>>Busy Sports Day in Twin Cities
(Minneapolis, MN) — It’s a busy sports day in the Twin Cities today. The Minnesota Wild play game four of their first-round series against Dallas at 4:45 this afternoon at Grand Casino Arena. Dallas leads the series, two games to one. The Timberwolves play game four of their first round series against Denver tonight at Target Center, with the Wolves leading two games to one. Also today: Golden Gopher football has its spring game this morning at Huntington Bank Stadium, and Minnesota United hosts L-A this afternoon.
>>Rochester Teen Arrested After Wrong-Way Crashes on Highway 52
(Zumbrota, MN) — A 17-year-old from Rochester is in custody after driving the wrong way and causing multiple crashes on Friday morning on Highway 52 near Zumbrota. Authorities say the teen was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. No injuries have been reported. Charges are pending.
>>Man Charged in Fatal Edina Shooting
(Minneapolis) – The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office has charged 22-year-old Elevoun Quinnel Wren with one count of second-degree intentional murder for the fatal shooting of John Stroud on Wednesday in Edina. The shooting caused the Southdale Mall to go into lockdown. The Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty calls the investigation “complex and ongoing.”
>>Leader of Drug Trafficking Organization in Duluth Sentenced
(St. Paul, MN) — A leader of a major drug trafficking ring targeting northern Minnesota will spend more than 14 years in federal prison. Thirty-four-year-old Ezell “Cash” Lucas of Chicago was sentenced to 174 months for orchestrating a large-scale operation that moved fentanyl and methamphetamine from Illinois to Duluth. According to U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen, Lucas managed the network from Chicago, directing dealers and coordinating sales in the Twin Ports area. Authorities say the operation ran from late 2021 through early 2024. During that time, law enforcement seized more than 890 grams of fentanyl and 262 grams of methamphetamine across 19 separate incidents. Lucas was the final defendant sentenced in the seven-person conspiracy case.
>>Flooding Causes Trail Closures at Gooseberry Falls State Park
(Two Harbors, MN) — Heavy rainfall combined with melting snow has triggered significant flooding at Gooseberry Falls State Park along Minnesota’s North Shore near Two Harbors, forcing officials to shut down river-adjacent trails. Footage released by the DNR shows fast-moving water rushing downstream toward Lake Superior. Park officials are urging visitors to respect all posted closures and avoid attempting to cross flooded areas. They also recommend checking the DNR’s online alerts for the latest conditions before heading to the park.
>>National Prescription Take Back Day Encourages Safe Disposal of Medications
(Undated) — It’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, and officials are urging people to safely get rid of unused or expired medications. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is hosting collection events from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at designated drop-off sites. DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Rafael Mattei says if you can’t make it to a Take Back Day location, there are still options. “You can go to our website, deatakeback.com, where you can find locations that accept unused medications year-round,” Mattei said. Since the program began 16 years ago, the DEA says it has collected and safely disposed of more than 20 million pounds of unwanted medications across the United States.
Officials say proper disposal helps prevent misuse, addiction, and environmental harm.
>>Free Entry to Minnesota State Parks Today
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesotans can explore the outdoors for free today (Sat) as all state parks and recreation areas waive entrance fees. DNR Parks and Trails Communications Specialist Lauren Peck says the timing is intentional. “We usually try to do one every single season. So this is our spring one, which we always try to put on the Saturday after Earth Day, since obviously that’s a good time for people. They’re thinking about getting outside, thinking about nature.” Visitors can take advantage of the free day to hike, picnic, and enjoy Minnesota’s natural landscapes without needing a vehicle permit. More information about park locations, amenities, and alerts is available on the DNR’s website.
>>HUD Clarifies What Real Estate Agents Can Share with Homebuyers
(Washington, D.C.) — The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development(HUD)is clarifying guidance for real estate professionals nationwide. In a new “Dear Colleague” letter, HUD says agents are not violating the Fair Housing Act when discussing neighborhood crime rates or school quality with prospective buyers and renters. HUD Secretary Scott Turner says buying a home is one of the most important decisions families make, and they shouldn’t be kept in the dark about key factors like safety and education. The agency emphasizes that information must be shared fairly and consistently with all clients.
>>Third Peregrine Falcon Egg Appears
(St. Paul, MN) – And then there were three! The Minnesota DNR says a third egg was found in the peregrine falcon’s nest box. They say the third egg was laid on Thursday. The DNR says peregrine falcons in the Midwest typically lay a clutch of three to four eggs. If the falcons were to lay a fourth egg, it most likely would happen this weekend. Incubation lasts about 33 to 35 days. The DNR will continue to monitor activity, and you can too by logging on to the DNR website.
