>>Minnesota Woman Killed in Elephant Attack
(Undated) — A Minnesota woman was killed after being attacked by an elephant while on a safari in Africa. The
incident occurred on Saturday at a national park in Zambia. Investigators say 79-year-old Gail Mattson was fatally injured when a bull elephant unexpectedly charged at the safari vehicle, and the driver was unable to avoid the attack. The safari company reports another injured guest was taken to a private medical facility, and four others were treated for minor injuries.
>>Dilworth Man Accused of Stolen Valor
(Bemidji, MN) — A Dilworth man is accused of stolen valor in Federal Court. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Bemidji says 37-year-old Mikhail Wicker falsely claimed to be a decorated marine veteran to collect benefits from the government from 2015 to 2020. Court documents say Wicker claimed to have served in Iraq and said he was a prisoner of war in 2005. He also claimed to have been injured by an IED while deployed to Iraq. Wicker forged government documents, including one that claimed he had been discharged from the Marines and a document saying he had received a Purple Heart. Wicker got over $100,000 in benefits using his fake documents. He is facing charges, including theft of government funding and fraud.
>>Cause Of Death Determined For Polk County Inmate
(Crookston, MN) — Investigators in Polk County have determined the cause of death for an inmate found dead in
February. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office reports that 51-year-old Matthew Bagley took his own life by hanging
himself. Bagley was found unresponsive in his cell on February 14th and was pronounced dead after being taken to a local hospital. The Minnesota Department of Corrections is still investigating.
>>Police Search For Suspect In Deadly Dog Shooting In Blue Earth County
(Mankato, MN) — The Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office is seeking assistance with its investigation of a fatal shooting involving a dog. Deputies responded to a residence in South Bend Township near Mankato on Saturday after a neighbor reported hearing gunshots. Upon arrival, they discovered a deceased female dog on the deck of the house. The homeowners informed investigators that they had received a threatening note a few weeks prior, warning them to keep the dog quiet. Another dog owner in the area also received a similar note about keeping their dog from barking. The sheriff’s office is urging anyone with information that could help identify the shooter to come forward as soon as possible.
>>Man Charged in Police Standoff at Estranged Wife’s Home in Woodbury
(Stillwater, MN) — A St. Paul man is facing domestic assault, dangerous weapon, and threats of violence charges after a police standoff at his estranged wife’s home in Woodbury. The criminal complaint says 30-year-old Timothy Stephanzo Kennedy went there to visit their child Monday night in violation of a no-contact order. Witnesses told investigators that Kennedy hit his ex-wife in the head, was swinging a knife at her son, and threatened to kill others in the house. Kennedy barricaded himself inside and held Washington County authorities at bay for about four hours before surrendering.
>>Federal Judge Dismisses Former GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Jensen’s Lawsuit Against State Medical Board
(St. Paul, MN) — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit by former Republican candidate for governor Scott Jensen, who claimed the state Board of Medical Practice and Democratic Attorney General Keith Ellison violated his constitutional rights while investigating him for questioning the effectiveness of the COVID vaccine, among other issues. However, the Star Tribune reports Judge Jerry Blackwell ruled that Jensen, a doctor, failed to give examples of other physicians being treated differently when complaints were filed against them. He said Jensen also didn’t show those investigations impeded his free speech. Jensen repeatedly criticized the Walz administration’s COVID mandates. Walz won re-election in 2022 with 52 percent of the vote to Jensen’s roughly 45 percent.
>>Free Palestine Coalition Protesting Weapon Companies in Maple Grove
(Maple Grove, MN) — The Free Palestine Coalition will rally in Maple Grove today (THURS) to protest weapons
companies moving into the Twin Cities. This comes after Maple Grove’s City Council unanimously voted to allocate $600,000 to BAE Systems, a British multinational arms, security, and aerospace company, in the form of a tax increment financing (TIF) for a project to make soil corrections before their warehouse installment. The warehouse would be a 248,000-square-foot project between Highway 169 and Interstate 94. The Free Palestine Coalition says due to BAE Systems’ continuation of armament and financial support of the U.S. to Israel in its attack on Gaza, teaming up with them “only puts Minnesota on a more destructive path.”
>>Federal Agents Intercept Counterfeit Designer Jewelry at MSP Airport
(Minneapolis, MN) — U-S Customs and Border Protection says its officers intercepted a shipment of 364 pieces of counterfeit designer jewelry Tuesday at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The shipment from Hong Kong was stopped at M-S-P’s express consignment facility and headed to a Hutchinson residence. Officers say the bracelets, earrings, rings, and necklaces had luxury brand trademarks like Louis Vuitton and Gucci but were identified as counterfeits. The real designer jewelry would been valued at more than 482 thousand dollars. No word on any arrests or suspects in the case.
