>>Walz Executive Order Delays Mining Prospects Near Boundary Waters
(St. Paul, MN) — Governor Tim Walz has signed an executive order that will further delay any prospect of copper-nickel mining near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The order adds another layer of state review for proposed mining projects in the Rainy River watershed. It follows federal action earlier this year that lifted a 20-year restriction on mineral leasing in part of the Superior National Forest. Twin Metals would still need to complete environmental reviews and secure state and federal permits before any mining could begin.
>>Family, Friends Remember Hopkins, Burnsville Stabbing Victims
(Hopkins, MN) — More than 200 people gathered Monday night to remember three members of the same family killed last week in Hopkins and Burnsville. Mourners held candles and left flowers at Downtown Park in honor of 41-year-old Kristen Brown, her seven-year-old daughter Evie, and 78-year-old Alice Brown. Friends remembered Kristen as a devoted childcare provider and Alice as a caring volunteer. Police say Nathan Brown killed his mother Alice in Burnsville before killing his wife and daughter in Hopkins and then taking his own life.
>>Federal Judge Rejects Trump Administration Demand for Minnesota Voter Data
(Minneapolis, MN) — A federal judge is rejecting the Trump administration’s effort to obtain Minnesota’s unredacted voter rolls. U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez dismissed the Justice Department’s lawsuit Monday, ruling federal law does not give the government authority to demand the records. The DOJ sought voter information including birth dates and partial Social Security numbers. Menendez rejected the department’s arguments under the Civil Rights Act and Help America Vote Act. The Justice Department says it disagrees with the ruling and is considering its next steps.
>>Courtland Man Pleads Guilty to Hanska Double Murder
(Hanska, MN) — A Courtland man has pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder in a deadly shooting last fall in Hanska in south-central Minnesota. Forty-six-year-old Randy Zimmerman admitted killing Tabitha Trescott and Justin Reinarts on November 2nd. Court records say Zimmerman entered Reinarts’ home armed and shot both victims. Trescott had previously been in a relationship with Zimmerman. Both convictions carry mandatory life sentences with the possibility of release. A judge will decide whether the sentences are served at the same time or consecutively. Sentencing is scheduled for October 5th.
>>St. Louis County Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Crime and Child Exploitation Charges
(Duluth, MN) – A 29-year-old St. Louis County man has pleaded guilty to multiple felony charges involving a child victim. Prosecutors say Luis Antonio Villafana admitted to one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a child under 14 and three counts related to distributing child sexual abuse material. Under a plea agreement, Villafana faces at least 131 months in prison, with a judge set to determine his final sentence at an October 7th hearing. Authorities say the case was the result of a joint investigation involving local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.
>>Canadian Man Accused of Falsely Reporting Kidnapping in Alexandria
(Alexandria, MN) — A Canadian man is jailed in western Minnesota after police say he made up a kidnapping report. Alexandria police say they were alerted Saturday to a reported abduction originating in Winnipeg and a suspect vehicle believed to be in the Alexandria area. Officers located the vehicle and questioned two men. Investigators say 37-year-old Roderick Garson of Winnipeg eventually admitted the kidnapping claim was false and that he already knew the other man involved. Garson was arrested on suspicion of falsely reporting a crime and booked into Douglas County Jail.
>>Man Charged in Rush City Prison Cellmate’s Death
(Rush City, MN) — A man is charged with second-degree murder in the death of his cellmate at the Rush City prison. Prosecutors allege William Hall killed Stephen Washington during an October 9, 2025, fight that began with a disagreement over cleaning their cell. The Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office determined Washington died from blunt-force injuries and possible asphyxia.
>>Man Dies After Falling from Cabin Roof Near Forbes
(Forbes, MN) — A 70-year-old man died Monday after falling from a cabin roof in rural St. Louis County. The sheriff’s office says the man fell about 12 feet near Forbes shortly after 12:30 p.m. Witnesses, neighbors, and first responders performed lifesaving measures, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The man’s identity has not been released.
>>Minnesota Attorney General Files Medicaid Fraud Charges
(Undated) – Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has announced felony theft charges in two Medicaid fraud cases alleging losses of more than $1.5 million. Prosecutors say Salman Ahmed Elmi, operator of Reva Health, is accused of fraudulently billing more than $1 million for mental health services that were never provided or were ineligible for reimbursement. In a separate case, Mohamed Haji Rashid faces charges tied to more than $300,000 in improper Medicaid billing through Liberty Home Health Care. Together, the two cases include 17 felony theft counts and remain under prosecution by the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
>>Minnesota Law Expands Egg Donations to Food Shelves
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota food shelves can now accept donated eggs beyond the date printed on the carton under a new state law. The change allows qualifying eggs to be donated and distributed for up to 30 days after the quality-assurance date, provided they remain refrigerated and meet packaging and labeling requirements. Second Harvest Heartland says the law will help reduce food waste and provide more protein-rich food to families in need.
>>Third Body Found in Minneapolis Public Area in Three Days
(Minneapolis, MN) — Authorities are investigating after a third body was discovered in a public area of Minneapolis in three days. University of Minnesota police were called Monday afternoon after a man was found dead near the Stone Arch Bridge. On Sunday, a badly decomposed body was discovered along the shoreline of Bde Maka Ska. Another body was found Saturday evening in a wooded area near the Mississippi River. Authorities have not announced causes of death or said whether any of the cases are connected.
>>University of Minnesota Medical School Welcomes New Students
(Minneapolis) – The University of Minnesota Medical School will welcome 265 incoming medical students across three campuses this week. The annual White Coat Ceremony will be held on the campuses of the Twin Cities, Duluth, and St. Cloud on Thursday and Friday. The ceremony is a rite of passage that serves to welcome new medical students to the profession and reinforce the value of humanism as foundational to medicine. The students will receive their first white coat in front of family and friends. The Class of 2030 includes 176 students on the Twin Cities campus, 65 students in Duluth, and 24 at CentraCare Regional Campus in St. Cloud.
>>Top College Bass Fishermen Competing This Week in Walker
(Walker, MN) – The top college bass fishermen in the country are in Walker this week to tackle Leech Lake for a college championship. The 2026 Strike King Bassmaster College Championship will be held August 20-22. Teams from across the country qualified during a series of fishing tournaments held in the spring. The top anglers will compete for a $250,000 prize package that includes a new truck and boat for their school. Two teams will move on to the College Classic Cup.
>>Minnesota Awards Nearly $5 million in Grants to Plant More than 6,000 Trees
(Undated) – The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is awarding nearly $5 million to 33 communities for tree planting and replacement projects. The grants will help remove damaged and dying trees while adding more than 6,000 new trees across the state. DNR officials say expanding tree canopies can lower energy costs, reduce stormwater runoff, and improve quality of life in cities and towns. The agency is also accepting applications through September 14th for a new community forestry grant program, with awards of up to $150,000 available for local governments, nonprofits, tribes, and schools.
