>>Tornadoes Reported near Duluth in St. Louis County, Hail in Southeast Minnesota
(Duluth, MN) — The National Weather Service is looking into at least three tornado reports late Thursday afternoon north of Duluth in St. Louis County. A tornado was spotted just after 5 pm crossing Highway 53 near Canyon. A home in the Canyon area had its shingles ripped off and debris all over the property. Officials say a social media post shows a tornado on the ground near Lake Elora southeast of Cotton. Forecasters say large hail fell during the storms in southeastern Minnesota. One-and-a-half-inch hail was reported in Goodhue County near Kenyon and one-inch stones were reported near Owatonna, Northfield and Cottage Grove.
>>Early Voting for November Election Begins in Minnesota
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesotans can begin casting ballots today (Fri) in the November general election. Secretary of State Steve Simon says there are three ways to vote in our state. He says you can vote absentee early by mail starting today or vote in-person at a city or county office, and the third option is voting in-person on Election Day. Simon says Minnesota led the nation in voter turnout in the three of the last four elections and we want to return to number-one again this year. Everything you need to know about early voting and the election in Minnesota can be found at mnvotes.gov.
>>Funeral for Retired Veterans Affairs Commissioner Larry Herke
(Grey Eagle, MN) — Former state Veterans Affairs Commissioner Larry Herke will be remembered during a funeral today (Fri 11am) in Grey Eagle in central Minnesota. Herke died last Friday in Sauk Centre after a battle with A-L-S at age 61. Communications Director Anne Sonnee says Herke closely followed his work after he retired including the three new state Veterans Homes and a new Veterans Cemetery. Herke served more than 30 years in the Army and National Guard. The Mankato native was appointed commissioner of the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2019. Herke will be laid to at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls.
>>BCA Identifies Man Shot by Police in Western Minnesota
(St. Paul, MN) — The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) says a western Minnesota man shot by officers during a 15-hour standoff this past weekend is expected to survive his injuries. The mother of 27-year-old Kasey Willander of Clarkfield called the police Saturday after her son became paranoid and behaving strangely. Law enforcement said it received a call two hours later that he was hiding in the woods with a rifle near another relative’s home. As deputies evacuated them, Willander pointed a long gun in their direction. Willander is accused of shooting at the officers multiple times, and SWAT team members struck him at least twice before the standoff ended. Willander is hospitalized in stable condition at H-C-M-C. No one else was hurt.
>>Brooklyn Park Business Owner Pleads Guilty in Feeding Our Future Case
(Minneapolis, MN) — A Brooklyn Park business owner, 34-year-old Haji Salad, is the 20th person to plead guilty in the Feeding Our Future federal fraud case. Salad, the owner of Haji’s Kitchen, claimed to have provided 15.7 million free meals to children between June 2020 and March 2022. The company received millions in federal funding to cover the costs of the meals. However, it was discovered that only a “minimal portion” of the reported meals were actually served. Prosecutors say Salad used the money to purchase properties and luxury vehicles.
>>Minnesota Measles Outbreak Raises Vaccine Concerns
(Minneapolis, MN) — The measles outbreak in Minnesota has now reached 51 cases. The outbreak is primarily affecting unvaccinated children in the Somali community in Hennepin County. State health officials have emphasized the risks of measles as 12 people have already been hospitalized. Vaccine hesitancy, fueled by misinformation, has contributed to declining vaccination rates. Experts stress the importance of vaccinations to prevent further outbreaks.
>>Single-Engine Plane Makes Emergency Landing on Highway near Superior, Wisconsin
(Superior, WI) — Highway 53 south of Superior, Wisconsin became a makeshift landing strip for a small airplane in distress on Thursday. Douglas County authorities reported that a Cirrus SR 22 single-engine aircraft experiencing mechanical issues landed on the roadway in the community of Bennett. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. The highway in northwest Wisconsin was closed for about an hour while the airplane was removed.
>>Sun Country to Offer Direct Service Between Duluth and Fort Myers
(Duluth, MN) — Travelers departing from Duluth International Airport will soon have a new nonstop destination to consider. Minnesota-based Sun Country Airlines will start offering direct service between Duluth and Fort Myers, Florida beginning at the end of January. These flights will be available on Mondays and Fridays. Minnesota Twins spring training starts in February in Fort Myers.
