Quick Hits

• New questions in the Loring Park shooting. Minneapolis police learned of shooting threats made by the gunman hours before he killed two people and shot five others — including two officers — at an apartment building in Loring Park a week ago, KSTP reports. Separately, housing industry leaders are warning that current safety laws fall short and are urgently seeking changes.
• Minneapolis police chief search advances. Mayor Jacob Frey says the city is moving forward with a national search for its next police chief, with dozens of applicants already in the pool.
• Drones divide St. Paul. The City Council withdrew a plan to expand the police drone program over privacy concerns in the same week police recounted how a drone helped an officer rescue a 5-year-old boy with autism from a pond.
• Vikings open Sunday vs. Green Bay. Kyler Murray is set to lead the offense, Harrison Smith is listed as a starting safety after rejoining the team, and J.J. McCarthy begins the season as QB3.
• Minnesota raises the age of criminal prosecution. A new state law bars prosecuting children under 13 — up from 10 — shifting them instead to social services.

Minneapolis

Loring Park shooting fallout. KSTP reports Minneapolis police received a report of shooting threats made by the gunman hours before he killed two people and wounded five others, including two officers, at the Loring Park apartment building — reporting that raises the question of whether the attack could have been stopped. Housing leaders told KSTP the industry is grieving and urgently seeking changes after the mass shooting, warning that existing safety laws fall short.

Grocery clerk killing verdict. A Hennepin County court found a man not guilty due to mental illness in the killing of a Minneapolis grocery clerk. The man, Schulz, will be indefinitely committed at the Minnesota Security Hospital in St. Peter.

Fire Department budget strain. The Minneapolis Fire Department says PTSD leave is driving up overtime costs — a "$12,000-a-day" strain — and forcing city leaders to rethink the agency's budget. Public safety leaders told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS they have a plan to address it.

Fatal Lake Street crash. One man died after a multi-vehicle crash at East Lake Street and 4th Avenue South around 9:45 a.m. Wednesday. Police say the crash involved two vehicles and a building.

Budget season continues. The Board of Estimate and Taxation is working through the city's budget process; the final budget must be approved by the end of December.

Around town. About 2,100 diners filled Nicollet Mall Thursday evening for Dinner du Nord, billed by organizers as America's longest dinner table. And Minneapolis author Jeffrey Karl Johnson has a new memoir out exploring his time on Norwegian reality TV, his own family history, and what Minnesotans can learn from it.

St. Paul

A drone rescue — and a drone retreat. Officer Adisak Saema says a first responder drone helped him locate — and rescue — a 5-year-old boy with autism just as the child was starting to struggle in the water. The account comes the same week the City Council, citing privacy concerns, withdrew a resolution without a vote Wednesday that would have expanded the police drone program; the department will keep its three current drones.

St. Olaf player case sentence. Terrell Anthony Ranzy, 20, acquitted of killing a St. Olaf football player during a botched 2025 robbery, was sentenced to 60 months — five years — for illegal possession of a firearm.

Local Sports

Vikings. Sunday's opener against the Packers will be Kyler Murray's first as Vikings quarterback, and he says he's ready to embrace the expectations that come with it. Harrison Smith, whose late-season finish last year felt like a farewell, is back and listed as a starting safety. Head coach Kevin O'Connell described a week-to-week backup quarterback plan, with J.J. McCarthy opening the season as QB3.

Twins. Colt Keith homered as the Detroit Tigers — winners of two of three — ended a seven-series losing streak with a 7-2 win over the struggling Twins Wednesday afternoon.

United. Minnesota United fell to FC Dallas 2-1 Wednesday night in St. Paul, with Dallas substitute Santi Moreno scoring the winner in the 83rd minute by getting between Michael Boxall and Carlos Harvey.

Timberwolves. MinnPost's annual interview with head coach Chris Finch continues with Part 2, covering his and the team's mindset heading into training camp later this month.

Minnesota Statewide

Threatening voicemails case. Rachel Welsch, 43, of Hugo, will serve probation and community service — no prison time — for sending threatening voicemails to House Speaker Lisa Demuth earlier this year. She pleaded guilty in July.

Western Wisconsin battleground. Wisconsin candidates are making a play in the western part of the state with a Twin Cities media spending blitz, KARE 11 reports. The region is shaping up as a battleground as voters decide the balance of power in state government this November.

School-based healthcare. KSTP examines how healthcare delivered at school could boost student success, noting Minnesota has made little progress closing achievement gaps across geography, income, race and ethnicity — and that in many communities, keeping kids healthy is the biggest need.