>>National Park Service Identifies Fallen Voyageurs National Park Ranger
(International Falls, MN) — The National Park Service is out with more information about the park ranger who died Sunday in the line of duty in Voyageurs National Park. Officials say 55-year-old Kevin Grossheim of Kabetogama was a law enforcement park ranger at Voyageurs for 23 years and a volunteer firefighter. Grossheim rescued three boaters from rough waters on Namakan Lake Sunday morning and they were on his boat when it overturned. The three family members swam to shore, but Grossheim was unaccounted for. His body was recovered following a three-hour search. American flags are lowered to half-staff in all national parks through Sunday in honor of Grossheim. Governor Tim Walz has also ordered flags be flown at half-staff in Minnesota in honor and remembrance of him.
>>Shipping Season on Great Lakes “Close to Average” So Far in 2024
(Duluth, MN) — A few months remain of the 2024 shipping season on Lake Superior. Jayson Hron (ROAN) of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority says, “so far, it’s been a close to average shipping season, some things are up, some things are down.” He says it’s been a great season for wind energy cargoes in our port. Hron says it’s also been a “close to average” season for iron ore on the Great Lakes. Around 55 percent of the annual tonnage at Duluth Superior is iron ore.
>>Prosecutors Charge Man with Making Threats Against Temple Israel in Minneapolis
(Minneapolis, MN) — A 21-year-old man is now charged with making terroristic threats against Temple Israel in Uptown Minneapolis. The criminal complaint alleges that Jaden Leblanc threw beer bottles at the synagogue, made multiple verbal threats to shoot security, made threatening calls to Temple Israel, and was seen standing across the street holding a handgun. Leblanc was arrested last Thursday. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarity said, “while the evidence available at this time does not suggest that this crime was motivated by bias against the Jewish community, every member of our community deserves to feel safe.”
>>Jury Selection Continues for Suspect in Killing of Madeline Kingsbury
(Mankato, MN) — Jury selection continues today (Tues) in Mankato for Adam Fravel, the man charged in the killing of Madeline Kingsbury of Winona. Dozens of potential jurors filled out questionnaires Monday before being questioned by the judge, defense, and prosecutors. The court will narrow the jury down to 12 and five alternates jurors for Fravel’s first- and second-degree murder trial. Jury selection is expected to take a few days. Kingsbury went missing March 31st, 2023, and her body was found about two months later. Fravel was Maddie’s ex-boyfriend and the father of her two children.
>>Former Minnesota State Trooper Booked in Jail for Deadly Rochester Crash
(Rochester, MN) — Former Minnesota state trooper Shane Roper has been booked into Olmsted County Jail as part of the legal process following a crash in Rochester on May 18th that killed a teenager. Roper is facing charges of manslaughter and other offenses. He is accused of driving at 83 miles per hour in a 40-m-p-h zone while pursuing a vehicle for a minor traffic violation. The crash resulted in injuries to other occupants and bystanders. Roper is scheduled for trial in March 2025 and a court appearance is set for November.
>>Pheasant Hunting Season Opens Saturday in Minnesota
(Undated) — Minnesota’s pheasant season opens on Saturday, and hunters should have an equal chance to bag birds as they did last year. The 2024 August Roadside Survey shows a similar number of birds as 2023. The D-N-R says a wet spring negatively impacted nesting despite a mild winter with little snow. The survey noted a 6% increase in pheasants in west central Minnesota, 34% in central Minnesota, and 70% in east-central Minnesota. Bird populations declined by 29% in southwestern Minnesota and 9% in the southeast. However, the pheasant index in southwestern Minnesota remains above the statewide average.
>>Minnesota Lynx Host Connecticut Sun in Game 5 of WNBA Semifinals
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Minnesota Lynx and Connecticut Sun play a decisive Game 5 of the W-N-B-A Semifinals tonight (Tues 7pm)at Target Center. The Sun topped the Lynx 92-82 at home Sunday to even the series at two games each. All-Star forward Napheesa Collier had 29 points and 13 rebounds to lead Minnesota. The winner of tonight’s game will face the New York Liberty in the W-N-B-A Finals.