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.

Defendant stated he tried defending himself by putting his hands around his wife's throat and he squeezed her throat until she went limp, court documents stated. He told authorities he panicked and put her body in the passenger seat of their vehicle and drove her to the Swan River Bridge on Great River Road, south of Little Falls, and that he dropped her body under the bridge.
“It was not an issue of did it happen, it was an issue of did it happen before she turned 18,” Crow Wing County Assistant Attorney said of the charges and the dismissal of the case.
Cass County Sheriff's Office arrest 4 in Thursday's incident for trespassing and obstruction of the legal process.
While assisting with the medical call, one of the paramedics began to feel weak and dizzy and collapsed while on the scene and became unresponsive, the Mille Lacs County Sheriff's Office reported.
"Now I can love December again because of this Christmas miracle,” Deb Mosberger said. “And now the year 2020 is not so bad.”
The 23-year-old is the second Brainerd lakes area man convicted of arson of the Minneapolis Police Third Precinct.
“Maybe Gov. Walz will pay some attention to it, too, because we can't continue to survive as a business the way he's treating us,” said Charlie McCulloch, the father of the owners of Mission Tavern.
Men from Brainerd and Staples are among four defendants federally indicted with conspiracy to commit arson for their alleged roles in burning the Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct building during the May 28 riots following the murder of George Floyd.
The 100-year-old Walt Straka, Minnesota's last surviving death march survivor, was honored for his services during World War II.
BRAINERD, Minn. — Whether late for work or just simply impatient — especially during busy traffic hours on busy lakes area roads — running red lights happens a lot, lakes area law enforcement officials say.