>>NWS confirms tornado Thursday late p-m north of Duluth
(Duluth, MN) — The National Weather Service in Duluth says it was a confirmed tornado late Thursday afternoon that toppled trees just east of Cotton in northeastern Minnesota’s Saint Louis County and crossed Highway 53 near Canyon. A home in that area had shingles ripped off and debris all over the property. Officials say some large hail fell during the storms in southeastern Minnesota. One-and-a-half-inch hail was reported in Goodhue County near Kenyon and one inch stones were reported near Owatonna, Northfield and Cottage Grove.
>>Son of ND Sen. Kramer Pleads Guilty to Fatal 2023 Crash That Killed Sheriff’s Deputy
(Mercer County, ND) — The son of North Dakota U-S Senator Kevin Cramer pleaded guilty today (Fri) in a 2023 car crash that killed 53-year-old Mercer County Sheriff’s Deputy Paul Martin. Investigators say 43-year-old Ian Kramer was taken to the hospital by his mother last December in regard to his mental health and when she stepped out of the vehicle, he took the wheel and crashed in reverse through a closed garage door in the ambulance bay. He fled a deputy in Hazen, reaching speeds of over 100 mph despite a spiked device flattening two of his tires. More spikes caused Ian to swerve into Martin’s patrol vehicle. The deputy was pronounced dead at a hospital. A mental evaluation has been scheduled ahead of Cramer’s sentencing. A jury trial was scheduled for November.
>>Influential GOP lawmaker wants hearings after drug exposure sends nine Stillwater State Prison staffers to hospital
(Undated) — An influential Republican in the Minnesota House is calling for hearings after nine staff at Stillwater State Prison — which remains on lockdown — were hospitalized after being exposed to what officials believe was a synthetic version of marijuana. State Representative Paul Novotny from Elk River says, “Before we knew if it was drugs, it could be anything — and so we need to know what’s going on and what’s being done to protect those correctional officers that are putting it on the line every day.” Novotny says the issue can’t wait until the legislature reconvenes in January. Democratic leaders weren’t immediately reachable for a response.
>>DPS Campaign Cites Over 68,000 Drivers for Summer Speeding
(Undated) — More than 68-thousand tickets were issued this summer during a four-month speed enforcement campaign. The Minnesota Department of Safety (DPS) says authorities from 259 agencies across the state cited drivers for speed violations from May 1st to September 2nd — eight of them for going 120 mph or more. During the two-week Labor Day DWI campaign (August 16th-September 2nd), officers, deputies, and troopers arrested 1,235 drivers for driving impaired. Fatalities on Minnesota roads as of today (FRI) are 322, compared to last year’s total of 286.
>>3 Arrested for 3 Robberies, Carjacking in Minneapolis
(Minneapolis, MN) — An adult and two juveniles are in custody for their roles in three robberies and a carjacking in Minneapolis this morning (FRI). Police responded to the first around 12:43 a.m. where a man was assaulting another man. The victim was brought to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The second was 15 minutes later; a man in his vehicle was jumped by a group of men who assaulted him. The victim was treated at the scene. The third robbery was 20 minutes after that, where a group of people assaulted a victim and left in the victim’s car. The suspects were tracked by helicopter into north Minneapolis, where the vehicle was carjacked. The driver and two passengers fled the car in Brooklyn Park before they were arrested.
>>Man Charged with 2nd-Degree Murder for Multiple Minneapolis Shootings
(Minneapolis, MN) — A 36-year-old man has been charged with second-degree murder for two shootings in south Minneapolis Wednesday that killed two and injured three others. Joshua Jones is also under investigation for a separate homicide earlier that day. Police say all the shootings happened within a 24-hour period in the Phillips neighborhood. Jones was identified from surveillance video as the suspect who fatally shot a victim. He’s in custody, and further charges could be added.
>>Two Injured in Shakopee Plane Crash
(Shakopee, MN) — Two people were injured in a small plane crash in (the Minneapolis suburb of) Shakopee this morning (FRI). Police went to Scenic Heights Park around 12:30 p-m and the two passengers were brought to the hospital. Their injuries and current conditions are unknown.
>>Investigation continues 10 years after death of NDSU student Tom Bearson
(Moorhead, MN) — Moorhead Police continue to investigate the death of 18-year-old Tom Bearson, who went missing 10 years ago today (FRI). Bearson was an NDSU student whose remains were found a few days later in a Moorhead R-V sales parking lot. Captain Deric Swenson says they’re looking at the case again using new DNA technology. Swenson urges anyone with information — regardless of how important it may be or if it’s already known — to contact Moorhead Police.
>>Stevie Wonder to stop in MN on pre-election concert tour supporting Harris, Walz
(Undated) — Minneapolis on October 27th will be one of pop superstar Stevie Wonder’s stops on his 10-city concert tour focusing on the upcoming election. He told delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, “It is time to get up and go vote!” Wonder lauded Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, urging people to “reach a higher ground,” then performed his 1973 hit of that name. Wonder’s pre-election tour — dubbed “Sing Your Song! As We Fix Our Nation’s Broken Heart” — kicks off October 8th in Pittsburgh in battleground Pennsylvania and winds up October 30th in Grand Rapids in swing-state Michigan. Intermediate stops are New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, North Carolina, Atlanta, Detroit, Milwaukee and Minneapolis.
>>Minnesota Lynx prep for first round of WNBA Playoffs
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Minnesota Lynx open the W-N-B-A playoffs Sunday afternoon against the Phoenix Mercury at Target Center. The 30-and-10 Lynx are the second seed and have home-court advantage for the best-of-three series. Game 2 is Wednesday night in downtown Minneapolis and Game 3 is scheduled for Friday in Arizona. The winner of this series will face either Connecticut or Indiana in the second round.
