>>Anoka County Shooting Leaves Woman and Boy Dead in Lexington
(Lexington, MN) — Anoka County authorities are investigating a shooting that left two people dead early this morning (Wed) in Lexington. Police and deputies discovered a woman dead and a gravely injured juvenile male inside the residence. The boy died after being taken to the hospital. Investigators and a K-9 searched the area, and a suspect was taken into custody. The man was transported to a hospital for treatment. The sheriff’s office says there is no known threat to the community.
>>Federal Courts Facing Heavy Case Loads
(Undated) — Minnesota’s federal courts are facing an unusually heavy load right now. Over the past few months, immigration arrests have surged, and close to 1,000 people have turned to judges asking for quick reviews of their detention, a sharp contrast from the same time last year, when none were filed. Many of those seeking help don’t have serious criminal histories, which has raised concerns about how dramatically these cases are stacking up. This rush of cases stems from “Operation Metro Surge,” which has led to more than 4,000 arrests. All of this is putting real pressure on judges, attorneys, and families who are waiting anxiously to see what happens next.
>>Mid-Term Election Excitement Ramping Up
(Northfield, MN) — St. Olaf College Political Science Professor Dan Hofrenning says the United States’ midterm elections are unusual compared to most democracies, where voters typically elect the entire government in one nationwide vote. He says the Framers intentionally built midterms into the U.S. system to create checks and balances, requiring the full House to face voters every two years, while only a third of the Senate is on the ballot. That staggered structure makes sweeping political shifts harder to pull off, and historically, the president’s party usually loses seats, except in 1998 and 2002. Hofrenning says Democrats appear especially energized heading into the 2026 midterms.
>>Duluth Police Seeking Footage in Mail Theft Investigation
(Duluth, MN) — Duluth Police are asking for the public’s help after a mail-theft incident early Wednesday. Officers were called around 12:10 a.m. on reports of someone going through mailboxes and opening mail. The suspect fled before officers arrived. Police say the suspect was dressed in all black and wearing a snowmobile helmet. Anyone with information or footage from the 400–500 blocks of 99th and 98th Avenues West, or from the Vintage Acres Trailer Park, is asked to call the D-P-D Property Crimes Division.
>>Sleepy Eye Purchases Former Del Monte Processing Plant
(Sleepy Eye, MN) — Sleepy Eye Public Utilities has taken ownership of the former Del Monte processing plant, finalizing the purchase of the 215-thousand-square-foot facility for six hundred thousand dollars after it went through foreclosure and was auctioned off. The plant, which began operating in 1930, shut down in 2019, leaving more than 360 people out of work after decades of canning locally grown peas and sweet corn. City crews are now clearing out the site, and officials say they’re considering several redevelopment possibilities that could boost local economic growth.
>>Redwood County Bridge for Sale
(Redwood Falls, MN) — Redwood County is looking for someone to take ownership of the century-old Gold Mine Bridge, and the price is just a single dollar. The catch is that whoever buys it must remove and rebuild the 191-foot steel truss structure, which was shut down in 2023 after significant structural concerns were discovered. Officials say the bridge is too narrow and too expensive to repair for modern traffic, but its historic design makes it worth preserving. The span is the only remaining bridge created by early-1900s builder Lawrence H. Johnson and is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.
>>Minnesota Vikings Sign Pro Bowl Punter Hekker
(Eagan, MN) — The Minnesota Vikings are bringing in a new punter. The Purple signed four-time Pro Bowler Johnny Hekker to a one-year contract on Tuesday. Hekker is entering his 15th N-F-L season and played last year with the Tennessee Titans. Former Vikings punter Ryan Wright signed a four-year deal with the New Orleans Saints last week.
