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 leaders are sending photos that highlight the state’s landmarks and culture to the U.S. Capitol for a special time capsule.
The time capsule gives each state and territory delegation an opportunity to provide a snapshot of time in 2026 as America celebrates its 250th birthday.
Photos from all eight Minnesota congressional districts were sent to the Capitol.
They include Lake Superior, the State Fair, the loon, Prince’s Purple Rain and the National Eagle Center.
The capsule will be sealed inside the Capitol Visitor Center until America’s 500th birthday on July 4, 2276.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (WCCO News) – Vance Boelter, the man who pleaded guilty to fatally shooting former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, is set to be sentenced on federal charges later this summer.
According to court documents, the sentencing date is set for July 23 at 10 a.m. at the Minneapolis federal courthouse.
Earlier this month, Boelter, 58, changed his plea to guilty on six counts against him in the June 14, 2025 lawmaker shootings as part of an agreement with federal prosecutors.
Under the terms of the plea deal, Boelter’s recommended sentence will be two consecutive life terms followed by 40 years. The judge approved the plea deal and ordered an expedited sentencing.
The U.S. Department of Justice said it would not seek the death penalty against Boelter, which, according to a letter from U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen, was part of the proposed plea agreement.
In his guilty plea, Boelter admitted to fatally shooting the Hortmans, wounding state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, and attempting to shoot their daughter, Hope. The shootings prompted a massive manhunt that lasted 43 hours.
Following the guilty plea, theHoffman family released a statementthat said, “there is no justice when our family and our state will never truly heal.”
Boelter also faces state charges, including two counts of first-degree premeditated murder, four counts of attempted first-degree murder and one count each of felony cruelty to an animal and impersonating an officer. A guilty verdict for one of the first-degree murder charges carries a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office confirmed its case against him will move forward.
Copyright 2026 KVLY. All rights reserved.
The entirety of the Metro Transit Blue Line and parts of the Green Line will shut down for a few weeks this summer and be replaced by buses as crews work to swap worn track and outdated equipment.
The Blue Line will be offline from June 29 to Aug. 19. The west end of the Green Line — from West Bank to Target Field — will shut down between July 1 and July 26 and again between Aug. 16 and Aug. 19.
Metro Transit says buses will stop at or near the stations every 15 minutes. Some boarding locations will be moved to Hiawatha Avenue, and staff will help guide riders to their bus stops for the construction period.
Nearly every stop along the 22-year-old Blue Line will see improvement, Metro Transit says. The stations will be outfitted with real-time signs and shelter glass.
“We recognize that this needed maintenance work will be disruptive to riders, but once completed, the work we do this summer will help improve the customer experience for years to come,” said General Manager Lesley Kandaras.
The Green Line will be back in service for the beginning of August to accommodate summer events, such as Twins and Lynx games, the WWE Summer Slam at U.S. Bank Stadium and Noah Kahan and Ed Sheeran concerts.
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