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Thieves steal couple’s valuables during wedding reception
Aaron and Liz Walla noticed the possessions were missing from their car after their wedding Friday at the Peace Garden near Lake Harriet.
MINNEAPOLIS — Instead of celebrating their first days of marriage, a Twin Cities couple is in a desperate search.
While Aaron and Liz Walla were recently saying “I do”, thieves were targeting their car, stealing a lot of valuables from the trunk.
The couple met three years ago at Lake Harriet and got married at the Peace Garden on its northeast shores on Friday.
“It’s a special place for us so, we chose to do it there,” said Aaron.
Except, come the reception, that night was anything but peaceful for the newlyweds.
“We had just got back to the cars and didn’t realize anything was wrong,” said Liz. “And I was like, wait, where’s my bag? And he’s like no, my bag is also missing, so then all of a sudden we’re like, oh, someone legit stole everything,” said Liz.
From her camera to her make-up, shoes, identification and wallet. The thieves also tried to rack up thousands of dollars on Liz’s credit card.
And then there’s the bag.
The camouflage one that Aaron never went without since enlisting in the Army 13 years ago. The special operations combat medic took it on several deployments overseas., and hanging from it are several memorial bracelets for his friends who didn’t make it back.
“It’s irreplaceable stuff,” said Aaron. “There was so much sentimental stuff attached to that bag and every time I reach a milestone, I think about the milestones they would be hitting if they had survived.”
The couple has made a plea on social media, including Nextdoor, which operates a hyperlocal networking service for neighborhoods.
They also filed a police report, still unsure how someone got into their trunk of valuables. It’s a lesson learned and a crime they’re willing to overlook.
“If they just keep that and return the bag, I’ll consider it a wash,” said Aaron. “I’ll drop the whole thing.”
The two finding that what does matter is something no could ever take away.
“At the end of the day, we’re together, we’re all healthy, no one got hurt,” said Liz. We’re ok, just that part sucks.”
Aaron also had the dog tags of his three grandparents who served in World War II on that backpack.
Aaron is asking anyone with information to contact him on Instagram. His username is @walla.tool.
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Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey questioned the legality of the new measure while issuing his veto on Wednesday.
MINNEAPOLIS — The City of Minneapolis will move ahead with new carbon fees after a contentious back and forth at City Hall concluded with the council overriding the mayor’s veto.
The new fees, which target carbon emissions from city businesses, will be implemented on July 1, 2025, according to the council.
Minneapolis already has a pollution fee system, known as the Pollution Control Annual Registration or PCAR. The fees go into the city’s Green Cost Share program, helping pay the costs companies incur bringing down their emissions.
The current PCAR system covers emissions of other air pollutants, including volatile organic compounds, heavy particulates, and sulfur oxides, nitrous oxides, lead, and carbon monoxide. Companies are required to report their emissions levels to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, which, in turn, charges fees of $100 per ton.
The City Council voted Oct. 2 to add carbon dioxide to the list. The resolution seeks to impose a $452 per ton fee for carbon dioxide.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey questioned the legality of the new measure while issuing his veto on Wednesday.
“I am all on board for PCAR fees—but it’s time the Council stops playing games and follows the processes in place to enact lasting change,” said Mayor Jacob Frey, in a statement to KARE.
Before his veto was overridden, Frey had told KARE that if the measure were to move forward, companies hit with the fees would likely sue the city and win.
Council Member Robin Wonsley, who co-authored the measure, took to X (formerly Twitter) to respond to Frey’s veto on Wednesday night.
Wisconsin law enforcement said Katrina Baur, and her partner, Jesse Vang, are facing charges in connection with 3-year-old Elijah Vue’s death, including obstruction.
TWO RIVERS, Wis. — About a month after 3-year-old Elijah Vue’s remains were recovered from a private property in Wisconsin, state authorities announced Thursday that charges have been filed against the boy’s mother and her partner.
Wisconsin law enforcement said Katrina Baur, and her partner, Jesse Vang, are facing charges in connection with 3-year-old Elijah Vue’s death, including obstruction.
Vue went missing in February and it wasn’t until September that his body was recovered and identified.
Wadena-Deer Creek head coach Kyle Petermeier told families in a letter that a rash of injuries has reduced the roster to the point that playing is a “safety issue.”
WADENA, Minn. — A central Minnesota high school is pulling the plug on the remainder of its varsity football season, saying continuing to play would not be “safe or realistic.”
Wadena-Deer Creek head coach Kyle Petermeier sent a letter home to families earlier in the week, explaining the decision to skip the Wolverines’ final game and subsequent district playoffs. Petermeier said injuries began piling up as the club reached midseason, and roster numbers hit a dangerous low following Wadena-Deer Creek’s game in week 7.
Heading into the final regular season game against Staples-Motley, Wadena-Deer Creek had just eight healthy players from 10th to 12th grade. At that point, the coach said, a difficult but necessary decision had to be made in the interest of safety.
“We are in a position now where we would have to trot out a majority of our team that is 14 and 15 years old, and that is not in the best interest of our kids,” coach Petermeier explained. “To us, safety is ahead of any individual game result. Football is a physical sport and putting out a team of mostly 14-15 year olds vs. 17-18 year olds is not safe or realistic for our team, and even the opposing team playing. “
Before the decision to end their season, the Wolverines were 1-6 on the year, losing games by up to 50 points.
Coach Petermeier credited this year’s varsity squad for their preparation, training and effort, and told parents he believes the future of the Wadena-Deer Creek football program is bright with big participation numbers with players at the fifth- to ninth-grade levels.
“Football is a game that requires strength in numbers, and we will do anything we can to keep these numbers high and keep kids out for football,” he promised.
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