Crime and Courts

Jack Drumbeater was charged with four felonies following his involvement in a fatal head-on crash Aug. 22, 2026, in Grand Rapids.

One of the occupants of the pickup truck was in custody in Itasca County Jail on Aug. 24, 2026, on suspicion of criminal vehicular operation.

The driver of the semitruck is in custody as of Aug. 21, 2026, and is facing two felony counts of criminal vehicular homicide.

The new program increases monetary rewards for information on six cold cases involving Native people where the FBI has jurisdiction.

The U.S. Department of Justice sued Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon over his refusal to hand over the voter registration list, which includes voters’ names, birthdates, addresses and partial Social Security numbers.

In an email to KAXE, the FBI provided statements on the active investigations into recent incidents on the Red Lake Nation.

Red Lake and four other Northern Minnesota counties are classified as legal deserts, with fewer than one practicing attorney per 1,000 residents.

Jonathan David Polaski died Aug. 8, 2026, following a medical emergency in jail.

Federal officials told the Minnesota Star Tribune that a person firing a gun was fatally shot during an encounter with police on Aug. 13, 2026.

Bryan v. Itasca County paved the way for the modern tribal gaming industry. The monument recognizes Leech Lake Band member Helen Bryan and her husband, Russell Bryan.