>>Columbia Heights Searches for Missing Man
(Columbia Heights, MN) — Columbia Heights Police are asking for the public’s help finding a missing man. 62-year-old David Klint was last known to be staying in a Twin Cities facility and has not contacted his family for six months. He has no phone or vehicle, and his family is concerned for his welfare. Klint is described as white, 5 feet 6 inches tall, 150 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes.
>>Minneapolis Man Charged in Pair of Shootings in Kandiyohi County
(Willmar, MN) — A Minneapolis man faces multiple charges, including attempted murder, first-degree assault, and fleeing police, after a pair of shootings in Kandiyohi County that left one victim dead and another wounded. Investigators say 25-year-old Ameer Matariyeh fatally shot 55-year-old Jerome Skluzacek of New London during a carjacking attempt in Willmar on Tuesday. Matariyeh also allegedly shot 25-year-old Peter Mayerchak of Lake Lillian, who is listed in stable condition and expected to survive. Police say additional charges could be filed for the shooting in Minneapolis, where Matariyeh is accused of firing a gun from the balcony of an Uptown apartment before fleeing to the Willmar area.
>>MN GOP, SOS Simon on Ballot Boxes Left Unattended in Hennepin County
(Undated) – After a Hennepin County mail courier was fired last week for leaving several boxes of ballots unsecured outside of Edina City Hall for 10 minutes, Minnesota GOP members and more spoke to the public today. Former MN Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer, who also served as an election judge for 11 years, says current SOS Steve Simon believes ballots cast before election day “aren’t worthy of the same protections.” She adds, “In the whole section of the chapters of law, clearly, it is meant that all ballots, every corner of the state…should be afforded that same degree of security and protection.” Secretary Steve Simon says despite this one incident, Minnesotans should trust the process leading up to election day. He explains, “It was a poor decision by this particular driver in this particular place, but I can assure your listeners that 99.9 % of the folks and the counties and cities are doing it right; they are doing it well; they’re doing it within the law; and they really pay attention to this.” Simon says he wants all Minnesotans to know their ballots will be secure for this election.
>>MN’s Only 2024 State Senate Race Down to the Wire
(Undated) — Election Day is just 12 days away. The Minnesota race for the 45th district between the DFL’s Ann Johnson Stewart and Republican Kathleen Fowke will decide who has the majority in the Senate. Stewart says the biggest difference between her and Fowke “is that I have the forty-year history of activism for women’s rights, and that goes back to my college days. I served on boards for women’s healthcare and abortion rights.” The Kathleen Fowke campaign declined our invitation for an interview. Election Day is November 5th.
>>2 Pickup Drivers Killed in Head-On Crash near Virginia on Iron Range
(Virginia, MN) — Authorities are investigating a head-on crash near Virginia on the Iron Range this morning that left both drivers dead. St. Louis County sheriff’s deputies say a pickup drifted off to the shoulder, overcorrected, and crossed the center line before striking another pickup. The 79- and 69-year-old drivers both died at the scene. No other information has been released.
>>Gov. Walz Appoints Inaugural Director of Office of EMS
(St. Paul, MN) — Governor Tim Walz announced today that Dylan Ferguson will begin his job as the first director of the Office of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) on January 1st, 2025. Ferguson has served as the executive director of the MN EMS Regulatory Board since February 2022 and has been an EMS practitioner for two decades. He previously served as the director of the Bureau of EMA for the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
>>$7.9 Million Awarded to 76 Minnesota Farms & Businesses for Clean Energy Technology
(Minneapolis, MN) – Nearly 7.9 million dollars in federal funding is going to 76 farms and small businesses in rural and greater Minnesota to install clean energy technology. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith say the grants and loans from the Renewable Energy for America Program (REAP) were funded in part by the Inflation Reduction Act. The projects include solar arrays, geothermal heating and cooling systems, energy-efficient grain dryers, and a juice heater for a sugar processing facility. Smith says these investments will save farms and businesses across Minnesota thousands of dollars a year in energy costs while helping reduce harmful emissions.
>>Zebra Mussels Found in Wright County’s Bass Lake
(Annandale, MN) – A warning for lake lovers in Wright County. The Minnesota DNR has confirmed the presence of zebra mussels in Bass Lake near Annandale. Zebra mussels are a known threat to humans, boats, and the environment. The DNR reminds residents to carefully check boats, trailers, docks, and lifts for invasive species when removing equipment for the season.
>>MN Vikinings Look to Makeup Detroit Lion Loss Against L.A. Rams Tonight
(Los Angeles, CA) – The Vikings are under the national spotlight tonight when they face the Rams in Los Angeles on Thursday Night Football. Minnesota defensive tackle Harrison Phillips says the team’s response to last week’s loss to the Detroit Lions is interesting “because I’m sure two months ago if you asked people in this locker room would you be okay with a 5-1 start, they’d probably say yeah. But, the disappointment and the frustration and the want to learn and move forward show how mature and hungry of a team we are because we know what we can accomplish.” Tonight’s game kicks off at 7:15 p.m.
