Minnesota
Minnesota veteran paddles entire Mississippi to Stop Soldier Suicide
MN veteran paddles entire Mississippi River
A Vietnam veteran from Minnesota paddled the entire Mississippi River and raised about $80,000 for Stop Soldier Suicide in an effort to reduce the estimated 22 veteran suicides per day.
MINNEAPOLIS – A Minnesota veteran made an extraordinary canoe trip down the entire length of the Mississippi River, hoping to save the lives of his fellow military members.
FOX 9 tracked the journey from Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico.
Frank Lachinski and friends passed through the Twin Cities on the first leg last summer and finished the trip this month.
A long journey
In all, it took 94 days and more than a million strokes.
But the most important number is $80,000 raised for the nonprofit Stop Soldier Suicide.
The sound of an oar swishing through water soothes Frank Lachinski.
But the 79-year-old Vietnam veteran knows this sense of calm is out of reach for some of his fellow veterans.
22 veteran suicides per day
The VA estimates 22 of them died by suicide every day.
“These are my comrades that are killing themselves,” Lachinski said. “And so I decided I’m going to do something about it.”
He hatched a plan to paddle the entire Mississippi River to raise money and awareness.
Single-minded and solo
He was so single-minded in his effort that over the course of some 2200 miles, he barely even took in the sights.
“I only had one thing in my mind and that was finish the trip,” he said.
Frank spent a lot of time alone, but he had some help along the way, like when Itasca County Sheriff Joe Dasovich paddled with him through Crow Wing County.
He often slept in a tent, but also had strangers offer up food and a warm bed.
And his daughter spent eight days with him.
“I definitely have a new respect for the river,” said Nicole Maves. “Absolutely.”
Capsized canoe
Their journey together included some excitement when they capsized in Missouri.
She swam to shore, and rescuers found Frank more than a mile downstream, still hanging onto the canoe.
“The only thing we lost was a roll of toilet paper,” Lachinski said.
What makes the trip worth it
Todd Bakke joined him for the final stretch as they reached the Gulf of Mexico, hoping 2200 miles can help reduce 22 deaths.
“He doesn’t care who they are or where they come from or what branch they are,” Bakke said. “And he just wants them to know that there’s help out there. There’s a solution.”
“It’s going to save some lives,” Lachinski said. “If it saves one life, the whole thing was worth it.”
Minnesota
Minnesota weather: Rain and storms possible late Thursday
Minnesota weather forecast. (FOX 9)
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Most of Minnesota will be under a marginal risk of severe weather on Thursday, with rain and rumbles expected.
Thursday weather forecast
Local perspective:
A line of storms is expected to develop in west-southwest Minnesota on Thursday and grow in coverage as well as intensity tracking east into the early evening.
Large hail and damaging winds are the prevalent threats, but an isolated tornado is also possible along the line.
Isolated showers are expected to form in the western part of Minnesota on Thursday morning.
Rain chances in the Twin Cities area increase in the afternoon, as a line pushes through with possible thunderstorms.
Stay Sky Aware with FOX 9 for the latest.
The Source: This story uses information from the FOX 9 weather forecast.
Minnesota
TikToker’s ban from St. Paul parks lifted after appeal, agent says
A TikTok creator is no longer banned from parks in St. Paul, Minnesota, after appealing the city’s restriction, according to his agent.
St. Paul Parks and Recreation Director Andy Rodriguez earlier this month accused Josh Liljenquist of going to Pig’s Eye Park to “harass, record and profit from vulnerable adults residing there without said individuals’ permission.” Liljenquist, who is known for giving away food and cash in his videos, denied the allegation.
On Wednesday, Liljenquist’s agent shared a new letter from the city.
“Based on an evaluation of the facts of this situation as they were relayed during your appeal meeting, I will be rescinding your ban from our parks, effective immediately,” the letter from Rodriguez read.
Rodriguez also wrote the city expects “all residents and visitors to our parks to abide by the rules.”
“Our responsibility is to ensure park spaces remain safe, respectful, and accessible for all, and we appreciate your partnership in that effort,” the letter read.
Liljenquist told WCCO he has only recorded at Pig’s Eye Park once, and it was with the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office’s consent. He said he and his videographer always get consent from individuals they film, too.
Local organizations that work with people experiencing homelessness are split on Liljenquist’s impact. Sue Phillips, director of the Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing, said his content “is exploiting people experiencing homelessness/housing instability.” Feeding St. Paul founder Michael Brendale, on the other hand, said, “Josh has changed many lives, taken people off the streets.”
Liljenquist told WCCO he films his efforts instead of making them private in hopes of “inspiring other people to do it, showing that it doesn’t take a lot of money, it doesn’t take a lot of resources to go out there and do something for somebody.”
Minnesota
5 tornadoes confirmed in Friday’s outbreak in southeastern Minnesota
The National Weather Service confirmed that at least five tornadoes touched down in southeastern Minnesota on Friday, including four that hit Olmsted County. At least another three twisters were confirmed in southwestern Wisconsin.
The NWS was still analyzing data and other information to determine if more tornadoes occurred in the area.
The storms started Friday afternoon, with the first tornado touching down north of Sargeant in Mower County around 1:45 p.m. The short-lived EF0, with top wind speeds of 80 mph, traveled about 3 miles northeast into rural Dodge County near the unincorporated town of Oslo. It lasted for about five minutes in total, the weather service says, and caused minor damage to a grain silo before dissipating.
A new tornado formed a few minutes later, less than a mile away south of Oslo. The storm was also considered an EF0, with wind speeds around 80 mph. Lasting less than 10 minutes, it traveled 4 miles into Olmsted County, causing light damage to farm outbuildings and trees.
The line of storms seemed to pick up intensity as it entered Olmsted County.
Around 2:17 p.m., the EF2 tornado that would later hit Marion Township first touched down just northeast of Stewartville. The weather service estimates that the twister had wind speeds of about 130 mph and traveled nearly 10 miles northeast, before dissipating around 2:31 p.m. Multiple homes were severely damaged with roof removal and partially collapsed exterior walls.
An EF1 tornado was also confirmed to have hit near Potsdam around 2:30 p.m.
The first portion of the tornado was weak, the weather service said, with mainly EF0 damage. On the second portion of the 12-mile track, the tornado intensified to produce approximately 100 mph winds with tree and farm outbuilding damage. It lifted around 2:54 p.m.
A second EF2 tornado was confirmed in Olmsted County around 2:46 p.m. about 5 miles east-northeast of Viola and traveled about 7.5 miles, ending in Wabasha County, a few miles south of Plainview, around 3 p.m. Maximum wind speeds were around 125 mph. The storm affected mainly rural areas and damaged trees and outbuildings. One farmhouse lost a roof and a garage roof, the weather service said.
No injuries were reported in the Minnesota-Wisconsin outbreak.
Friday was a historic day for the NWS La Crosse office, which issued 26 tornado warnings – the most for any one day since the office opened in 1995.
-
Delaware57 seconds agoBody found near Bowers Beach – 47abc
-
Florida7 minutes agoFlorida couple in alleged embryo mix-up have identified biological parents of ‘non-caucasian’ baby
-
Georgia13 minutes agoWildfires across Georgia and Florida destroy more than 50 homes and force evacuations
-
Hawaii19 minutes agoGulick overpass raise expected soon as part of middle street expansion
-
Idaho25 minutes ago
Idaho Lottery results: See winning numbers for Powerball, Pick 3 on April 22, 2026
-
Illinois31 minutes agoBears release statement as Illinois legislators take major step toward stadium bill
-
Indiana37 minutes agoThis Small-Town State Park in Indiana Feels Like a Local Secret
-
Iowa43 minutes ago17-year-old sought for attempted murder in mass shooting near University of Iowa: police