Quick Hits

• Hennepin fraud probe stalled: The county reported a suspected pattern of fake applicants attempting to steal taxpayer money, but KSTP reports the sheriff's office still doesn't have the records needed to open an investigation — months later.
• Two fatal light-rail strikes under investigation: Metro Transit Police are investigating separate incidents in which a person was fatally struck by a Blue Line train at Minneapolis' 46th Street Station, and a person died after being hit by a Green Line train near University and Prior avenues in St. Paul.
• Soggy weekend: Rain washed out plans across Minnesota — postponing Friday night football at Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield — while southern Minnesota saw major flooding, with more than 8 inches near Spring Valley and several roads closed (KARE11).
• Uptown shooting update: Minneapolis police are asking for help finding a car tied to the mass shooting outside the Reign Event Center two months ago, sharing a photo on social media (KSTP).
• Mixed sports weekend: The Gophers hammered Akron 41-7 and the Twins blanked the Angels 3-0 in Anaheim, but the Lynx fell 93-81 to New York and Minnesota United lost 3-2 to the LA Galaxy at home.

Golden Valley & West Metro

A quiet day in the Golden Valley, Robbinsdale, Crystal, New Hope and St. Louis Park feeds — so we lead with the nearest story, from Richfield, plus one that touches every Hennepin County taxpayer.

Pro Football Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald Jr. returned to the Academy of Holy Angels Friday night for a field dedication in his honor and was "overwhelmed with emotion," per KSTP, speaking at a press conference before the ceremony.

Closer to home: KSTP reports Hennepin County — Golden Valley's county — flagged a suspected pattern of fake applicants attempting to steal taxpayer money, but the sheriff's office says it still hasn't received the records needed to begin an investigation, a months-long gap between the county's report and any probe.

Minneapolis

• A person was fatally struck by a Blue Line train at the 46th Street Station; the Metro Transit Police Department is investigating (KARE11).
• In Uptown, Minneapolis police shared a photo of a car tied to the mass shooting outside the Reign Event Center roughly two months ago and are asking residents for help locating it (KSTP).
• Thousands are expected at Target Field for the Alzheimer's Association's Twin Cities Walk to End Alzheimer's, which offers 1- and 2-mile routes, a Promise Garden ceremony and kids' activities (KARE11).

St. Paul

• A person died after being struck by a Green Line train shortly after 8:30 p.m. Friday near University and Prior avenues; Metro Transit says the incident remains under investigation (KARE11, KSTP).
• A 23-year-old man with a history of burglarizing homes and stealing cars was charged Friday with several counts related to burglary after a series of break-ins and auto thefts around St. Paul (KSTP, KARE11).
• Tsegaab Binessu, 30, pleaded not guilty Friday to three counts of second-degree murder in the apartment-complex shooting that killed three people (KSTP).

Local Sports

• Gophers 41, Akron 7: Drake Lindsey threw for 204 yards and three touchdowns Saturday in Minneapolis, connecting on scores as Minnesota rolled (AP/KSTP).
• Twins 3, Angels 0: In Anaheim, rookie Connor Prielipp allowed two hits over a season-high seven innings and fellow rookie Walker Jenkins homered (AP/KSTP).
• Loons fall at home: Marco Reus posted a goal and an assist, and João Klauss and Pablo Ruiz also scored as the LA Galaxy beat Minnesota United 3-2 Saturday night in St. Paul; the Loons sit at 7-11-8 (AP/KSTP).
• Lynx: Breanna Stewart (24 points, 10 rebounds) and Jonquel Jones (18 and 10) led New York past the slumping Lynx 93-81 Friday night in Minneapolis (AP/KSTP).

Weather

• Weekend rain "washed away" plans across Minnesota, KSTP reports — helping some places while forcing others to postpone, including Friday night football at Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield.
• A flood watch ran from 7 p.m. Friday through Saturday afternoon in parts of southern Minnesota, where areas like Spring Valley logged more than 8 inches of rain; several roads remained closed Saturday, and travelers heading south should plan accordingly (KARE11).

Minnesota Statewide

• The state is putting $1.1 million toward diapers as more families turn to assistance programs, KSTP reports — a squeeze new mom Megan Pellettiere knows firsthand from the Target diaper aisle with her 10-week-old daughter, Oona.
• The Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular returns to the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley this fall, adding a trivia theme that challenges visitors to match pumpkin carvings to clues along the trail (KARE11).
• MinnPost's D.C. Memo rounds up renewed congressional efforts — with Sen. Amy Klobuchar in the mix — to put guardrails on AI after warnings from tech leaders, plus Minnesota farmers lobbying Congress.
• A college president, writing in MinnPost's Community Voices via The Hechinger Report, argues higher education must do a better job of controlling costs.
• Planning fall family photos? A stylist who spoke with KARE11 recommends accent colors and "golden hour" timing for the best Minnesota autumn shots.