September 2022

Two in-person public auctions will be held in October, online auction to be held later this fall The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has state lands for sale in Anoka, Houston, Itasca, St. Louis and Wadena counties. The 17 parcels for sale include rural lands with many recreational opportunities.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Tomorrow, Soldiers and Airmen with the Minnesota National Guard’s St. Paulbased 55th Civil Support Team (CST) will conduct an evaluated exercise with the State Patrol and St. Paul Fire Department in a Minneapolis location.

Openings are still available for the 2022 Rydell National Wildlife Refuge Mentored Youth Deer Hunt, after the original registration period. There are still 5 unfilled spots for youth hunters. This two-day hunt will be held on over 1,800 acres of Rydell Refuge on Saturday Oct. 29 and Sunday Oct. 30. Youth between the ages of 12 and 15, who have successfully completed Firearms Safety Training, can register to participate in this special hunt. The only other requirements are that an adult mentor accompany the youth hunter at all times, and that the youth hunter and their mentor attend a mandatory 4-hour orientation session at the Rydell Refuge Visitor Center on Sunday Oct. 23. If you are interested in signing up for this special hunt, call Refuge Manager, Gregg Knutsen, at 218-686-4329 for information on how to get registered and purchase your license(s) from the Minnesota DNR. The sign-up deadline for this hunt is Oct. 14. Licenses for the harvest of up to three deer (only 1 buck) can be purchased for this special hunt.

St. Paul, MN: The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) anticipates awarding up to $250,000 to demonstrate and publicize the energy efficiency, environmental benefit, or profitability of sustainable agricultural techniques or systems, from production through marketing.

Please be advised that a few law enforcement agencies in southern MN have received similar reports regarding theft by swindle phone grandparent scams. The caller will pose as a grandchild stating they were in an accident with another female and her baby, and that they have been arrested. The caller then states they need $18,000 for bail. A “lawyer” then calls and arranges for a courier to pick up the money. After the courier picks up the money the “lawyer” then call again stating the baby died and they needed to send another $32,000 to State Farm Insurance in California.

Scope of fraud alleged in federal indictments ‘breathtaking and immoral’; pledges to ‘hold bad actors accountable, no matter who they are’ U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota Andy Luger announced today that the Department of Justice has indicted 47 people connected to Feeding Our Future, including founder and executive director Aimee Bock, in what federal prosecutors say was a “massive scheme” to defraud the federal government of more than $250 million that was supposed to feed hungry children during the COVID-19 pandemic but instead was diverted to personal use, including luxury items. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison issued the following statement: I congratulate the Department of Justice and U.S. Attorney Andy Luger on this criminal indictment. The scope of the fraud the government alleges is breathtaking and immoral. The federal government has original criminal jurisdiction over this matter and because the alleged fraud involves federal funds, it is right and appropriate for the federal prosecutors to bring criminal charges. I applaud them for doing so.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison today secured the conviction in Freeborn County of Devin Weiland on three counts of attempted murder in the first degree, including one count of attempted murder of a police officer, and three counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon. Today’s conviction comes in connection with a November 29, 2020 standoff during which Weiland shot more than 80 rounds, including ones that shot and injured Albert Lea Police Department Officer Kody Needham, as well as resident who lived at the same apartment complex and a neighbor who drove by the complex on his way to work. After a week of testimony, a Freeborn County jury deliberated for two and a half hours before convicting Weiland on all six counts.