to fix the issue and it will take some time. There are two new eggs in the nest, but you can’t see them directly when the camera is in its regular position. The pair can be seen in the nest incubating the eggs.
