Northern lights, getting your unclaimed property, MSP drops in airport rankings: This week's top stories

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (FOX 9) - The Northern Lights, unclaimed property in Minnesota, MSP dropping to the nation's second best "mega airport," and a look back on veteran FOX 9 reporter Tom Lyden's 30-year career. Here is a look back at the top stories of the week. 

1. Northern Lights could be visible in Minnesota Monday night

The Northern Lights made themselves known Monday evening. The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, tweeted Sunday saying, "The Space Weather Prediction Center is indicating that the potential for a geomagnetic storm has increased for Monday into Tuesday. This means a greater chance of northern lights over North America."

2. Here's how to check if Minnesota has some of your unclaimed property

The Minnesota Department of Commerce had a record-setting year of returning $62.6 million in Fiscal Year 2023 in unclaimed property to Minnesotans. That tops the record made in 2022, when $53.5 million was distributed. 

Commerce’s unclaimed property website makes it easy to check whether you might have property waiting to be claimed. 

Commerce receives millions of dollars in unclaimed property from businesses and organizations that have lost contact with owners. The department is responsible for safeguarding the funds or property until claimed by the rightful owners.

3. MSP Airport is nation's second best mega airport, according to study

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport has been unseated by Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County as the country’s best mega airport, according to a J.D. Power satisfaction study. 

The study measured airports in six different categories: airport accessibility, check-in/baggage check, security check, terminal facilities, baggage claim, and food and beverage. 

On a 1,000-point scale, Detroit measures 800, and MSP trailed just behind with 796. 

4. Tom Lyden, veteran reporter and investigator, leaving FOX 9 after 30 years

Tom Lyden, veteran reporter and FOX 9 Investigator, is leaving FOX 9 this month.

Lyden will be his 86-year-old mother's primary caretaker near Mariposa, California – something he has been doing while simultaneously contributing to the FOX 9 Investigators since 2022.

In 2009, Tom Lyden was on the scene as a Popeye's store on Lake Street in Minneapolis was swarmed with customers looking for a deal on chicken that had been advertised on TV. One problem, the store wasn't honoring the deal.

His career at FOX 9 included notable work, including "The River Road" series, which uncovered a religious cult operating in Minnesota whose leader, Victor Barnard, sexually assaulted his underage followers. His reporting led to an international manhunt for Barnard, resulting in his capture, conviction, and incarceration.

5. Strangers granted end-of-life decisions at HCMC leaving family perplexed

A family’s grief at losing their father is compounded this week by their belief that Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) let a stranger make end-of-life decisions.

Six days after his death, they finally started getting answers today after a FOX 9 crew showed up at the hospital. 

Mark Hatcher’s brother Daryl Hatcher was listed as his next of kin and point of contact. But Darryl Hatcher never heard from the hospital until Sunday.

Instead, the family believes the hospital asked a stranger, Darryl Moore, to make decisions.

6. Young street racer responsible for deadly Burnsville crash headed home

A young Dakota County street racer, who pled guilty to two counts of murder in a deadly 2021 crash, is set to be released before the end of the month. Now the families of the victims are speaking out, believing the criminal justice system has let them down.

"We are forever broken," said Veronica Ford, mother of victim Dalton Ford. "We are forever broken. And it is something that, it's a club that you do not want to belong to."

7. Minneapolis murder suspect ‘mistakenly’ released from Indiana jail

A man wanted in connection to a fatal shooting in Minneapolis was "mistakenly released" from a county jail in Indianapolis, Indiana. 

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office announced on Tuesday that 28-year-old Kevin Mason was mistakenly released on Sept. 13 from the Adult Detention Center due to a "faulty records review" by a staff member. 

8. St. Paul homeowner identifies new invasive species in Minnesota

Krista Menzel is used to having visitors in her backyard garden, but some of her newest neighbors are creating quite a buzz.

9. Luke Bryan coming to Eyota farm this weekend

Luke Bryan was set to play a show at a farm in Eyota, Minnesota this weekend. However, the concert had to be canceled due to weather. 

10. Brother charged with murder in death of 7-year-old boy in Eden Prairie

The man arrested in Eden Prairie for the death of his 7-year-old brother is now facing a murder charge.

Dalal Bayle Idd is charged Friday with murder in the second degree for the death of the boy on the night of Tuesday, Sept. 12.

Officers said they found the child unresponsive Tuesday night after they were called out for a welfare check at the family's home on Lee Drive, off Hennepin Town Road.