MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO/AP) —  The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension says a 28-year-old man is in custody as a person of interest in a fatal stabbing at an Owatonna park. According to the Department of Public Safety, officers responded to Dartts Park on 600 Cherry Street Northeast around 5:15 p.m. There, officers located an unconscious man on the ground, suffering from what appeared to be stab wounds. Despite life-saving measures, the man was pronounced dead at the scene. The Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as 32-year-old Mohamed Aweis Mohamed ..read more

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — The Minnesota State Patrol says there were no serious injuries after a truck lost control and went over a bridge near Owatonna Tuesday. A 2003 Ford Ranger spun out just before 9 a.m. on Interstate 35 and went off a bridge, landing on the railroad tracks below. It took officials about two hours to clear the scene. Professionals used a tow truck to remove the car from the tracks. “The driver was using cruise control, and even though it’s relatively warm outside and the roads appear clear, using it in the winter is not recommended,” the state patrol said in a statement. WCCO ..read more

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — The Owatonna Police Department says a 20-year-old man attacked a 37-year-old man with a knife at a Walmart store on Saturday morning. The condition of the victim is unknown, but police wrote that the injuries are “believed to be non-life threatening.” He was taken to the Owatonna Hospital by Mayo Ambulance, but eventually transferred to another medical facility for treatment, according to a release. His alleged attacker was taken into custody without incident by law enforcement at the scene. Both men appear to be residents of Owatonna. The attack happened just before 10 a ..read more

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A memorial service is set for Thursday for 19-year-old Owatonna native Pvt. Connor McGurran, who died last week at a South Carolina Army base. McGurran — who was a member of the Minnesota Army National Guard’s 3rd Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment — was found unresponsive after a training exercise last Wednesday at Fort Jackson. He later died at an area hospital. “We are grateful for the outpouring of support, from both on and off post, as we mourn the untimely and sudden death of Pvt. McGurran,” Fort Jackson Commander Brig. Gen. Milford H. Beagle Jr. said. Officials at Fo ..read more

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — An Owatonna man was in possession of more than $2,300 worth of untaxed tobacco products at his smoke shop, before being arrested recently. The Steele County Attorney Office charged Mohammad Abdelkader Abusbeih with one felony county of possessing untaxed tobacco products, according to the Minnesota Department of Revenue. Abusbeih owned Mojo Smokes tobacco shop in Owatonna. During a random compliance check, investigators discovered that he did not have a valid retail tobacco license. According to a release, he was also unable to produce invoices for the tobacco products tha ..read more

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A portion of northbound Interstate 35 is shut down after a crash that involved multiple cars and semi trucks. The crash happened about one mile north of Highway 14, south of Owatonna, Thursday morning. Minnesota Department of Transportation traffic cameras showed traffic completely cut off on the stretch. The Minnesota State Patrol said that the crash involved 20 passenger vehicles and six semi trucks. A detour has been put into place while crews work to clear the lanes. As of 1 p.m., the State Patrol reported that the stretch had reopened. No serious injuries were reporte ..read more

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — From crystal clear to snow globe overnight, Tuesday night’s snow storm came on fast. “We went in the store about 40 minutes ago and nothing was happening, and we came out to this,” Guinevere Healy said. A great morning for four wheel drive, but not as much for two. Especially with snow being removed by the truck-fulls in downtown Owatonna. By morning, many people in Owatonna were waking up to several inches of heavy wet snow that fell overnight, leaving many with no other choice but to start digging out. “This is not how I want to start my morning,” Kelsi Day said. Kelsi o ..read more

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — An Owatonna business evacuated Tuesday morning after a bomb threat was reported and a suspicious device located. According to police, officers responded to Daikin Applied, located at 1001 21st Ave. NW, on the report of a bomb threat just before 9 a.m. Then, a suspicious device was located inside the building. The building was evacuated before law enforcement arrival. The St. Paul Police Department Bomb Squad was called to assist and determined that the device was inert and non-dangerous. No arrests have been made. The case remains under investigation ..read more

(NOTE: The original Associated Press version of this report erroneously referred to the roadway as Highway 41. In actuality, the road in question is Highway 14.) ROCHESTER, Minn. (AP) — Groundbreaking takes place this week for the $108 million highway upgrade between Owatonna and Dodge Center in southern Minnesota. The 12 1/2 mile segment of U.S. Highway 14 to be expanded to four lanes is the final link in improving the well-traveled highway between Rochester and Mankato. Minnesota Department of Transportation District 6 spokesman Mike Dougherty tells Minnesota Public Radio News the project wi ..read more

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Two people who died Thursday after a police chase in Owatonna have been identified. Louis Duane Bennett, 42, of Owatonna, and Sauda Abubakar Maani, 24, of Rochester, died after a brief, high-speed chase when their vehicle exited onto West Bridge Street and struck a post. Police say officers were called to 21st Street Northwest at about 11:40 a.m. on a report of a man beating up a woman. The attacker got into a vehicle with another person and left the scene before police arrived. Officers soon saw the vehicle near Interstate 35 on 26th Avenue Northwest and tried to get the ..read more