>>State Fair up and running after severe storm
(Falcon Heights, MN) — Things are getting back to normal after dangerous storms packing winds up to 60 miles an hour tore through the Minnesota State Fairgrounds last night and early this morning. The Fair opened two hours late today while crews surveyed damage and picked up debris and CEO Renee Alexander says, “Almost everything is back open. All of the rides were inspected this morning before they were opened back up.” Alexander says it’s believed this is the first time in the State Fair’s history that it opened late.
>>U-of-M Regents approve “neutrality policy” on investments, won’t consider divesting from Israeli companies at this time
(Minneapolis, MN) — The University of Minnesota Board of Regents adopted a “neutrality policy” this morning (TUES), banning social issues from factoring into investment decisions except on “very rare occasions.” U-of-M junior Fae Hodges with Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) says the University is sending a message and enacting a policy that prevents the school’s community “from raising concerns with the Board on social and political issues related to the investments that they make with our tuition dollars.” The Board’s action formally declines student activists’ request to divest from Israel-related investments. Under the new policy, those requesting divestment must demonstrate how the investment is fundamentally incompatible with the University’s core mission and values. Hodges says her group will “continue to do a lot of the same disruptive actions” because “we don’t want to make the Regents’ lives comfortable… while our tuition dollars are being spent on something that over 70 percent of the student body voted against.”
>>Minnesota Realtors receives $1M grant to help flood-displaced families
(Minnetonka, MN) — The Minnesota Realtors industry group has received a one-million-dollar grant from the National Realtors Relief Foundation to support flood-displaced families across the state. Minnesota President Geri Thies says the grant will provide up to a thousand dollars to any Minnesotan forced to leave their home due to flooding. Applications are being taken through October 18th. For more information, visit mnrealtor.com.
>>Rapidan Dam to be Removed
(Mankato, MN) — The historic Rapidan Dam in south-central Minnesota will be torn down. The Blue Earth County Board of Commissioners has voted to remove the dam after it partially failed June 24th following heavy rains, storms, and mass flooding.
>>Former Minnesota Gopher football player O’Brien battling cancer again
(St. Paul, MN) — Former University of Minnesota football player Casey O’Brien is battling cancer again – after beating it seven different times. The 25-year-old from St. Paul posted on social media that cancer has returned to his lungs, liver and back. O’Brien says traditional treatments are no longer working, but he is excited about experimental treatments his doctors are planning for him. His insurance will not cover the costs and a Go Fund Me page was launched to help pay O’Brien’s medical bills. More than 180 thousand of the 250-thousand-dollar goal has already been raised.
>>Lynx Forward Collier Again Named WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week
(Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN) — Lynx forward Napheesa Collier has been named the WNBA’s Western Conference Player of the Week for games played on August 15th and 25th. This is Collier’s second Player of the Week citation of the season and the sixth of her career, now tying Sylvia Fowles for the third-most by any Lynx player. Collier hit 17 points and 12 rebounds in the Lynx’s 79-68 win over the Washington Mystics and had her most prolific scoring quarter of the season with 30 points against the Las Vegas Aces, beating them 99-83. The Lynx begin a two-game road series tomorrow (WED) against the Phoenix Mercury at 9 p.m.
>>Photographer Charged with Privacy Invasion After Allegedly Recording Bride Partially Nude
(Duluth, MN) — A Duluth-based photographer faces a gross misdemeanor charge of privacy interference after allegedly recording a bride while she was dressing. A “significant other” of 30-year-old Mitchell Ringness of Pine City dropped off a flash drive to police. On it, officers saw a video from 2020, showing a bride partially nude at a wedding venue, which appeared to have been filmed on a hidden camera. Ringness was hired as a wedding photographer by the victim for photos, not video. The victim says she has no idea the recording existed. Ringness’s first hearing is September 5th and he is currently not in custody.
>>Rock County Man Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison for Fatal 2023 Hit-and-Run
(Rock County, MN) — A Rock County man has been sentenced to a little over four years in prison after pleading guilty in July to one count of criminal vehicular homicide. 37-year-old Lucas Strassburg was charged two weeks after a fatal hit-and-run in December 2023 when 76-year-old William Krotzer was found dead in a ditch north of Beaver Creek and his car was found about a mile away. Authorities used witness testimony and surveillance video to identify the Strassburg vehicle, and he eventually admitted to hitting Krotzer.
>>Two Men Sentenced to Prison for Nationwide Telemarketing Fraud Scheme Targeting Elderly, Vulnerable Victims
(Minneapolis, MN) — Two men have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a $300 million nationwide telemarketing fraud scheme that targeted elderly and vulnerable victims. 63-year-old Anthony Moulder of Fort Myers, Florida, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, and 36-year-old Abdou-Rahmane Diallo of Montreal, Quebec, to seven and a half. From 2008 through 2020, Moulder, who owned and operated several Florida-based companies involved in fraudulent magazine sales, bought information lists to direct consumers to make large or repeat payments for unwanted subscriptions. Prosecutors say Diallo was co-owner and operator of a Canadian-based company that targeted those victimized by Moulder’s companies, offering to pay off their “outstanding balance” and cancel their subscription for a large lump-sum payment.
