Executives said during an earnings call that Target’s quarterly profit grew to nearly $1.9 billion over the May-to-July period, but it was mostly due to the tariff refund.

The company’s net income would’ve been $1.13 billion without it, according to Yahoo Finance.

The Minneapolis-based retailer’s $994 million pre-tax tariff reimbursement follows a Supreme Court ruling that struck down the Trump administration’s efforts to tax imported goods under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

The Minnesota Star Tribune reports that Solventum, a 3M offshoot headquartered in Eagan, recently said it received a $100 million tariff refund.

Still, Target raised its full-year outlook, saying it now expects around 5% net sales growth and $9.90 to $10.90 earnings per share, taking into consideration the second-quarter tariff refund that’s equivalent to about $1.65 earnings per share.

A new CEO, Michael Fiddelke, took over in February, marking the beginning of the company’s attempts to bounce back from a post-pandemic sales slump, which also saw the company subject of boycotts as it abandoned a number of diversity initiatives that followed President Donald Trump’s return to office.

Earlier this year, the company unveiled a new strategic growth plan, which includes spending billions on building and revamping stores, while focusing on elevating the guest experience. 

It also was announced that Target Beauty Studio will soon debut in more than 600 stores, a replacement to the Ulta Beauty mini-shops that are being phased out this month.

More on Target’s earning results can be found here.

Each year, the personal finance site WalletHub looks at more than 600 community colleges around the U.S. and ranks them across 18 indicators. It includes data on tuition costs, scholarship aid availability, employment services, graduation rate, student-to-faculty ratios, and median salary for alumni.

The information is parceled out into a ranking of community colleges, as well as a state-by-state ranking of community college systems. While rankings can help sort things out, it’s worth noting that the differences between closely ranked colleges might be minimal.

Nonetheless, Minnesota placed well, ranking 10th among all 50 states. At an individual level, many of the state’s schools placed highly as well.

Alexandria Technical and Community College placed highest at 10th, just days after the school announced that it hit the highest enrollment in the college’s history.

Not far behind, at 16th, was Minnesota State Community and Technical College in Fergus Falls. The next highest-placed in-state school was Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls, which landed at 34th.

Here are all of the Minnesota community colleges that were included in the 613-school ranking.

• No. 10: Alexandria Technical and Community College
• No. 16: Minnesota State Community and Technical College
• No. 34: Northland Community and Technical College
• No. 42: Hennepin Technical College
• No. 59: Ridgewater College
• No. 63: North Hennepin Community College
• No. 80: Riverland Community College
• No. 81: St. Cloud Technical and Community College
• No. 96: Lake Superior College
• No. 118: Central Lakes College Brainerd
• No. 170: Century College
• No. 172: Normandale Community College
• No. 206: Minnesota West Community and Technical College
• No. 259: Saint Paul College
• No. 313: Rochester Community and Technical College
• No. 347: Minneapolis Community and Technical College

During a Minneapolis City Council committee meeting Tuesday, a liquor license renewal for Reign Event Center won unanimous approval. The item now heads to the full council, which typically signs off on multiple liquor license renewals at a time without additional consideration.

Nine people were injured when gunfire erupted outside Reign, located next to the Uptown Transit Station, around 12:30 a.m. on July 19, as the nightclub hosted an event featuring reality TV star and social media influencer Ivori Babu.

Two days later, the Business, Housing and Zoning Committee unanimously decided to delay its decision on the venue’s liquor license renewal, giving city staff some time to explore whether the business is complying with requirements.

City staff has since met with Reign’s owner, Minneapolis developer Ned Abdul, and found its security plan to be “in order” but in need of some updates, according to Julianne Lynum, the city’s director of economic policy and development.

“In our investigation, we didn’t find any nexus from the business to the activity outside,” she told the committee Tuesday. “We have some details of what occurred, from the police department, which was an individual dispute between two people. One saw the other and fired a gun at a crowd.”

A review by the Minnesota Star Tribune on the heels of the shooting determined that 911 calls to Reign’s address tripled from about 30 in 2024 to more than 100 in 2025.

Lynum said a majority of those calls were related to livability concerns, like drug use, unhoused people, and graffiti.

“We think there was a little bit of an uptick this year because the business owner was encouraged to call 911 by the precinct inspector,” she said, adding that the city’s business licensing department does the same.

“We never want our business owners to be afraid to call 911 for help and worry that it will be held against them later.”

There are typically off-duty Minneapolis police officers working security at Reign, but the night of the shooting, they were called in to help with late-night weekend patrols, per Lynum.

Council Member Jamal Osman, the committee chair, said Tuesday that he’s encouraged to learn Reign has been proactive about addressing concerns.

“It sounds like the owner is working with the city and has a plan,” Osman said, declaring that he now supports the liquor license renewal. “That’s why it’s really smart to hold and take a minute and consider what we are approving, and this is the result of it.”

Officers were called to the area of 418 South Second Street at 9:45 a.m. after someone called 911 to report an unresponsive man.

The man was ultimately confirmed dead at the scene. 

At this time, authorities say there is no danger to the public and they do not believe the death to be suspicious.  The name and identity of the man have not been released by authorities. 

A police investigation remains ongoing. 

Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcement’s latest version of events, and may be subject to change.

On Monday just after 3 p.m., the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office was called to the area of County Road H and Polley Lane in Aurora Township after the driver struck the child. 

Authorities believe the vehicle was headed north on County Road H when the child reportedly stepped into the road.

Investigators determined the child was checking a mailbox and returning across the road at the time of the collision, per investigators. They were later pronounced dead from their injuries. 

The driver and occupants of the vehicle were not injured in the crash. 

The incident is under investigation by the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, along with Wisconsin State Patrol. 

“Our condolences go out to the family of the child and all those affected,” said Sheriff Corey J. Dassow in a statement.

Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcement’s latest version of events, and may be subject to change.

The Day 2 Storm Prediction Center (SPC) outlook identifies a “slight risk” zone stretching from Nebraska in the southwest to Minnesota and Wisconsin in the northeast, with the Twin Cities included in the zone.

“Isolated to widely scattered storms will develop by late afternoon/early evening, posing a risk for large hail and locally damaging winds,” the National Weather Service says of the system impacting the North Plains.

The National Weather Service team in the Twin Cities said that while the threat has been upgraded from “marginal” to “slight,” the overall threat was “right on the marginal/slight line.”

“By early Thursday afternoon, light southerly winds together with partly sunny skies will lead to instability rebuilding across the region ahead of the weak surface front,” it says in its forecast discussion.

“This will support scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms,” it adds, noting that “a few storms could produce gusty winds and large hail.”

“The lack of forcing, and relatively moist mid level lapse rates are some limiting factors for widespread thunderstorms,” the forecast discussion continues. “Storms will move southeast during the evening, and should be out of the area by midnight.”

As a part of ongoing construction projects on Interstate 494, the Minnesota Department of Transportation is closing eastbound I-494 between I-35W and Hwy. 77 from 10 p.m. Wednesday through 5 a.m. Thursday. 

Detoured drivers can take northbound I-35W to eastbound Hwy 62 to southbound Hwy 77 during the closure. 

Then on 10 p.m. Thursday, I-494 will be closed in both directions between I-35W and Hwy 77 will be closed through 5 a.m. Friday. 

The detour will take drivers on I-35W, Hwy 62 and Hwy 77. 

A third closure is scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. on Friday, when eastbound I-494 will once again be shut down between I-35W and Hwy 77 through 5 a.m. Saturday. 

Various other ramps and lane closures are scheduled throughout the coming weeks and months. More information can be found on MnDOT’s website. 

As a part of the project, construction crews will build E-Z Pass lanes on I-494 from Hwy. 100 to I-35W in each direction and add a new ramp at the I-35W and I-494 interchange. 

They are also replacing bridges crossing over I-494 at Portland Ave., Nicollet Ave., and 12th Ave., and adding a new pedestrian bridge at Chicago Ave.

The construction project is divided into two phases, with the first running from 2023 through fall 2026. Phase 2 is set to conclude in fall 2030. 

Around 8 p.m. Tuesday, the deputy started pursuing a gold Buick LeSabre after he witnessed what appeared to be a road rage incident at the intersection of Rice Street and Roselawn Avenue in Maplewood.

When the deputy pulled behind the Buick, it made a sudden U-Turn, then the driver opened fire from his window, according to the sheriff’s department.

“The bullet ricochetted off the hood, then hit the windshield,” reads an account of the incident that was posted to Facebook.

The road-rage-turned-shooting suspect reportedly peeled off to the nearby McDonough Homes complex in St. Paul, where the deputy lost sight of the Buick.

A witness told the deputy that he saw the man driving the Buick jump into another vehicle that drove off.

An officer with the Roseville Police Department was able to identify the car’s make, model, color, and plates, with the description then transmitted over police radio.

Shortly after, a Minnesota State Patrol trooper spotted the vehicle as it drove west on I-694 near Rice Street, prompting a response from multiple agencies and a State Patrol helicopter.

The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office says the woman who was driving pulled over and was arrested along with the suspect.

“He shot at our deputy from point-blank range,” the post reads. “Thankfully he missed and didn’t get away.”

A handgun that police believe the suspect threw from the vehicle during the pursuit was later recovered on the 1900 block of Rice Street.

Bring Me The News typically doesn’t name a suspect until they have been formally charged.

Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcement’s latest version of events, and may be subject to change.

It’s still unclear when the person’s body was found, but authorities say they responded Wednesday to the Four Seasons Centre on the Steele County Fairgrounds and made the discovery.

The Steele County Free Fair got underway on Tuesday at the fairgrounds in Owatonna and runs through Sunday.

The Steele County Coroner’s Office is assisting with the investigation, though it has not released the person’s identity.

Officials are asking anyone with information about what may have happened to contact the Steele County Sheriff’s Office.

The Four Seasons Centre is described as a “prime shopping destination at the Steele County Free Fair, offering an unmatched variety of experiences with more than 300 vendors,” offering everything from home goods, apparel, and specialty foods.

Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcement’s latest version of events, and may be subject to change.

Adrian Ricardo Flowers, 37, is facing multiple charges related to the incident, including attempted first-degree murder. 

The incident unfolded early on the morning of Aug. 15 as Eagan police officers were responding to a domestic disturbance call on the 4400 block of Lynx Court. 

When police arrived on scene, they found Flowers outside along with a woman who was holding a small child. 

Dakota County prosecutors allege officers tried speaking with Flowers, who allegedly appeared to be under the influence, but he ignored them and walked back into the home. 

Charges state as authorities were trying to restrain him, Flowers pulled a gun out of his waistband and pointed it at an officer’s head. 

“Flowers then pulled the trigger and fired one shot, narrowly missing the officer,” court documents state. “He then pointed the handgun toward another officer, pressing the muzzle into the officer’s torso and pulled the trigger.”

The weapon jammed and did not fire again, and police were able to yank the gun out of his hand.

Flowers was not allowed to have a gun after being convicted in Ramsey County in 2012 of unintentional second-degree murder while committing a felony. 

In a statement, Eagan Police Chief Salim Omari said he’s thankful no one was seriously hurt in the incident, although that outcome was not guaranteed.

“Ten minutes into their shift, our officers responded to a report of a domestic dispute, and
someone tried to kill them,” Omari detailed.

“Our officers walk toward the unknown every day because this community needs them to. I am incredibly grateful for their courage, their professionalism, and their genuine care for this community, even in a moment of real danger to themselves.”

Flowers’ next court appearance is scheduled for September 9. 

Quite a few of those autumnal staples are being recognized by USA Today, with its 10Best readers’ choice awards series launching a fleet of fall-themed awards.

Those nominations may be headlined by Stillwater being named a finalist for the best place to visit in the fall.

The riverside city is “an ideal fall destination,” according to USA Today editors.

“You can walk or bike the 5-mile Loop Trail, take a lunch or dinner cruise on the languid St. Croix, or pick apples at Aamodt’s Apple Farm,” begins the publication’s litany of Stillwater activities. “Don’t miss the Harvest Fest and Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off, where the gourds are measured then dropped from a 100-foot crane. That’s followed by a river regatta where boaters paddle atop giant pumpkins.”

Elsewhere among the fall-themed awards, the Harvest Moon Festival in Ely is a finalist for the best fall festival after placing eighth in the 2025 ranking. The corn maze at Sever’s Fall Festival in Shakopee is again nominated as one of the nation’s best corn mazes, a category in which it placed eighth last year.

Meanwhile, Pleasant Valley Orchard in Shafer is a finalist to be named one of the nation’s best apple orchards. It was nominated in the category in 2025, but did not place in the final top-10 ranking.

While public voting isn’t quite a scientific ranking, it may provide a little inspiration for fall activities. Anyone interested in making their opinion heard can cast votes through 11 a.m. CT on Monday, Sept. 7.

Here is what’s in Sven’s video forecast:

• Beautiful today thanks to high pressure parked over Minnesota: low dew points & pleasant
• Warmer and more humid air moves back in already Thursday ahead of next cool front:
• Spotty storms possible north tonight & south late Thursday… marginal (level 1 of 5) severe risk
• A dip in temps & dew points again for the weekend
• Warming trend for next week

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BMTN Note: Weather events in isolation can’t always be pinned on climate change, but the broader trend of increasingly severe weather and record-breaking extremes seen in Minnesota and across the globe can be attributed directly to the rapidly warming climate caused by human activity. The IPCC has warned that Earth is “firmly on track toward an unlivable world,” and says greenhouse gas emissions must be halved by 2030 in order to limit warming to 1.5C, which would prevent the most catastrophic effects on humankind. You can read more here.

Alex James Wall, 39, of Mankato, changed his plea to guilty during a Tuesday hearing before U.S. District Judge Donovan W. Frank. He faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in federal prison.

“There is no higher priority for my office than to protect vulnerable children,” Minnesota U.S. Attorney Dan Rosen said in a statement. “Today’s guilty plea is an important step towards justice for the child victims and their families.”

Wall admitted to attempting to entice and coerce a teenage girl into engaging in sexually explicit conduct to produce child pornography between April 2023 and March 2025. She was 14 or 15 years old at the time.

“Alex Wall, a registered sex offender, again sexually abused and exploited a child and recorded that abuse for his own purposes,” said Christopher Dotson, special agent in charge at the FBI Minneapolis field office.

“Any child sexual abuse is abhorrent, but offenses committed by repeat offenders are particularly deserving of the significant consequences for these crimes under federal law.” This investigation demonstrates that the FBI and our partners are dedicated to finding justice for child victims and their affected families.”

The Mankato Department of Public Safety and the FBI partnered on the investigation, along with other law enforcement agencies.

Northbound lanes of I-535 between North Fifth Street in Superior and Garfield Avenue in Duluth are expected to be closed until early afternoon due to a crash that happened around 7:45 a.m. on the Wisconsin side of the structure.

The collision involved a truck that overturned and blocked both northbound lanes on the Blatnik Bridge. It wasn’t immediately clear whether anyone was injured.

The recommended detour is the Bong Bridge or Oliver Bridge.

WisDOT and MnDOT have the latest information on the Blatnik Bridge closure.

“Motorists are reminded that using handheld cell phones in Wisconsin work zones is illegal,” the WisDOT said Wednesday morning. “Alerts and updates provided via these sites are not intended for use while driving. When driving, your focus should always be on driving.”

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office says the collision was reported at 160th Street Northwest and 5th Avenue Northwest in Langola Township at around 4:15 p.m., after a southbound Ram 2500 pickup truck attempting a left-hand turn was struck by a northbound Harley Davidson.

The motorcyclist, identified as Russell Hohmann, sustained life-threatening injuries, and was ultimately pronounced dead at the scene despite lifesaving efforts.

The driver of the pickup truck – a man from Rice – was not injured, with the sheriff’s office saying he “did not see Hohmann coming due to the upward slope of the roadway.”

Police have not provided any details regarding Hohmann’s age and hometown.

Alcohol was not a factor in the collision, the sheriff’s office says.

Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcement’s latest version of events, and may be subject to change.

Unidos MN organized the news conference outside Target’s headquarters on Nicollet Mall, with representatives from labor, faith, education and other groups calling on the retailer to sign the “Business for Democracy Pledge,” signaling its support of employees who engage in the democratic process and oppose efforts to deny people that freedom.

The effort follows claims that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security carried out an undercover surveillance operation, known as “Operation Puppet Master,” which involved agents posing as protesters and spying on public meetings at churches, schools, union halls and other spaces.

First Universalist Church of Minneapolis is named in a lawsuit filed Thursday as a venue where the alleged federal surveillance took place. Its senior minister, the Rev. Jen Crow, described the Trump administration operation as an act of political “retribution and intimidation.”

“This unconstitutional abuse of power and waste of taxpayer dollars will not build up our communities,” she said Tuesday. “Silence is not an option.

“We call on Minnesota businesses, elected officials, and communities of faith to reject political surveillance and help us hold our community together.”

Target has previously been criticized for remaining silent as Minnesotans were terrorized by immigration agents and allowing convoys to stage in the parking lots of Twin Cities stores, with two employees forcefully detained in the entrance of its Richfield location in January.

“Target’s workers, customers, and neighbors were among the hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans who held this state together,” Unidos MN Executive Director Emilia González Avalos said in a statement Tuesday. “They shared food, walked children to school, kept businesses open, and stood in subzero weather with a phone and a copy of the Constitution.

“Target calls itself a good neighbor, and this is a moment to prove it. No company can protect its workers, its customers, or its bottom line without a functioning democracy. We are asking Target to sign the Business for Democracy Pledge, meet with this coalition, and use its influence to stand with Minnesotans.”

Bring Me The News has reached out to Target for comment.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), the outbreak is affecting the southwestern portion of the state and cases have been confirmed in Lafayette and Iowa counties.

Measles infections related to the outbreak were newly confirmed in two Grant County residents on Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases to 36 confirmed and 3 probable infections.

Unvaccinated people remain most at risk of contracting measles as the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine (MMR) is 97% effective at preventing the disease, which can lead to pneumonia, brain damage, deafness and even death.

“Measles is a highly contagious disease that can be spread from person to person through the air and can stay in the air for two hours after a sick person coughs or sneezes,” DHS writes, noting symptoms typically appear 10 to 21 days after exposure.

Dropping vaccination rates across the United States have led to more frequent outbreaks of measles and even pediatric deaths from the disease, which experts say would be eradicated by high vaccination rates.

More on Wisconsin’s current outbreak can be found on the DHS website here.

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner identifies Karen Lynn Sognesand, 56, of Maple Grove, as the woman found dead on Saturday evening after someone reported a body in a wooded area at East River Flats Park, near East River Parkway and Oak Street.

Investigators responded to the scene, and confirmed Sognesand was already deceased. A suspected cause of death has not been announced as of Wednesday.

Sognesand’s death was the first in a string of three incidents over a three-day period where dead bodies were discovered in public places across the city.

On Monday afternoon, University of Minnesota police officers were called to a body found in the area of Sixth Street and Main Street Southeast, which is near the iconic Stone Arch Bridge. The person’s name and identity has not been released, with authorities only disclosing the person was an adult. 

On Sunday morning, deputies with the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to Bde Maka Ska after a body was found along the shore near 36th Street West and East Bde Maka Ska Parkway.

Water patrol deputies arrived to find decomposed remains, with a section of the shore taped off to the public.

Authorities are not speculating on whether the discoveries are related.

Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcement’s latest version of events, and may be subject to change.

Wonders Ice Cream at 298 University Ave. W in St. Paul will close its doors on Sept. 13. The shop specializes in the social media-ready rolled ice cream that gets artfully placed in a bowl and covered with toppings.

Wonders’ St. Paul store was the first rolled ice cream shop in the Twin Cities when it opened in 2017, at a moment when the frozen treat had gone viral. It once had locations around the metro, including shops in Dinkytown, Blaine, and at the Mall of America.

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“After many wonderful years of serving our St. Paul community, we have made the incredibly difficult decision to close Wonders Ice Cream,” reads an announcement shared to social media on Monday.

The company did not detail the reasons behind the closure.

Beginning this week, Wonders Ice Cream will only be open on weekends through its final day of service, but adds that it will continue to sell rolled ice cream at locations in the Maplewood Mall and Eden Prairie Center, as well as through its truck, Wonders on Wheels. 

“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for all the years of love and support you have shown Wonders Ice Cream,” the announcement concludes. “It has truly been an honor to serve St. Paul.”

Prosecutors in Ramsey County charged Jason Lionel Wayne Gatrell, 29, with six counts related to the incidents, including felony assault of a police officer.

According to court documents, a police officer responded to The Lexington around 2:50 a.m. Monday and heard what he thought was breaking glass.

The officer allegedly saw two men, wearing dark clothing and facemasks, using tools to attempt to pry open the restaurant door.

“[The officer] yelled to the men to drop the tools or they would be tased,” the charges state. “The men fled and ran in different directions.”

The officer chased Gatrell through the alley to the 1000 block of Summit Avenue, where Gatrell unsuccessfully tried to climb a fence, charges state. The officer pulled Gatrell from the fence and told him to put his hands behind his back, but Gatrell turned over and sprayed the officer in the face with pepper spray.

The officer grabbed the pepper spray with his left hand while holding his taser in his right hand and then Gatrell allegedly kicked the officer in the face and grabbed the taser.

“[The officer] grabbed the taser with both hands to maintain control of it,” the charges state. “The taser deployed during the struggle.”

Other officers arrived and helped arrest Gatrell, who refused to identify himself.

According to the complaint, investigators recovered a duffle bag and a can of pepper spray. Additionally, staff at The Lexington reported the suspects appeared to have dropped a saw in a nearby yard.

The suspects allegedly tried to bend the metal covers over the windows, but they did not gain access to the building.

According to the St. Paul Police Department, Gartell is also suspected of burglarizing The Gnome Craft Pub early Sunday. The incident resulted in thousands of dollars worth of damage and the loss of roughly $1,300 in cash, restaurant owner Brian Ingram told police.

Gartell’s criminal history includes a 2015 conviction for criminal vehicular operation following a police chase that left another driver with a broken clavicle and bleeding from his liver and brain.

It’s not clear that any single factor is the cause, but high prices are not currently an issue for My Chemical Romance’s upcoming Target Field gig on Monday, Aug. 24. With less than a week to go before showtime, Bring Me The News has found tickets for as little as $12, including fees.

The emo band’s show is the last of three concerts at the stadium this summer, and follows a 2025 calendar that skipped concerts altogether. Maybe it’s the lack of consistency in the calendar; maybe there’s lower-than-expected interest in the show.

Whatever the reason, more than two dozen tickets are priced from $12–$16 on the resale site SeatGeek, largely in the upper deck. The same price range can be found on StubHub, Vivid Seats, and Ticket Network, where there are also $33 seats in the lower bowl and $63 floor seats.

That means a seat can be procured for less than the cost of a beer at Target Field, where draft beers are listed at “$13.29 and up.”

Prices through Ticketmaster, the official ticket seller for the concert, were as low as $29.90 at the time of publication.

Representatives for the band did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but it does not appear that the rest of the tour is seeing a similar dip in prices.

A July 30 article in the New York Post highlighted prices across the band’s tour. The Target Field date was listed at $35, including fees, at that time. A few other dates had seats in the $42–$57 range, but the lowest-priced seats on many other dates were in excess of $100.

As of Tuesday, the lowest-priced seats for the band’s next four tour dates were $43 in Detroit, $44 in Denver, $51 in San Diego, and $38 in Phoenix.

The situation bears some resemblance to Paul McCartney’s U.S. Bank Stadium appearance last fall, where tickets dropped to around $25 in the days before the show.

Meanwhile, tickets for Sunday’s Target Field show with country star Tim McGraw have not fallen so dramatically. Through Ticketmaster, tickets are available for as low as $43.92, roughly the same price that can be found on resale sites.

My Chemical Romance’s tour is celebrating the 20th anniversary of their album, “The Black Parade,” and will feature an opening set from Sleater-Kinney.

Bring Me The News has confirmed both Hinckley Elementary School and Hinckley-Finlayson High School were broken into early Tuesday morning. 

The items that were stolen during the burglary have since been recovered and returned, and one suspect was taken into custody. 

As the investigation was underway, the district closed the high school, fitness center, and walking track for a short period of time. 

Pine County Sheriff Chief Deputy Scott Grice and Hinckley-Finlayson Public Schools Superintendent Mike McNulty issued a shared public statement on the incident, asking the community to “avoid speculation and allow law enforcement to complete its work.”

“The safety and security of our students, staff, and community remain our top priority,” the statement continued. No additional details regarding the incident were shared. 

Located about 100 miles north of the Twin Cities metro, the Hinckley-Finlayson School District has a student population of about 1,000 kids from grades kindergarten through 12th. 

The new school year will begin on Sep. 1.

Dustin Ebersviller, the owner of Trowbridge Creek Zoo in Vergas, shared the news in a Facebook post on Monday, writing: “The stress and pressure for the zoo to be perfect every day and to make improvements that we can’t afford is too much.”

Ebersviller shared that his business and other privately-owned zoos are facing declining attendance and the seasonal nature of running a zoo means there’s only about 100 to 110 days each year to generate enough income to care for the animals year-round.

Ebersviller said they’ve maintained all their licenses and permits and continue abiding by the regulations amid their financial hardships, but there’s not enough left over “to go above and beyond.”

“What can the public do for us? Just support us like so many of you have the last few days,” he wrote.

The zoo is known for its wide variety of residents, including camels, zebras, lynx, lemurs, capybaras, monkeys and more.

Ebersviller said that some animals will stay on the property if the zoo closes, but most will be moved to other facilities.

Randy Thomas Zimmerman, 46, pleaded guilty Monday in Brown County District Court to two counts of first-degree murder in the Nov. 2 shooting deaths of 32-year-old Tabitha Trescott and 50-year-old Justin Reinarts.

Zimmerman is expected to be sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole on Oct. 5, when a judge will decide whether the pair of life sentences will be served at the same time.

As part of a plea deal, the state has agreed to drop other charges, including second-degree murder, first-degree burglary and second-degree assault.

Prosecutors argued that Zimmerman broke into Reinarts’ and Trescott’s home in Hanska with the intention of killing them.

Trescott’s 13-year-old son called 911 around 4:20 a.m. to report that his mother’s ex-boyfriend, identified as Zimmerman, came into their house and shot her in the face. Both she and Reinarts were found dead from gunshot wounds to the head.

Hours after the killings, Zimmerman was arrested in Iowa, then later extradited back to Minnesota.

Hanska is a town of around 400 people located about 30 miles west of Mankato.

Trescott and Reinarts, a volunteer firefighter, were each survived by two sons from previous relationships.

Zimmerman has previously been convicted of domestic assault, with cases involving Trescott settled in 2023 and 2024.

If you know anyone who is affected by domestic violence, you can find more information on services available here, via the Minnesota DPS. You can also call the Day One Crisis Hotline at 1-866-223-1111.

It’s an expensive day out, but it is also the only place you can experience events like the crop art exhibit or taste Frankenstein’s monster culinary experiments.

Fortunately, there are other ways to get a taste of the fair around the Twin Cities (and a bit beyond). There are fair-adjacent concoctions at area restaurants throughout the year, as well as a few pop-up events and special dishes added to menus just for the occasion.

Here are 11 options to get a fair-like bite without the fair-like price.

Spam Dogs

Earlier this year, Hormel introduced the Spam Dog, which is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a hot dog made with Spam. It’s slowly been rolling out to convenience stores and other food outlets. While the Austin Dog — A Spam dog topped with chili no beans, cheese, onions, and jalapeños — is only available at the fair, you can create your own Spam dog experience, should the inspiration strike you. Various locations

A State Fair prix fixe

Throughout the fair’s run, Tria Restaurant will be serving a prix fixe meal inspired by the get-together, with prices starting at $35. Courses include gold medal cheese curds with truffle-honey mustard, fried coconut chicken skewers, and best in show halibut, served with an orange beurre blanc, broccolini, and pineapple pico. For dessert? Options include mini donuts and a strawberry rhubarb crisp. Aug. 27–Sept. 7, Tria Restaurant, 5959 Centerville Road, North Oaks

Pickle flatbread and mini donut martinis

Kendall’s Tavern and Chophouse is taking inspiration from the fair on a few limited-time dishes. It will have fried ravioli, a pickle flatbread, and funnel cake fries with a bourbon chocolate sauce. Pair it with the new mini donut martini or a boozy blue raspberry lemonade. Aug. 28–20, Kendall’s Tavern and Chophouse, 12800 Bunker Prairie Road NW, Coon Rapids

Que Viet egg rolls

Que Viet’s Giant Egg Roll-on-a-Stick has become an annual go-to at the Minnesota State Fair. No, you can’t get that exact item at its Minneapolis restaurant, but Que Viet’s regularly-sized egg rolls are always on the menu. Que Viet, 2211 Johnson St. NE, Minneapolis

The Fair on 4

Pretending to be the fair all year long is kind of The Fair on 4’s thing. There’s plenty of fair-adjacent food to devour at the Mall of America restaurant, including fried pickle chips, a jalapeño popper burger, mini donuts, funnel fries, and a pineapple jalapeño margarita. The Fair on 4, Mall of America, 60 E Broadway, Bloomington

Tattersall’s dairy booth-inspired cocktail

While Tattersall Distilling has fled Minneapolis for River Falls, its western Wisconsin home has a little State Fair-themed addition to its cocktail list this month. Inspired by the Dairy Building, the Dairy Goodness is an iced milk punch made with evaporated milk, spiced rum, coffee liqueur, and crème de cacao. Tattersall Distilling, 1777 Paulson Rd., River Falls, Wis.

Chicken and Waffle Hippo Pocket

Hippo Pockets, the Taco Bell-inspired Centro spin-off, is served at Centro locations and its first stand-alone brick-and-mortar hub in south Minneapolis. It has always got some adventurous combinations packed into those fried pockets, and the Chicken and Waffle edition is a bit of a State Fair-like idea. It’s a fried pocket filled with chicken, waffles, sweet chili sauce, pancake syrup, bacon, and a fried egg. Hippo Pockets, 735 E 48th St., Minneapolis, as well as Centro locations in Arden Hills, Plymouth, and on Eat Street in Minneapolis

Alligator Brats at New Bohemia

Need to evoke the Bayou Bob’s Gator Shack experience? New Bohemia’s Adventurous Wursts menu has a ‘gator sausage, in addition to brats made with lamb, wild boar, and smoked elk, as well as a vegan beer brat from The Herbivorous Butcher (they’re also at the fair!). The alligator and vegan wursts are available at both the Golden Valley and St. Paul locations. New Bohemia, 8040 Olson Memorial Hwy., Golden Valley and 222 7th Ave. W, St. Paul.

Bull’s Horn

Yeah, Bull’s Horn is not a dish, but an entire restaurant. Also, it’s not at the fair at all. Still, it’s got foods you’ll find at the fair and enticing combinations you don’t often see on area menus. That includes cheese curds, deviled eggs, dill pickle fried chicken buckets, and the KFG, aka Kentucky-fried gizzards, with French onion dip. Best of all, the menu is consistently good. Bull’s Horn, 4563 S 34th Ave., Minneapolis

Saturday Dumpling Co.

The beloved dumpling shop is making its state fair debut this year. While you have to hit the fairgrounds to find items like the ube cheesecake wonton or the Chinese sausage and cheese popper, they’ve got dumplings available all year at three Twin Cities locations, as well as frozen dumplings at the Wedge Co-op, Surdyk’s, France 44, Westside Market & Deli, and other locations. Saturday Dumpling Co., 519 Central Ave. NE, Minneapolis; 5401 Penn Ave. S, Minneapolis; and The Market at Malcolm Yards, 501 30th Ave. SE, Minneapolis

Order the fair by mail

Many fair booths offer their wares throughout the year by mail. That includes Sweet Martha’s cookies. While part of the appeal of Sweet Martha’s, in particular, is that they come over the counter magma-hot, you can almost evoke the fair experience on your own. Other booths that offer mail-order treats include Bridgeman’s Ice Cream and Sara’s Tipsy Pies.

On Sunday just before 5:30 p.m., family members of  Kelli Jo Gauthier, 52, of Avon, called the Cold Spring-Richmond Police Department to let them know she had not returned home yet. 

Earlier that day, Gauthier was riding her 2008 Harley-Davidson XL1200 with a group when she left to go back to her home. 

About 30 minutes after the initial call to authorities, officers located Gauthier and her motorcycle crashed in the ditch just north of the city of Richmond, off a left-hand curve in the 25500 block of County Road 9 in Munson Township. 

Paramedics attempted to save Gauthier’s life, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities do not suspect alcohol to be a factor in the collision. 

Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office, Paynesville Police Department, Chain of Lakes Fire Department and Mayo Clinic Ambulance.

Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcement’s latest version of events, and may be subject to change.

William Davon Hall, 29, has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of his cellmate, Stephen Scott Washington, last year. 

Charges allege correctional officers were called to a cell at Minnesota State Correctional Facility – Rush City on the afternoon of October 9, 2025 and discovered Washington was unconscious on the floor. 

They observed he had significant injuries to his face, and was not breathing. After being treated by multiple first responders, he was declared dead, and investigators with the Chisago County Sheriff’s Office and Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) arrived to conduct a prison death investigation. 

Officials learned Washington and Hall were placed in the same cell for the first time that morning. Surveillance footage shows the men entering the cell that afternoon, and “shows rapid movement occurring on and off again through the cell window,” consistent with a physical altercation, per charges. 

At another point, Hall can be seen leaning down and making punching motions. Shortly after, he puts up a white sheet to cover the window of the cell. 20 minutes later, an internal alarm is activated. 

When he was removed from the cell, Hall didn’t have any visible injuries to his face or body, but his shirt was covered with blood spatter and his right hand was red and swollen. 

BCA crime scene technicians also noted bloodstains on the cell walls, which was consistent with Washington’s DNA. 

Inmates in nearby cells told investigators they saw Hall and Washington getting into a “mutual fight” inside their cell. They also saw Hall continue to hit and punch Washington as he sat on a bunk. 

Hall voluntarily spoke with investigators, and said the two men had an argument over keeping the cell clean and a fight ensued. 

At one point, Hall said Washington fell unconscious on the floor, and that he yelled for other inmates to get help. 

Hall told officers he sustained a scratched ear and lost a dreadlock in the fight. 

The Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office determined Washington’s cause of death to be blunt force trauma and possible asphyxial injuries. The manner of death was found to be homicide.  

Records from the Minnesota Department of Corrections show Washington is currently imprisoned at Minnesota Correctional Facility – Oak Park Heights.

He was previously sentenced to 20 years in prison for fatally shooting a man while “having words” about a potential drug deal in Brooklyn Park, according to reporting by the Minnesota Star Tribune.

On Monday night, city council members gave their approval to the Chaska Downtown Business Alliance’s plan, which had applied for multiple on-sale liquor permits for various events throughout the rest of the year. 

The move does not create a new so-called “Social District” like other cities in the state, but will allow people to purchase alcohol at licensed downtown businesses and restaurants during select events and walk around with their drinks within a set boundary. 

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The event boundaries run from Pine and Walnut Streets to Hwy. 61 and 1st Street in the city’s downtown. 

The events where alcohol is approved include: 

• September 10 – Farmers Market
•  September 17 – Farmers Market
• September 26 – Fall Market
• October 3 – Fall Market
• October 10 – Fall Market
• October 17- Fall Market
• October 24 – Trick or Treat Downtown/Halloween
•  November 7 – Deer Opener Celebration
• November 14 – Holiday Market
• November 21 – Holiday Market
• November 28 – Small Business Saturday
• December 5 – Hometown Holiday

In 2023, the City of Anoka was the first municipality in the state to introduce a “social district” – a state-sanctioned program where visitors can purchase beer, wine and cocktails served in special cups from businesses within a designated area and stroll about with those drinks.

Last year, Shakopee became the second Minnesota city to enact a social district around the Canterbury Park entertainment area and near the downtown riverfront.

Phil Breidall, 35, of Goodhue, was injured Aug. 12 while riding his Harley Davidson on Highway 57 near Wanamingo Township, according to the Minnesota State Patrol, which said Breidall was southbound on the highway when he collided with a northbound Toyota as the driver began to turn onto the Highway 52 ramp.

Breidall was airlifted to Mayo Clinic and underwent emergency surgery before undergoing an additional surgery to amputate his left leg, according to a GoFundMe page created to support Breidall, his wife Brandie, and their two children.

“He and his family have a long road ahead as he heals, begins rehabilitation, and adjusts to a new normal,” the fundraiser shares.

Over $26,500 has been collected in donations as of Tuesday.

Brandie Breidall shared Monday that her husband potentially has several more surgeries still ahead and is receiving blood transfusions, but is making good progress.

“Thank goodness for his athleticism and being in shape because the doctors are very impressed on how he’s getting around,” she wrote. “We want to express how thankful we are to each and everyone of you that prayed, donated and reached out. We are forever grateful for your generosity and prayers during this time.”

Statewide data shows it’s been a particularly dangerous summer for motorcyclists on Minnesota roads, with 45 motorcyclist crash deaths recorded since April.

The building at the corner of Lyndale Avenue and West 26th Street, as well as the neighboring French Meadow bakery and Blue Stem Bar/Nord Social Hall event space, are all on the market for an undisclosed price. 

Representatives for Palm Commercial Brokerage did not respond to a request for comment on the price, but Hennepin County estimates indicate the properties are valued at around $4.1 million, per the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.

Just under two years ago, co-owners Randy Segal and Steve Shapiro told the Star Tribune that the CC Club could be up for sale as they looked ahead to retirement. “With all the stress of running businesses, you get older, and reality hits,” Segal said at the time.

The dive bar, partially made famous by The Replacements’ “Here Comes a Regular,” opened in 1933. French Meadow founder Lynn Gordon and co-owner Shapiro purchased the CC Club in 2013, with Segal joining as another co-owner shortly afterwards.

Gordon sold her stake in 2021, with French Meadow’s Lyndale location moving to new ownership in 2024. 

Gordon later called the French Meadow sale a “horrible mistake” after conflicts and legal action surfaced.

Mayor Jackson Purfeerst announced Monday that the issue is being sent back to the Crosslake Public Safety Commission “to reevaluate the program, its capabilities, and the City’s participation, including the possibility of allowing the contract to expire and discontinuing the cameras.”

Purfeerst said in a social media post that city officials “believe it is appropriate to take another look” at the technology after new information came to light regarding “how Flock cameras operate, how information may be collected, and how that information may be accessed or shared.”

Roughly a dozen Minnesota cities and counties have decided to end or pause their use of Flock cameras in recent weeks.

A handful of communities have seen their cameras vandalized, leading to criminal charges in such incidents in St. Cloud and Fairbault.

Crosslake started using Flock cameras in partnership with the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office, “with the intended purpose of assisting with AMBER Alerts and locating individuals involved in criminal activity,” according to its mayor.

“The City of Crosslake hears the concerns being raised by our residents and visitors,” Purfeerst said. “We are taking those concerns seriously and following the proper public process to thoroughly evaluate the program before determining the best path forward.

“Public safety is important, but so is protecting the privacy and trust of the people we serve.”

Residents with concerns about Flock cameras are encouraged to contact the Crosslake Police Department at 218-692-2222.

Attorney General Keith Ellison announced the lawsuit Tuesday, alleging that the Republican governor has a mandatory legal obligation to issue a rendition warrant for Christian Jeremiah Castro, 52, but has held up the ICE agent’s extradition to Minnesota for nearly three months.

“He has no discretion to decline to do so; none,” Ellison said of Abbott during a news conference. “Yet Castro is still not here to face justice.”

Castro is accused of firing a shot through the front door of a north Minneapolis apartment occupied by four adults, striking Julio Sosa-Celis, a Venezuelan national, on Jan. 14.

Several months after the shooting, the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office charged Castro with four counts of second-degree assault with a deadly weapon and one count of falsely reporting a crime. A nationwide warrant was issued for his arrest in mid-May.

Castro was arrested in Texas just over a week after charges were filed in Minnesota and has remained in the Cameron County Jail.

Since early June, Abbott’s office has ignored Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty’s requests for updates on Castro’s pending extradition, according to Ellison, who sent a letter to Abbott last Thursday warning the Texas governor that he would be sued if he did not facilitate the agent’s return to the Twin Cities.

“Whether or not he needed the lesson, I cited all constitutional and legal authorities that leave him no discretion in this matter,” the attorney general said. “I informed him that if he did not sign the rendition warrant by the end of the day yesterday, I would sue to compel him to do so.

“Gov. Abbott did not respond, Christian Castro is still not here to face justice. Therefore, this morning, my office filed suit, asking the federal court in Texas to require Governor Abbott to sign the warrant and to block the Cameron County sheriff from releasing Castro until Minnesota law enforcement can arrive there to physically transport Castro here to face the charges laid against him.”

Ellison accused Abbott of trying to shield Castro from being held accountable for allegedly shooting Sosa-Celis and lying under oath about what happened.

A spokesperson for Abbott told Bring Me The News that his office will not comment on pending extradition matters.

Moriarty said Tuesday that the U.S. Constitution requires every state to respect each others’ criminal processes by returning any person fleeing criminal charges to the state where they’re filed, adding that it should be – and usually is – a simple, straightforward process.

“There is absolutely nothing that should prevent him from being brought to Minnesota to receive a fair trial,” she said. “As the attorney general said, and we can’t emphasize enough, the only thing stopping Mr. Castro from being here in Hennepin County to face the appropriate charges is a signature from Gov. Greg Abbott.”

During the time that Castro has been jailed, Abbott has signed extradition warrants requested by Walz for three other defendants who are in custody in Texas and facing criminal charges in Minnesota, according to Moriarty.

Texas law imposes a 90-day limit on the detention of fugitives awaiting extradition, which means Castro could be released as early as next Wednesday.

Moriarty said the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office is prepared to begin its prosecution immediately after he is returned to Minnesota.

The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office says it was called to an address in rural Forbes at 12:30 p.m., where a 70-year-old man had fallen from a rooftop and was not breathing.

Deputies and paramedics arrived at the scene and were told that he had fallen around 12 feet from the roof of the cabin and was being treated by witnesses and neighbors.

Despite lifesaving measures by responders, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

His cause of death has not been officially confirmed by a medical examiner at this time. His identity is being withheld as family members are notified.

Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcement’s latest version of events, and may be subject to change.

Prosecutors allege Aaron Matthew Million, 22, and Laurence John Charette, 26, both of Minneapolis, are responsible for a series of residential burglaries, thefts from vehicles, and stolen vehicles across the Twin Cities metro.

According to Roseville police, investigators believe the two men are connected to nearly 30 burglaries and/or thefts from vehicles in Roseville alone.

Criminal charges allege on August 6, police were called to a home in Roseville on the 2300 block of Auerbach Avenue after the residents reported their car keys, wallets, and 2018 Toyota Highlander had been stolen through an unlocked garage door.

The thieves, allegedly later identified as Million and Charette, were caught on surveillance video carrying out the thefts. They were both wearing head lamps, carrying flashlights, and wearing light-colored hooded sweatshirts. 

The next day, Million was arrested in the stolen Highlander in Minneapolis.

Per the complaint, he voluntarily told police he had been awake for 4-5 days on methamphetamine, was homeless, and had been diagnosed with schizophrenia. He also told authorities someone had let him borrow the car. At the time, he was taken to Regions Hospital for a mental health evaluation instead of jail. 

Later on August 10, another Roseville resident called police to alert them their garage had been broken into and their Kia Forte had been stolen from the 800 block of Sextant Avenue.

The thieves, later identified as Million and Charette, had also stolen cash, a cell phone, and computer equipment. Surveillance video also shows two people driving a stolen Ford Bronco breaking into cars in the area. 

That morning, a stolen iPad began pinging out of Minneapolis. When police tracked its location down, they found the stolen Kia being tailed by a stolen Ford Bronco. The occupants ditched the Bronco in north Minneapolis, and got into another stolen Subaru.

Police recovered a headlamp, Charette’s Department of Corrections card, and his probation officer’s card from the vehicle. 

Officers were able to locate Million and the stolen Kia, with charges alleging Million was struck by a Hennepin County Sheriff’s vehicle when he was being arrested.

He was taken to Regions Hospital to be treated for his injuries, and officers recovered a backpack from the car with the stolen car keys, black face coverings, a window punch, a flashlight and a cell phone that was believed to have been stolen out of Roseville. They also found another stolen car key in the vehicle. 

Both Million and Charette were eventually arrested for the final time before being formally charged on August 13, as they were getting into a stolen Subaru that had been tied to thefts in Minneapolis and Golden Valley. 

Data from Charette’s cell phone places him at the scene of both Roseville burglaries at the time they occurred. 

Both suspects have multiple prior felony convictions, with Charette just being released from prison in late June. 

Both Million’s and Charette’s next court appearance is scheduled for September 3.

Here is what’s in Sven’s video forecast:

• Cool front continues pushing south: some lingering instability / thunder southern Minnesota
• High pressure brings sun & lower dew points for Wednesday
• Temps, dew points increase again Thursday into Friday ahead of next front:
• More spotty storms possible late Thursday
• Nice weekend shaping up behind it

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BMTN Note: Weather events in isolation can’t always be pinned on climate change, but the broader trend of increasingly severe weather and record-breaking extremes seen in Minnesota and across the globe can be attributed directly to the rapidly warming climate caused by human activity. The IPCC has warned that Earth is “firmly on track toward an unlivable world,” and says greenhouse gas emissions must be halved by 2030 in order to limit warming to 1.5C, which would prevent the most catastrophic effects on humankind. You can read more here.

That’s where Hallmark’s Merriest Christmas Towns Contest comes in. It’s a readers’ choice vote on which small U.S. city is going to be crowned the Merriest Christmas Town.

There are 25 cities in the running, selected as finalists “for bringing the spirit of Christmas to life through cherished traditions, joyful celebrations, and a deep sense of community,” according to Hallmark.

Among those finalists is Bemidji, which gets high marks for its “Our Night We Light Celebration,” its wintry parade, and the Midwest’s largest Christmas pixel tree and the world’s largest pixel gift box display, which are niche but beloved superlative-clad displays.

“The entire town has a contagious energy as everyone works together to organize and participate in various activities,” the city’s entry raves. “From volunteering to organizing fundraisers, the festival instills a deep sense of camaraderie and unity that is cherished by all.”

Other cities in the running include Neenah, Wis.; Cape May, N.J.; Carlinville, Ill.; and Papillion, Neb.

You can see all the finalists and cast a vote at the contest’s home page, which will have voting open through 10:59 p.m. CT on Sept. 4.

On Monday afternoon, University of Minnesota police officers were called to the area of Sixth Street and Main Street Southeast, near the iconic Stone Arch Bridge. Investigators discovered a deceased individual.

The person’s name and identity has not been released, with authorities only disclosing the person was an adult. 

This marks the third dead body discovered in a public place in Minneapolis over the course of just three days. 

On Saturday evening,  Minneapolis Parks Police and Minneapolis Police Department officers were called after a body was found in a wooded area at East River Flats Park, near East River Parkway and Oak Street.

Then on Sunday morning, deputies with the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to Bde Maka Ska after a body was found along the shore near 36th Street West and East Bde Maka Ska Parkway.

Water patrol deputies arrived to find decomposed remains, with a section of the shore taped off to the public.

Investigators have not released a cause of death for any of the individuals.

Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt told WCCO Radio it’s too early to say what’s behind this odd string of bodies that have been found in the city.

“There’s a lot still to be done, and we don’t want to cause any unnecessary alarms,” said Witt in an interview with the radio station.

“So yes, this is very serious, and we do need to make sure that we’re doing everything we can to see what the primary cause of death was. Was it related to drowning or was it something else?”

Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcement’s latest version of events, and may be subject to change.

Brandon Wayne Riggs, 33, of Winona, faces three counts of 2nd-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, reckless driving and failure to stop for a collision in connection with the crash around 11 p.m. on Aug. 15.

According to the criminal complaint, the victim told police he was driving his vehicle in the parking lot of a local business when he drove near a parked camper. He and his two friends yelled at the camper and drove away, he said.

The driver then noticed a car was chasing them and he unsuccessfully tried to drive away, charges state.

The complaint accuses Riggs of eventually rear-ending the victim’s vehicle and then maneuvering his car to crash directly into the driver’s side of the victim’s vehicle before allegedly fleeing the scene.

The three victims inside the “were all emotional and appeared shocked,” the charges detail.

According to the complaint, police found Riggs inside a camper near a damaged car in a local business parking lot.

Riggs allegedly admitted to striking the victim’s vehicle and then trying to hide his own vehicle before law enforcement arrived.

Edina Coffee Roasters announced its last day serving guests will be Sunday, September 6 at their location on Cahill Road. The shop will be open for business from 7 a.m. through noon daily until then.

The business began as a portable coffee cart in 2021, quickly growing to include wholesale partnerships. Their coffee is now sold at several local grocery stores and cafes. 

Edina Coffee Roasters isn’t going away entirely, however. 

“We’re intentionally focusing our next season on roasting exceptional coffee, growing our wholesale partnerships, expanding our presence in local grocery stores, serving businesses and events through our coffee cart, offering coffee education, and making it even easier to enjoy our coffee through subscriptions,” wrote owners Zach and Sara Zschernitz on Facebook. 

“Thank you for every visit, every conversation, and every cup shared,” the post concluded.  “We can’t wait to continue serving you in new ways.”

The order, announced Tuesday morning, directs the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to halt “all permitting and environmental review work on nonferrous mineral mining projects in the Rainy River Headwaters Watershed (RRHW).” 

According to the MPCA, the watershed is a 1.89-million-acre drainage basin, encompassing lakes and streams bordering the BWCAW. 

Under the order, the DNR will stop issuing any new leaders or permits for mineral mining projects in the watershed until pending litigation is resolved.

It also orders a review of all existing leases and permits,  directs the DNR to draft legislation that would permanently ban mining in the area, and bans the state from participating in any federal environmental review of mining projects. 

“The Boundary Waters is a national treasure and home to some of Minnesota’s most pristine waters and wilderness,” said Walz in a statement. 

“This place is deeply personal to me, to Minnesotans, and to people across the country who have paddled these waters. I am using my full executive authority to protect the waters and wildlife of the Boundary Waters and to ensure the outfitters, small businesses, and communities that depend on it continue to thrive for generations to come. It’s our duty as Minnesotans to ensure the sacred place remains wild, pristine, and unharmed.”

This comes after a 20-year mining ban across more than 225,000 acres of the Superior National Forest was lifted in April at the direction of the Trump administration.

The move cleared the way for various copper and nickel mining projects, including for Twin Metals, a company owned by Chilean mining giant Antofagasta, to build a proposed complex just outside Ely on Birch Lake, though the company still needed necessary state permits and approvals to break ground. 

Proponents argued the ban’s reversal would bring jobs to the area and boost the domestic production of minerals, with opponents maintaining it will pollute the pristine waters along the border between Minnesota and Canada and threaten a billion-dollar outdoor tourism industry. 

GOP gubernatorial candidate Lisa Demuth condemned the order, writing she will ensure mining is a part of Minnesota’s future if she becomes governor. 

“Tim Walz, Amy Klobuchar and Democrats in the legislature continue their hostility toward Minnesota mining, taking job growth opportunities off the table before they can even go through the regulatory review process,” Demuth said in a statement. 

“Even if Amy Klobuchar claims to oppose this move, her strongest allies in the legislature remain fiercely opposed to mining and will fight mining expansion every step of the way.”

Some members of Walz’s own party are also speaking out against the decision, including State Sen. Grant Hauschild (DFL-Hermantown).

“A decision this significant to the people of the Northland should not be made through executive order by a Governor who leaves office in a matter of months,” said Hauschild.

“The truth is, no one can honestly say whether they support a mining project before it has gone through the full environmental review and permitting process. Minnesota has some of the strongest environmental and labor standards in the country. If a project can’t meet them, it shouldn’t move forward. I also don’t believe politicians should pick winners and losers and decide the answer before the science and the process have had their say.”

“Northern Minnesota deserves both a strong economy and clean water. Those values do not have to be in conflict,” his statement concluded.

Others praised the move, with Save the Boundary Waters Executive Director Ingrid Lyons writing Governor Walz is doing “right by Minnesota” with the order. 

“Governor Walz just stood up for Minnesota, for Minnesotans, and for the Boundary Waters,” Lyons wrote in a statement in part. “The Federal Government sold out our canoe country earlier this year by stripping away protections that took hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans’ voices and years of work to secure, all while ignoring science and the will of the public.”

“Now, our Governor is doing right by Minnesota by pulling out all of the stops to keep toxic copper mining out of the headwaters of the Boundary Waters, while also calling on our state’s legislature to finish the job permanently.”

Walz is expected to formally sign the executive order on Tuesday.

Drew Fisher, 18, died the night of Sunday, Aug. 9 after his vehicle hit a barrier dividing I-94 from the Lyndale Avenue exit near Olson Memorial Highway, then he exited and was struck by a Tesla.

“Drew was a beloved son, grandson, nephew, cousin, godson, and friend, and so much more to the people who knew and loved him. His life was far too short, and his loss has left his family and everyone who knew him devastated,” reads a a GoFundMe campaign.

“To anyone who knew Drew, you know how much his faith, friends, and family meant to him. He was the most caring, thoughtful, generous, and funny person. He was always there to lend a helping hand and brighten your day with a classic Drew smile.”

WCCO reports that Fisher graduated in 2025 from Eden Prairie High School, where he played baseball, and planned to attend Hennepin Technical College in the fall.

“We have set this up for Drew’s mom, Michele Fisher, and his family to help with the unexpected funeral and memorial expenses that come with such a heartbreaking loss,” organizer Lucia Saathoff writes on the page.

“No family should have to worry about the financial burden of saying goodbye to their loved one while they are grieving. Any and all donations will go directly to Drew’s mom to cover any expenses during this difficult time.”

More than $50,000 had been raised in the week following Fisher’s death.

Last Wednesday morning, authorities say Nathan Matthew Brown, 41, took his own life after killing his wife, 41-year-old Kristen Brown, and their 7-year-old daughter, Evie Brown, at their in-home daycare on the 200 block of Tyler Avenue North.

Brown is also suspected of stabbing his mother, 78-year-old Alice Brown, to death at her home on Maple Island Road in Burnsville on Wednesday afternoon. According to police, Nathan Brown had recently been living at the Burnsville home.

Six other children were inside the Hopkins home at the time Kristen and Evie were killed. The children were unharmed physically and were removed from the home by police before being reunited with their parents.

In a statement shared by Hopkins Police Department, the families call Brown Bear Daycare a “second home for our children,” calling Kristen and Evie “our family.”

“As working parents, we intentionally chose Brown Bear as the place where our children would be lovingly cared for, blossom, and develop,” the statement reads. 

“We chose it because of Kristen. She had an inherent warmth and nurturing soul and was an exceptional caregiver and educator. Most importantly, Kristen loved our children as her own.”

The families also highlighted the special relationship between Kristen, and her daughter, Evie, calling her the “reason” Brown Bear Daycare started in the first place. 

“Evie was a natural leader, full of sweetness, silliness, and a lover of all things purple, rainbow, and sparkle- Evie was the heart of Brown Bear. Our children lost one of their very best friends.”

They also asked for privacy as they “continue to prioritize our children’s mental health and well-being” and thanked the community for their thoughts and prayers. 

If you know anyone who is affected by domestic violence, you can find more information on services available here, via the Minnesota DPS. You can also call the Day One Crisis Hotline at 1-866-223-1111.

The personal finance site and serial ranker has placed Minnesota in ninth place on its ranking, which is the result of 26 weighted metrics about nightlife, entertainment, and recreation.

The list compiles data on the variety of arts establishments, restaurants per capita, skiing facilities, movie theaters, golf courses, amusement parks, beaches, the cost of movies and drinks, music festivals, casinos, and the time for last call at bars, among other data points.

Thank goodness it didn’t specifically include professional sports, because that’s usually a dreary subject (we’re not talking about you, Minnesota Lynx), especially if you ask former Twin Josh Donaldson.

In essence, it’s combining family activities, outdoor adventures, movies, music, sports, and other ways people kick back to create a look at the states where entertainment, in its various forms, takes center stage.

Unsurprisingly, states like California, Florida, Nevada, and New York placed quite well.

Still, Minnesota held its own at ninth place overall, placing third in performing-arts theaters per capita; third in variety of arts, entertainment, and recreation establishments; and tied for first in state and local expenditures on parks and recreation per capita.

The report bears similarities to WalletHub’s list of the “most fun cities,” released last year. On it, Minneapolis placed 38th, and St. Paul ranked 82nd among the 182 cities that were included.

Here’s the complete top 10 from WalletHub:

1. California
2. Florida
3. Illinois
4. Nevada
5. New York
6. Colorado
7. Washington
8. Texas
9. Minnesota
10. Arizona

The watch has gone into effect until 12 a.m., covering 11 counties in central and west-central Minnesota, comprising Benton, Chippewa, Douglas, Kandiyohi, Meeker, Morrison, Pope, Stearns, Stevens, Swift and Todd counties.

The area includes the cities of St. Cloud, Alexandria, Morris, Benson, and Willmar.

As things stand, the Twin Cities is not included in the watch area, but there is still a chance of the metro area seeing thunderstorms over the course of the evening.

A severe thunderstorm warning did go into effect around 7:10 p.m. in western Morrison County, to the south of Brainerd, with the National Weather Service reporting 60 mph wind gusts and small hail, with the potential for damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

Timothy Bryan Standish Jr., 40, lived in the Stevens Square neighborhood of Minneapolis.

Further details surrounding his death are being withheld “due to the sensitive nature of this investigation and out of respect for Timothy and his loved ones,” according to the sheriff’s office.

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“Detectives are asking anyone who knew Timothy or has information about his friends, associates, or recent activities to come forward,” reads a Monday news release.

“Even the smallest detail may be important.”

Tips can be submitted by calling 651-438-TIPS (8477) or by filling out this online form.

Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcement’s latest version of events, and may be subject to change.

01 Vintage, which sells vintage threads on Main Street, and Leon’s Frozen Custard, an iconic drive-in that opened in 1947, both revealed that Sheeran visited Sunday on the heels of a recent visit from Oshkosh basketball legend Tyrese Haliburton.

“We can not believe this just happened,” 01 Vintage wrote, sharing that Sheeran bought “a bunch of great pieces” including an Ipswich jersey.

“One of the nicest people in the entire world genuinely,” the shop shared. “We had so much fun chatting with you!”

Leon’s Frozen Custard wrote on Facebook that Sheeran stopped by Sunday “for a visit and a photo op with a couple of our carhops!”

Leon’s said the celebrity visits were “an incredible experience for our Leon’s family and we feel honored to have served these icons.”

Sheeran seemingly stopped in Oshkosh as he traveled from Minneapolis, where he performed at the U.S. Bank Stadium on Saturday, to his next tour stop in Toronto.

The Prior Lake Police Department said the man was found just before 10 p.m. in the area of Stemmer Ridge and Belmont Avenue Northwest, which is within the Spring Lake Estates neighborhood.

Police said the man remains hospitalized Monday afternoon and officers are investigating the incident, but there is no known threat to the public.

No further details were immediately available.

Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcement’s latest version of events, and may be subject to change.

The business announced the news on social media on Monday, sharing: “Closing our doors was an incredibly difficult decision – one we did not make lightly. While it was hard to say goodbye, it was something we knew we had to do.”

“We want to sincerely thank everyone who visited, supported, encouraged, and believed in us over the years,” the post continues. “Every visit, purchase, kind word, and bit of support meant more to us than you may ever know.”

Krusty’s debuted at the University Square Mall in 2020 as part of an expansion of the popular restaurant Weggy’s On Campus.

The maple-glazed donut topped with freshly-cooked bacon quickly became the donut shop’s signature treat.

Monday’s announcement did not provide a reason for the closure.

Salman Ahmed Elmi, 30, faces eight felony theft charges for allegedly billing more than $1 million in Medicaid-funded adult rehabilitation mental health services that were not provided or were ineligible for reimbursement through his Golden Valley-based company Reva Health.

According to prosecutors, Elmi and other coconspirators falsified documentation to obtain Medicaid reimbursement, instructed employees to pay kickbacks to people listed as recipients of services on the false claims, and utilized ineligible providers for adult rehabilitation mental health services.

A criminal complaint names Reva Health co-owner Frank Devone Reeves, 57, of Champlin, and former assistant Anoka County attorney Andrea Leigh Sampson, 35, of Fridley, as Elmi’s coconspirators.

The pair and two others were charged Friday in Hennepin County for their roles in an alleged commercial sex trafficking operation, with Sampson accused of managing LLCs that prosecutors believe were used as shell companies to move and hide money.

Sampson is the owner of Reva Health Autism Center LLC, Helpful Housing LLC, and Homefelt Housing LLC, all of which are also accused of defrauding Medicaid, according to the complaint involving Elmi.

The aforementioned companies allegedly submitted the following claims:

• Reva Health: More than $2.5 million in claims for adult rehabilitation mental health services between January 2024 and February 2025.
• Reva Health Autism Center: More than $700,000 in claims to the Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention (EIDBI) program between May 2025 and January 2026.
• Helpful Housing: More than $250,000 in claims to the now-defunct Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) program between June 2024 and June 2025.
• Homefelt Assisted Living: More than $1.2 million for home and community-based services between May 2023 and February 2026.

The complaint indicates that Reva Health has been under investigation for potential sex trafficking and drug offenses by federal and local law enforcement since at least 2019, and that it was referred to the Minnesota Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), part of the state Attorney General’s Office, following an investigation by HealthPartners.

A joint investigation between the MFCU and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) began in early 2026, when the MFCU learned that the owners of the Reva entities were also the subjects of an ongoing BCA sex trafficking investigation.

Prosecutors allege that Elmi was aware of the illegal activities involving his coconspirators and their companies.

“Medicaid fraud steals money meant to provide healthcare to our low-income friends and neighbors,” Attorney General Keith Ellison said in a statement Monday. “It is illegal and it makes my blood boil, which is why I’m filing these charges and why I’ve built a strong record of holding fraudsters accountable.”

Viktoriya Sergeyevna Komonash, 30, of Eagan, and Katherine Michelle Thomes, 36, of Hutchinson, are also charged in connection with the sex trafficking investigation.

The state tournament will feature 80 teams competing across three classes — 24 teams in Class A and B, 32 teams in Class C — over the course of three weekends.

In Class A, eight teams earned byes into the second round after winning their respective regions. Those teams include the Elko Express, St. Anthony Hogs, Baseball 365, Coon Rapids, Mac’s Industrials Warriors, St. Paul Mudhens, Sartell Muskies, and St. Patrick Irish.

Class A First Round

• Champlin Park LoGators vs. Shakopee Indians
  • Winner faces Elko Express
• Hibbing Miners vs. Northwest Orioles
  • Winner faces St. Anthony Hogs
• Miesville Mudhens vs. St. Paul Hops
  • Winner faces Baseball 365
• Chaska Cubs vs. Air Freight
  • Winner faces Coon Rapids
• Burnsville Bobcats vs. Elk River Lumberjacks
  • Winner faces Mac’s Industrial Warriors
• New Ulm Brewers vs. Minnetonka Monarchs
  • Winner faces St. Paul Mudhens
• Forest Lake Brewers vs. Minneapolis Cobras
  • Winner faces Sartell Muskies
• Stockmen’s Irish vs. Rochester Royals
  • Winner faces St. Patrick Irish

• Twins place Austin Martin on 10-day IL, recall third catcher Alex Jackson

Like Class A, Class B will feature eight teams receiving byes to the second round after winning their respective regions. Those teams are the Delano Athletics, St. Martin Martins, Bluffton Braves, Stewartville-Racine Sharks, Sobieski Skis, Jordan Brewers, Raymond Rockets, and Sauk Rapids Cyclones.

Class B First Round

• Princeton Panthers vs. Union Hill Bulldogs
  • Winner faces Delano Athletics
• Red Wing Aces vs. Buckman Billgoats
  • Winner faces St. Martin Martins
• Cold Spring Springers vs. Foley Lumberjacks
  • Winner faces Bluffton Braves
• Plato Blue Jays vs. Webster Sox
  • Winner faces Stewartville-Racine Sharks
• Bird Island Bullfrogs vs. Kimball Express
  • Winner faces Sobieski Skis
• Pierz Lakers vs. Young America Cardinals
  • Winner faces Jordan Brewers
• Nisswa Lightning vs. Le Sueur Braves
  • Winner faces Raymond Rockets
• Watertown Red Devils vs. Maple Lake Lakers
  • Winner faces Sauk Rapids Cyclones

• Twins’ playoff hopes dwindling after blown 5-0 lead caps brutal Phillies sweep

Class C will feature all 32 teams starting from the first round. The top seeds representing their regions are the Quamba Cubs, Clearwater River Cats, Leavenworth Orioles, and the Granite Falls Kilowatts.

Class C First Round

• Quamba Cubs vs. Fairmont Martins
• Cold Spring Rockies vs. Aitkin Steam
• Richmond Royals vs. Leavenworth Orioles
• Cologne Hollanders vs. Morris Eagles
• Ada Athletics vs. Urbank Bombers
• Courtland Cubs vs. Starbuck Stars
• St. Peter Saints vs. Luxemburg Brewers
• Waseca Braves vs. Brownton Bruins
• Hanska Lakers vs. Waterville Indians
• Atwater Chuckers vs. Nimrod Gnats
• Windom Pirates vs. Clearwater River Cats
• Litchfield Blues vs. Granite Falls Killowatts
• Glencoe Brewers vs. Howard Lake Orphans
• New York Mills Millers vs. New Prague Orioles
• Pierz Brewers vs. Elrosa Saints
• Dumont Saints vs. Luverne Redbirds

The first two state tournament rounds will be played August 21-23 and 28-30. Quarterfinals are September 4 and 5, followed by semifinals and championship games from Sept. 5-7.