>>FBI Raids Feeding Our Future Defendant’s Home In Bribe Probe
(Minneapolis, MN) — The FBI raided the home of a defendant, Abdiaziz Farah, in connection with an alleged plan to bribe a juror in the Feeding Our Future case. The raid took place in Savage yesterday, and neighbors reported seeing FBI agents leaving with bags. Investigators said the FBI was searching for evidence related to the attempted bribery of a juror. The jury is currently deliberating on whether Farah and others conspired to steal $250 million in pandemic relief funds. A juror stated that someone had left $120,000 in cash at their home, promising more money in exchange for a not-guilty verdict.
>>Rally Held After Transgender Student Attacked At Hopkins High School
(Minnetonka, MN) — Hundreds, including Representative Leigh Finke of St. Paul, gathered at a rally Wednesday outside Hopkins High School in support of 17-year-old Cobalt Sovereign (she/they), a transgender junior at the school. Sovereign was attacked last Thursday outside a bathroom after being called a homophobic slur, suffering a broken jaw and fractured teeth. Minnetonka police say they are investigating the attack as a hate crime.
>>Strong Winds Blow Trees Down in Parts of Minnesota
(Chanhassen, MN) — The strong winds continue to blow today (Thurs) across Minnesota. Non-thunderstorm wind gusts are blamed for a tree falling on a building in Burnsville Wednesday and a large tree down on powerlines in Mendota Heights. The National Weather Service reported 65-mile-per-hour winds in Fergus Falls, 54 m-p-h at M-S-P Airport, 53 in Rochester, and 51 miles per hour in St. Cloud. Park Rapids had three-quarter-inch hail, and Duluth received half-inch hail. Forecasters are expecting 50-mile-an-hour gusts again today in some areas.
>>Corcoran Standoff Ends With Suspect Shooting Self, Surrendering
(Corcoran, MN) — A 15-hour standoff ended early this morning in Corcoran when a suspect suffering a self-inflicted gunshot wound surrendered to police. The incident began when an individual barricaded themselves with a hostage inside a building. After several hours of negotiation, the hostage was released unharmed, but the suspect remained inside the building and stopped communicating with police. Just before 3:30 a.m., the suspect surrendered after suffering an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound and was taken to the hospital for treatment.
>>Drought Conditions Linger in North Central Minnesota
(Undated) — A small sliver in far north central Minnesota is hanging on to dry conditions. The U.S. Drought Monitor released its weekly update today with just two percent of the state still Abnormally Dry, an improvement from 11 percent a week ago. The Moderate Drought is now at zero, an improvement from two percent last week. The driest areas include Roseau, Lake of the Woods, and Beltrami counties. The Climate Prediction Center indicates Minnesota could see above-normal precipitation next week.
>>Free Park Saturday
(St. Paul, MN) — This Saturday is the next of four Free Park Days. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources offers free admission to the state’s 74 parks and recreation areas to promote the outdoors. On this day, the DNR waives vehicle parking permits but doesn’t cover amenity or user fees for activities like camping, rentals, or special tours. There is one Free Park Day for every season of the year, and the fourth and final Free Park Day will be on Saturday, November 29th. For more information, you can visit the DNR website.
>>Groundbreaking Ceremony for LaunchPad Golf in Prior Lake
(Prior Lake, MN) — Construction is underway in Prior Lake on the first LaunchPad Golf location in the U-S. The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community hosted a groundbreaking for Wednesday’s two-story facility next to Mystic Lake Casino. Officials say it will include a 160-thousand-square-foot driving range, 40 heated golf suites, two bars, and a full-service restaurant. It’s expected to open in mid-2025. Canada-based LauchPad Golf has two locations north of the border.
