hennepin county

Majority of Hennepin County Board wants sheriff to resign

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – A majority of the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners is calling on Sheriff Dave Hutchinson to resign after his drunk-driving arrest and allegations he lied to first responders, but the defiant sheriff said Thursday that his critics won’t force him out. Board Chair Marion Greene joined commissioners Angela Conley, Chris LaTondresse, Jeff Lunde and Irene Fernando…

Minnesota Reports 159 New COVID-19 Cases, 17 Deaths

The state has a total of 2,071 confirmed cases.

ST. PAUL, Minn.–The Minnesota Department of Health is reporting an additional 159 COVID-19 cases since Thursday, bringing the total to 2,071. The state is also reporting 17 new deaths due to complications with COVID-19. Seventeen marks a record high in a single day for the state, bringing the total to 111. Clay County has the ninth highest number of cases…

Smoke from Large Lake House Fire Shows Up on Radar

The house was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived.

WAYZATA, Minn.–Firefighters faced bitter cold and gusty winds when battling a large house fire on Lake Minnetonka’s northeastern shore in Wayzata. Officials say the house under construction was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived Wednesday night. Neighbors say the house was nearly finished. Hennepin County property records show the house that burned was replacing a razed home that sold for $5.4…

Businessman Facing Trial on Labor Trafficking Charges

State prosecutors have filed nine labor trafficking charges over the past decade.

MINNEAPOLIS–A businessman accused of exploiting his construction workers is going on trial in Minneapolis for rare labor trafficking charges. Prosecutors say 47-year-old Ricardo Ernesto Batres denied the employees health coverage and workers’ compensation and forced them to live in overcrowded housing with no hot water. A criminal complaint says the construction workers did not have authorization to be in the…

Minneapolis Man Charged with 13 Counts of Voter Fraud

A warrant is out for Essa's arrest.

MINNEAPOLIS–Hennepin County prosecutors have charged a 22-year-old Minneapolis man with 13 felony counts of voting fraud. Abdihakim Amin Essa allegedly helped 13 people fraudulently cast absentee ballots last year. The charges filed last week say he told officials he was working for a campaign. The charges don’t name the campaign, and prosecutors declined to disclose it. Essa allegedly told election…

Minnesota Rep. Omar Files for Divorce from Husband

Marriage license and divorce records show Omar legally married Hirsi in 2018.

MINNEAPOLIS–U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar has filed for divorce from her husband. The freshman Democrat cited an “irretrievable breakdown” of her marriage with Ahmed Hirsi in her filing Friday in Hennepin County District Court. Aside from a period of separation in which Omar married another man – Ahmed Nur Said Elmi – Omar has been with Hirsi for years and he…

Nearly 700 Drivers Cited During First Week of Minnesota’s Hands-Free Law

It's probably no surprise that Hennepin County tops the list with 286 citations

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Numbers are out from the first week of enforcement of Minnesota’s new hands-free law. Deputies and troopers cited nearly 700 drivers statewide for violating the law which makes it illegal to hold your phone in your hand while driving in Minnesota. It’s probably no surprise that Hennepin County tops the list with 286 citations. The most…