>>At Least One Dead in Owatonna Rollover Crash
(Owatonna, MN) — At least one person is dead after a single-vehicle crash in Owatonna this morning. State Patrol responded to the scene around 7:45 a.m. on I-35. Troopers say a 1999 Ford Ranger was northbound when it lost control on icy roads and rolled into a ditch. A 25-year-old man and two children ages four and under one-year-old were involved. It’s unknown how many fatalities there were.
>>NTSB Issues Final Report on Hermantown Plane Crash
(Hermantown, MN) – The pilot of a single-engine plane that crashed into a house in Hermantown in 2022 had expressed doubts about his instrument flying abilities before the flight, according to the final report from the National Transportation Safety Board. The pilot, 32-year-old Tyler Fretland from Burnsville, left Duluth en route to St. Paul. Four minutes later, the plane collided with electrical wires and crashed into a two-story brick home. All three people on board the aircraft were killed, while the homeowners escaped with minor injuries. Fretland likely experienced “spatial disorientation,” a term used in aviation to describe an inability to accurately perceive one’s position on the earth. There was no evidence of mechanical failure before the crash.
>>Sunfish Lake Burglaries Leave MN Residents Wary
(Sunfish Lake, MN) — West St. Paul police are urging Sunfish Lake residents to stay on high alert after a series of burglaries. Over 60 burglaries have taken place in high-end neighborhoods across 12 Minnesota cities, with Sunfish Lake the latest victim. Police say all the burglaries are similar, taking place when no one is home, high-end homes are targets, and small items are being stolen.
>>Whooping Cough Cases Reported in Rochester Area
(Rochester, MN) — The Rochester Public School District (RPS) is alerting parents and caregivers to reported cases of pertussis. A note sent to the RPS community says the bacterial illness, which is commonly known as whooping cough, has been reported at Rochester’s high schools and throughout the broader community. The number of cases has not been disclosed.
>>Semi-Spinouts, Other Weather-Related Crashes in Western Minnesota
(Moorhead, MN) — State troopers responded to six semi-spin-outs between 5:30 and 7:30 a.m. Wednesday in west-central Minnesota. Patrol Sgt. Jesse Grabow says the jackknifes were on I-94 between the Downer exit east of Moorhead and Ashby. Grabow says there were also several other crashes and vehicle spin-outs. Grabow says the interstate and other roads are slippery.
>>Target Reports Disappointing Third Quarter Numbers
(Minneapolis, MN) – Minneapolis-based retailer Target is scaling back its prediction for a strong holiday season after reporting disappointing earnings for the third quarter. Following the release, Target stock dropped 21% throughout the day. CEO Brian Cornell says while he’s not happy with the reduction for the remainder of the year, he believes they’re managing business appropriately and helping teams stay agile. Target is banking on entertainment to give them a boost for Black Friday and holiday shopping. They will offer exclusive items from both Taylor Swift and the new movie “Wicked” to try and increase sales.
>>MSP Airport Prepares for Busy Thanksgiving Travel Period
(Bloomington, MN) — Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is preparing for a significant boost in passengers for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday period. The liftoff for Thanksgiving travel begins tomorrow and runs 12 days through Tuesday, December 2nd. MSP is expecting a minimum of 468,000 people to check in and be screened through security checkpoints. That’s more than 10% over the nearly 423,000 screened in 2023 during the same period. The busiest days are expected to mirror past years, with passenger activity peaking on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the following Sunday.
>>Minneapolis Cannabis-Restaurant Hi Flora! to Close
(Minneapolis, MN) — Cannabis-based restaurant Hi Flora! will close this December after “serious adverse health event” and legal THC limit violations. Hi Flora! opened in Minneapolis over a year ago, serving plant-based food and selling THC tinctures and beverages for on-site consumption or to take home. In August 2023, owner Heidi Klein says a customer experienced “anxiety,” causing the State Office of Cannabis Management to get involved. A following inspection found alleged violations of products exceeding the legal THC limit and on-site consumption of products without a liquor license. Klein claims her sales have tanked after both incidents.
>> State Awards Support Our Troops License Plate Grants to 2 Organizations
(St. Paul, MN) — The North Metro Blue Star Mothers of America and the Prairie Five Community Action Council in Montevideo are being awarded Support Our Troops license plate grants. The Department of Veterans Affairs says the Blue Star Mothers is getting nearly $10,000 to provide monthly meals to veterans and family members at the Fisher House on the Minneapolis VA Campus. Prairie Five Action will use a $20,000 grant to provide up to 300 round-trip rides to veterans requesting transportation services. The purchase of Support Our Troops license plates funds this grant program.
