South St. Paul Public Schools closed all schools on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, transitioning students to an e-learning day following what officials described as a “safety concern.”

Schools across IDS 196 were closed on Tuesday after multiple threatening voicemails were discovered early in the morning, prompting a large, multi-agency law enforcement response. Authorities now say the threats were not credible and originated from outside Minnesota.

High school students interested in law enforcement and public safety have an opportunity to go behind the scenes this spring as registration has opened for the 2026 Teen Police Academy, a free program jointly hosted by the Apple Valley Police Department and the Rosemount Police Department.

A 16-year-old male from Eagan has been charged with four felony counts of threats of violence (intent to terrorize) in connection with a series of online threats directed at multiple Dakota County high schools, according to the Dakota County Attorney’s Office.

A series of online threats directed at multiple schools across Dakota and Scott County prompted widespread investigations, temporary school closures, and the arrest of a juvenile suspect, according to information released by law enforcement agencies and school districts over the last few days.

Law enforcement agencies across Dakota County have arrested a 16-year-old male in connection with a series of school-related threats that disrupted multiple schools in Burnsville, Apple Valley, Eagan, Rosemount, and surrounding communities on Tuesday, December 16.

Independent School District 196 has closed all four of its high schools and two additional schools for Tuesday, December 16, 2025, following additional social media threats reported late Monday night and brought to the attention of law enforcement and school administrators.

Around 2:30 p.m. on Monday, December 15, 2025, more than 300 students from Apple Valley High School participated in a coordinated walkout to protest recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in the local community.

Eastview and Apple Valley High School administrators and the Apple Valley Police Department (AVPD) investigated a concerning social media message alleging a potential threat to the school. After a joint review by school officials and law enforcement, authorities determined that no credible threat was made.

A petition has been started in Dakota County for District 196, the fourth-largest school district in Minnesota and home to over 29,000 students across its 29 schools, in the hopes of showing an interest in the expansion of the orchestra program.

16-year-old Brody is breaking the mold five months after launching a new clothing brand called Urban Elite, with a mission far deeper than fashion: to inspire the youth of Minnesota to start building their futures today.