>>Alexandria Man Arrested for Alleged Murder of Woman
(Alexandria, MN) — An arrest has been made in a stabbing death in Alexandria last November. Police arrested 78-year-old Angel Rua-Torres at the home where the crime took place. The Douglas County Attorney’s Office has charged Rua-Torres with the murder of 58-year-old Desiree Frederick, his niece. Rua-Torres told police he saw a man running out of the mobile home and leaving in a convertible. Surveillance video from near the scene proved that it was a lie. The case has been under investigation by Alexandria police and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension with assistance from the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
>>Minnesota Deer Harvest Down
(St. Paul, MN) — The number of white-tailed deer harvested by Minnesota hunters last fall was lower than the previous year. According to the DNR, the harvest was down by 8% in 2023 compared to 2022 and 14% less than the five-year average. The total number of deer harvested last year was 158,678, compared to 172,265 the year before. The greatest decrease was seen in the northern part of the state, where the harvest was down by 21% in the northeastern region and 8% in the northwest. Chronic wasting disease remains relatively low in Minnesota, with only 43 hunter-harvested deer testing positive for CWD. Of those, 91% were in the southeastern region, which continues to experience persistent CWD infections in wild deer.
>>Man Shot by Stray Bullet in Blue Earth County near Mankato
(Mankato, MN) — The Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office investigates a weekend shooting incident south of Mankato in Decoria (duh-COR’-ee-uh) Township. A man reported being struck by a bullet that entered his home through an exterior wall early Saturday. Deputies say the bullet hit the man while he was in bed but did not cause a significant injury. Investigators say they located the possible origin of the gunshot three thousand feet away and shell casings that matched the bullet. They believe it was likely an accidental shooting.
>>No Travel Advisory in Northwestern Minnesota
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Department of Transportation advises no travel on highways in northwestern Minnesota due to heavy snow and limited visibility. The no-travel advisory includes the following roads:
· Highway 1- Thief River Falls to North Dakota
· Highway 2- Crookston to North Dakota
· Highway 9- Crookston to Ada
· Highway 11- Karlstad to North Dakota
· Highway 75- Perley to Canada
· Highway 200- Ada to North Dakota
· Highway 220- East Grand Forks to Highway 11
No Travel Advised means that the visibility has been reduced to the point that it is very dangerous to travel. Motorists are advised not to travel in these areas until the high winds subside and conditions improve. For real-time traffic information, head online to 511mn.org
>>Bill Tabled Allowing 17-Year-Olds to Serve Alcohol
(St. Paul, MN) — A bill proposed by Representative Tim O’Driscoll, which would permit 17-year-olds to serve alcoholic beverages, has been tabled after failing to make any progress in committee. O’Driscoll had introduced the bill during the COVID-19 pandemic, citing a shortage of workforce. He stated that underage servers would have to undergo training and that the license holder would be responsible for employee actions. However, members raised concerns about minors serving alcohol. Representative Ginny Klevorn expressed concern about how employers would ensure minors could say “no” to well-respected community members.
