>>Authorities Hope Reward Leads to Break in Decades-Old Missing Person Case
(Wadena, Minn.) — Investigators in Wadena are making a renewed push to solve a nearly 40-year-old mystery, announcing a $25,000 reward for information in the disappearance of Carla Beth Anderson. The 23-year-old vanished without a trace in 1987. Authorities say there were no signs of a struggle inside her apartment. The door was locked, her purse was left behind, and only her keys and work jacket were missing. Police Chief Naomi Plautz says hundreds of tips have been investigated over the years, but she’s convinced someone still holds the key to what happened. The reward is being offered through Minnesota’s Spotlight on Crime program, and anyone with information is encouraged to contact Wadena Police or the BCA tip line.
>>Governor Walz Visits Austria
(Vienna, Austria) — Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is in Austria for a series of high-profile meetings and events. Walz will attend the opening of the Austrian World Summit as a special guest of former California Governor and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger. His schedule also includes meetings with Austria’s chancellor and the country’s federal president. The governor has made several international trips in recent years to strengthen Minnesota’s economic and educational ties abroad. While in Vienna, he’ll also take part in a reception for alumni of the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management.
>>Summer Meal Sites for Kids
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Department of Education says more than 715 summer meal sites are helping ensure children have access to nutritious food while school is out of session. Summer Food Service Coordinator Jordyn Crane says kids 18 and under, along with adults with certain disabilities, can receive free breakfasts, lunches, snacks, or suppers at participating locations across the state. Most sites are open to any child in the community without registration. Families can use an online tool through the Department of Education to find the nearest meal site, check serving times, and see what meals are available this summer.
>>Specialty Crop Relief
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota specialty crop growers may soon get some financial relief. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is making more than $1.6 billion available nationwide to help producers facing higher operating costs and tighter markets. In Minnesota, specialty crops include certain beans and peas grown primarily for domestic use. State Farm Service Agency Executive Director Kurt Blomgren says rising input costs, such as fertilizer, have put pressure on farmers, and the assistance is intended to help producers weather the current downturn. Blomgren says Minnesota farmers are resilient, noting that while agriculture moves through market cycles, there are signs conditions could be improving.
>>Blackduck Police Department to Shut Down
(Blackduck, MN) — Blackduck in Beltrami County is the latest Minnesota city to shut down its Police Department, ending more than a century of local law enforcement. The Blackduck City Council made the decision citing ongoing staffing challenges and rising costs. The city of about 800 residents had been operating with a part-time police chief, one part-time officer, and a single squad car. Since 2016, roughly 40 law enforcement agencies across Minnesota have closed as rural communities struggle to recruit and retain officers, forcing many to rely on county sheriff’s offices or regional partnerships for coverage.
>>Hit and Run Crash near Buyck in Northern St. Louis County
(Buyck, MN) — A hit-and-run crash near Buyck(Bike) in northern St. Louis County ended with a pickup truck engulfed in flames and the driver facing possible DWI charges. Deputies were called around 4:20 p.m. Monday after a pickup struck another vehicle and fled the scene. No injuries were reported. A short time later, authorities found a burning pickup matching the suspect vehicle’s description in a nearby driveway. The driver was later located, denied being injured, and is being processed for DWI-related charges. The investigation continues.
>>Three People Injured in Three Vehicle Crash
(Canosia Township, MN) — Three people suffered non-life-threatening injuries in a three-vehicle crash Monday afternoon in Canosia Township northwest of Duluth. St. Louis County deputies say a vehicle turning from southbound collided with a northbound vehicle. The impact pushed one of the vehicles into a Minnesota State Patrol squad car that was stopped at a red light. All occupants involved were wearing seatbelts.
>>Three Peregrine Falcon Chicks Hatch on FalconCam
(St. Paul, MN) — The FalconCam nest is now home to three peregrine falcon chicks after three of the five eggs successfully hatched. Officials say peregrine falcon eggs usually hatch within 24 to 48 hours of each other, and with more than a week since the last chick emerged, the brood is considered complete. Over the next few weeks, the chicks will grow quickly as both parents bring food to the nest. By early to mid-July, the young falcons are expected to take their first flights and leave the nest.
