>>Stearns County Announces Death of K-9
(St. Cloud, MN) — The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office has announced the passing of one of their K-9 officers. K-9 Aspen, a bloodhound certified through the FBI Response Team for missing person cases, died Thursday. Aspen was involved in over 400 cases during her 9-year career with the department, including finding a missing child in St. Stephen in 2012. K-9 Aspen also picked up on a four-day-old trail with the Minneapolis Police Department to help find a missing University of Minnesota student. She retired in 2021 and had been living with her handler, Deputy Eric Shultz, and his family.
>> Drive-by Shooting in Willmar
(Willmar, MN) — A suspect is jailed in Willmar after a drive-by shooting Thursday afternoon. The Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Department says they received a report from a motorist who said someone in another vehicle shot at them at a location east of Willmar shortly after 1 pm. The suspect vehicle was later spotted in Willmar, and the suspect was hiding in a shed. The suspect is facing several charges, including attempted murder.
>>Search For Missing Maple Grove Teen
(Maple Grove, MN) — A search is scheduled for a missing teenager in Maple Grove this weekend. Eighteen-year-old Winston Drepaul went missing last weekend after leaving his home on foot early Saturday morning. According to Maple Grove police, he left without any belongings, including medication. Drepaul is five feet ten inches tall and weighs 150 pounds. He was spotted near the Maple Grove Community Center. Drepaul was last seen wearing a black, puffy-style winter jacket, gray sweatpants, and black boots or shoes. Anyone wishing to help can meet at the Maple Grove Community Center parking lot at 2:00 p.m. today and tomorrow. (Sat)
>>Minnesota Ski Areas Re-Open Amid Spring Snow
(Burnsville, MN) — While late-season snow isn’t welcome for many Minnesotans, it’s a different story at local ski areas. The spring snowstorm has allowed ski areas like Buck Hill, Wild Mountain, and Trollhaugen to reopen this weekend. Buck Hill’s chief operations officer, Nate Birr, says he’s happy Mother Nature has “blessed us with some snow”.
>>MSU-Mankato Men & Women to Play for NCAA DII National Basketball Championship
(Evansville, IN) — The Minnesota State-Mankato Mavericks will play in the men’s and women’s N-C-A-A Division II national basketball championships. The M-S-U men beat West Texas 79-72 Thursday night in the semifinals and will face Nova Southeastern in the Division II Final Saturday in Evansville, Indiana. The Maverick women take on Texas Woman’s University in the National Championship game tonight (Fri 7:30pm) in St. Joseph, Missouri. M-S-U won its first national title in 2008-2009.
