HIBBING — The man accused of killing 24-year-old Parker Johnson of Hibbing in November has been indicted by a grand jury and charged with first-degree premeditated murder.
Daniel Dale of Hoyt Lakes made his first court appearance Tuesday, May 19, on the upgraded felony charge.
The 31-year-old remains in custody in the St. Louis County Jail after he was arrested on domestic assault charges last month while out on bail. That alleged altercation involved a potential witness in the murder case. After those additional charges, the judge agreed to increase his bail amount to $4 million. That bail remained in place after Tuesday's hearing.
In Minnesota, prosecutors may only charge someone with first-degree murder after convening a grand jury. The felony carries the most severe penalties for homicide, with the potential for life imprisonment with or without the possibility of parole.
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Contributed/Wesley Tingey via UnsplashJordan Zempel, 35, of Apple Valley, faces a third-degree criminal sexual conduct charge for sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl. -
Contributed/Minnesota Incident Command SystemAccurate mapping of the fire perimeter led to the fire size increasing to 356 acres. The wildfire destroyed 34 structures and was caused by a power line. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEThe fire, which began May 16, 2026, burned around 1,666 acres in Crow Wing County. The DNR asks residents and others in the area with information to contact them. -
contributed/Julie CrabbGet to know the volunteers behind the mic on KAXE. This week, we find out more from the longtime "Green Cheese" and "The Dark Side of Love" host and volunteer Julie Crabb. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEAbout a half-inch of rain fell across the area overnight into Tuesday, and crews are expected to return to work on securing and improving the fire lines again. -
And: A rural Orr man was arrested for allegedly shooting a firefighting plane; the Legislature passed a bonding bill; and filings open for public office Tuesday. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEIn their final hours before the session ended, lawmakers passed a county hospital bailout, an infrastructure bill and small cuts to car tab fees and property taxes. -
Contributed/Ellen Schmidt / MinnPost / CatchLight Local / Report for AmericaHere’s what made it into the Legislature's infrastructure package and what lawmakers and others had to say about it May 17, 2026. -
Malachy Koons/KAXEThe KAXE Music Team on new music from Jobi Riccio, Genesis Owusu, Aldous Harding, Helado Tropical, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Angine de Poitrine and Brooklyn Funk Essentials. Our Pick from '76 is Dolly Parton's "All I Can Do." -
Contributed/St. Louis County Sheriff's OfficeFirefighters responded to a wildland fire between Orr and Crane Lake on Friday, May 15, 2026. After returning to the airport, it was learned a bullet appeared to have struck one of the planes.
