>>Cook County Sheriff Issues Clarification on Lutsen Resort ‘Crime’ Scene
(Lutsen, MN) — Officials have issued a clarification after sending out a news release Friday afternoon with the headline, “Lutsen Resort Main Lodge is an Official Crime Scene.” The Cook County Sheriff’s Office indicates it’s a *potential* crime scene, but stress it is still too early to determine whether the fire that destroyed the historic lodge was accidental or intentional — and are asking people to stay away from the area, not only to “preserve the scene for the ongoing investigation,” but also because of unstable fire debris and structural items, including chimney stacks. They say the area was secured to limit access for safely concerns, and anyone who enters will be detained.
>>Person of Interest Arrested in Faribault Murder Investigation
(Faribault, MN) — Investigators in southern Minnesota say a person of interest is under arrest in Iowa connection with the murder of a Faribault (FAIR’-uh-boh) man. Officers say a 32-year-old woman was arrested driving the car of 76-year-old Gary Lehmeyer on Monday before he was found dead in his home. The woman was taken into custody on unrelated charges in Dallas County, Iowa and authorities say she was in a domestic relationship with Lehmeyer. Rice County sheriff’s deputies are working to extradite the woman to Minnesota.
>>Winnebago Mayor and Son Arrested in South Central Minnesota Marijuana Bust
(Winnebago, MN) — The mayor of the south central Minnesota city of Winnebago and his son are jailed in connection with a marijuana growing operation bust. The Southern Central Drug Investigation Unit reports 67-year-old Scott Roberston and 46-year-old Jacob Robertson were arrested Thursday night. Officers say they searched three properties in Winnebago and seized around 240 cannabis plants. Robertson was elected mayor of the town of 14-hundred residents in 2021. The Faribault County Attorney’s Office hadn’t filed any charges as of Friday afternoon. The new cannabis law allows Minnesotans to grow eight plants in their home.
>>Extra DWI Patrols on Minnesota Roads for Super Bowl Weekend
(St. Paul, MN) — There will be extra referees on Minnesota roads this Super Bowl weekend. Mike Hanson with the state Office of Traffic Safety says local, county, and state law enforcement officers will be targeting impaired drivers, so plan for a sober ride. He says there is no excuse for any driver to wind up in the backseat of a squad car, in the back of an ambulance or Heaven forbid in a hearse because of that one bad decision. Each D-W-I risks the loss of a license for up to a year, thousands of dollars in costs, and possible jail time.
>>Authorities in Grant County Looking for Robbery Suspect
(Hoffman, MN) — Authorities in western Minnesota’s Grant County are asking for help identifying a man accused in a robbery Thursday in Hoffman. Sheriff’s deputies say the man asked the clerk at a Casey’s store to exchange coins for dollars bills and then forcibly grabbed money from the cash register tray and ran away. The suspect is about six feet tall with a thin build. Investigators believe he arrived in a green or dark color 1999 to 2004 Chrysler 300 M with possible damage to the front driver’s side fender and left front quarter panel. Anyone with information about the man or suspect vehicle should call the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.
>>Final Preps Underway for Cross County World Cup Ski Races at Theodore Wirth
(Minneapolis, MN) — The top skiers on the globe are coming to Minnesota next week for the 2024 Cross Country World Cup at Theodore Wirth Park. Loppet (LOH’-pit) executive director Claire Wilson says this international event is usually in Europe, but this year is in North America for the first time in two decades. She says they’re expecting close to 200 athletes from 22 different countries including our very own Jessie Diggins. Wilson says Diggins is expected to compete in the Sprint races on Saturday and the Distance races Sunday. General admission and grandstand tickets are sold out. She says they’ve taken multiple measures to ensure there’s enough snow for the races.
