Welcome to your weekend. Northwestern Minnesota is under an air quality alert from wildfire smoke. Rain continues on and off in parts of the state this weekend with highs in the 70s and 80s! Get the latest on Updraft.
The seven-county metro area experienced an 8.2 percent decrease in violent crime; greater Minnesota saw a 3.4 percent drop. And carjackings declined by nearly 38 percent. Bias crimes slightly increased since 2022, as did the number of law enforcement officers who were assaulted.
Minnesota’s first lady Gwen Walz has been an educator for nearly 30 years and a key political partner to her husband Gov. Tim Walz through his time in political office. “I think teaching is one of the greatest gifts of my life ... you get to share in the lives of incredible students every single day,” she said.
Fine particle levels are expected to reach the Red Air Quality Index category by late Friday afternoon in Grand Forks-East Grand Forks and Fargo-Moorhead. When air is in the red category, everyone should limit prolonged or heavy exertion and time spent outdoors, according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
The two officers — Washington County sheriff’s deputy Brian Krook and Woodbury police officer James Stoffel — shot Donald Eugene Roche, 61 when he pointed a pellet gun at them during a standoff outside the store off Valley Creek Road. Authorities said the pellet gun appeared to be a real firearm.
