>>14-Year-Old Missing from Goodhue County
(Goodhue County, MN) – A 14-year-old girl is missing from Goodhue County. Deputies say Peyton Knudsen left her grandmother’s home in Minneapolis while visiting her the morning of April 5th. Knudsen has connections in Goodhue and Benton Counties. She’s described as Black, five feet two inches tall, 120 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Knudsen was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black running pants, and brown Ugg boots.
>>Missing 32-Year-Old Winona Woman
(Winona, MN) – Winona police are searching for a missing 32-year-old woman. Bridget Martinson was last seen on foot last Monday morning. She is described as white, five feet tall, 150 pounds, with a shaved head and hazel eyes. Martinson was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, dark pants, and light-colored tennis shoes.
>>Fatal Fire Investigation Under Investigation in North St. Paul
(North St. Paul, MN) – Authorities are investigating a deadly house fire in North St. Paul. Crews found heavy smoke and fire late Monday morning. Firefighters located a man inside the home, and he was taken to the hospital, where he later died. The victim hasn’t been identified. The Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office is helping local investigators determine the cause.
>>9-Year-Old Boy Hospitalized After Dirt Bike Accident
(Otter Tail County, MN) – A nine-year-old boy is in the hospital after a dirt bike accident left him unconscious. Otter Tail County deputies responded to the report around 3:30 p.m. Sunday, northeast of Ashby. Emergency Services says the child was out for about five minutes before they arrived. Life Link III carried the boy to a Fargo hospital, where he’s being treated now. Officials say he was not wearing a helmet.
>>State Patrol Plane Crash Under Investigation at Holmen Field in St. Paul
(St. Paul, MN) – A plane crash involving a Minnesota State Patrol aircraft is under investigation at the St. Paul Downtown Airport. The Metropolitan Airports Commission reports the plane experienced a hard landing around 2 a.m. Monday on a runway at Holmen Field. Paramedics evaluated the pilot and co-pilot, but they didn’t require transport to a hospital. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will be looking into the cause of the crash.
>>Ramsey County Announces 2 Active, 3 Preliminary Investigations into Possible Crimes by ICE Agents
(Ramsey County, MN) – Ramsey County authorities are taking the first steps against the federal government in investigations related to ICE agents kidnapping, illegally detaining, and falsely imprisoning a man. County attorney John Choi says ChongLy Scott Thao, a U.S. citizen, was forced out of his St. Paul home on January 18th. He says Thao was removed and questioned in a car for over an hour after agents realized Thao was not who they were looking for. Officials believe there was no legitimate legal reason or warrant for agents to enter the home. A viral photo shows Thao was brought into freezing weather wearing only a pair of shorts and Crocs. County Sheriff Bob Fletcher says they sent a letter to the feds in February and met with ICE in early March, but no information was shared. Fletcher stressed, “There is no such thing as absolute immunity” for federal agents, especially in situations like this. There is one more active investigation and three preliminary investigations open. Choi says they have sent an official Touhy letter demanding federal evidence, like police reports, by April 30th.
>>MN Hospitality Industry Calls on Capitol for Help
(Undated) – Minnesota’s restaurant and hotel industry is in dire need of help. A new report from Hospitality Minnesota shows 50% of businesses report foot traffic was reduced by more than 50% last year. Hospitality Minnesota President and CEO Angie Whitcomb says restaurants tell her every day that “they are wondering, ‘Is the next month going to be the month I can’t make it anymore. Do I have enough to get us through the next payroll? Do I have enough to pay the rent? Do I have enough to cover the food costs?’” Whitcomb met with state lawmakers last week to look at ways the state government can make changes to help the restaurant industry recover during this tougher economy. Minnesota’s hospitality industry brings in $9 billion a year and employs more than 230,000 workers across the state.
>>Allina Doctors Union Ratifies First Contract
(St. Paul, MN) – Unionized doctors and advanced practice providers at Allina Health ratified their first contract. Members of Doctors Council-SEIU voted by more than 90% to approve a new three-year agreement, effective immediately. This covers more than 600 physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners providing primary and urgent care. The agreement follows over two years of negotiations, including a one-day unfair labor practice strike last November and a recent strike authorization vote. Doctors Council-SEIU says the group became the largest private sector providers’ union in the country when it organized in 2023.
>>Farmers Could Sit Out 2026 Crop Season
(Undated) – Minnesota’s commissioner of agriculture tells us some farmers are sitting out the 2026 crop year. Thom Petersen says negative margins are causing growers to idle. He says he can’t think of another year where that has happened. Peterson states Minnesota has 12 farm advocates, many of whom have told him they will not participate this year. Petersen says the conflict in the Middle East could not have come at a worse time for farmers, and more federal financial assistance is probably necessary.
>>CentraCare to Host Earth Day Runs
(St. Cloud, MN) – The annual CentraCare Earth Day Run will be taking over downtown St. Cloud this weekend. Active Central Minnesota Board Chair Rick Bauerly says you can attend a Health and Fitness Expo on Friday from 3-8 p.m. inside the River’s Edge Convention Center. There will be about 30 vendors sharing well-being products and services, and a fitness festival. CentraCare President and CEO Dr. Ken Holmen says the event supports their motto, “Making Rural Life Healthier.” The free Kids’ 1K is on Friday at 5:30 p.m., the 5K Run/Walk is at 6:30 p.m. The Half Marathon and Half Relay are on Saturday, starting at 8:00 a.m. The Earth Day Run has a post-COVID record of over 2,300 sign-ups so far. Organizers are expecting another 500 or more sign-ups this week.
>>Rural Minnesota Youth Get a Chance to Explore Medical Careers
(St. Cloud, MN) – Rural kids in Minnesota are getting a hands-on look at careers in healthcare this weekend. The Minnesota Medical Association is hosting its first youth medical career event Saturday at the University of Minnesota’s St. Cloud campus. Dr. Jill Amsberry says the goal is to spark interest in healthcare careers and help address the ongoing rural healthcare shortage. Kids ages 9-13 will take part in interactive activities like X-ray labs and junior surgery, while teens will explore imaging, suturing, and blood science. Registration details are posted on the association’s social media pages.
