>>Watkins Man Charged in Sledgehammer Killing of Coworker in Cokato
(Cokato, MN) — A man from Watkins is now charged with second-degree murder in the killing of a co-worker on Tuesday morning in Cokato. The Wright County Attorney’s Office says 40-year-old Bruce Delong is accused of hitting 20-year-old Amber Czech (zek) of Hutchinson several times with a sledgehammer. Czech was found with significant head trauma at her workstation at Advanced Process Technologies and died at the scene. Court documents say Delong admitted to killing Czech and had been planning it for some time.
>>38th Anniversary of Disappearance of Wadena Woman
(Wadena, MN) — Authorities in Wadena County say today (Thurs) marks the 38th anniversary of the disappearance of Carla Beth Anderson. Twenty-three-year-old Anderson was reported missing from her apartment in Wadena on November 13th, 1987. She is described as white, around five feet tall, with strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes. The investigation remains open, and anyone with information should contact the Wadena County Sheriff’s Office or the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
>>Parkers Prairie Man Missing
(Parkers Prairie, MN) — The Parkers Prairie Police Department is asking for help from the public in locating 52-year-old Shawn Hulegaard. On Monday, police were notified that Hulegaard was missing. He was last known to be visiting the Twin Cities suburb of Brooklyn Park area and his family has not seen him for 12 days. Hulegaard is driving a 2011 black GMC four-door pickup. It is smashed up in the front. He is 6’0’’ and 220 pounds with gray hair and blue eyes. If you have any information or know the whereabouts of Shawn Hulegaard, contact the Parkers Prairie Police Department or call 911.
>>42-Year-Old Cold Case Involving Infant Solved in Blaine
(Blaine, MN) — The Anoka County Sheriff’s Office says a decades-old cold case is solved. Investigators identified the parents of a newborn baby girl found dead on a Blaine street in January 1983. Known as Rachel Marie Doe, the baby was discovered with her placenta attached, and it’s unclear if she was born alive. The Cold Case Unit reopened the investigation last year using advanced D-N-A testing. Detectives say the mother gave birth alone as a teenager and believed the baby was stillborn. The father didn’t know about the pregnancy. No charges will be filed due to a lack of evidence and expired statutes of limitations.
>>Suspect in Hanska Deadly Shootings Jailed on $ 5 Million Bail
(New Ulm, MN) — Bail is set at five-million dollars for a southern Minnesota man charged in the November 2nd shooting deaths of two people in Hanska. Brown County prosecutors say Randy Zimmerman is facing two counts of second-degree murder in the shootings of 32-year-old Tabitha Trescott of New Ulm and 50-year-old Justin Reinarts of Hanska. Zimmerman fled the area and was later arrested following a police chase in southeastern Iowa. He’s scheduled to appear in court on November 25th.
>>U of M Spotlights Rural Health Gaps During Shutdown
(Minneapolis, MN) — The University of Minnesota is raising awareness about the health challenges rural communities face and the challenges that contribute to higher death rates compared to urban areas. Carrie Henning, Co-director of the U of M Rural Health Program, says rural areas often lack nearby healthcare providers and reliable transportation, making access to care more difficult. “There’s no quick fix,” Henning says, “but communities can work together to improve outcomes.” She encourages investment in social infrastructure, safe, welcoming spaces, and creative transportation solutions. Henning also highlights the resilience of rural communities, especially during the ongoing federal government shutdown, where local resourcefulness and community spirit are helping fill the gaps.
