Recent content from Kim Hyatt

Historic northern Minnesota log post office razed after nearly 90 years of operation
The building's mailboxes and signage are headed to the National Postal Museum in D.C.
![“The weight of [Andrew Fisher's] absence is something I carry every single day, and no words will ever fully capture the pain and heartbreak that hi](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/MGPLIJXFIRHIZAAI5ORHEX6A7Y.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
'Every day is a struggle': Emotion high as two sentenced in Bemidji teen's stabbing death
Two accomplices get 15 years in prison, double the recommended sentence, for their roles.

'It's something you never get over': Red Lake grieves on 20th anniversary of school shooting
A ceremony on Friday honored the memories of the 10 killed in the state's deadliest school shooting.

Former Sen. Eichorn removed as Iron Range board chair
The Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board will fill the role in an upcoming special meeting.

Grand Rapids community expresses disappointment and disgust in Sen. Justin Eichorn
Residents and a relative say he should resign after he's charged with soliciting an underage female for sex.

'Priceless property': 3M's historic northern Minnesota resort to become public land
Public trusts paid $5.3 million for the 450 acres near Park Rapids and will turn over the property to the DNR.

Minnesota restaurant and Detroit Lakes area sculptures make Time's 'World's Greatest Places' list
It's the latest accolade for Vinai, chef Yia Vang's ode to his family's Hmong cooking, and a boon to artist Thomas Dambo's sprawling exhibit.

Minnesota has more townships than any other state, despite declines
It's not often that townships apply to incorporate as a city, but there's a trend of this happening to avoid annexation.

Nurse accused of depriving Beltrami County jail inmate of care faces manslaughter, neglect charges
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced the charges Friday against Michelle Skroch, nursing director at the since-shuttered MEnD Correctional Care in the death of 27-year-old Hardel Sherrell.

Three men plead guilty to 2023 murder in Bemidji
Andrew Fisher, 18, was stabbed to death during a robbery.
Cragun's Resort, family-owned for 85 years, sold to hospitality company
Owner Dutch Cragun will sell the beloved resort on Gull Lake in Brainerd to investors with Leisure Hotels and Resorts, headquartered in nearby Baxter.

Move over, fourth-graders. Today is Third Graders Day, thanks to a Minnesota girl.
The girl from White Earth Nation asked nicely, and Gov. Tim Walz proclaimed Monday a nod to students known for "their natural optimism, curiosity, enthusiasm."

'Welcome to Redneckville 500!': Ice racing in northern Minnesota a beloved, loud tradition.
On Garfield Lake in Laporte, population 134, hundreds of cars fill the ice on any given Sunday.
Tribal leaders from northern Minnesota testify in D.C. against Trump's funding cuts
They urged lawmakers to ensure federal funding for ongoing projects and obligations through treaty promises are upheld amid large-scale federal cuts.

What's the smallest town in Minnesota with a mayor?
In tiny locales, populations are dynamic. One resident leaving can alter rankings.

'Strong warrior' Leonard Peltier fights back tears at Turtle Mountain homecoming
A line lasted for hours as people waited to shake Peltier's hand, give him gifts or get his signature on his book, a DVD or T-shirt.

An ailing Leonard Peltier returns home to N.D. with fanfare
The 80-year-old was released from prison after 50 years.
Snowmobile rider dies after crashing into fish house in northern Minnesota
It was the second snowmobile fatality over the weekend in the lakes area.

Bemidji man charged with threats to kill children
In 2007, he threatened to kill students and staff at Bemidji State University the day after a mass shooting at Virginia Tech.

State's first off-reservation cannabis dispensary to open in Moorhead
White Earth Band of Chippewa plans to open storefronts off tribal lands once a compact agreement is signed with the state.

Red Lake Nation cautions tribal members to prepare for, report interactions with ICE
Tribal nations across the U.S. are responding to Trump's immigration raids.
Brainerd High School student in custody after threat posted on Snapchat
The 14-year-old suspect was in custody before students got to school Thursday.

What's behind Bemidji's high crime rate?
The first city on the Mississippi River has struggled with a perception problem for decades.
Warroad welcomes its first new mayor in 30 years
Bob Marvin, of the Marvin Windows and Doors family, lost by 8 votes in November to a longtime Marvin employee.

Biden signs bill renaming Roseau post office in honor of longtime postmaster
Floyd B. Olson served his city as postmaster for more than three decades.

'We're saving the language': Red Lake elementary students excel in college-level Ojibwe
Fourth- and fifth-graders are learning curriculum taught at Red Lake Nation College.
In latest blow to Hubbard County, auditor-treasurer abruptly resigns
The northern Minnesota county official leaves on the heels of an election judge felony case and the death of its county attorney.
Arctic Cat put Thief River Falls on the map. Can the town save the company from shuttering?
Textron Inc. is suspending Arctic Cat production of snowmobiles and other powersports in a struggling industry.
Brainerd co-op gets $11M from USDA to connect 600 rural homes with high-speed internet
The move means fast internet will extend to less populated areas in Crow Wing and Morrison counties.
There's little evidence mail service has improved in Minnesota as holidays approach
The Postal Service has been plagued by financial and staffing issues. Service reports show mail is being delivered on time less often than a year ago.
8-year-old boy hospitalized after falling off Nisswa ski lift
First responders treated the child on scene before airlifting him for additional care.

Animal Humane Society prepared to rescue 300 animals. When agents returned, only 64 were alive.
A couple from Hines, Minn., is accused of burning many of the animals at what they claimed to be a rescue facility.

This playground for the wealthy is being overtaken by giant storage buildings. Some call it 'Tin City.'
The hottest housing market in the state demands secondary dwellings for expensive toys.

Probation for judge accused of bias by ex-deputy and newly elected state Rep. Bidal Duran
District Judge Eric Schieferdecker is on a form of probation for two years, but terms of the agreement are confidential.
Couple who claimed to run dog and cat rescue charged with felony neglect and torture
"Shovels-full of ashes and bones were found," charges say.

ACLU sues Otter Tail County, sheriff and jail staff for depriving inmate of food, water for days
The lawsuit claims officials covered up mistreatment and falsified documents.

Red Lake police officer Jesse Branch remembered as public servant, cowboy, lover of pranks
Branch, who dedicated 17 years to public safety in Red Lake Nation, died Nov. 27 after colliding with another vehicle while responding to a call for service.
Twin Cities businessman sues city of East Gull Lake over his controversial helicopter
"The opposition is all about spite," the helicopter owner said.

Funerals set for Red Lake police officer, tribal member killed in double-fatal car crash
Jesse Branch grew up in Bemidji and served 17 years in law enforcement on Red Lake Nation.

On-duty Red Lake tribal police officer one of two killed in two-vehicle crash
The same police department lost another officer in July 2021, when Ryan Bialke was shot to death.
Stolen handgun reported to Moorhead police. It was found in student's bag at school.
Capt. Deric Swenson said that the incident began as a report of a stolen firearm.

Facing 'unprecedented' felony charges, Minnesota election judge is out of that job
The Hubbard County judge allegedly let 11 unregistered voters cast ballots Nov. 5.
Felony charges: Hubbard County election judge allowed 11 unregistered voters to cast ballots
Timothy Scouton of Nevis is charged with two counts: One accuses the election judge of accepting votes of unregistered voters, the other neglect of duty.

Hubbard County to fill vacancy following county attorney's death
Jonathan Frieden oversaw the prosecutors office in Park Rapids for seven years.

For Alexandria's Thompson, basketball runs in his DNA
Chase Thompson officially signed his scholarship acceptance and financial package documents to play basketball at Clemson on Wednesday at Alexandria Area High School along with 17 other student-athletes committing to college teams on the first day of the NCAA's early signing period.

Hubbard County Attorney Jonathan Frieden, 43, dies of cancer
The young, accomplished attorney and proud "girl dad" from Park Rapids will be remembered at a service Thursday.
Voters in Detroit Lakes approve sales tax for $17.3M beachfront pavilion project
The ballot question passage came down to a margin of 618 votes to raze the beloved existing structure and replace it with a larger one.

Ex-deputy Bidal Duran wins tight northern Minnesota House race against homeless advocate Reed Olson
Duran got 850 more votes than Olson to maintain GOP control of the seat.

Former Minnesota GOP Chair Carnahan wins Nisswa mayoral race
Carnahan, who's had years of legal troubles, said with a lot of door knocking, she "won people over."

GOP Rep. Michelle Fischbach easily wins re-election in western Minnesota
The Seventh Congressional District has become reliably conservative in recent elections.

Brainerd man who set off statewide Amber Alert faces murder, kidnapping and arson charges
The charges also include first-degree criminal sexual conduct.

Amber Alert leads to arrest of Brainerd man who allegedly killed 1, kidnapped woman and four kids
The suspect was identified as Chad Aanerud, who has a lengthy criminal history in Crow Wing County.
Detroit Lakes woman is suspect in death of her missionary husband killed in Africa
Jackie Shroyer, 44, has been arrested in connection with Beau Shroyer's death.

Anonymous donor pays overdue bill for Fergus Falls house where town's first Black resident lived
An online fundraiser, created to pay off the $10,000 bill, caught the notice of the donor.

Missionary from Detroit Lakes killed in 'act of violence' in Africa
Beau Shroyer, 44, was killed Friday and leaves behind his wife and five children.

Lynx fandom extends beyond Minnesota's borders
Edith Rylander, 89, of Davidson, N.C., can finally watch Lynx games now that they are being broadcast across the country.

How one Sacramento woman adopted the Lynx 14 years ago and never looked back
Alberta Herrera, 70, frequently heads to Minneapolis to see the team play.

Meet a Lynx season ticket holder who drives nearly 500 miles round-trip for every home game
The superfan from Sioux Falls hasn't missed a single home game in four years.

Lynx star Napheesa Collier advocates for reproductive rights while chasing WNBA title
"So many of our rights feel like they're getting rolled back," the Minnesota Lynx star said Friday before Game 4 of the WNBA finals.
Complaint against Rep. Josh Heintzeman over allegations of pressuring police chief for support gets dismissed
Pequot Lakes Chief Mike Davis said he felt intimidated by Heintzeman, a Republican lawmaker from neighboring Nisswa who is seeking a fifth term from the Brainerd-area district.

With injuries piling up, one Minnesota high school ends varsity football season early
Only eight upperclassmen were available to play, the Wadena-Deer Creek head coach said.
Leech Lake Band changes gambling rules, pushing charities out of the equation
"Our priority is our tribal government, our priority is our community," said Leonard Fineday, the band's secretary and treasurer.
Overdose likely cause of couple's death in Brainerd Lakes area vacation home
The family vacation home is in Mission Township in Crow Wing County.

Here's how $4.6M in federal grants will assist public safety on four Minnesota reservations
"Tribes know best how to reduce crime and substance abuse on their lands," said U.S. Sen. Tina Smith.
Pilot crashes fire suppression plane in northern Minnesota lake
Eyewitnesses helped rescue the pilot who survived.
Car plows into crowd at chainsaw carving event in northern Minnesota, one seriously injured
The vehicle struck four adults.
Pequot Lakes police chief says Rep. Josh Heintzeman pressured him for support
Heintzeman, a Republican legislator from Nisswa, is accused of violating the Fair Campaign Practices Act. He denies the accusations.

State House race pits former sheriff's deputy against Bemidji homeless shelter director
GOP candidate Bidal Duran faces DFLer Reed Olson in his second bid for the seat that Olson lost to incumbent Rep. Matt Grossell in 2022.

Violent altercation led to abrupt closure of BernBaum's in downtown Fargo
Co-owner Andrea Baumgardner said the closure was due to "personnel reasons."

40 years after toxic waste destroyed a Cass Lake neighborhood, EPA promises action
The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe wants to redevelop the area, but it's hindered by contaminated groundwater and soil.

Moorhead police share most detailed information to date on unsolved homicide of NDSU student 10 years ago
The department also is reviewing evidence previously collected in the death of Tom Bearson to utilize advances in DNA technology.

Park Rapids mayor resigns, vacancy declared
The council in the northwestern Minnesota city will likely operate with one less member until November election.

Employee accused of stealing, reselling $40K in outdoor gear, guns from Walker, Minn., store
Prosecutors say Kelsey Marie Rutland used gift cards at Reeds, her former employer, to carry out 40 fraudulent purchases, including 18 firearms.
Coin toss determines winner in tied Mille Lacs County primary ballot recount
There were six other tight races in Minnesota's primary, including a Sunday liquor sale ballot question in Newfolden that passed by just three votes.
Flags at half-staff in Red Lake following death of Hereditary Chief James Loud
Services are being held Wednesday and Thursday.