>>Vance Boelter Back in Federal Court Today
(Minneapolis, MN) — The man convicted in the 2025 attacks on two Minnesota lawmakers and their families is due back in federal court today. Vance Boelter is scheduled for a status conference at 3 p.m. before U.S. District Judge John Tunheim in Minneapolis. Boelter pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from the murders of former House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and the shootings of Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette. He is serving two consecutive life sentences plus 40 years. Boelter is also facing a separate state prosecution, with his trial scheduled to begin November 2nd.
>>Federal Charges Filed in Aircraft Shooting Case
(Portage Township, MN) – A northern Minnesota man accused of shooting at an aircraft assisting with a wildfire response is now facing federal charges. Federal prosecutors say 48-year-old Daniel Pettit of Portage Township was indicted on charges of damaging an aircraft and discharging a firearm during a violent crime. Investigators say Pettit fired a shotgun and rifle at the plane on May 15 as the pilot descended to scoop water from a lake. The pilot later discovered damage to the aircraft. According to court documents, Pettit told authorities he believed the plane was flying too close to homes and claimed he was crow hunting when the shots were fired.
>>Man Sentenced in Police Stabbing
(St. Cloud, MN) — A Stearns County judge has sentenced a man to 11 years in prison for stabbing a St. Cloud police officer. Forty-seven-year-old Kyeon Hill was convicted in July of first-degree assault involving deadly force against a peace officer. Authorities say Officer Virgilia Schreiner was arresting Hill following a domestic disturbance in May 2025 when he stabbed her in the arm with a pocket knife. Schreiner then shot Hill in the shoulder. Another officer used a Taser before Hill was taken into custody. The officer suffered a puncture wound to her arm.
>>Investigation Continues in Teen Homicide
(Cass Lake, MN) – Authorities say tips continue to come in as investigators work to solve the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old boy in northern Minnesota. Dylon Oothoudt of Walker was found with a gunshot wound in the front yard of a Cass Lake home on September 13th. The medical examiner ruled his death a homicide. Cass County Chief Deputy Eric Alger says investigators have conducted numerous interviews and are actively following up on tips, but no arrests have been made. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Cass County Sheriff’s Office, and Leech Lake Tribal Police are assisting in the investigation. Anyone with information is urged to contact authorities.
>>Iowa Construction Company Fined for Pollution Violations
(Fillmore County, MN) – An Iowa-based construction company is facing more than 16-thousand dollars in fines after state regulators found water pollution violations in southeastern Minnesota. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency fined Bruening Rock Products $16,410 after inspectors found sediment-laden stormwater discharged into Camp Creek, a designated trout stream near Harmony. The agency says the company failed to maintain required sediment controls and did not complete required stormwater testing and monitoring. Bruening must also implement a prevention plan to keep sediment out of Camp Creek and the Big Spring headwaters.
>>Vandalism Forces E-Learning at Albert Lea High School
(Albert Lea, MN) – Students at Albert Lea High School spent Monday learning from home after extensive vandalism forced the school to close. Police say an officer discovered a door propped open shortly after midnight and found significant damage throughout the building. Furniture had been overturned, while toilet paper and baby oil were scattered inside. The exterior was spray-painted, hit with paintballs, and egged. School officials say the damage appears linked to a senior prank that went too far during the district’s 100th annual homecoming week. Students are expected to return Tuesday as police continue investigating.
>>Semi Rollover in St. Louis County Sends Driver to Hospital
(Embarrass Township, MN) — Alcohol may have been a factor in a semi rollover in northeastern Minnesota. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office says a 58-year-old Blackduck man was driving on Highway 21 in Embarrass Township late Monday night when he swerved to avoid a vehicle that pulled in front of him. The semi entered the ditch and overturned while hauling large railroad ties. The driver suffered non-life-threatening head injuries and was taken to a hospital. Authorities say he was wearing a seat belt. Authorities are withholding his name pending possible charges. The Minnesota State Patrol is assisting with the investigation.
>>Two Teen Girls Thrown from ATV Near Little Falls
(Little Falls, MN) — Two teenage girls were thrown from an ATV in a crash near Little Falls Friday evening. The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office says a 16-year-old girl was driving in a ditch when the ATV hit a driveway approach at a high rate of speed. A 13-year-old passenger was taken to St. Gabriel’s Hospital with unknown injuries. Authorities say both girls were wearing helmets.
>>Northfield Prepares for 2026 Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener
(Northfield, MN) — Northfield is getting ready to host the 2026 Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener October 9th and 10th. The weekend will feature pheasant hunting, a celebration of public lands, and a Friday night community event with food trucks and live music in downtown Northfield. Nearly 24,000 acres of public land are available within 25 miles of the city, including about 12,000 acres of wildlife management areas. The event coincides with Minnesota’s statewide pheasant season opener Saturday, October 10th.
>>Fall Arrives in Minnesota as Daylight Continues to Shrink
(Undated) — Fall officially arrives in Minnesota tonight, bringing shorter days and longer nights. The autumnal equinox occurs at 7:05 p.m., marking the astronomical end of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Minnesota communities are now losing roughly three minutes of daylight each day. That trend will continue until the winter solstice in December, when the state experiences its shortest days of the year.
