>>Mother Sentenced After Two Children Ingest Hallucinogenic Mushroom Chocolate
(Buffalo, MN) — A Minnesota mother has been sentenced to 90 days in jail after two young children became ill from ingesting a chocolate bar containing hallucinogenic mushrooms. Forty-year-old Cassie Tauriainen of Buffalo pleaded guilty to fifth-degree drug possession after her five-year-old daughter and one of her daughter’s classmates consumed the chocolate. The children became sick, and Tauriainen’s daughter was taken to the hospital, where doctors reported significant signs of impairment. Earlier this month, she voluntarily transferred legal custody of her daughter to the child’s father.
>>Man Sentenced in Child Torture Case
(Winona, MN) — One of the men charged in a disturbing southeastern Minnesota child torture case has been sentenced to jail. Twenty-seven-year-old Jalil Wilson of La Crosse, Wisconsin, originally faced a felony child torture charge. He later pleaded guilty to an amended charge of false imprisonment as part of a plea deal and will serve 45 days in jail. Court records show Wilson and two others were charged after Winona police learned a Winona woman had shown coworkers a video of a child bound with duct tape around the wrists and ankles. Investigators say the video was recorded on Snapchat and later recovered through a search warrant, despite claims it had been deleted.
>>Red Lake Nation College Receiving $7 Million Grant
(UNDATED) — Red Lake Nation College is receiving a seven-million-dollar grant from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. College leaders say the transformational gift will help break the cycle of poverty at the tribal college. It is the largest donation in the school’s 25-year history. Red Lake Nation College has campuses in Red Lake and in downtown Minneapolis. Leaders say the unrestricted grant allows them to decide how best to use the funds to support students and the community.
>>Arrest Warrant Issued for Suspect Involved in a Shooting at Rochester Walmart
(Rochester, MN) — An arrest warrant has been issued for a suspect in a shooting last month at the north Rochester Walmart. Police responded to reports of gunfire around 11 p.m. on March 23 and found multiple spent shell casings. Witnesses said they saw several people run out of the store before shots were fired. No injuries were reported. Court documents identify the suspect as 25-year-old Abdulahi Mohamed Abukar of Rochester. He’s charged with two counts of drive-by shooting toward a person and illegal possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a violent crime. Surveillance video shows Abukar arriving at the store with two others and later encountering people he knew inside. Investigators say Abukar chased one of the victims outside, then fired two shots at the victim’s vehicle—one striking the building and another hitting the vehicle’s front passenger tire.
>>Iowa Legislature Passes Bill Allowing Lawmakers and Judges to Carry
(Des Moines, IA) — A bipartisan bill passed by the Iowa Legislature allows lawmakers and court officials to carry concealed weapons anywhere in the state. Representative Judd Lawler of Oxford said that threats to public officials are escalating and mentioned our state.
“Last summer in Minnesota, Melissa Hortman, a leader in the Minnesota House, and her husband Mark were shot and killed in their home, and Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife were also wounded.” Weapons screening and other security measures were added at the Minnesota State Capitol this year in response to the lawmaker shootings.
>>St. Cloud Host to FIRST Robotics Granite City Regional
(St. Cloud, MN) — If you’ve been in downtown St. Cloud over the past few days, you may have noticed an unusual number of yellow school buses. Visit Greater St. Cloud says 51 high school robotics teams have converged on the River’s Edge Convention Center for the FIRST Robotics Granite City Regional. The competition began on Wednesday and runs through tomorrow. The FIRST Robotics Competition challenges students in grades 9 through 12 to design, build, and program industrial-sized robots alongside adult mentors. Working under strict rules and limited resources, teams compete in fast-paced, three-on-three alliance matches to tackle a complex field game.
>>Minnesota Twins Offer Free Tickets to Opening Day Fans
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Minnesota Twins are offering complimentary tickets to fans who sat through the cold, rain, and a power outage at the home opener. Twins C-E-O Tom Pohlad said, “Our fans made a thrilling Home Opener win one to remember, and we’re excited to welcome them back to Target Field – on us – next Friday night as we bring that Opening Day spirit back to the ballpark.” The game against the Reds includes a pre-game happy hour and the first fireworks show of the season.
>>State Fair Announces 2026 Century Farms
(Falcon Heights, MN) — The Minnesota State Fair and the Minnesota Farm Bureau are recognizing 68 Minnesota farms as 2026 Century Farms. To qualify, farms must be at least 50 acres, currently in agricultural production, and have remained in continuous family ownership for 100 years or more. Century Farm families receive a commemorative sign and a certificate signed by the presidents of the State Fair and Farm Bureau, along with Governor Tim Walz. More than 11,000 Minnesota farms have been honored since the program began in 1976. The 2026 Century Farms are listed by county, city or township, family or farm name, and year of original purchase.
