>>Vance Boelter Due Back in State Court This Morning
(Minneapolis, MN) — Vance Boelter is due back in Hennepin County District Court this morning as the state prosecution against him moves toward trial. Boelter faces two counts of first-degree premeditated murder in the killings of former Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, along with four attempted murder charges stemming from the June 2025 attacks. Boelter has pleaded not guilty to the state charges. His attorneys have raised several issues ahead of trial, including double jeopardy arguments and a request to move the case out of Hennepin County. His state trial is scheduled to begin November 2nd.
>>Deadly White Bear Lake Fire Highlights Electrical and Smoke Alarm Safety
(St. Paul, MN) — Investigators say an electrical fire that killed Jessi Pierce and her three children in White Bear Lake last March started in a home office where equipment used to bring and distribute power into the room overheated. The State Fire Marshal’s Office is urging people to check extension cords, power strips, and other electrical equipment for damage and make sure they’re being used as designed. Officials also warn against connecting devices unless they’re specifically approved for that use. Officials recommend interconnected smoke alarms, replacing alarms more than 10 years old, and regularly practicing a home escape plan.
>>Klobuchar, Smith to Tour New Richland Flood Damage
(New Richland, MN) — Minnesota U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith will visit New Richland this afternoon (2:30) to survey damage from last weekend’s devastating flooding and discuss recovery efforts with residents and local leaders. Nearly nine inches of rain fell Friday into Saturday, flooding an estimated 80 percent of homes in the southern Minnesota community. The city now expects 10 to 12 homes could be declared total losses, and some low-lying areas still have standing water. State emergency-management officials have requested FEMA and Small Business Administration participation in a preliminary damage assessment, an early step toward determining whether federal assistance may be available.
>>Demuth Calls for End to Iran War, Citing Higher Costs for Minnesotans
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota House Speaker and Republican candidate for Governor Lisa Demuth is calling for an end to the U.S. war with Iran, saying the conflict is driving up costs for Minnesota families. Demuth said Thursday that higher gasoline, grocery, and fertilizer prices tied to the conflict are hurting Minnesotans. She also acknowledged a difference with President Donald Trump, saying, “President Trump and I are different people,” and that she believes it is time to end the war. The issue has become a focus in the governor’s race. DFL candidate Amy Klobuchar has also called for an end to the conflict and has repeatedly cited its impact on fuel and other costs.
>>Klobuchar Renews Call to End Iran War, Citing Costs to Minnesotans
(Washington, D.C.) — Minnesota Senator and DFL candidate for Governor Amy Klobuchar is renewing her call for President Trump to end the war with Iran. Speaking on the Senate floor, Klobuchar said the conflict has lasted more than six months and argued that the administration lacks a plan to end it. She cited a Pentagon estimate that the war has cost $42 billion so far. Klobuchar also pointed to higher fuel costs, saying Minnesota gas prices have risen more than $1.50 since just before the war began, while diesel prices have increased costs for farmers and truckers. Republican gubernatorial candidate Lisa Demuth also called on the Trump administration to end the war on Thursday.
>>Ellison Pushes for Federal AI Rules
(Undated) – Attorney General Keith Ellison and attorneys general from 25 other states and territories are urging Congress to establish a federal regulatory framework for artificial intelligence. The coalition says recent incidents involving AI agents allegedly acting without proper oversight highlight risks to public safety, financial systems, critical infrastructure, and national security. The group is calling for federal safety standards, transparent incident reporting, and continued authority for states to enforce AI regulations. Ellison says Congress should act now to ensure AI development includes safeguards and accountability.
>>Minnesota Recovers $18.5 Million in Child Nutrition Fraud Settlement
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison says the state has recovered more than $18.5 million in a civil settlement with Partners in Nutrition. The Attorney General’s Office alleged the nonprofit knowingly submitted false claims for federal reimbursements for meals that were never served to children between 2020 and 2022. Under the settlement, Partners in Nutrition will turn over all remaining funds in their possession, cooperate with continuing investigations, and permanently dissolve. The money will be returned to the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the Minnesota Department of Education. Investigations into individuals and organizations affiliated with the nonprofit remain ongoing.
>>Duluth Schools Warn of $12 Million in Cuts if Referendum Fails
(Duluth, MN) — Duluth Public Schools is warning of $ 12 million in budget cuts over the next two years if voters reject both questions in November’s operating levy referendum. The reductions could include staff cuts, larger class sizes, program reductions, and possible school closures. The district says about five million dollars in cuts will be needed for the 2027-28 school year regardless of the vote. District officials say state funding has not kept pace with inflation and rising costs.
>>Northeastern MN Tribes Call for Study of Mining Impacts
(Grand Portage, MN) — Two northeastern Minnesota tribes are calling for a broad state study of mining’s environmental impacts. The Grand Portage and Bois Forte bands want the state to examine the cumulative effects of mining and other mineral extraction across 5.5 million acres of 1854 Treaty territory. Tribal leaders want the review completed before new extraction projects are permitted, citing concerns about water pollution and damage to wild rice. The Minnesota Environmental Quality Board said Thursday it had not yet received a formal request.
>>Prostate Cancer Rates Rising as Doctors Stress Early Screening
(Rochester, MN) — September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and doctors are encouraging men to talk about screening. Dr. Elizabeth Heath with Mayo Clinic says prostate cancer rates have risen about three percent. About one in eight men will be diagnosed during their lifetime, but Heath says the disease can behave differently from person to person. She recommends men discuss screening around age 50, or around 45 for those at higher risk, including African American men and those with a family history. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men, but treatments can be highly effective when it’s caught early.
>>Roseville Police Investigate Reported Kidnapping
(Roseville, MN) – Roseville police say an adult woman was approached by a masked man armed with a gun near County Road C and East Snelling Service Drive Wednesday afternoon. Investigators say the woman was held captive for several hours before being released on the east side of St. Paul. She was treated at a local hospital. Police are asking anyone who was in the area between 3 and 10 p.m. Wednesday to review surveillance, doorbell, or dash-camera video and contact investigators with any information. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is assisting with the case.
>>Canton Man Accused of Failing to Report $3.5 Million in Income
(Canton, MN) — A Fillmore County man is facing ten felony tax charges after authorities say he failed to file state income tax returns or pay taxes for five years. The Minnesota Department of Revenue says Ted John Lord of Canton earned taxable income through his business, Trukk Scan Support Services, between 2020 and 2024. Prosecutors allege Lord failed to report more than $3.5 million in income and owes more than $600,000 in taxes, penalties, and interest.
