>>Two Killed, Third Critically Injured in Willmar Park Shooting
(Willmar, MN) — Willmar police have identified two men killed and a third critically injured in a shooting at Rau Park Monday night. Police say 19-year-old Alexis Antonio Quintanilla Deras and 20-year-old Yasir Diriye Kahin, both of Willmar, died following the shooting. Nineteen-year-old Guled Fahran Abdi of Bloomington remains in critical condition at a St. Cloud hospital. Officers responded to reports of gunfire around 8 p.m. Police Chief Mike Holme says detectives are working to determine what led to the shooting, what role each person played and whether anyone else was involved. Anyone with information is asked to contact Willmar police.
>>Former Senator Sentenced in Child Pornography Case
(Minneapolis, MN) — Former Minnesota Senator Justin Eichorn has been sentenced to 16 months in federal prison for attempted possession of child pornography. The 42-year-old Grand Rapids Republican was arrested in March 2025 after authorities say he arranged to meet someone he believed was a 17-year-old girl for sex. The person was an undercover officer. Eichorn later pleaded guilty to a federal child pornography charge and resigned from the Minnesota Senate following his arrest. He will also serve five years of supervised release after leaving prison.
>>Attorney General Stops Online Lender from Charging Minnesotans Nearly 700% Interest
(St. Paul, MN) – Attorney General Keith Ellison today announced a court-approved settlement that ends his federal lawsuit against online lender Plain Green, LLC. The lawsuit claimed the lender charged Minnesota consumers interest rates approaching 700 percent which is more than 80 times the state’s legal cap. Under the settlement, Plain Green may collect only the original principal on existing loans, with all interest cancelled and past payments credited toward principal. The company is permanently barred from issuing illegal loans to Minnesotans going forward.
>>Minnesota Senators Push President to Release Winter Energy Assistance
(Washington, D.C.) – Minnesota Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith are leading a bipartisan push for the federal government to release energy assistance funding as quickly as possible to help families stay safe and warm in their homes. More than 100,000 Minnesotans relied on the Low-Income Heating Assistance Program (LIHEAP) last winter. Demand for assistance is expected to increase as the average family will likely spend around $1,030 to heat their homes this winter. That’s an 8.7% increase from last year. Heating oil costs are expected to rise by 31% this winter.
>>MnDOT Holding Walk to School Day in October
(St. Paul, MN) – More than 110 Minnesota schools and thousands of students are expected to participate in the 31st annual Walk to School Day on Wednesday, October 7. The Minnesota Safe Routes to School-sponsored event encourages students and parents to try out new, healthy habits that increase physical activity. MnDOT says Minnesota law requires that all public-school students must learn how to walk and bike safely to school at the start of the school year. In the recently released 2026 Safe Routes to School State Report Card, Minnesota earned a top-tier ranking and placed fourth nationwide as part of an evaluation of how states support walking, bicycling, rolling, and active communities through policy, funding, and implementation.
