>>MN BCA, Willmar Police Search for Missing Teens
(Undated) — The Minnesota BCA is searching for two missing teenagers: 15-year-old Brianna Holland and 16-year-old Angel Perez-Ortiz. Willmar police say the two were last seen together leaving a Willmar residence on foot on Monday around 5 p.m. Holland is described as a Native American girl with a light brown complexion. She’s 5 feet 5 inches tall, 125 pounds, with long straight brown/reddish hair, a right nostril piercing, and brown eyes. Perez-Ortiz is described as a Hispanic boy with a light complexion. He’s 5 feet 7 inches tall, 170 pounds, with curly dark brown hair, piercings in his ears and nose, and brown eyes. Holland was last seen wearing a gray tank top and black/camo shorts with a face design on the front. Perez-Ortiz was last seen wearing dark pants and a black True Religion hoodie.
>>E-Bicyclist Killed in Winona Car Crash Identified
(Winona, MN) — Winona police have identified the man killed in Monday’s e-bike vs. car crash as 67-year-old Michael Ryan. Police say 54-year-old Gregory Ferriss of Winona was turning south in his car when he hit and killed Ryan. Officers say Ryan was not wearing a helmet and believe that solar glare affected Ferriss’s vision.
>>Minneapolis Firefighter Hospitalized After Former Bar Fire
(Minneapolis, MN) — A Minneapolis firefighter was hospitalized from a multi-story fire this morning. Crews responded to reports of a fire at the former bar Whiskey Junction around 12:36 a.m. First responders found smoke and fire coming from the rear exit of the commercial building, with possible fire extending to the inside and roof. The fire was cleared from the roof down. A firefighter was brought to a local hospital for possible overexertion. No other injuries were reported. The cause is under investigation.
>>TX Man Charged with ID Theft in MN
(Rochester, MN) — A Texas man is wanted for identity theft and stealing $14,500 in Rochester. Police began investigating 65-year-old John Tran in August after a man reported he had fallen prey to identity theft in the past. In September, police learned that Tran transferred the money from the victim’s Mayo Credit Union card to a bank in Texas in July. Police have called Tran three times and left messages but have not received a response.
>>1 of 8 Men Detained in ND for Illegal Entry Released
(Fargo, ND) — One of the eight men detained during a traffic stop Tuesday in Fargo, North Dakota, by Customs and Border Protection has been released. Officials say the seven who were arrested, all from Mexico and between the ages of 21 and 60, were part of a “targeted” operation. The man who was let go was deemed to have entered the country legally. No other information has been released.
>>MN Class of 2024 Sees Highest Graduation Rate on Record
(Undated) — Education Minnesota, the state’s trade union for professional educators and students, applauds the class of 2024 for the highest graduation rate on record. Minnesota’s Department of Education (MDE) announced on Thursday that the overall graduation rate for the class of 59,720 students was 84.2%. Education Minnesota President Denise Specht says these students “overcame the disruptions and distractions of a global pandemic and a national racial reckoning after the murder of George Floyd.” Specht does worry the trend won’t continue “if the Trump Administration and its Congressional allies follow through on threats to cut federal funding.” Officials say the data shows year-to-year increases for American Indian, Asian, Black, Latino, and white student groups, as well as low-income families, English-language learners, and students getting special education services.
