Woman dies after ATV breaks through ice in Itasca County

GRAND RAPIDS (AP) — A woman has died after the all-terrain vehicle she was riding broke through the ice in Itasca County.

A man on the ATV with her survived. Sheriff’s officials say the body of Bernice Kane, of Cohasset, was recovered Sunday afternoon. Deputies responded to a report of an ATV breaking through the ice on Rice Lake near Cohassett shortly before 6 p.m. Saturday.

Authorities said Michael Gibbons, of Duluth, was able to get out of the water on his own and call for help.

Authorities ID victims of double-fatal crash near Wahpeton

WAHPETON, N.D. (AP) — The Highway Patrol has identified two people who died after a weekend pickup truck rollover near Wahpeton in southeastern North Dakota.

Authorities said 35-year-old Jessica Denetz, of Mantador, and 37-year-old Jeremy Denetz, of Doran, Minnesota, were killed when the pickup truck they were traveling in went out of control on a gravel road and rolled in the ditch.

The crash happened about 9 p.m. Saturday, 4 miles south of Wahpeton. Authorities didn’t immediately determine who was driving.

18-year-old killed in St. Louis County snowmobile crash

ORR (AP) — Authorities have identified the teenager killed in a snowmobile crash in northeastern Minnesota.

The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office said 18-year-old Kirja Kishel, of Eveleth, died when the snowmobile on which she was riding crashed into a forestry road gate northwest of Orr Saturday morning.

A second person on the snowmobile, a 21-year-old Gilbert man, was injured and taken to a Duluth hospital. His condition is not known. Authorities haven’t said which person was driving the snowmobile.

GOP’s Miller drops out of race for 7th District

ST. PAUL (AP) — A Republican planning to challenge Democratic Rep. Collin Peterson in next year’s election is suspending his campaign.

Rep. Tim Miller announced Monday he’d scrap his bid for Minnesota’s 7th Congressional District and will instead run for a third term in his state House seat. Miller’s exit leaves fellow Republicans Dave Hughes and Matt Prosch in the race.

Hughes gave Peterson a scare in 2016, losing the election by just 5 percentage points in a race few expected to be close. Miller struggled to pull in much in fundraising since entering the race in April.

Miller says a candidate would need to raise money to unseat Peterson. He’s represented the northwestern Minnesota district since 1991.

Minnesota prosecutor apologizes in case of Australian woman

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minnesota prosecutor who publicly criticized agents investigating the death of an Australian woman fatally shot by a police officer said Monday that he is sorry and was wrong to discuss the agency’s work in a public setting.

Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman issued both written and videotaped statements Monday apologizing to the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which is investigating the July shooting of Justine Ruszczyk Damond. He said he didn’t know he was being recorded when he spoke critically of investigators, but “nonetheless, my comments, under any circumstances, were ill advised and I am sorry.”

Last week, Freeman was at a union holiday reception when he was asked about a charging decision against Officer Mohamed Noor. Freeman expressed frustration, saying he doesn’t have enough evidence yet to charge the officer. He said it wasn’t his fault and investigators “haven’t done their job.” He also suggested Noor’s refusal to speak to investigators had put prosecutors in a difficult position.

“I have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt, (that) the moment he shot the gun, he feared for his life. And he used force because he thought he was gonna be killed,” Freeman said last week. “But I can’t. He won’t answer my questions because he doesn’t have to, OK?”

While he apologized in his statement Monday for speaking publicly about the case, Freeman did not say whether he stood by the comment that investigators were not doing their job or whether it was inaccurate.

He also said that investigators have been working nonstop to gather evidence and follow every lead to resolve the case, but police cases are complex and demand the most thorough investigations possible.

“While some clamor for swift justice, only careful, detailed work and careful analysis brings us real justice,” he said Monday. “That is what this case deserves and that is what it will get.”

Freeman said Monday that he believes it’s his responsibility to talk to constituents who ask him what he is doing, so he did so when he was approached. But he admits it was wrong to discuss the investigators’ work. In addition to the public apology, he said he also personally apologized to the Department of Public Safety commissioner.

The BCA had no comment Monday, but has said that it’s been working with Freeman’s office from the beginning and will continue to do so. The BCA said it investigates the majority of officer-involved shootings in Minnesota “because of our thorough and professional approach to ensuring the integrity of an investigation.”