Thursday, August 28, 2025

The Minneapolis Police Department confirmed an active shooter opened fire at a church on the city's south side Wednesday morning, killing two children and injuring 17 others. Police say the shooter died by suicide following the rampage, and there is no longer a threat to the community. Hours after the shooting, law enforcement sources that the shooter is a 23-year-old named Robin Westman and that he grew up in Richfield, and his mother worked at Annunciation School in some capacity.  An army of police and paramedics arrived at Annunciation Church, 509 W. 54th Street, around 8:30 a.m., where police reported that a man dressed in black and armed with a rifle was spotted on the scene.  At a press conference later Wednesday morning, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said the shooter, a man in his early 20s, appears to have barricaded doors to the church before approaching the side of the building and opening fire with a rifle, shooting through the windows directly at children sitting in the pews for a special mass. The chief confirmed that two children, ages 8 and 10, were killed in the hail of bullets. Another 17 suffered gunshot wounds, and 14 of those were students. Two of the injured are in critical condition. This the third shooting with fatalities in Minneapolis that occurred in a 12-15 hour period of time from two shootings reported Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning before the one at the church. Pope Leo XIV of learning of the shooting at the Catholic Church conveyed sorrow after a church shooting in Minneapolis claimed two children's lives and injured dozens. The Pope expressed "his heartfelt condolences and the assurance of spiritual closeness to all those affected by this terrible tragedy, especially the families now grieving the loss of a child," according to a telegram that was sent to Archbishop Bernard Hebda of Minneapolis. President Donald Trump is ordering the flags at all government buildings, including the White House, to be flown at half-staff until sunset on Sunday, August 31st.to honor the victims in Wednesday's shooting. As part of the order, Trump said flags at all military posts and naval stations, all naval vessels, embassies, legations, consular offices and other facilities abroad will also fly flags at half-staff as a "mark of respect for the victims of the senseless act of violence."  

The following is a statement from District 10A Representative Ron Kresha, Chair of Education Finance, and Representative Peggy Bennett, Chair of Education Policy, on the tragedy that occurred at Annunciation Church this morning. "We are devastated by the tragic events that occurred at Annunciation Church and School. Our hearts go out to the students, families, teachers, staff, and community members who are grieving and searching for peace in the face of such loss. As leaders of the House Education Committees, we know the importance of schools being a place of safety and learning, not fear. We stand with Annunciation and with all schools across Minnesota as they process this tragedy and work to heal. We are committed to ensuring that students, parents, and educators have the support and resources they need during this difficult time".

The Little Falls Fire Department was called out twice on Tuesday. First at 3:21pm to a grass fire along highway 371 at 223rd Street in Ripley Township. The fire department assisted the DNR with extinguishing the fire.  Camp Ripley Fire also assisted at the scene. The second call was at at 7:37pm, they were called to 12276 165th St in Pike Creek Township on a report of a chicken coop on fire. Firefighters arrived and found the chicken coop was nearly burned down. We extinguished the remains of the fire.  There were no chickens in the coop at the time of the fire.     

The City of Little Falls reported now through September 12th sewer cleaning will be done between 7th and 5th Street Northeast and Southeast. Backyard access may be necessary in some residential areas. During cleaning some air pressure may escape toilets, drains and sinks with an unpleasant odor. Questions can be directed to City Hall in Little Falls at 320-616-5500.     

A woman died in a boating-related accident. The Cass County Sheriff's Office says the incident happened just before 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday on the south shore of Leech Lake near the Walker City Park. Deputies and responders arrived to find a 2016 Tri-toon had crashed onto the shore. A 59-year-old Cass Lake woman was found in the boat. She was unresponsive, and responders gave medical aid before she was taken to the Walker airport, where she was pronounced dead. The woman was the only person on the boat. An autopsy is scheduled with the Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office. Her name has not been released yet.

A 75-year-old Pillager woman was injured Wednesday, Aug. 27, after her vehicle struck another on Highway 210 in Cass County. The Minnesota State Patrol responded to the crash at 2:41 p.m. in Sylvan Township, west of Baxter. According to the crash report, a 2006 Chevrolet Impala was attempting a U-turn on Highway 210 when a westbound 2012 Hyundai Tucson collided with it. The driver of the Hyundai, Eileen Rose Ausland, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to Essentia Health-St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd. Chevrolet driver Matthew Scott Smart, 22, of Onamia, suffered no reported injuries. The State Patrol reported the road was dry at the time of the crash. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office, North Memorial Health Ambulance and the Pillager Fire Department assisted at the scene.

No injuries were reported after a Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office vehicle struck another vehicle Tuesday, Aug. 26, on Highway 77 in Cass County. Cass County Sheriff Bryan Welk said deputies responded to the crash at 2:33 p.m. at the entrance to Madden’s On Gull Lake resort, County Highway 77 and Pine Beach Peninsula. He said the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s deputy was traveling west on the highway when a red Buick, stopped at Pine Drive, attempted to cross the highway and was struck, sending both vehicles spinning. The driver of the Buick, an 89-year-old Bloomington man, and the deputy, a 56-year-old Brainerd man, both suffered no reported injuries. The deputy returned to full duty Wednesday.

Tony Housey of Camp Ripley spoke on KLTF Wednesday stating more loud noises will be coming from the military base in September as training continues for the next few weekends. Also Camp Ripley is hosting their open house on September 14th from 10am-2pm where all are welcome and view the base, there will be food and many on hand that day at Camp Ripley. You will need a photo ID to enter the base.     

Princess Kay of the Milky Way Malorie Thorson of Waverly spoke on KLTF Wednesday morning and  thanked all the support she has received since being crowned last week at the State Fairgrounds. Her likeness was carved in butter and she is now helping with the dairy judging, being in the parade, and doing many interviews to help promote the dairy industry. She thanked her professor's at South Dakota State University for understanding she would not be in class this week due to her Princess Kay duties and will be heading to class on September 2nd to continue her studies in agriculture. Thorson said her one items to focus on in the next year and showing all students where their food comes from and hopes that more schools will take trips to farms to show them how the food is made, and how cows are milked.   

Death Notices- Joseph Kenneth Semroska, age 87 of Little Falls. Margaret R. Kaiser, age 90 of Little Falls. 

Weather- AM fog, then sunny skies today with high 77, slight chance of showers late night then clearing low around 54. Friday morning showers and storms before 9am then partly sunny, high 76, clear Friday low around 53. Saturday increasing clouds, few PM showers, high 74, clearing Saturday night low 56. Sunday partly cloudy skies, high near 75 some PM showers could develop into Sunday night and again on Monday with lows around 50 and Monday a high of 74. Then cooler by mid-week with highs in the 60s. 

Sports- The Minnesota Vikings confirmed Wednesday morning that they acquired Adam Thielen in a trade bringing the Detroit Lakes native back to Minnesota from the Carolina Panthers. Included in the trade, the Vikings are sending a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick, while also receiving a conditional seventh-round pick in 2026 and a fifth-round pick in 2027. Thielen played with the Vikings since starting his career in 2013 through the 2022 season then the past two seasons in Carolina. Toronto outslugged the Twins last night winning 9-8 with 3 runs in the 8th inning to take the series. The Twins are off today. The Minnesota Lynx host Seattle tonight at 7pm. High School Football starts tonight for area teams as Royalton is at Kimball, Holdingford hosts St. Cloud Cathedral, Foley hosts Glencoe-Silver Lake and Sauk Centre is at Pierz tonight with all having start times at 7pm, the Pierz game is live on 94ROCKS KFML.