Quick Hits

• Crystal drops Flock cameras. Crystal Police Chief Brian Hubbard announced the department has canceled its Flock contract and removed the automated license plate readers, citing community feedback — making Crystal the latest Minnesota city to reverse course on the technology.
• Fatal crash in south Minneapolis. One person died in a multi-vehicle crash at East Lake Street and 4th Avenue South around 9:45 a.m. Wednesday; police responded to a report of a crash involving two vehicles and a building.
• Loring Park warning signs. 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS reports Minneapolis police learned of shooting threats made by the Loring Park gunman hours before he killed two people and shot five others, including two officers, at an apartment building last week — raising questions about whether the attack could have been stopped.
• St. Paul drones: pulled back and praised. The City Council withdrew a plan to expand the police drone program Wednesday over privacy concerns, the same week police credited a drone with helping an officer rescue a 5-year-old boy with autism from a pond.
• Minnesota family missing in Nepal. Two Minnesota doctors and their family remain missing after Nepal floods swept away their hotel during a pilgrimage.

Golden Valley & West Metro

A quiet news day in Golden Valley itself, so we start next door: Crystal Police Chief Brian Hubbard announced the department canceled its contract with Flock and removed its cameras, saying the decision was based on community feedback — per KSTP, Crystal becomes the latest city to drop the license plate recognition system, a story West Metro residents watching surveillance debates in their own cities will want to follow.

Minneapolis

• One person is dead after Wednesday morning's multi-vehicle crash at East Lake Street and 4th Avenue South; officers arriving around 9:45 a.m. found a crash involving two vehicles and a building.
• New details in the Loring Park shooting: KSTP reports Minneapolis police learned of shooting threats made by the gunman hours before he killed two people and shot five others, including two officers, at a Loring Park apartment building a week ago.
• Minneapolis Fire Department leaders say PTSD leave is driving a "$12,000-a-day" overtime strain, forcing city leaders to rethink the agency's budget; public safety officials told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS they have a plan to address it.
• Minneapolis officials are raising questions about ShotSpotter's effectiveness after nearly two decades of the city relying on the gunfire-detection system, according to MinnPost (republishing The Trace's reporting).
• Minneapolis Public Schools pre-certified its maximum tax levy as parents called for accountability; the district faces lower enrollment and a nearly $40 million deficit.
• At Heritage Park Apartments, a firsthand KSTP look tallies more than 4,800 repairs — some residents are finally seeing fixes, while others say they're ready to move.
• Nicholas Steven Nunez Rodriguez, 19, has been charged in a Dinkytown stabbing; police say he stabbed a man several times during a fight and was arrested while skateboarding shortly after.
• The city's Board of Estimate and Taxation continues its budget work — the final budget must be approved by the end of December.

St. Paul

• The City Council on Wednesday withdrew — without a vote — a resolution to expand the police drone program amid privacy concerns; the department will keep using its three current drones.
• Officer Adisak Saema says a first-responder drone helped him locate and rescue a 5-year-old boy with autism from a pond just as the child was starting to struggle in the water.
• Terrell Anthony Ranzy, 20, acquitted of killing a St. Olaf football player during a botched 2025 robbery, was sentenced to five years (60 months) for illegal firearm possession.
• A St. Paul restaurant will stay open during repairs after surveillance footage showed someone climbing into its patio, throwing a planter through the window, and climbing inside.

Local Sports

• Vikings: Harrison Smith is listed as a starting safety for Sunday's opener after rejoining the team, though Kevin O'Connell said Wednesday it remains unclear if the veteran will play. O'Connell also confirmed J.J. McCarthy opens the season as QB3, with a "week-to-week" backup quarterback plan.
• Twins: The struggles continue — Colt Keith homered as Detroit beat Minnesota 7-2 Wednesday afternoon, ending the Tigers' seven-series losing streak.
• Minnesota United: A 2-1 home loss to FC Dallas Wednesday night in St. Paul, with Dallas sub Santi Moreno scoring the winner in the 83rd minute.
• Gophers: Leading scorer Cade Tyson is back with the program, but whether he'll suit up this season remains unresolved amid NCAA eligibility questions.
• High school soccer: In a battle of unbeatens, Wayzata's Ares Amani scored twice eight minutes apart late in the match for a 2-1 win over Edina, sealed by a last-second save.

Minnesota Statewide

• Two Minnesota doctors and their family remain missing after Nepal floods swept away their hotel during a pilgrimage.
• State DHS is pledging to work with providers caught in the crosshairs of Minnesota's fraud crackdown; thousands have navigated a Medicaid revalidation process this summer after the Trump administration threatened to withhold funding over fraud concerns.
• Ahead of Friday's 9/11 anniversary, Father Jeff Ethen — a Minnesota priest who helped save firefighters on 9/11 — is back in New York City, bringing members of the Battle Lake Fire Department for Friday's ceremony.
• A new Office of the Legislative Auditor report finds Minnesota's assisted living facility rating system has major issues involving two state agencies.