Quick Hits

• A 36-year-old West Metro man was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in prison — his ninth conviction — after his DNA was found in a loaded ghost gun. Minnesota U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen announced the sentence Friday.
• A Heat Advisory covers metro counties until 6 p.m. Friday as the State Fair hits Day 9, with more humidity, fog, and daily storm chances lingering through the final fair weekend.
• An I-394 ramp in Minneapolis closes this weekend for bridge repairs, and MnDOT warns more weekend I-394 closures are scheduled — a heads-up for Golden Valley commuters heading downtown.
• Loring Park is still reeling from the mass shooting; the Uvalde Foundation has opened a crisis line at (833) 919-0966 and a fundraiser for those affected.
• AAA says Minnesota gas prices have dipped below $4 a gallon statewide as of Friday, just in time for Labor Day weekend travel.

Golden Valley & West Metro

A 36-year-old West Metro man will serve 20 years in prison after his DNA was found in a loaded ghost gun, marking his ninth conviction. U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen's office announced the Thursday sentencing on Friday.

Golden Valley residents who commute into Minneapolis via I-394 should plan for a ramp closure this weekend as crews handle bridge repairs. MnDOT cautions that additional weekend I-394 closures are scheduled as the repair work continues.

Minneapolis

The Loring Park community is working to regain its sense of normalcy after the mass shooting. "It is a beautiful community that needs help," resident Kody Kolb told KSTP, while the Uvalde Foundation launched a crisis line and fundraiser for those affected.

Ramsey County's sheriff says Hennepin County should have denied the shooter a permit to carry. The shooter, Johnson, obtained his permit in April despite prior documented threats — which officials say made it harder to evict him and bring charges.

ICE agent Christian Castro pleaded not guilty Friday to charges of lying to federal investigators about the January shooting of Julio Sosa-Celis in Minneapolis. An unsealed indictment alleges Castro lied about being attacked with a shovel and broom before opening fire; the Justice Department announced the charges.

A Hennepin County deputy is expected to recover after a stolen vehicle crashed into his squad car during a pursuit in Minneapolis. Separately, police are investigating an overnight shooting that left one person injured, with no arrests as of Friday morning.

The protester who went viral for wearing a Spider-Man costume at last month's Jake Lang protest appeared in court Friday on an assault charge, arguing he acted in self-defense.

Under a new Minnesota law covering children under 13, the pre-teen window-smashing suspects will be referred to Health & Human Services instead of the attorney's office — a change in how young suspects are handled.

The Ramsey County Medical Examiner confirmed through DNA that a body found in the Mississippi River in 2025 was a missing Minneapolis man.

St. Paul

A federal judge again ruled against Elon Musk's xAI, allowing Minnesota's statewide ban on "nudification" technology to remain in effect.

The hockey community will honor Jessi Pierce and her children — Hudson, Cayden, and Avery, who died in a White Bear Lake house fire on March 21, 2026 — with a St. Paul tournament.

Looking ahead: St. Paul Oktoberfest returns to the Germanic-American Institute (GAI).

Local Sports

The Twins fell 4-1 to the White Sox in Chicago on Friday night, as Colson Montgomery hit a two-run homer and Erick Fedde tossed five strong innings.

At the State Fair, Timberwolves GM Matt Lloyd said the long offseason wait is nearly over as the team's "next chapter" approaches. For more Wolves, Twins, and Gophers notes, catch Darren "Doogie" Wolfson's latest edition of The Scoop.

In Friday season openers, Bloomington Jefferson built a two-touchdown lead and withstood a second-half Minneapolis Washburn rally to win, with Moore throwing three touchdown passes.

Weather

Minnesota's Weather Authority has issued an Alert Day for Friday, with a Heat Advisory in effect until 6 p.m. across metro counties only. Severe storms rolled through northern Minnesota in rounds overnight, mainly north of the metro. Expect a muggy weekend with some fog and a few daily thunderstorm chances — worth watching as the State Fair wraps up its final days.

Minnesota Statewide

Sub Pop Records released "MaximumMN," a digital mixtape of Sub Pop artists covering Minnesota musicians, with proceeds supporting those affected by ICE and Operation Metro Surge. It dropped exclusively on Bandcamp Friday.

The Minnesota BCA has two new K9 teams trained to sniff out electronic devices, and they're already assisting agencies across the state.