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Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis delivery driver charged in theft of packages worth thousands

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Minneapolis delivery driver charged in theft of packages worth thousands


A Minneapolis delivery driver has been accused of a months-long stealing spree that included vacuums, a 50-inch TV and other merchandise worth more than $6,000.

Prosecutors charged Khang Huu Hoang, 25, with theft by swindling. Police arrested Hoang on Oct. 2 before releasing him the next day.

Authorities learned of the alleged scheme when responding to a reported package theft in August. Hoang delivered packages for Shipt, a same-day delivery company, from a Target distribution facility in northeast Minneapolis.

Surveillance footage captured Hoang delivering one Target employee’s vacuum to its destination, taking a picture of the vacuum and then taking it, according to the charges. Delivery drivers are often required to snap pictures of delivered packages to verify they arrived.

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As police investigated, they found that Hoang was the delivery driver for packages valued at more than $16,500 that were reported missing across the Twin Cities between July 25 and Sept. 17. Surveillance footage captured Hoang carrying dozens of packages into his apartment building during that time, including packages for a fan, Dyson vacuums, a Roku TV and a 50-inch smart TV, according to the charges. Officers searched Hoang’s apartment on Oct. 2, finding the TVs and vacuums among more than $6,000 in stolen merchandise.

Hoang’s first court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 27. Court records do not list a defense attorney for him.

Package thefts continue to trouble Minnesotans this year. Bloomington police arrested an alleged porch pirate in August for stealing packages from residents’ doorsteps. The suspect pleaded guilty and will be sentenced this December.

A growing number of thieves have targeted U.S. mail in recent years, contributing to a 161% surge in mail thefts between March 2020 and February 2021. Many thieves sought checks, using new technology to change, counterfeit and market stolen checks.



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Minneapolis, MN

Robbinsdale police chase ends with driver arrested after hitting fence in Minneapolis

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Robbinsdale police chase ends with driver arrested after hitting fence in Minneapolis


Authorities say a pursuit that started in Robbinsdale early Sunday morning ended with the driver being arrested after crashing into a fence in Minneapolis.

Authorities say a pursuit that started in Robbinsdale early Sunday morning ended with the driver being arrested after crashing into a fence in Minneapolis.

Police chase ends in crash

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What we know:

Robbinsdale police spokesperson John Elder said the incident started at around 1:40 a.m. Sunday. Officers attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation. During the stop, the driver had been suspected of drinking alcohol.

Police say the driver fled officers, and a pursuit was initiated. It went into Minneapolis, where the driver crashed into a fence near the 1200 block of West River Parkway.

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Driver arrested

According to Hennepin County Jail records, a 50-year-old Montrose man was booked into the Hennepin County Jail at about 3:15 a.m. Sunday. He was arrested by Robbinsdale police on probable cause fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle.

What we don’t know:

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The alleged drunk driver has not yet been charged. The incident remains under investigation.

Crime and Public SafetyRobbinsdale



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Minneapolis, MN

Air quality alert issued for western, southern Minnesota

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Air quality alert issued for western, southern Minnesota


A weekend air quality alert has been issued for much of Minnesota, with health officials warning that ozone pollution could pose risks for residents.

Air quality alert covers majority of MN

What we know:

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The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued an alert for western and southern Minnesota, including the Twin Cities, Brainerd, Alexandria, Albert Lea, Marshall, Worthington, Rochester, Hinckley, St. Cloud, Winona, Ortonville, Mankato, East Grand Forks, Moorhead, and the Tribal Nations of Upper Sioux, Mille Lacs, Prairie Island, Leech Lake, and White Earth.

The alert runs from noon Saturday, June 6, through 11 p.m. Sunday, June 7. Ozone levels are expected to reach the orange AQI category, which is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups.

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High ozone levels are expected during Saturday and Sunday afternoons, with conditions improving after sunset and again Sunday morning before rising in the afternoon.

Health officials recommend moving outdoor activities outside the afternoon hours to reduce exposure.

Why you should care:

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Unhealthy ozone levels can aggravate lung diseases like asthma, emphysema, and COPD. Symptoms may include difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, throat soreness, wheezing, coughing, or unusual fatigue.

People at higher risk include those with asthma or other breathing conditions, children, teenagers, people doing heavy outdoor activity, and some healthy individuals who are more sensitive to ozone.

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Precautions and pollution reduction tips

What you can do:

Everyone should take precautions when air quality is unhealthy. Limit or postpone physical activity, avoid busy roads and wood fires, and keep relief inhalers handy if you have breathing conditions.

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To help reduce ozone pollution, officials suggest reducing vehicle trips, filling up gas tanks at dawn or dusk, using public transportation or carpooling, postponing use of gas-powered lawn equipment, and avoiding backyard fires.

Ozone is produced on hot, sunny days when volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides react with sunlight. The current weather forecast of mostly sunny skies, warm temperatures, and low humidity is creating ideal conditions for higher ozone levels across the region.

The Source:  Information from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

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Prince event signals Minneapolis’ first step to economic recovery

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Prince event signals Minneapolis’ first step to economic recovery



As an estimated 10,000+ Prince fans make a trip to downtown to honor his life, legacy, and music, Minneapolis city leaders are hopeful it can also serve as the first step to the city’s economic recovery.

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Six months after the beginning of Operation Metro Surge, Meet Minneapolis estimates the eight-week-long federal immigration effort disrupted more than 70 million in wages in the hospitality industry – impacting the more than 4,600 people employed at hotels, restaurants, shops and more.

“Today is about turning the page,” said Melvin Tennant, CEO and President of Meet Minneapolis.  “(It’s about) letting people know firsthand with their own eyes that things are really wonderful in downtown Minneapolis.”

Tennant says the hurt of Metro Surge came as Minneapolis had just begun to rebound from COVID-19. Hotel occupancy in 2024-2026 had just crossed 55% citywide.

This summer marks the return of many large scale events, including the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship, Special Olympics USA Games, WWE SummerSlam, and multiple outdoor World Cup related events.

“It’s absolutely vital for us to recover,” Tennant said. 

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