>>Minnesota Voter Registration System Earns High Marks In State Audit
(St. Paul, MN) — A new report from the Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor says the state’s voter registration system is performing well, finding counties followed required verification procedures 99.9 percent of the time. During a legislative hearing, some Republicans questioned the findings, with Representative Steven Jacob of Altura arguing thousands of records still need to be addressed. Secretary of State Steve Simon says the audit shows Minnesota’s voter registration system is fundamentally sound and should give voters confidence. Election officials also told lawmakers the state’s voter registration software is now 21 years old and should be replaced to reduce errors and improve efficiency.
>>Health Insurance Costs Blamed For Drop In MNsure Enrollment
(Shakopee, MN) — DFL Representative Brad Tabke says more than 17,000 Minnesotans have dropped their health insurance through MNsure after enhanced federal Affordable Care Act tax credits expired. Tabke says higher premiums are making coverage unaffordable for many families, especially in Greater Minnesota, and he blames Congress for allowing the subsidies to lapse. He says if Washington doesn’t act, state lawmakers will have to consider ways to make health insurance more affordable during the next legislative session.
>>FBI Offers $150,000 Reward in Feeding Our Future Case
(Minneapolis, MN) — The FBI is offering a reward of up to 150-thousand dollars for information leading to the arrest of another fugitive charged in Minnesota’s massive Feeding Our Future fraud case. Forty-two-year-old Fahad Mohamed Nur is accused of fraudulently collecting more than five million dollars in federal child nutrition funds using fake invoices. Investigators believe Nur fled to Somalia in early 2022, shortly after federal raids launched the investigation. He faces charges including wire fraud and money laundering. Nur is the second Feeding Our Future defendant recently added to the FBI’s “Most Wanted Fraudsters” list.
>>Woman Sentenced To 15 Years in Hallock Murder
(Hallock, MN) — A woman convicted in the 2025 shooting death of a Hallock man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison. Jordan Carol pleaded guilty to second-degree felony murder in the death of Justin Esparza. Investigators say Hanson shot Esparza with his own handgun inside his Hallock home. Court records indicate the two, along with another person, had been using methamphetamine before the shooting, although prosecutors never identified a specific motive. Hanson fled in Esparza’s pickup truck, taking his dog with her, before she was arrested.
>>Mother Accused of Trying to Drown Daughter in Minnesota Lake
(Battle Lake, MN) — A Maryland woman is facing an attempted murder charge after prosecutors say she tried to drown her 15-year-old daughter in West Battle Lake on the Fourth of July. Thirty-five-year-old Jasmine Laws is also charged with felony and misdemeanor domestic assault. Investigators say an argument between the two turned violent, and witnesses reported seeing Laws hold the girl’s head underwater. The teen suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Laws is scheduled to return to court on August 26th.
>>Minnesota Part Of John Deere Repair Settlement
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota is among five states that have reached a settlement with farm equipment manufacturer John Deere over farmers’ right to repair their own machinery. The agreement requires Deere to give farmers and independent repair shops access to the same diagnostic tools and repair information used by its authorized dealers for the next 10 years. State and federal regulators alleged the company’s repair restrictions limited competition and increased costs for farmers. Deere denies any wrongdoing but says the settlement reflects its commitment to expanding customer access and repair options. The agreement still must be approved by a federal judge.
>>Duluth Police Name Suspect in Shooting
(Duluth, MN) – The St. Louis County Attorney’s Office has issued an arrest warrant for 19-year-old Delainey Turnispeed following the shooting of a 17-year-old boy. Authorities say the arrest warrant is for pending charges of Second-degree assault and threats of violence. Police say the shooting happened after an altercation between the teenagers Monday night on Canal Park Drive. Police say Turnispeed fled the area and has not been caught. The victim suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.
>>Federal Grant to Replace Three Red River Bridges
(Undated) — Three aging bridges connecting northwestern Minnesota and eastern North Dakota are set to be replaced with the help of a $24 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The funding will pay for new crossings at Nielsville, Hendrum, and Georgetown along the Red River. One of the bridges is already closed, while the other two have weight limits that have disrupted farm traffic, freight shipments, and emergency response. Local officials say the new bridges will improve safety and strengthen transportation links between the two states. The project was backed by counties in both Minnesota and North Dakota and supported by the region’s congressional delegation.
>>New Wildfires Reported in Northern Minnesota
(Duluth, MN) — Fire crews are responding to five new wildfires reported Tuesday in and around the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Four of the fires are inside the BWCAW, and one is just northeast of Ely. Most are small, ranging from one-tenth of an acre to about two acres, and are believed to have been sparked by lightning or remain under investigation. The largest, the Camp Fire, is burning in heavy dead vegetation and has drawn both ground crews and water-dropping aircraft. Forest officials say there are no closures currently but are urging visitors to stay away from fire areas and reminding the public that drones are prohibited near wildfire operations.
>>DNR Releases Ten-Year Lake Report
(Undated) – A new Minnesota D-N-R report finds most of the state’s lakes remain healthy for fish and aquatic life. The decade-long study analyzed more than 14-hundred surveys covering 908 lakes across 47 watersheds. Researchers found 77 percent of assessed lakes fully support aquatic life. Officials say lakes in northern, forested watersheds generally perform better than those affected by urban and agricultural development. The D-N-R will use the findings to help local partners focus lake protection and restoration efforts statewide.
>>Pilot Killed in Crash Testing New Wing
(Winona, MN) — Federal investigators say the pilot killed in last month’s plane crash at the Winona Municipal Airport was conducting a test flight after installing a new wing on his aircraft. A preliminary NTSB report says 74-year-old Wayne Ledebuhr of Winona made two short takeoffs before a third, longer flight. The aircraft crashed while on final approach to the airport. Investigators found no evidence of a mechanical failure that would have prevented normal operation. The crash remains under investigation, and a final report is expected at a later date.
>>Netflix Debut Brings New Attention to Walnut Grove’s Wilder Pageant
(Walnut Grove, MN) — As Netflix premieres its new adaptation of Little House on the Prairie today, fans can experience Laura Ingalls Wilder’s story where it unfolded in southwestern Minnesota. The 49th annual Wilder Pageant opens tomorrow (Fri) on the banks of Plum Creek in Walnut Grove. Director Erin Richards says the outdoor production rotates among three scripts and is based on extensive historical research, drawing from Laura Ingalls Wilder’s “On the Banks of Plum Creek” and “Pioneer Girl.” Richards says the pageant features real people and events from the Ingalls family’s years in Walnut Grove, offering audiences a look at the history behind the beloved stories.
>> Minnesota State Fair Ranked Best in the Nation
(Falcon Heights, MN) — The Minnesota State Fair is being recognized as the best state fair in the country. Travel website Only In Your State ranks the Great Minnesota Get-Together number one, citing its nation-leading average daily attendance of nearly 200,000 visitors, along with its mix of food, live entertainment, agriculture, and family attractions. The Iowa State Fair finished second in the rankings. Minnesota’s 2026 State Fair opens Thursday, August 27th, and runs through Labor Day, September 7th.
>>U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Ready For Duluth Airshow
(Duluth, MN) — The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds have arrived in Duluth ahead of this weekend’s Duluth Air and Aviation Expo. The elite F-16 demonstration team practiced over Duluth International Airport Tuesday afternoon as they prepared for Saturday and Sunday’s performances. Thunderbirds commander Lieutenant Colonel Alex Prevendar, an Esko, Minnesota native, says it’s especially meaningful to bring the team home to northern Minnesota, adding he’s been overwhelmed by the warm welcome. The Thunderbirds are the featured attraction at this weekend’s air show.
>>Osseo Residents to Discuss Proposed City-Owned Cannabis Store
(Osseo, MN) — Osseo residents will have another opportunity tonight (Thurs) to weigh in on the city’s proposed municipal cannabis dispensary. The meeting follows concerns raised last month over a plan to finance the project with up to a $4 million, 20-year tax-abatement bond. The dispensary would be in the former Osseo Press and News building, with Voyageur Cannabis Services managing daily operations. City leaders say revenue from cannabis sales could help reduce property taxes, while some residents have questioned the financial risk if sales fall short.
