WILDFIRES-MINNESOTA

Greenwood fire 80% contained, forest restrictions lifted

DULUTH, Minn. (AP) — Authorities say they have lifted fire restrictions for the entire Superior National Forest in Northern Minnesota after reports over the weekend that the Greenwood Lake blaze was 80% contained. Val Cervenka, a spokeswoman for the team managing the fire, said that while the region remains historically dry, officials don’t expect the fire to spread. It is not showing any flames, although some of its perimeter straddles inaccessible wetlands and full containment won’t come until snow falls. The Star Tribune reports that this past week crews continued to find and dig out hot spots along the fire’s edge and remove fallen or standing dead trees, including in the hard-hit McDougal Lakes area. Other work included sorting salvageable wood and fixing damaged roads.

LA CROSSE-CANOEISTS RESCUED

La Crosse fire department rescues 5 stranded canoeists

LA CROSSE, Wis. (AP) — Authorities say members of the La Crosse Fire department rescued five canoeists who became stranded on the La Crosse River. Captain Greg Temp said rescue crews responded to a call shortly before 8 p.m. Saturday and found five people clinging to a tree in the water. WXOW-TV reports that the department used two of their inflatable boats to reach the canoeists and return them safely to shore. No injuries were reported. The La Crosse River flows into the Mississippi River in the city of La Crosse.

MINNEAPOLIS SHOOTINGS

Weekend shootings leave 11 people injured in Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Authorities say there were seven shootings over a 26-hour span across Minneapolis between Saturday and Sunday morning that left 11 people injured. Police say two of the victims are in critical condition. KSTP-TV reports that the first shooting happened around 12:50 a.m. Saturday. Police responded to a hospital where a man had been dropped off with gunshot wounds. He told police he was robbed at gunpoint and was shot while fighting back. Police say he is expected to survive.

SHAKOPEE BEHEADING

Grand jury indicts boyfriend in death of Shakopee woman

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A grand jury has indicted a man on first-degree murder charges in the gruesome death of his girlfriend in Shakopee. The jury indicted Alexis Saborit on Friday in the death of his longtime girlfriend America Mafalda Thayer. His bail also was raised from $2.5 million to $4 million. Saborit is accused of beheading Thayer in a vehicle in front of onlookers near downtown Shakopee on July 28 as the two were on the way to his court appearance for felony charges alleging that he had set fire to the couple’s apartment.

AP-US-ABANDONED-SUV-BODIES

Suspect in killing of 4 in Wisconsin arrested in Arizona

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — One of two men suspected in the shooting deaths of four people whose bodies were found in an abandoned SUV in Wisconsin has been arrested in Arizona. Antoine Darnique Suggs turned himself in to police in Gilbert, Arizona, on Friday. The arrest came two days after St. Paul, Minnesota, police arrested Suggs’ father, who has been charged with helping hide the victims’ bodies. Authorities say Suggs was seen at a St. Paul bar with victim Nitosha Flug-Presley and two of her friends hours before they were found dead along with a fourth victim.

MINNESOTA STORMS

SD girl killed in Minnesota storms that spawned 2 tornadoes

MANKATO, Minn. (AP) — A line of strong storms brought damaging winds and at least a couple tornadoes to Minnesota and western Wisconsin early Friday, causing at least one death. Authorities in Mankato say a 4-year-old girl died when a tree branch fell on a tent at a city park around 2:30 a.m. The girl was from South Dakota and was with her family at the park for an annual powwow. Winds gusted to 64 mph at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport just after 3 a.m. The National Weather Service reports the storms spawned at least a couple tornadoes, one in Burnsville and the other in Apple Valley.

GEORGE FLOYD-MINNEAPOLIS POLICE

Early voting begins on Minneapolis policing ballot question

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Early voting is underway in Minneapolis, a day after the Minnesota Supreme cleared the way for a ballot question over whether the city should replace its police department with a new Department of Public Safety. Supporters of the proposed charter amendment say it’s the only way to fix an intransigent culture of brutal policing that culminated with the death of George Floyd last summer. Opponents say too many questions about how the new department would work remain unanswered. Dozens of supporters attended a rally Friday near Minneapolis City Hall, while opponents launched a canvassing campaign on the city's heavily Black north side.

ABANDONED SUV-BODIES

Suspect in deaths of 4 found in SUV surrenders in Arizona

MENOMONIE, Wis. (AP) — A suspect in the shooting deaths of four Minnesotans who were found in an abandoned SUV in Wisconsin has surrendered to authorities in Arizona. The Dunn County Sheriff's Office said Friday that 38-year-old Antoine Darnique Suggs turned himself in to police in Gilbert, Arizona. The sheriff's statement says Suggs had been living in the Phoenix area recently before traveling to Minnesota. Authorities say investigators have not interviewed Suggs, so they had no new information to release on a potential motive. Authorities said Thursday that Suggs was spotted meeting with one of the victims at a Minnesota bar the night before their bodies were found.

News from © The Associated Press, 2021