>>House Republicans Announce School Safety Agenda
(St. Paul, MN) – House Republicans released their school safety agenda today, in case a special session is called. Their plan includes expanding school safety funding to non-public schools, school security grants, making school resource officers available to every school, and boosting funding for mental health treatment beds. The plan would also add mandatory minimum prison sentences for repeat gun criminals and for straw purchasers who aid in a violent crime. There is no mention of the Democrats’ proposal to ban assault rifles and high-capacity magazines. Governor Walz has yet to announce the special session.
>> Congressman Finstad Announces Farm Recruiting Act
(Washington, D.C.) – Minnesota Congressman Brad Finstad has introduced a bipartisan bill that would help in recruiting farmers. It’s called the Agriculture Skills Preparation for Industry Recruitment Efforts Act, or ASPIRE for short. The bill would establish an agriculture workforce training program within the USDA, provide resources for eligible schools to grow the farming industry, and support apprenticeships, internships, and partnerships with local ag businesses. Senator Tina Smith has introduced similar legislation in the Senate.
>>Moorhead Man Charged With Poisoning Sober Living Roommate
(Moorhead, MN) — A Moorhead man is facing homicide charges for allegedly poisoning his roommate in St. Cloud. Stuart Hanmer, 35, was arrested Tuesday in connection with the death of 33-year-old Cody Ernst, who died in June after being hospitalized with a lethal dose of thallium—a toxic, odorless heavy metal. The poisoning happened at a sober living facility. Ernst was admitted in critical condition on June 20th and died two days later. Hanmer was taken into custody with help from multiple law enforcement agencies and is being held in Stearns County Jail.
>>Rep. Wolgamott Joins Race for State Auditor
(St. Cloud, MN) — State Representative Dan Wolgamott is running for Minnesota State Auditor. The Democrat from St. Cloud says he wants to be a watchdog for local government spending and restore trust in public institutions. Wolgamott enters the race as current Auditor Julie Blaha announces she won’t seek re-election. Several other candidates are expected to join the field ahead of the 2026 election.
>>Rochester Teacher Headed to Prison for Child Pornography
(Rochester, MN) — A former private school teacher in Rochester is headed to prison for child pornography. Thirty-eight-year-old Wolf Parsons was sentenced to over six years behind bars. This comes after investigators found dozens of disturbing images and videos on his cellphone. The case began with a cyber tip about suspected child sexual abuse material on Skype. Police traced the files to Parsons’ IP address and executed a search warrant at his home. At the time of his arrest, Parsons was working as a teacher at Resurrection Lutheran School in northwest Rochester.
>>Wheaton Grain Fire Elevator, Electrical in Nature
(Wheaton, MN) — The fire that destroyed the Triple J Seed Farms elevator in Wheaton in western Minnesota’s Traverse County on August 7th was determined to be electrical in nature. A deputy state fire marshal investigated the blaze. The elevator has since been torn down by its owner. Firefighting efforts were complicated by a broken water main earlier that day, which disrupted the local water supply. Fire departments from three neighboring towns, along with local farmers using tanker-trailers, helped haul water to the scene.
>>Northland Health Survey Hitting Mailboxes
(Undated) — Thousands of Northland residents are being asked: “How healthy are we?” The 2025 Bridge to Health Survey is landing in mailboxes across northern Minnesota and Douglas County, Wisconsin. The survey, conducted every five years, inquires about physical and mental health, nutrition, substance use, access to care, and other related topics. More than 40 organizations are partnering on the effort—the goal: to better understand and improve community health across the region.
>>Powerball Ticket Sold in Minnesota Wins $1 Million
(Roseville, MN) — Nobody won the one-point-four-billion-dollar Powerball jackpot in Wednesday’s drawing, but a ticket sold in Minnesota is a one-million-dollar winner. The Minnesota Lottery says the lucky ticket was purchased at a Speedway in Inver Grove Heights. A player who bought a Powerball ticket at Kwik Trip in Rosemount won 50 thousand dollars last night. Wednesday’s numbers are 3-16-29-61-69 and the Powerball was 22. The jackpot is an estimated one-point-seven-billion dollars for Saturday’s drawing.
