Minneapolis

Destructive Japanese Beetles Back in North Dakota

It causes about $450 million in damage each year in the U.S.

  NORTH DAKOTA — Japanese Beetles are back in North Dakota. The Agriculture Department says the Japanese beetle larvae were found in nursery stock. The beetles were found in several locations, including Bismarck, that received shipments from a Minneapolis-area supplier. The bug is an enemy to front yard flower beds, backyard vegetable gardens, farmers’ crops and even golf courses. An…

Pride Parade Briefly Stopped By Anti-Police Protesters

Staged Die-In On Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Anti-police protesters disrupted the Twin Cities Pride Parade over the police shooting of Philando Castile. “Do not say black lives matter if you’re not out here ya’ll,” said one protester.  “You are literally letting the police department that brutalizes and kills us, that literally beat my booty at the 4th Precinct, lead our gay pride parade. So,…

Twin Cities Pride Parade Organizers Say Police Presence Needs to be Minimal

The parade draws about 350,000 people

  MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Organizers of the Twin Cities Pride Parade have asked police to minimize their participation in Sunday’s event. They say they’re trying to respect the pain many are feeling following last week’s acquittal of Officer Yanez. But Lt. Bob Kroll, president of the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis, calls the decision disturbing. The parade, which draws about…

Nearly Two Dozen Arrests in Minnesota Sex Trafficking Ring

Authorities say the members of the ring also laundered millions of dollars in earnings

  MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Twenty-one people have been indicted in what authorities call a sophisticated sex trafficking ring. It brought hundreds of women from Thailand to Minneapolis, Chicago, Los Angeles and other cities and forced them to work as prostitutes. Authorities say the members of the ring also laundered millions of dollars in earnings. The sex-trafficking ring started in 2009…

Delta Airlines Introduces New Face-Scan Bag-Check Kiosk at MSP-International

You go to the kiosk, tag your own bags, pay the fee and drop your luggage on a conveyor belt

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Delta Airlines is testing out some new technology in Minnesota in the hopes of making the bag check more efficient and twice as fast. Face-scanning kiosks are being set up in the Minneapolis-St. Paul International airport and will use facial recognition technology to match your identity to your passport photo. You go to the kiosk, tag your…

Defense Attorneys for St. Anthony Officer Want to Act Out Fatal Shooting of Castile

The state may argue against the admissibility of the exhibit

  MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Attorneys for the St. Anthony officer accused of fatally shooting an unarmed black man during a traffic stop say they want to use the victim’s driving record as evidence. Court documents show defense attorneys for Officer Jeronimo Yanez want to use Philando Castile’s driving record as well as his arrest record in the trial for their…

Minnesota Group Says They’re Not Anti-Vaxx, Just Here to Inform

The state health department is encouraging many of the families in the targeted community to get vaccinations for their children

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Measles cases in Minnesota are continuing to rise, especially in the Somali community. The state health department is encouraging many of the families in the targeted community to get vaccinations for their children. But another group is urging them to consider the risks of the vaccine. The Vaccine Safety Council of Minnesota organized a public meeting to…

Minneapolis Parks Now Tobacco Free

The policy includes the use of e-cigarettes and chewing tobacco

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Cities in Minnesota are continuing their battle against tobacco. The Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board has now banned all tobacco use in all of the city’s parks. The policy includes the use of e-cigarettes and chewing tobacco. But officials said if you are caught with a cigarette inside any of the parks, you won’t have to worry…

RedHawks Donate To Shriner’s Hospital for Home Exhibition Game

Staff with the RedHawks said they tries to be as active in the community as possible

FARGO, N.D. — Dig out those foam fingers and baseball hats. The RedHawks  hosted their first home exhibition game of the summer. Tickets were $7 each, with a portion of the cost going toward the Shrine Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis. Both new and returning playing battled the St. Paul Saints. This is the organization’s 22nd season. Tickets are available at…

Friday, April 21st Declared “Prince Day” Across Minnesota

Prince died April 21st of last year of an accidental painkiller overdose

  MINNESOTA — Gov. Dayton has declared Friday as “Prince Day” across Minnesota to honor the legacy of the homegrown music legend. Prince died April 21st of last year of an accidental painkiller overdose. The proclamation coincides with memorial celebrations taking place at the First Avenue night club in Minneapolis and at Paisley Park in Chanhassen. Dayton says Prince “showcased…