>>Jensen Pushes to Elevate Trades in Minnesota Workforce
(St. Paul, MN) — Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Jensen says one of his top priorities is boosting the trades in Minnesota. He argues the state needs to develop its workforce more rapidly to meet economic demands. “If you want to build Minnesota, we need to build Minnesota with plumbers, carpenters, and electricians, and HVAC folks,” Jensen said. “We’re not gonna build Minnesota by graduating everybody with a degree in sociology—and I’m not trying to pick on people with a degree in sociology,” Jensen emphasizes that Minnesota’s economy isn’t driven by Fortune 500 companies, but by small businesses. He is one of eight candidates seeking the Republican nomination for governor in 2026.
>>Cass Lake Shooting Suspect Arrested
(Cass Lake, MN) — Cass County deputies responded Tuesday morning to reports of gunfire in a business parking lot. Investigators say a family traveling from Bemidji to the Twin Cities stopped after a dispute, and a shot was fired, hitting a gas pump and targeting an adult male passenger. Minor injuries were reported. 20-year-old Jose Pineda Jr. of Minneapolis was arrested and faces charges including Reckless Discharge of a Firearm, Second-Degree Assault, and Domestic Assault.
>>Becker County Authorities Investigating Drive-By Shooting
(Snellman, MN) — Authorities in Becker County are investigating a drive-by shooting Tuesday night west of Osage. Deputies say no one was injured when shots were fired near an intersection on Highway 34. The Becker County Sheriff’s Office is seeking assistance in identifying a suspect from anyone who was in the area around 6:00 p.m. last night.
>>Man Found Deceased in Farm Field Near Elizabeth
(Friberg, Township, MN) — A man was found deceased in a field just before 10:00 Tuesday night in Friberg township, east of Elizabeth. The 84-year-old man from Fergus Falls had been burning off a farm field when a friend found him unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Otter Tail County authorities don’t believe foul play was involved. The Midwest Medical Examiners’ Office is conducting an autopsy.
>>Clients of Hansen Mueller Company Encouraged to File Claims
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is urging farmers who’ve done business with Hansen-Mueller Company to file claims. The Omaha-based grain company, which operates in Duluth, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Monday. If you sold grain in Minnesota and haven’t been paid, you should submit a claim with the MDA. Farmers holding warehouse receipts for grain in storage need to contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture at warehousing@usda.gov. Minnesota’s indemnity fund, created in 2023, helps protect producers when grain buyers or warehouses become insolvent. To file a claim, visit mda.state.mn.us for details.
>>MnDOT Completes I-35 Improvements in Hinckley
(Hinckley, MN) — The Minnesota Department of Transportation has finished a multi-year improvement project on Interstate 35 near Hinckley. The work included replacing the northbound and southbound Grindstone River bridges, rebuilding the bridges over the BNSF Railway about 1.2 miles north of the Highway 48 junction, resurfacing the Highway 48 on- and off-ramps, and repaving more than three miles of I-35.
>> Olympian, MN-Native Jessie Diggins Announces Retirement
(Minneapolis, MN) — Jessie Diggins, the most decorated U-S cross-country skier and Afton, Minnesota native, says this will be her final season. The 34-year-old announced on Instagram she’ll retire after next year’s Stifel Lake Placid Finals. Diggins is a three-time Olympic medalist with 29 World Cup wins and multiple Crystal Globe titles. She says skiing has given her “joy, challenge, courage, and community” and plans to focus on advocacy work in mental health and climate change after her career ends.
>>Rally Planned Ahead of Minneapolis Budget Hearing
(Minneapolis, MN) — Several advocacy groups are rallying outside the Public Service Building tonight (WED, 4:45 p.m.) before the Minneapolis budget hearing (6:05 p.m.), calling on Mayor Jacob Frey (fry) to cut the city’s contract with Zencity. Organizers say the city pays 500,000 dollars for the MPD to use Zencity’s digital survey technology, which they argue stems from Israeli military intelligence. Advocates say the technology could enable surveillance and reinforce racially-biased policing practices. Groups want the contract canceled by December 1st to avoid another quarterly payment.
