>>St. Cloud Man Arrested After Reports of Armed Threats
(St. Cloud, MN) — A St. Cloud man is in custody after police received multiple reports of a person threatening people with a handgun Thursday night. Officers say witnesses said the suspect had threatened several individuals before entering a nearby home. Police identified the man as 32-year-old Cortney Turney of St. Cloud. Officers established a perimeter and began negotiations while investigators obtained a search warrant. The St. Cloud Police SWAT Team assisted in serving the warrant, and Turney was taken into custody without incident. No injuries were reported.
>>Missing Winona County Man Found Safe After Five Days
(La Crescent, MN) — A 22-year-old Winona County man reported missing last weekend has been found safe after spending more than five days in the woods of southeastern Minnesota. The Winona County Sheriff’s Office says Elijah “Eli” McCumber was located Thursday morning after a homeowner near La Crescent reported seeing a man matching his description. McCumber was last seen Saturday evening west of La Crescent, where his vehicle was also discovered. Authorities say he was hungry and exhausted but otherwise safe when search teams arrived. He was evaluated by paramedics at the scene and then transported to a hospital for further treatment.
>>New London Coffee Shop Damaged in Fire
(New London, Mn) – Fire damaged a coffee shop and other businesses in Downtown New London Thursday night. The New London Fire Department says at 9:48 p.m. Thursday, they were dispatched to the Waysetter Coffee Shop at 32 North Main Street. A passerby spotted smoke and flames and called 911. Firefighters arrived four minutes later and quickly extinguished the fire. Officials say the business had recently been undergoing renovations, and it is believed the fire started by spontaneous combustion of stain-soaked rags in a garbage bag. Damage to the coffee shop and adjacent businesses was estimated at around $30,000. Fire crews were on the scene for about an hour, and they got help from New London Ambulance and The Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office. No one was injured.
>>DFL State Convention Underway in Rochester
(Rochester, MN) — Minnesota Democrats are gathering in Rochester this weekend for the DFL State Convention, where delegates are expected to make key endorsements ahead of the 2026 election. Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan is widely expected to secure the party’s endorsement for the open U.S. Senate seat after U.S. Representative Angie Craig opted to bypass the convention process and take her campaign directly to the August 11th primary. Meanwhile, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar enters the governor’s race as a formidable contender, backed by more than one million in campaign funds and a long history of statewide electoral success. Delegates will spend the weekend debating party priorities and rallying support behind their preferred candidates.
>>Republican State Convention Underway in Duluth
(Duluth, MN) — Minnesota Republicans are gathering in Duluth this weekend for their state convention, where delegates will decide who earns the party’s endorsement in the race for governor. Seven candidates are seeking the GOP backing, including House Speaker Lisa Demuth, Kendall Qualls, Mike Lindell, John Kriesel, Patrick Knight, Peggy Bennett, and Phil Parrish. The candidates squared off in a debate as the convention opened today, (Fri) with delegates expected to announce their endorsement choice tomorrow. (Sat) Republicans will also weigh in on the U.S. Senate race, where Adam Schwarze, Michele Tafoya, and Royce White are competing for party support.
>>Minnesota Representatives Introduce Increased Burial and Funeral Benefits for Veterans
(Washington, D.C.) – In a show of bipartisan support for our veterans, Minnesota U.S. Representatives Kelly Morrison (D-MN 03) and Brad Finstad (R-MN 01) introduced the Veteran Burial Benefit Correction Act today. The legislation would increase and standardize burial and funeral benefits for veterans who die from service-connected disabilities. To keep up with inflation, the benefits would increase from $2,000 to $3,000. A similar bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate.
>>Gas Prices Lower Heading into Weekend
(St. Louis Park, MN) – Minnesotans are heading into the weekend with lower gas prices. According to AAA (Triple A), the average price for a gallon of unleaded is now at $4.20 a gallon. That is four cents cheaper than Thursday, and 17 cents cheaper than a week ago. Minnesota drivers are still paying more than a month ago. Last month, the average price across Minnesota was $3.93, a difference of 27 cents per gallon compared to the current average.
