>>Six U.S. House Members, Both Minnesota Senators Support 3-Month Government Extension
(Washington, D.C.) — A bipartisan bill passed by Congress prevents a government shutdown and extends federal funding through December 20th. Republican Representatives Brad Finstad and Michelle Fischbach were Minnesota’s only U-S House members to vote “no.” G-O-P Congressmen Tom Emmer and Pete Stauber joined Democrats Angie Craig, Ilhan Omar, Betty McCollum, and Dean Phillips in voting “yes.” The U-S Senate also passed the continuing resolution with the support of Minnesota Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith.
>>Former Minnetonka Pilot Sentenced to Nearly 3.5 Years in Prison for False Tax Claims
(Minneapolis, MN) — A former commercial airline pilot from Minnetonka has been sentenced to over three years in prison for filing false tax returns, failing to file tax returns, and making false claims. 72-year-old Charles Sorensen retired as a pilot in 2016. In January 2017, Sorenson filed false tax returns for 2015, claiming he was owed over $55,000 when he actually owed over $49,000 in income taxes. In March 2017, he filed false returns for 2016, claiming he was owed over $123,000 in refund when he actually owed over $175,000 in taxes. During the trial, Sorenson refused to pay his over $290,000 in tax debt, taking steps to evade the IRS by hiding his income and assets in bank accounts and cryptocurrency. He also failed to file income returns for 2017, ’18, and ’19. Sorenson was found guilty on May 31st.
>>Man Taken to Hospital After Mental Health Issue Outside Islamic Center in Moorhead
(Moorhead, MN) — Moorhead Police say a man who was suffering a mental health crisis was taken to a Fargo hospital after he tried to break into the Moorhead Fargo Islamic Center late Wednesday night. Police say officers tried to de-escalate the situation, and the man was eventually detained at around midnight. Police say they’re continuing to investigate and are in communication with members of the Islamic Center.
>>2 Nigerian Nationals Indicted for Deceiving MN Healthcare Companies Into Over $13M in Payments
(Minneapolis, MN) — Two Nigerian nationals have been indicted in connection with a fraudulent business email compromise scheme targeting several Minnesota-based healthcare companies. From October 2020 through 2024, 43-year-old Shodiya Babatunde and 31-year-old Jamui Ahmed deceived healthcare employees into making payments to bank accounts controlled by the men and their co-conspirators instead of the intended beneficiaries. The suspects created a spoof internet domain designed to appear it was controlled by Fairview Health and fake email accounts belonging to Fairview executives. In total, Babatunde and Ahmed stole over $13 million in payments. The two remain fugitives.
>>Plymouth Man Indicted for Role in International Conspiracy to Traffic Computer Network Devices
(Minneapolis, MN) — A Plymouth man has been indicted for his role in an international conspiracy to traffic counterfeit computer network devices. Court documents say 75-year-old Benjamin Paley, who co-owned and operated Plymouth-based GEN9 Services Inc., an information technology business, and his co-conspirators engaged in this scheme that spanned across Minnesota, North Carolina, and Ukraine to use and traffic counterfeit access devices. From 2014 to April 2022, Paley and his partners used and trafficked counterfeit license keys to defraud a global tech company and others by selling the keys at a heavily discounted price. Overall, Paley possessed and sold at least 3,637 keys for switches at amounts significantly below the market rate, resulting in millions of dollars in financial losses for the customer. Paley faces one count of conspiracy and is scheduled to appear in court on October 10th.
>>St. Paul Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegal Gun Possession
(Minneapolis, MN) — A St. Paul man has pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. On June 22nd, 2023, law enforcement searched 57-year-old Dean Guenther’s home. Officers found a locked black safe in his bedroom, which contained two 9mm semiautomatic pistols, 142 grams of fentanyl, and miscellaneous drug paraphernalia. Guenther is set to be sentenced at a later date.
>>St. Paul Police Fatally Shoot Person in Belle Plaine Related to Frogtown Homicide
(St. Paul, MN) — Police in St. Paul say they were involved in a deadly shooting this morning (Thurs) in Belle Plaine. Officers say it is related to a shooting Wednesday night in the Lowertown neighborhood that left a female artist dead. The alleged shooter reportedly fled the area in a vehicle. A St. Paul P-D spokesperson says one person died in the Belle Plaine incident and no officers were hurt. No other information is being released.
>>16-Year-Old Boy Shot in New Hope Dies in Hospital
(New Hope, MN) — Authorities say a 16-year-old boy who was shot in New Hope last week did not survive. Police reported that Keair Reed from Chaska was shot in a home on September 18th and taken to the hospital. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office says Reed died at North Memorial Tuesday of a gunshot wound to the head. A 17-year-old boy is accused of shooting Reed with a nine-millimeter “ghost” gun.
>>Biden-Harris Admin Approves MN “Internet for All” Proposal
(Washington, D.C.) — The Biden-Harris Administration has approved “Internet for All” proposals for four states, including Minnesota. The action allows Georgia, Iowa, Minnesota, and South Carolina to request funding and begin to implement the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program to connect Americans with affordable, reliable, high-speed internet service. Minnesota is requesting over $651 million. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith, and MN DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek speak highly of the decision.
>>MN Anti-War Committee Protests at Mayday Plaza Against Israel’s Attacks on Lebanon, Palestine
(Minneapolis, MN) — Minnesota Anti-War Committee members are protesting at Mayday Plaza in Minneapolis tonight (THURS), 5:30 p.m.), demanding an end to Israel’s attacks on Lebanon as well as Gaza. This comes after Israel detonated thousands of communication devices in Lebanon last week, killing and wounding civilians. The demonstration will feature Lebanese-American speakers, Palestine solidarity activists, and the Black Lives Matter movement.
