>>BCA Releases Identities of Man, Officer Involved in Walker Use-of-Force Incident
(St. Paul, MN) — The BCA has identified the man shot in a use-of-force incident in Walker last Friday as 31-year-old Dillon Ray Kloehn of Laporte. Walker Police Officer Kent Cleveland, a 36-year veteran, fired the shot and is now on leave. Investigators say Cleveland was flagged down by a resident about a suspicious man. Kloehn fled, was seen with a knife, and ran into a Dollar General, where he allegedly threatened staff and refused to drop the weapon. Outside the store, Kloehn charged at the officer. Cleveland fired once, hitting him in the arm. Kloehn surrendered and was later booked on robbery and assault charges. The BCA is reviewing body camera footage and will present findings to the Cass County Attorney.
>>Governor Announces Grants for Workforce Development
(St. Paul, MN) – Governor Tim Walz and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) have announced $12 million for workforce development for Minnesotans. The “State Drive for 5” program provides competitive grants for workforce training and job placement in five high-growth industries. They are caring professions, education, manufacturing, technology, and the trades. DEED awarded nearly $20 million in Drive for 5 grants during the previous biennium, with approximately 800 Minnesotans taking advantage of training programs.
>>Man Dies After Being Swept into Lake Superior
(Lutsen, MN) — A tragic accident on the North Shore. A 61-year-old man is dead after being swept into Lake Superior by a powerful wave near Lutsen. It happened Tuesday afternoon near Solbakken Resort in Lutsen. Authorities say the man had been sitting by the water when a wave knocked him over and pulled him into the lake. Deputies arrived to find his body floating about 100 feet from shore. Search and Rescue teams launched a boat from Tofte but had to turn back due to rough conditions. The U.S. Border Patrol later recovered the body using a boat from Grand Marais. The man’s name has not been released. An autopsy is pending, and the investigation is ongoing.
>>Two People Die in Outing Fire
(Outing, MN) — A deadly house fire is under investigation in northern Minnesota. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says a 911 call came in around 2:45 a.m. Wednesday for a structure fire in Outing. When crews arrived, the home was fully engulfed in flames. During firefighting efforts, responders discovered the bodies of two victims inside the house. Autopsies will be conducted by the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office. Authorities have not released the victims’ identities, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
>>Car Recovered from the Mississippi River May be Linked to 1967 Benton County Missing Person Case
(Sartell, MN) — A dive team has discovered a submerged car in the Mississippi River near Sartell. The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office says a fisherman spotted it on sonar over the weekend. On Wednesday morning, the Stearns-Benton dive team confirmed the vehicle—believed to be from the 1960s—was half-filled with sediment and remains underwater. Authorities are investigating whether it’s connected to a 1967 missing person case out of Benton County. No other missing persons are known in the area, and the car’s connection to the case remains unclear. The investigation is ongoing, and more details are expected as the car is examined.
>>Burnsville Man Found Guilty of Killing His Mother
(Hastings, MN) — A Burnsville man has been found guilty of first-degree murder for killing his mother. A Dakota County jury convicted 58-year-old Troy Mitteness in the death of 82-year-old Sandra Mitteness. He was found guilty on both premeditated first-degree and intentional second-degree murder charges after a seven-day trial and nine hours of deliberation. Mitteness admitted to stabbing his mother in June 2022, saying she was becoming suspicious after he spent all her money. He later dismembered her and scattered her remains in rural ditches near Appleton in western Minnesota. Sentencing is set for Tuesday, August 19.
>>MDH Looking at Youth E-cig Trends as School Year Nears
(Undated) — The Minnesota Department of Health is taking a look at e-cigarette trends among Minnesota youth as the school year approaches. Commercial tobacco cessation expert Mike Sheldon says just under 14% of youth have used some personal tobacco product like a vape. A 2023 study by MDH found that more than 30% of Minnesota youth who had used an e-cigarette started at age 12 or under. Sheldon says the My Life My Quit program is free and available, and offers tools for teens to help them quit e-cig use. More info is available on the MDH website.
>>Minnesota Children’s Alliance Held its First Voices for Safety Conference
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Children’s Alliance hosted its first-ever Voices for Safety conference on Wednesday in Saint Paul, bringing together professionals and advocates from across the state to strengthen child abuse prevention efforts. Former NFL player and belonging expert Gaelin Elmore delivered the keynote, inspiring attendees to build trauma-informed, coordinated responses to child abuse. Executive Director Marcia Milliken called the event a powerful reminder that protecting children is a shared mission—and that lasting change starts with united voices.
>>Minneapolis Property Tax Increase Proposal
(Minneapolis, MN) — Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has unveiled his proposed budget for 2026, which includes a nearly 8% increase in property taxes. Frey says the hike is necessary to maintain core city services and keep staff on the job. “Protect the core services our citizens rely on every single day,” Frey said. “Invest in proven programs instead of launching new ones that are untested or unsustainable. Keep city staff—the people who make this city work—on the job.” Earlier projections estimated the increase could reach 13%, but Frey says city staff found ways to cut 40% of that total, saving taxpayers millions.
