Jennifer Kraus

A big part of my day is chasing down tips on a variety of breaking news stories, relating to vehicle crashes, fires, police incidents and court cases. I’m always thankful when people call in tips to alert me on an incident so I can follow up and see if the tip is actually something that occurred or is a rumor. It’s a big scope to keep track of as we not only cover Brainerd and Crow Wing County incidents, but we also cover the surrounding counties and cities. I also gather information on the entertainment scene, so if you are hosting a band or choir concert, an art exhibit, a play or other theater production -- I want to hear about it. If you know of a story on any of these beats, give me a shout! To help support local journalism, click here to sign up to receive a Dispatch digital subscription to our e-edition or to receive the printed paper at your door, or to get both.

JENNIFER KRAUS may be reached at jennifer.kraus@brainerddispatch.com or 218-855-5851. Follow me at on Twitter.

Police reported the vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree.
“It’s strange,” Cass County (Minn.) Sheriff Tom Burch said, as his department has followed many leads over the years but still haven’t found any trace of Peter Achermann or his belongings. “This case remains open and we’re trying to figure out what happened to him. We want to bring comfort to the family and give them closure and answers on what happened to him.”
The pipe itself was capped at one end, which created a trapped air environment for the two people who had climbed inside. The trapped air inside the pipe was estimated to be near 130 degrees with reduced oxygen concentration.
Upon arrival, the victim was located about 100 yards past the railroad crossing — or about seven box cars deep — as the train was traveling east.
The motorcycle struck a deer, slid and overturned. The operator was thrown into the westbound lane where he was hit by two vehicles.
“It is not a decision I take lightly,” Goddard wrote, stating it was necessary after reading the findings of the defamation lawsuit filed by former Crosby Police Officer Jesse Smith against the city of Crosby and the police department's top two ranking officers.
A 28-year-old Walker man was taken into custody near the scene and transported to the Cass County Detention Center, where he is awaiting the filing of formal charges.
Joshua Karjala, 36, pleaded guilty to second-degree unintentional murder in the death of Michelle Mae during a plea hearing in Aitkin County District Court in Aitkin, Minn. A jury trial for Karjala was scheduled to begin June 14. However, Karjala pleaded guilty to the murder charge in an amended criminal complaint.
The Brainerd man told a witness that his friend "went to jail for saying he was going to shoot up a school, so now I'm going to follow through with it," court documents stated.
The Brainerd Police officer believed the Brainerd man, who had a knife, was trying to attack him and kill him, the court document stated.