>>BCA Identifies Victims in Minneapolis Apartment Mass Shooting
(Minneapolis, MN) — The BCA has identified the two men killed in Wednesday’s mass shooting at the Shoreline Apartments in Minneapolis. BCA Superintendent Drew Evans says 63-year-old Dale Henry Spry and 61-year-old Muse Afrah were both residents of the building and were shot on the ninth floor. Suspected gunman 35-year-old Carlton Johnson was killed during an exchange of gunfire with Minneapolis police. Investigators say the incident began during a child exchange connected to a custody case outside the building. Six people were wounded, including three police officers. One woman remains in critical condition. Evans says domestic violence was central to the incident. The investigation into what led to the shooting continues.
>>ICE Agent Federally Charged Over Operation Metro Surge Shooting
(Minneapolis, MN) — An ICE agent already facing Minnesota charges over a shooting during Operation Metro Surge is now in federal custody. Christian Castro turned himself in to authorities in Texas Thursday after a federal grand jury indicted him on six counts of making false statements about the January 14th shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis. Minnesota prosecutors separately accuse Castro of firing through the door of a Minneapolis home and shooting Sosa-Celis in the leg. Castro was released from a Texas jail last week after Governor Greg Abbott declined to approve Minnesota’s extradition request.
>>Minnesota Courts Impacted by Third-Party Data Breach
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota court officials are revealing a third-party data breach that compromised some court user information. The Minnesota Judicial Branch says the breach involved backup data provided to Thomson Reuters for its C-Track court management system. An unauthorized party obtained files in March, but Thomson Reuters did not detect the breach until June 30th. Minnesota publicly disclosed its involvement this week. The Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Tax Court, and Office of Administrative Hearings were impacted. Officials say case documents were not compromised, and court operations remain normal.
>>Minnesota Traffic Deaths Climb Ahead of Labor Day Weekend
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota traffic safety officials are urging drivers to make safe choices as they head out for the busy Labor Day weekend. Office of Traffic Safety Director Mike Hanson says from January 1st through July 13th, the state had already recorded 1,373 impaired-driving crashes and nearly 14,000 DWI arrests. At least 40 of those crashes were deadly. Hanson says overall traffic deaths are also running 18 ahead of this time last year. Drivers are reminded to slow down, stay sober, avoid distractions, and buckle up on every trip.
>>Craig Introduces Bill to Expand $35 Insulin Cap
(Washington, DC) — Minnesota Congresswoman Angie Craig is backing a bipartisan effort to lower insulin costs. The Second District Democrat has introduced legislation that would extend the current 35-dollar-a-month insulin cap for Medicare patients to all Americans with health insurance. The INSULIN Act would also create a resource center and hotline to help uninsured people with diabetes find assistance programs. Craig says no Minnesotan should have to choose between buying food and paying for lifesaving medication.
>>Minneapolis Lawmakers Respond to Deadly Mass Shooting
(Minneapolis, MN) — Minneapolis state lawmakers are calling for renewed efforts to address gun and domestic violence following the deadly shooting near Loring Park on Wednesday. The House Minneapolis delegation says it is heartbroken over the deaths of Shoreline Apartments residents Muse Abdi Afrah and Dale Henry Spry. Six others were wounded, including three police officers. The lawmakers thanked first responders and said they plan to work with city and community leaders on policies aimed at preventing similar shootings. Gunman Carlton Johnson was also killed.
>>Michele Tafoya Makes U.S. Senate Pitch at Minnesota State Fair
(Falcon Heights, MN) — Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michele Tafoya is using the Minnesota State Fair to make her case to voters from across the state. Tafoya says she believes she can offer Minnesotans a “reasonable, commonsense alternative” and bring change that would benefit the state. The former television sports broadcaster won the Republican nomination in August and is campaigning to succeed retiring U.S. Senator Tina Smith. Tafoya faces DFL Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan in the November election.
>>Congressional Candidate Little Tries Breaking Handshake Record
(St. Paul, MN) – Democratic nominee for Minnesota’s Second Congressional seat Matt Little says he will attempt to break a world handshake record at the Minnesota State Fair on Saturday. Little will try to beat the World Record held by former Governor of New Mexico, Bill Richardson. In 2002, Richardson shook 13,392 hands in eight hours at the New Mexico State Fair. Little’s attempt will kick off Saturday at 11 a.m. at the State Fair’s DFL booth and run for no longer than eight hours at various locations throughout the Fair. Little faces Republican Eric Pratt in November.
>>DNR Advising Boaters Over Low Water Levels
(St. Paul, MN) – The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is advising boaters to take extra care at public water access sites throughout Minnesota, where ongoing drought conditions continue to cause low water levels. Nearly all of the state is experiencing some level of drought, with conditions ranging from moderate to extreme drought. The DNR says 48% of Minnesota is in a severe drought. They advise fall boaters, especially those operating larger watercraft, to be careful at shallow boat ramps, and water levels may also expose stumps, rocks, holes, and sandbars.
>>New Sartell Magnet Plant Reaches Construction Milestone
(Sartell, MN) — A major manufacturing project in central Minnesota is reaching another construction milestone. Niron Magnetics will hold a steel-raising ceremony on Wednesday (Sept. 9th) for its new 287-thousand-square-foot plant in Sartell. The company produces high-performance permanent magnets without using rare-earth materials. The facility is expected to have an annual production capacity of up to 15-hundred tons and create about 175 full-time jobs. Niron expects the Sartell plant to open in 2027.
