Minnesota
Minnesota boy, 12, who dreamed of becoming a cop made honorary officer after suffering fatal heart attack in bike crash
A 12-year-old Minnesota boy who had dreamed of becoming a police officer was sworn in as an honorary cop shortly before he was tragically taken off life support.
Raghav Shrestha was given his own badge and made an honorary member of the Sartell Police Department in front of his heartbroken family at Hennepin County Medical Center on Thursday after a bike crash triggered a heart attack days earlier, police said.
“We learned today that Raghav’s dream was always to become a police officer when he grew up,” Sartell Police Chief Brandon Silgjord said in a statement posted on Facebook Thursday.
“Several of us involved in the incident were able to visit Raghav this morning, and in the presence of his family pin him with his own badge and swear him in as an honorary police officer with Sartell. Our community will continue to support Raghav’s family however we can as they process and grieve.”
Police said the young boy, a seventh-grader at Sartell-St. Stephen Middle School, was riding his bike down a hill at Northside Park Sunday afternoon when he crashed and suffered a severe head injury — despite wearing a helmet — that sent him into cardiac arrest.
Shrestha’s 10-year-old friend called 911 but struggled to give the exact location — until a good Samaritan, who happened to be a CPR instructor, confirmed it for police and began performing life-saving measures on the boy, cops said.
The youngster – described as a happy and spirited child – was airlifted in critical condition to the Minneapolis hospital, where his condition worsened and he was declared brain dead Thursday morning.
He was removed from life support that afternoon and died “peacefully” moments later.
“Raghav was a cheerful and fun-loving 12-year-old boy, doing what so many 12-year-old boys would be doing on a beautiful fall afternoon, which makes this tragedy so difficult to comprehend,” said Silgjord, who provided consistent updates to the community on the boy’s condition.
“His parents, while grieving the loss of their son, also wanted it to be known that more than anything they are proud to be Raghav’s parents and to have raised and known a boy that was always courageous in his word and actions.
“Choosing to never cause harm to people and animals alike and taking pride in his role as a big brother.”
The police department and community have since come together to launch a fundraiser for the boy’s grieving family.
As of Thursday night, the relief effort raised nearly $36,000.
Minnesota
School bus company’s inspection history in question after kids hurt in Hamline University crash
Data from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety shows the company that owns the school bus that crashed into a building Tuesday at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, has failed the majority of its inspections over the last three years.
Three students from the St. Paul charter school Higher Ground Academy and their bus driver suffered minor injuries when the vehicle crashed into the Robbins Science Center on Tuesday afternoon, according to the St. Paul Police Department. All four have since been released from the hospital. About a dozen students were on board at the time.
Police say the driver “did not exhibit any signs of intoxication or impairment.” Patrick Boyle, the attorney representing the St. Paul-based bus company Pride Transportation, says the crash was due to operator error, noting the driver — who was in the midst of their first week on the job — had accidentally stepped on the gas pedal instead of the break.
State records show vehicles owned by the company, also known as PTB Services, failed most of their recent inspections:
- 2024: 52 passed, 55 failed
- 2025: 40 passed, 47 failed
- 2026: 1 passed, 6 failed
Boyle insists those failures are often corrected and reinspected on the same day.
“We also want to clarify that the inspection statistics referenced in publicly available reports do not represent the entirety of our operating fleet nor do they indicate that vehicles remained in service after failing inspections,” Boyle said. “All buses currently transporting students for PTB Services possess the required inspection certification and comply with applicable state requirements.”
Police are still investigating the crash.
Minnesota
Minneapolis considers closing dog park sitting on Indigenous land
Minnesota
Dennis Peterson
With family by his side, Dennis “Bud” Peterson went to be with the Lord on the morning of June 1, 2026.
He was born at Drake, North Dakota on April 2, 1932 in the home of his parents Nick and Helen Peterson. The family moved to Duluth at the beginning of World War II.
After graduation from Duluth Central High School Bud served in the US Army in Korea during the Korean War, and received an Honorable Discharge with the rank of Sergeant. He used his GI Bill benefits to attend UMD receiving an Associate Degree, and also earned his Commercial Instrument Pilot rating.
Bud was a longtime employee of St. Louis County retiring as Supervisor of Roads and Bridges. In retirement he served as Boiler Engineer and a do it all repairman for Duluth Gospel Tabernacle. He generously devoted his time and talents as a consummate do it yourself repairman to all of his family.
Dennis is preceded in death by his parents, Nick & Helen Peterson; brother, Robert Peterson; sister, June (Don) Kruger; and infant brother and sister, James and Delores Peterson.
He is survived by his sister, Carol (Eli) Miletich; and numerous nieces and nephews all of whom he loved dearly.
At Bud’s request, his family will be holding a private funeral service. Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home 218-727-3555.
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