Minnesota News

Substitute teacher pleads guilty to sextortion charges

Mitchell OttingerST. PAUL, Minn. (KVRR) – Federal prosecutors say a Carver County man has pleaded guilty to charges related to a years-long sextortion scheme. Twenty-five-year-old Mitchell Ottinger, a former substitute teacher and paraprofessional, engaged in a scheme to obtain sexually explicit images and videos of minors and adults by using false online personas.  Ottinger threatened to distribute the images and…

As Minnesota offers scholarships for shots, study says vaccine lotteries don’t work

DENVER (KVRR) – According to a study led by the University of Colorado Denver, states that used lotteries to entice residents to get COVID-19 vaccines had little or no effect on vaccination rates. “Statistically speaking, our research points to a disappointing outcome” according to Dr. Andrew Friedson, associate professor of economics.  “There was no significant association found between a cash-drawing…

Walz launches reelection campaign in divided Minnesota

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota’s Democratic Gov. Tim Walz has launched his campaign for a second term in an increasingly divided state, saying he made the tough calls necessary beat back the COVID-19 pandemic and revive the economy. The former high school football coach made the announcement in a YouTube video posted Tuesday that shows him standing on a football…

Hope Inc. leads adaptive phy. ed. class in Hawley

HAWLEY, Minn. (KVRR) – Hope Inc. brings adaptive sports to Hawley Elementary School to show children the challenges of those who are differently abled. Six-year-old Kyler Kolbinger has Spina Bifida and is part of the organization’s sled hockey and wheelchair basketball and soccer teams. It’s his first year in school, so his parents and Hope Inc. decided playing adaptive soccer…

Sheriff: Missing Marshall County Man Located And Is Safe

MARSHALL CO., Minn. (KVRR) — A Marshall County man who was reported missing earlier this month has been found and is safe according to the sheriff’s office. They also say they are not releasing any other information on Keith Donarski at this time. Donarski was last seen at his parents home weeks ago and his cell phone was used days…

Video: Police investigating numerous vehicle thefts, break-ins in Dilworth

Items stolen include vehicles, a shotgun and a safe

DILWORTH, Minn. (KVRR) – Officers responded to “numerous” vehicle break-ins and thefts over the weekend in Dilworth. Police say three vehicles were reported stolen.  Items including a shotgun, a safe and money were taken from other vehicles.  On Oct. 13, a car was stolen from a Domino’s Pizza delivery driver in Dilworth. Police are urging residents not to leave items…

Sheriff identifies drivers in school bus/pickup crash

MOORHEAD, Minn. (KVRR) – Clay County Sheriff Mark Empting has released the names of the drivers in an Oct. 14 crash involving a school bus and a pickup north of Moorhead. Four students and the driver of the pickup, 30-year-old Joel Shipley, of Fargo were injured.  Sixty-one-year-old Todd Kappes, of Ada was the driver of the school bus. Empting says…