>>Fire Destroys Historic Church Near Cosmos
(Cosmos, MN) — A church near Cosmos is a total loss after an early morning fire.(Thurs) The Meeker County Sheriff’s Office says around 1:30 a.m., a passerby noticed a glow in the distance. Concerned, he checked the area and discovered the First Evangelical Lutheran Church engulfed in flames.
Fire crews from Cosmos, Grove City, Litchfield, and Hutchinson responded, but the building could not be saved. Thankfully, no injuries were reported. The Minnesota State Fire Marshal is assisting with the investigation. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
>>Lake Vermilion Death
(Lake Vermilion, MN) – An 80-year-old woman has died after being found unresponsive in Lake Vermilion on Wednesday evening. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office says despite life-saving measures, Marit Smaby-Nowlin of St. Paul was killed while visiting the area on vacation. Law enforcement says the victim was found, and family members started CPR until help could arrive. The woman was located on Blueberry Island and taken to Cook Hospital by ambulance. She was pronounced dead at the hospital.
>>Unemployment Rate Increases Slightly in July
(St. Paul, MN) — New data from the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) shows the state’s unemployment rate dipped slightly to 3.5% in July. Key gains came in education, health care, government, and construction. Meanwhile, sectors like manufacturing and hospitality saw modest declines. Nationally, the U.S. unemployment rate ticked up to 4.2%.
>>Car Found in River Possibly Linked to Missing Sauk Rapids Man
(Sartell, MN) — A car pulled from the Mississippi River near Sartell in central Minnesota on Wednesday may solve a decades-old mystery. Authorities believe it’s linked to 59-year-old Roy Benn, a Sauk Rapids man who vanished in 1967. Benn was last seen driving a 1963 metallic blue Buick Electra—and that’s the vehicle found by a fisherman over the weekend. Investigators say human remains and personal items were recovered, and the car’s VIN matches Benn’s. A Minnesota BCA bulletin says Benn was reported to have been carrying a large sum of money when he disappeared. The remains are now with the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office for identification and to determine the cause of death.
>>Minnesota Teen Files Discrimination Complaint Against Buffalo Wild Wings
(Owatonna, MN) — A Minnesota teen is filing a discrimination complaint against a Buffalo Wild Wings in Owatonna. Eighteen-year-old Gerika Mudra says a server followed her into the women’s restroom and demanded she prove she was a girl. Mudra says she verbally asserted her gender, then showed her chest to end the confrontation. The complaint, filed by the nonprofit Gender Justice, claims the incident violates Minnesota’s Human Rights Act. Mudra, who is biracial and identifies as a lesbian, says she’s faced similar treatment before. Buffalo Wild Wings has not commented.
>>State Representative Now Running for Senate
(Jordan, MN) – State Representative Ben Bakeberg is looking for a new job, but he would still work at the state capitol. The Republican from Jordan has announced he’s running for Senate District 54, which also serves Shakopee, Prior Lake, and Jordan. Bakeberg was first elected to the Minnesota House in 2022 and is currently the Co-Vice Chair of the Education Finance Committee. Bakeberg has spent 24 years working in public and private education. The state Senate seat will become vacant as Senator Eric Pratt runs for Congress in the Second District.
>>Agriculture Department Seeks Public Input
(St. Paul, MN) – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is looking for your ideas before state lawmakers meet for the 2026 legislative session. The Ag Department will hold two virtual public meetings to gather input for proposals for the next session. The meetings will be held on Wednesday, September 3, at noon, and on Thursday, September 4, at 5 p.m. The sessions will take place on Zoom, and participants are asked to register ahead of time with the MDA. Farmers, food businesses, and others impacted by food and agriculture systems are invited to share policy and program suggestions.
>>Blue Line Extension Light Rail Gets Approval
(St. Paul, MN) – The Blue Line Extension Light Rail has received federal environmental approval, clearing the way for final design and construction of the project. The proposed Blue Line extension would connect downtown Minneapolis to the communities of North Minneapolis, Robbinsdale, Crystal, and Brooklyn Park. The rail would cover just over 13 miles of track. This approval will also support residents and businesses before, during, and after the construction of the line, including rent assistance and measures to maintain economic stability.
