Thursday, September 3, 2026
Two people were killed and at least six others were injured in a mass shooting Wednesday afternoon in downtown Minneapolis. Two of the people injured by gunfire are police officers. Sgt. Garrett Parten with the Minneapolis Police Department said during a press availability Wednesday evening that one person died at the scene and another person died at the hospital. Parten also confirmed that the suspected shooter has died, but didn't say how he died. Two police officers were struck by gunfire, according to MPD. One officer was struck in the leg and the injury is believed to be "non-life-threatening," while the other was in surgery. Parten said the third officer, who was not wounded by gunfire, is being evaluated for an apparent non-life-threatening injury. Officials with the city of Minneapolis said four additional officers "experienced adverse effects after being exposed to an unknown airborne substance," and two other police officers were hurt when their squad car was struck while they were responding to the scene. Three civilians are being treated for injuries at HCMC. Officers were called to the area near 15 East Grant Street on a report of a shooting at 4:36 p.m. Initial information indicated that one person had been shot, but additional callers reported more gunfire. Parten said officers arrived at the scene at 4:39 p.m. and entered the high-rise apartment building. When officers arrived, they found additional victims and could hear gunfire. Officers followed the sound of gunfire to an upper floor of the building, Parten said, where they reported a haze that "significantly limited their visibility." Witnesses reported that the shooting began as a domestic incident between the shooter and one of the shooting victims. Raguse said that the shooter opened fire at the officers responding, while the shooter retreated to an apartment. The chief added the department is working to get the residents of the building back into their homes as soon as possible. City officials said Central Lutheran Church at 333 S. 12th St. is hosting a space for reunification efforts for apartment residents and others affected by the shooting. The American Red Cross is also setting up a shelter near the scene. Governor Tim Walz said in a social media post shortly before 9:30 p.m. Wednesday that the officers injured are expected to "make a full recovery." The full investigation into the mass shooting is still under investigation.
Two people were injured in an accident that caused Little Falls and Camp Ripley Fire Departments to responded to it yesterday on Highway 371 at Fort Ripley. Around 1:17pm Two vehicles collided at 371 and 273rd Street driven by 57-year-old Todd Koning of Randall and 75-year-old Larry Vilinski of Little Falls. Koning and his passenger 41-year-old Robert Bollig of Randall were both taken to hospitals for treatment of non life threatening injuries. Vilinski was reportedly not injured. The fire departments were called out to put out any fires or hot spots that may arise due to dry grass and vegetation around the accident scene.
A bicyclist was struck by a vehicle riding on Highway 371 in Cass County Wednesday. Around 1:50pm, 85-year-old Karen Meyer of Prior Lake was crossing the state trail road at Leech Lake and was struck by a vehicle that had the right of way. The driver of the vehicle from New Ulm was not hurt. Meyer was taken to the hospital in Bemidji reportedly with serious injuries but deemed non life threatening by State Patrol.
On September 2, 1974, Mary and Susan Reker left their home in St. Cloud to walk to a local store. They were last seen at the store during the early afternoon on September 2, 1974, and never returned home. Their bodies were found 26 days later in a quarry outside of St. Cloud. The investigation into the 1974 double murder of Mary and Susanne Reker continues to be an active investigation for the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office. If anyone has information about their murders or any other information that could be helpful, please contact Sergeant Brian Bohlig at 320-259-3704 or Lieutenant Zach Sorenson at 320-259-3732, submit a tip on our webpage, or submit a tip via the QR code.
The application period for the Minnesota Sheriff’s Association (MSA) annual Law Enforcement Scholarship Program for 2026 has begun. The MSA Board of Directors has established a scholarship fund for the awarding of up to eighteen $2,000 scholarships for this year. These scholarships are made possible through the coordinated efforts of the 87 Sheriffs of the State of Minnesota. The members of the MSA give special recognition to the financial needs of students who are attending a peace officer skills course or pursuing a two or four year law enforcement degree. The MSA Board of Directors feel peace officers in our democratic society have complex duties to perform. The MSA recognizes the importance of pre-entry training for people considering law enforcement as their career choice. The MSA recognizes some students need outside help in meeting the costs of such training, even though they excel academically. The MSA Scholarship Committee, in making its selection of awards, intends on achieving representation from all geographical areas of the state and encourages qualified students from throughout Minnesota to apply with their local sheriff’s office. Application forms are available in person at the Morrison, Benton, Stearns, Crow Wing, Cass, Wadena or any County Sheriff’s Office and online at either through their own websites or at www.mnsheriffs.org. Scholarships are only available to students currently enrolled in one of the following three courses of study: 1.Mandated POST Skills Program 2. In their second year of a two-year law enforcement program. 3. In their third or fourth year of a four-year college criminal justice program. Applications must be submitted to the applicant’s local sheriff by November 23rd, 2026. Scholarship winners will be announced in early 2027.
The nonprofit that brought a full-scale space shuttle mockup from Florida to central Minnesota says it is planning a year-round attraction built around the spacecraft. Inspiration Space Port says work is underway on a design that would suspend Shuttle Inspiration inside a dome 300 feet wide and 175 feet tall. The exterior would be wrapped in LED panels that the group says would make the building visible for miles. No location, cost estimate or opening date has been announced. Plans call for visitors to walk beneath, around and through the shuttle, with flight simulators, interactive displays and hands-on science exhibits filling the space around it. Founder Jason Bernick says an earlier plan called for simply putting the shuttle on display, but the group decided it could do considerably more with it. Cliff Dew, CEO of Jumping Frog Entertainment, is the project’s chief architect and creative director. He says the aim is a destination where families step inside space exploration rather than watch it. Organizers also plan the Shuttle Bus Ambassador, a mobile exhibit with a space shuttle simulator that would visit schools, libraries, community centers and malls around the state. The project remains in the planning stage, with work focused on site evaluation, attraction design, partnerships, educational collaborations and sponsorships. The group says more details will be released in the coming months. Bernick learned in April 2024 that the mockup faced being scrapped. He paid to move it north and formed a nonprofit to take ownership. The shuttle’s 25-ton fuselage arrived in St. Cloud that June after a week-long truck trip from the Kennedy Space Center’s shuttle landing facility. Inspiration never flew in space.
The Friends of the Carnegie Library in Little Falls is hosting their used book sale event fundraiser for the library. September 9th from 4:30-7pm is for members to check out. Then during library hours for the all of the public Thursday September 10th, Friday September 11th, Saturday September 12th and Monday September 14th. Come and view the books and other items and help The Friends of the Carnegie Library.
Weather: partly sunny today, high 86, slight chance of thunderstorms this afternoon, then again tonight with isolated severe storms possible in areas, then cloudy low 65. Friday sunny, hot and humid high near 91 clear and humid Friday night low near 70. Sunny and hot again Saturday high 88, showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening Saturday some strong, low around 63. Sunday sunny and warm again high 84, isolated showers and storms are possible, better chance in the evening, then cooler, low 59. Monday showers and thunderstorms, high 76, low around 55. Tuesday chance of showers, high 73, clearing and cooler Tuesday night low 49. Wednesday sunny and cool, high near 70.
Sports: Twins score 3 in the 8th to tie the game at 5 last night, only to have Detroit score 5 in the top of the 12th inning to win 11-6 last night over the Twins in extras to take one of three games. Twins have today off then are at Chicago White Sox Friday night. Gopher Football with PJ Fleck starts another season tonight with Eastern Illinois. High School Football begins tonight for many of the area teams Kimball at Royalton 7pm, Foley at Glencoe Silver Lake at 7pm, Warroad at Pillager at 4pm, Holdingford vs. St. Cloud Cathedral at St. John's University at 7:30pm, Staples-Motley at East Grand Forks at 6pm, Brainerd at Buffalo at 7pm. While other teams including Little Falls, Pierz, Upsala-Swanville, Long Prairie-Grey Eagle and Browerville start their football season on Friday night. Listen to the Little Falls Game on AM960 KLTF and the Pierz game on 94ROCKS KFML. Last night Little Falls tied Becker 2-2 in boys soccer.
Class B: Sobieski will take on Jordan Saturday night in Jordan scheduled at 6:30pm but there are three games before them so time could change. Brad Czech informed Little Falls Radio that there is a charter bus down to Jordan for the Skis game on Saturday. Bus loads at the Polish Palace parking lot at 3:30pm on Saturday. $20 per person, to the first 55 people that get their reservation in. Text Brad Czech 320-360-3153 to reserve your seats. You can listen to the game Saturday night with Paul Froncak on AM960 KLTF and streamed online at fallsradio.com.