>>BPD Searches for Missing Woman
(Brooklyn Park, MN) – Brooklyn Park police are searching for a missing 42-year-old woman. Carmen Washington was last seen on Thursday in Brooklyn Center. She’s described as Black, five feet nine inches tall, 200 pounds, with blonde hair and brown eyes. Washington was last seen wearing long black pants, a black leather jacket, a black long-sleeve zip-up, and an underjacket.
>>St. Paul Police Investigating Death
(St. Paul, MN) – St. Paul Police are investigating a death that happened this morning in the Payne-Phalen Neighborhood. Just before noon, officers were called to the 1500 block of Westminster Street and found an adult male with lacerations to his back and head. Despite life-saving measures, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The original call was for an assault. A woman who reported the assault was taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries. No arrests have been made.
>>Jury Awards $12.5M to Twin Cities Woman Abused by Skating Coach
(Minneapolis, MN) — A Hennepin County jury has awarded $12.5 million in damages to a Twin Cities woman who was sexually abused by her figure skating coach when she was 14 years old. The jury found Thomas Incantalupo liable for the abuse, granting $7.5 million for past mental and emotional suffering, $2.5 million for anticipated future harm, and another $2.5 million in punitive damages. Incantalupo pleaded guilty in 2019 to first- and third-degree criminal sexual conduct. He is currently serving a 24-year sentence at Stillwater Prison. Attorneys for the defendant say they plan to appeal the verdict.
>>Exploratory Drilling Proposed Near Boundary Waters
(Ely, MN) – Franconia, a subsidiary of Twin Metals Minnesota, wants to drill near Birch Lake, a popular recreation spot that flows into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Save the Boundary Waters. Executive Ingrid Lyons says the proposal signals a push toward copper mining in the region, despite a federal ban on such mining in the Rainy River Watershed. State and private lands aren’t covered by that ban. A bill in the Minnesota Legislature would close that gap, blocking copper mining on state land near the Wilderness. The bill would not affect other types of mining, such as taconite, iron ore, sand, gravel, or granite.
>>Rep. Craig Says Washington Needs to Make Minnesota Farmers a Priority
(Prior Lake, MN) – More bad news for Minnesota farmers. U.S. Congresswoman Angie Craig says more American soybeans were passed up in an international deal. Craig was in Prior Lake for an event this morning, saying yesterday she learned that China is purchasing more beans from Brazil. Craig noted, “I sure hope this administration prioritizes getting our export markets back for American farmers and prioritizes more domestic markets as well.” Now that the shutdown is over, Craig returns to Washington on Monday to start working on the issues facing Minnesota farmers.
>>Bullet Strikes Vehicle on I-94 in Douglas County
(Douglas County, MN) — Authorities are investigating after a bullet hit a vehicle on I-94 late Thursday morning. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office says the shot entered the driver’s side rear door, causing a minor injury to one occupant. Investigators believe the bullet may have come from hunting or shooting activity north of the interstate and between mile markers 112 and 114, anywhere from 11:00 to 11:45 a.m. Anyone with information is asked to call Anoka County non-emergency dispatch at 763-427-1212.
>>Police Investigate Gunfire in Columbia Heights
(Columbia Heights, MN) – Authorities are investigating reports of gunshots in Columbia Heights. Officers from multiple agencies responded to reports of shots fired around 7:40 a.m. Thursday, and found shell casings but no victims. No arrests have been made. Anyone with information is asked to call Anoka County non-emergency dispatch at 763-427-1212. The case remains under investigation.
>>MDA Urban Farming Grants Available
(St. Paul, MN) – A new opportunity is now available for urban farmers. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is once again offering an Urban Farm Conservation Mini-grant program with approximately $100,000 available in funding. Urban farmers can receive up to a $5,000 grant to make conservation-focused improvements. To be eligible, an urban farm must be commercially farming in Minnesota and must sell or donate at least $1,000 of what they produce. And these farmers must be living or selling in a city with a population of more than 5,000 people. Applications are due by December 18th.
