The Rochester Police Department on Monday completed its investigation into the viral video depicting a white woman using a racial slur against a 5-year-old Black child at a Rochester park.

According to a release from RPD, the findings from the investigation of the “disturbing video” were sent to the Rochester City Attorney’s Office to be considered for charges.

“RPD takes all reports and allegations seriously and must thoroughly gather information to ensure due process,” the release said. “We recognize the behavior captured in the video has raised many concerns, and we appreciate the community’s patience during the investigation and moving forward.”

In a separate news release, the city attorney’s office said it will review the incident at the Soldiers Field Park playground. If necessary, the city attorney’s office will consult the Olmsted County Attorney’s Office “regarding matters that may fall under their jurisdiction.”

“The review will proceed deliberately, but with an appropriate sense of urgency. We acknowledge the significant impact this incident has had on those directly involved and on the broader community,” the statement from the city attorney’s office said. “At this time, it would be premature to estimate when a final decision will be made. We ask for the community’s patience as the legal review continues. Once a determination has been reached, we will share that information publicly.”

The racially charged video gained traction across social media platforms last week after social media creators started sharing the video, in which the white woman accused the Black child of stealing from her child. One creator’s TikTok video about the matter has received 13.5 million views as of Monday.

The woman, who identified herself as Shiloh Hendrix in a crowdfunding campaign, has raised more than $660,000 for herself and her family to relocate.

In response to Hendrix’s campaign, the Rochester Branch of the NAACP created a GoFundMe fundraiser to benefit the family of the 5-year-old boy. The fundraiser was closed at the family’s request after raising about $340,000.

“The family kindly requests privacy at this time as they navigate this difficult period,” the NAACP said in a previous release.

— Forum News Service

City names interim director of finance

Kristina Handt, the former interim city administrator in Forest Lake, has been named interim finance director in Oakdale.

The Oakdale City Council met in an emergency session on Friday to make the appointment, which went into effect on Monday. She is being paid $75 an hour, said City Administrator Christina Volkers.

The previous finance director, Kyle Stasica, was promoted to the position in the fall of 2023 after Jason Zimmerman was named finance director for the City of Blaine. Stasica recently accepted the assistant finance director position in Blaine, Volker said.

Stasica also previously worked for Zimmerman in North St. Paul; they both live in Blaine, Volkers said.

The Forest Lake City Council voted last fall to dismiss Handt from the interim city administrator position. She had previously served as city administrator in Lake Elmo and Scandia.

“Kristina is stepping in to help Oakdale during this transition and we are thankful for her willingness to do so,” Volkers said. “We are actively recruiting for our next Finance Director.”

— Mary Divine

Interstate speed limit raised to 80 mph

Motorists traveling on North Dakota’s interstates will legally be able to drive faster.

Gov. Kelly Armstrong signed the bill Monday increasing the speed limit on Interstates 29 and 94 from 75 mph to 80 mph. The bill also increases fines for speeding.

“This bill strikes a reasonable balance by aligning North Dakota’s interstate speed limit with two of our three neighboring states and increasing fines as a deterrent to speeding,” Armstrong said in a statement.

The hike is the first time the state has increased its interstate speed in more than two decades. The Legislature in 2003 changed that speed from 70 mph to 75 mph.

Lawmakers in past sessions have tried to bump up the speed to 80 mph but

failed.

Proponents cited studies from other states that have the 80 mph speed limit, saying the actual speed in those states, slightly over 80 mph, isn’t much different from North Dakota’s. Rep. Mike Motschenbacher, R-Bismarck, said crash-related deaths in South Dakota saw little change after the state increased its interstate speed limit to 80 mph in 2015.

Montana also has an interstate speed limit of 80 mph. Minnesota’s is 70 mph.

The new speed limits go into effect Aug. 1.

— Forum News Service

Crews battle wildfires fueled by drought

Crews have been fighting at least 16 wildfires throughout North Dakota in the last several days, including several large fires still burning Tuesday across wooded areas and grasslands on the Turtle Mountain Reservation near the Canadian border.

Dry and breezy conditions before the spring green-up haven’t helped the situation. Much of the state is in some level of drought, including a swath of western North Dakota in severe or extreme drought, according to a recent map by the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Numerous agencies including the North Dakota Forest Service and fire departments have responded to the fires. National Guard Black Hawk helicopters have dropped water, saving homes. Officials requested fire engines from as far as Montana and South Dakota. Tribal members with buckets and hoses sprang into action to fight the flames.

“It’s inspiring that our people can rise up and help each other out like that,” Turtle Mountain Band of

Chippewa Tribal Chair Jamie Azure said Tuesday.

Three distinct fires that have been joining and separating have burned about 6.5 square miles in the Turtle Mountain area, according to the state Department of Emergency Services.

Most of the fires have been north of Belcourt, in the northern part of the Turtle Mountain Reservation, said Jenna Parisien, recruitment and retention coordinator and spokesperson for the Belcourt Rural Fire Department.

“We have several locations where areas have burned, so places were lit up all at once, and with the unfavorable weather conditions that we have had, areas keep relighting, embers are causing spread to surrounding areas as well,” Parisien said.

The fires steadily kicked off on Friday, she said. It wasn’t clear how much of the fires were contained.

Three firefighters were treated for exhaustion, dehydration and smoke inhalation, but were doing well, Azure said. One vacant mobile home was believed to be lost, but there were no other injuries or homes lost despite fires in people’s yards, he said.

Crews were battling high winds with the fires on Monday, but rain overnight, moderate winds and firefighters’ sefforts have improved the situation, Azure said Tuesday. Nearly all of the 16 fires around the state are 100% contained.

Causes of the fires are thought to be accidental, potentially sparks escaping from residents’ trash-burning barrels, Parisien said.

But some people have been taken into custody in connection with intentionally starting a fire, she said. She declined to elaborate.

— Associated Press