WHILE YOU WERE OUT
🗳️ Midterms are Nov. 3. Minnesota ballot guide · Get the free printable ballot cheat sheet →
Briefings · Tuesday, October 20, 2026
🌲 Noon · Minnesota Midday

Minnesota Midday: Gang violence plan, Brainerd governor debate and Mall of America case

Minnesota agencies announce a shared plan on gang violence, Klobuchar and Demuth hold their first governor's debate near Brainerd, and a judge keeps a Richfield man in custody in an alleged Mall of America plot case.

Get verified election results in your inbox at 6 AM on Nov. 4

STORY 1

Minnesota law enforcement announces a shared plan against gang violenceconfirmed

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the FBI and the ATF announced Monday, Oct. 19 a framework for agencies across the Twin Cities metro to share intelligence on gang-related shootings through the state's Crime Gun Intelligence Center. KSTP reports more than 40 agencies are involved; FOX 9 reports 46. It follows recent shootings in Eden Prairie, Edina and Bloomington. Formal agreements with partner agencies are still pending.

Sources (4)
STORY 2

Klobuchar and Demuth hold first governor's debate near Brainerdconfirmed

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth met Monday, Oct. 19 at Madden's on Gull Lake for their first governor's debate, hosted by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and moderated by KSTP's Tom Hauser. The general election is Nov. 3.

Lisa Demuth (R) saysTaxes are too high, state government needs a "fresh start," and she would fire all state commissioners; she calls data centers "a local control issue."
Amy Klobuchar (DFL) saysShe would not raise taxes, "would have caught" state fraud, and says the state "has to have some involvement" in major data center projects.
Sources (4)
STORY 3

Judge keeps Richfield man in custody in alleged Mall of America plot casedeveloping

A federal magistrate judge ordered an 18-year-old Richfield man to remain in custody after a Monday, Oct. 19 detention hearing. Prosecutors allege he planned an attack at the Mall of America on behalf of ISIS; he is charged with receiving a firearm to be used in a federal crime of terrorism. The defense says the FBI supplied the inert gun and that he was not serious about ISIS until an undercover agent contacted him. A charge is an allegation.

Sources (3)

Spot an error? Email [email protected] — see our corrections log and standards.

Free · twice a day

Get the catch-up in your inbox

The same fact-checked briefing, sources included, at 6 AM and 5 PM Central. No spin, no spam — unsubscribe anytime.

We only use your email to send the briefing.