>>Woman Found Dead in Mississippi River near Winona
(Winona, MN) – The Winona County Sheriff’s Office reports a woman was found dead Wednesday morning in the Mississippi River. Authorities across the river in Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, said a body was in the water at Lock and Dam 6. Winona firefighters rappelled down the dam and were able to recover the body. The Southeast Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner’s Office is doing an autopsy and will identify the remains. Law enforcement had been searching the river for a missing 72-year-old Winona woman.
>>Man Charged with Murder After Fatal Auto Theft in Minneapolis
(Minneapolis, MN) – A 34-year-old man faces second-degree murder charges for a man killed during an auto theft in south Minneapolis. Officers were called Saturday to a report of an unresponsive man lying in the street. The victim, a man in his 60s, was found with life-threatening injuries. He was taken to Hennepin Healthcare, where he later died. Investigators believe the victim was hurt while trying to stop his vehicle from being stolen. Police say surveillance video and witness statements show the suspect, Gerald Cepeda, stole the vehicle, dragged the victim alongside it, and then ran him over while fleeing. Cepeda was arrested on Wednesday.
>>US Senate Passes Resolution to Allow Mining near BWCA
(Washington, D.C.) – A resolution to allow copper-nickel mining near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness passed the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate. The 50-49 vote was mostly along party lines. GOP Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina joined all Democrats in voting against the measure. Minnesota Senator Tina Smith warns the proposed mine will harm the watershed of the BWCA and damage the tourism industry. Congressman Pete Stauber introduced the resolution in the House to lift a 20-year ban on mining.
>>Jury Convicts Minneapolis Man of Possessing Illegal Machine Gun
(St. Paul, MN) – A Minneapolis man is guilty of illegally possessing a machine gun. Federal prosecutors say 19‑year‑old Amiir Ali was arrested during a traffic stop while on his way to a high school graduation. Officers say he tried to flee but was caught. Police later found a firearm equipped with an illegal machine-gun conversion device and an extended magazine holding more than 30 rounds. Ali faces up to 10 years in federal prison.
>>Red Flag Warning Issued for 18 Counties in Southwest, West Central Minnesota
(Chanhassen, MN) – Eighteen counties in southwest and west central Minnesota are under a Red Flag warning from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. today due to extreme fire risk conditions. The warning means fires can spread quickly and grow out of control with strong winds and low humidity levels. Residents should not burn in the warned counties, and the DNR is not issuing burning permits for yard waste and debris. The affected counties are Big Stone, Chippewa, Douglas, Kandiyohi, Lac Qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Pope, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Stevens, Swift, Traverse, and Yellow Medicine.
>>U of M Women’s Gymnastics at NCAA Championship Meet in Texas
(Fort Worth, TX) – The University of Minnesota women’s gymnastics team is in Fort Worth, Texas, for opening night of the NCAA National Championship meet. The eighth-ranked Golden Gophers are one of eight teams still alive and will take part in the second session. Minnesota is in a four-team pod that includes top-ranked Oklahoma, fourth-ranked UCLA, and number-six Arkansas. The afternoon session tomorrow features second-ranked Florida, number-three LSU, fifth-rated Georgia, and seventh-ranked Stanford. The top two teams from each session will advance to Saturday’s Final Four.
