In this issue:
 The Howard Lake American Legion was part of a much larger crime spree stopped with the help of our Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement division.
It took less than five minutes in the early morning hours of April 13, 2023, for two burglary suspects to break into the Howard Lake American Legion, use a sledgehammer to blast a safe free from its mount and walk away with nearly $12,000 in charitable pull tab money.
This wasn’t a random, isolated burglary in a small town. The break-in was part of a much larger criminal operation. The organized criminal activity primarily targeted pull tab charitable gambling funds in bars and restaurants across the Twin Cities Metro Area and greater Minnesota.
 REAL IDs feature a gold star in the corner.
Boom! You’re out the door.
That has always been the goal of our Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) team. It’s even more important now that Minnesotans are rushing in to get their REAL IDs. And with processing times more than 70 days as a result of the increased demand, people want to know: Is there any way I can get my REAL ID faster?
Minnesotans can significantly cut down on the time it takes to get their REAL ID with two simple steps: Upload their documents when they pre-apply online and then make sure they bring the exact same documents into the office.
 It's vital to stay hydrated in extreme heat.
Minnesota — known for its frigid temperatures — has been getting warmer and warmer, and scientists predict that extreme heat events will become more frequent in our state. To prepare for these changes and to educate all Minnesotans about the often-underestimated dangers of heat exposure, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) launched the STAY COOL MN campaign. While the message is simple, it has the power to save lives and lessen the impact of extreme heat on affected people and communities. To learn more and share vital information, visit MDH's website mn.gov/heat.
 Koochiching County dealt with flooding in 2024.
Our Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) division is making sure our neighbors are prepared as rain continues to fall, warning southwestern Minnesota about possible flash flooding.
While dry conditions have allowed the ground to soak up much of the rain so far this summer, as rain continues to fall, we’re on the lookout for dangerous water levels. Remember: Turn around, don’t drown. Avoid flooded roads and floodwaters, which often contain dangerous debris and even sewage.
"Three-to-six inches and you can move a car, pretty quickly," HSEM Deputy Director Kevin Reed said. "The other thing is you don't know what happened to that road, and there are times when it can under-wash, undercut that road."
Have an emergency kit with food, clean water, your medications, phone and phone charger in case you need to leave quickly.
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