>>Woman Sentenced to 27 Years for Strangling Rochester Man
(Rochester, MN) — A woman who pleaded guilty to murdering a man in a Rochester park last year has been sentenced to over 27 years in prison. 25-year-old Ruth Miller was convicted of second-degree non-premeditated murder with intent. On June 15th, 28-year-old Marcus Martin’s body was found in Mayo Park. Miller told police she strangled the Rochester man after he asked her to kill him. Martin’s cause of death was ruled homicide.
>>Teen Pleads Guilty to Fatal St. Paul Tobacco Shop Shooting
(St. Paul, MN) — A 17-year-old boy is pleading guilty to second-degree murder for a fatal St. Paul shooting. On September 10th, 2024, the teen rode up to a strip mall on his bike and met the victim outside a tobacco shop. The suspect then fired on 22-year-old Davion Lamonte-Brown and rode off. Brown died at the scene. The suspect entered the plea Wednesday, limiting the sentence to 23 years and seven months in prison. The suspect was found on foot less than a mile away. Officers found a handgun and a black mask in his custody. He’ll be sentenced on April 18th.
>>Arco Man Mentally Competent to Stand Attempted Murder Trail
(Meeker County, MN) — An Arco man has been found mentally competent to stand trial for the attempted murder of an Olivia man. A Rule 20 exam states that 48-year-old David Pillatzki can participate in his defense, which is slated for April 15th. On June 28th last year, Pillatzki, his daughter Ariyanna, and Trey Ertl took the victim to a rural Litchfield area to show him a camper for sale. They then robbed him, struck him with a car, and stabbed him. The victim survived. All three are charged in the incident. Pillatzki remains jailed on $2 million unconditional bail.
>>GOP Lawmakers Urge “Trump Derangement Syndrome” Classified as Mental Illness
(St. Paul, MN) — GOP Minnesota lawmakers introduce a bill to the Senate today to include “Trump derangement syndrome” as a mental illness. The bill defines it as “the acute onset of paranoia in otherwise normal persons that is in reaction to the policies and presidencies of President Donald J. Trump. Symptoms may include Trump-induced general hysteria, which produces an inability to distinguish between legitimate policy differences and signs of psychic pathology in President Donald J. Trump’s behavior.” The DFL states, “This is why Minnesota Republicans have lost every statewide election in recent memory—every time they get an opportunity to try and improve Minnesotans’ lives, they instead double down on an agenda that caters to their party’s most extreme right-wing activists.” Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy (D-St. Paul) says this is “possibly the worst bill in Minnesota history. If it is meant as a joke, it is a waste of staff time and taxpayer resources that trivializes serious mental health issues. If the authors are serious, it is an affront to free speech and an expression of a dangerous level of loyalty to an authoritarian president. The authors should be ashamed, and the citizens we’re hearing from are rightfully outraged. Republicans should disown this idea, and the bill should be withdrawn.”
>>Gov. Walz Signs Bill to Reduce Grain Costs
(St. Paul, MN) – Governor Tim Walz has signed a new bill that will reduce the costs for Minnesota grain buyers. The legislation will help ensure timely financial reports from grain buyers while reducing the costs of reporting these numbers for small grain buyers. The bill amends the accounting standards acceptable for reviews and audits. For instance, small grain buyers can use either a certified public accountant or an independent auditor for their review, which will cost them less money.
>>Serial Shoplifter Targeted REI Stores Nationwide And Three In Twin Cities
(Minneapolis, MN) — Authorities are searching for a serial shoplifter who has targeted REI stores nationwide, including three in the Twin Cities. A search warrant filed in Hennepin County shows the thefts happened on December 20 at the outdoor gear retailers in Bloomington, Maple Grove, and Roseville. The cost of the stolen merchandise was over $130,000.
>>Wolves Guard Edwards Named Western Conference Player of the Week
(Minneapolis, MN) — Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards is being honored as the NBA Western Conference Player of the Week. Edwards averaged 32.7 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.3 rebounds per game from March 10th through 16th. Ant scored 41 points in Minnesota’s 128-102 victory over the Utah Jazz Sunday night. The Wolves ride an eight-game win streak into tonight’s 7 p.m. matchup against the Indiana Pacers at Target Center.
>>Twins Announce 2025 Home Opener Plans
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Minnesota Twins are excited to announce their plans for the home opener. The day will kick off with a Breakfast on the Plaza starting at 6 AM. The first 10,000 fans who enter the gates will receive a Twin City Connect beanie. The Twins will face the Astros on April 3, with game time set for 3:10 PM.
>>Forever 21 Goes Bankrupt Again, to Close All Locations
(Rochester, MN) — Fast-fashion store Forever 21 has declared bankruptcy for the second time and is closing all of its U.S. locations. In Minnesota, only one store remains in Rochester’s Apache Mall. Forever 21 was founded in 1984, shot to popularity in the early 2010s, and started to see trouble after other fast-fashion shops like Shein and Temu popped up online. They first filed for bankruptcy in 2019 and were bought by Authentic Brands. No word on when the Rochester location will close.
