Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher is putting young people with potential gang connections on notice days before the start of the 2026 Minnesota State Fair. Fletcher tells WCCO he sent 233 letters to people across the Twin Cities between the ages of 16 and 22, urging them to “consider this letter an opportunity to separate yourself from persons involved in criminal activity.” He says all were identified during investigations into 12 gangs. “If you hang around other kids that are committing crimes and you come to the fair with them, we’re going to document your activity and that can be used against you later in some court process,” Fletcher said. “Either a crime for the benefit of a gang, a RICO conspiracy case or racketeering case.”
Ten alleged gang members have already agreed to stay away from the fair after Ramsey County Attorney John Choi and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison filed a civil suit against them. Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher WCCO The sheriff says six deputies who specialize in Somali gangs will be at the fair to intervene if those 10 alleged gang members violate the court order. He also said staffing will increase at night and law enforcement will have a focus on the Midway after 7 p.m. “Settle your grievances elsewhere,” Fletcher said. “Settle your grievances where it’s not going to impact 2 million other people.” Instagram account advertises fair “battle” According to court documents, members of The Ville gang fought members of its rival gang, Muddy, near the Midway last year.
In 2024, a Muddy member shot a rival outside the gates on the last day of the fair. Outside of the fair, members have been arrested in connection to shootings at the 2025 Burnsville High School graduation and the Metro State graduation earlier this year, according to the lawsuits. In late July, a Ramsey County deputy noticed an Instagram account advertising “THE BIGGEST BATTLE OF THE SUMMER” at the state fair, listing Ville and other rival gangs, one of the suits says. “They’re literally advertising that they’re gonna have a big fight at the fair, and we simply have to stop this before it happens to preserve public safety,” Ellison told WCCO earlier this month. The state fair begins on Aug. 27 and runs through Labor Day.
Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. Colossians 4:5-6
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Forty miles west of Minneapolis, Howard Lake mixes water recreation with country living. But a couple weeks ago, the small town got a visit from an unexpected feline guest.
A security camera captured video of what appears to be a cougar strolling through a neighborhood.
“Generally, it’s pretty quiet. People like to get out on their four-wheelers and have fun,” said resident Jim Harvath. “Seeing a wild animal coming into town like that, this close, it’s definitely alarming.”
Just down the street from Harvath’s house, another family’s home security camera captured video of a large cat walking by their deck.
Wildlife experts said that while cougar or mountain lion sightings are rare for the area, they are not entirely unheard of. Last year there was a sighting in the nearby town of Dassel.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said the animal is likely passing through, and as long as it doesn’t pose a threat to people or pets — and doesn’t linger in town — they’ll leave it alone.
Typically, the large cats avoid contact with humans, but they could view small animals as prey. That’s why Harvath is keeping a close eye on Sonny, his Boston Terrier.
“Normally, we let Sonny off the chain to use the yard at night before bed. I’ve been coming out here with him just to make sure nothing happens,” Harvath said. “A cougar is definitely out looking for food when they’re in the area.”
Harvath hopes the cougar safely gets to wherever it’s going. He believes it’s an animal worth admiring and avoiding.
“Beautiful. Very graceful and very pretty. But they have four-inch claws that can do some real damage,” he said.
The animal was spotted near the north shore of Howard Lake in late July, and the DNR was made aware of it. No sightings in town have been reported since then.
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A Maryland State Police intern found himself on an incredible, unexpected assignment this week. The department posted two photos on social media Friday, showing Centreville Barrack intern Jackson Roach holding…
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Tuesday will be another hot and sunny day in the Twin Cities, with possibly severe storms arriving late.
Highs will be in the upper 80s, and it will be humid.
The best chance for storms in the metro arrives Tuesday night. Clouds will stream in from out west before the threat arrives, likely around 8 p.m. Strong winds and hail are possible.
A few showers and thunderstorms may linger into Wednesday before conditions gradually improve. After that, dry weather will return for the rest of the week, with seasonable summer temperatures.
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A nine-year-old boy was killed and a three-year-old girl was injured in two separate leopard attacks in Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich district, forest officials said on Tuesday. The officials said cases of wild…
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Deputies quickly learned a woman and child were in the apartment with O’Brien and were able to assist them in safely exiting the building. The apartment building was evacuated while the suspect remained barricaded inside. Witt says about an hour into the standoff, O’Brien told authorities he had pulled the pin on an explosive device and was willing to throw it. Another shot was heard, but Witt says no explosive device was used.
Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honored, And I have loved you; Therefore I will give men for you, And people for your life. Isaiah 43:4
One of Arizona’s most stunning natural phenomena is returning — and you’ll want to snag the best seat in the house to experience it one more time this year. From Sept.…
An Egyptian-Spanish archaeological mission has uncovered a 4,300-year-old tomb near Cairo belonging to an ancient judge and his father, local authorities said. The tomb was found at Saqqara, a sprawling necropolis…
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