>>RFK Jr. Launches National Autism Missing-Person Initiative in Rochester
(Rochester, MN) — Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was in Rochester Friday to launch a national initiative aimed at finding missing children and adults with autism more quickly. The effort will bring together HHS, the Justice Department, and FEMA to improve alerts, training, and coordination with local law enforcement. Kennedy highlighted Rochester and Olmsted County’s Project Lifesaver program, which uses tracking devices to help locate people prone to wandering. A nationwide autism-specific alert system is still being developed.
>>Senator Ann Rest Honored by Minnesota Retailers
(St. Paul, MN) – After 42 years as a state legislator, Senator Ann Rest (DFL – New Hope) was honored this week by Minnesota Retailers with the group’s first-ever Lifetime Leadership Award. The group honored her support for retailers across the state and her expertise in tax policy. Rest is the only legislator in Minnesota history to chair the Taxes Committee in both the Minnesota House and Senate. Rest is retiring when her current term ends in January.
>>Minnesota Unemployment Rate Dips as State Loses Jobs
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota’s unemployment rate edged lower in July, even as the state lost jobs. The Department of Employment and Economic Development says Minnesota lost 1,900 jobs last month, including 800 in the private sector. The unemployment rate dipped one-tenth of a percentage point to 4.3%. DEED Labor Market Information Director Angelina Nguyen says Minnesota continues to have one of the highest labor force participation rates in the country, despite the rate slipping slightly to 66.9%. Over the past year, Minnesota has added more than 44,000 jobs.
>>Brainerd Man Charged After Fatal Tree-Trimming Accident
(Apple Valley, MN) — A Brainerd man is charged with second-degree manslaughter after a tree-trimming worker was killed in Apple Valley. Prosecutors say 34-year-old Christopher Crimmins was operating a hydraulic grapple Thursday when he maneuvered it while watching its shadow instead of the equipment. The grapple closed on 26-year-old Tyler Lynch of Royalton, fatally injuring him. Crimmins remains in the Dakota County Jail and is due back in court September 10th
.>>Minnesota Man Seriously Injured During Son’s Wedding Cruise
(Undated) — A Minnesota man is hospitalized in Italy after suffering a severe spinal cord injury while celebrating his son’s wedding aboard a cruise ship. Steve Junker reportedly fell and nearly drowned in a pool aboard the Sun Princess on August 16th. A family fundraiser says Junker underwent emergency surgery in Naples and remains in intensive care on a ventilator. His family is now working to bring him back to the United States for continued treatment and recovery.
>>Little Falls Woman Airlifted After E-Bike Crash Near Motley
(Motley, MN) — A Little Falls woman was airlifted to a St. Cloud hospital following an e-bike crash south of Motley. The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office says 34-year-old Heather Bauer was riding w around 5 p.m. Thursday when she crashed into a ditch and was unable to move. Bauer was flown by LifeLink to St. Cloud Hospital. The extent of her injuries has not been released.
>>Warmer-Than-Normal Fall Forecast for Minnesota
(Undated) — Minnesotans may want to hold off on putting away the shorts as summer winds down. The latest fall outlook from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center favors above-normal temperatures across Minnesota for September, October and November. The warmer trend covers much of the central United States and Great Lakes region. The precipitation outlook is less certain. The Climate Prediction Center does not show a strong signal favoring either a wetter- or drier-than-normal fall across Minnesota, meaning precipitation is expected to have roughly equal chances of finishing above, below, or near normal.
>>DNR Asks Hunters to Avoid Collared Bears
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota DNR is asking hunters to avoid shooting collared black bears, which provide valuable information for ongoing research. Bear Project Leader Andy Tri says monitoring shows bears in some productive habitats are having cubs as early as age three, helping some local populations grow more quickly. Hunters are also being reminded of changes to the state’s registration system. Bears can be registered online or at a big-game registration station, but phone registration is no longer available.
>>One Million Scratch-Off Ticket Sold in Maplewood
(Maplewood, MN) — Someone who bought a Minnesota Lottery scratch-off ticket in Maplewood is a million dollars richer. The Minnesota Lottery says a Casino Millions ticket purchased at Cub Foods won the game’s $1 million top prize. The winning ticket costs $50 to play. Minnesota Lottery records list the winning ticket as sold on August 19th. Prizes of more than $50,000 must be claimed in person at Lottery headquarters in Roseville.
