>>Former Minnesota School Employee Facing Federal Child Pornography Charges
(Minneapolis, MN) — A Maplewood man is facing federal charges for taking pictures of students while he was working in two school districts and producing sexually explicit images. Prosecutors say 30-year-old William Haslach was a lunch monitor and traffic guard for the North St.Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale District and a paraprofessional and program assistant for Stillwater Area Schools. Court records say Haslach took non-explicit photos of children and morphed the images to show minors engaging in sexual conduct. He also possessed and received child pornography. Haslach has a detention hearing on Monday.
>>Winter Storm Warning for Part of Minnesota
(Undated) — While much of Minnesota will continue to enjoy unusually mild weather, part of the state is returning to winter weather. The National Weather Service in Duluth has issued a Winter Storm Warning for parts of the Arrowhead region. It will go into effect from 9:00 p.m. today through noon tomorrow. (Fri) Heavy snow is expected. Total snow accumulations are between four and nine inches.
>>Detroit Lakes Couple Facing Felony Tax Evasion Charges
(Detroit Lakes, MN) — A Detroit Lakes couple faces multiple felony tax charges after an investigation by the Minnesota Department of Revenue found that neither had filed or paid state income or sales taxes for several years. Randy Wold, owner of Northern Wild Taxidermy, and Alisa Wold, owner of Misty Maple Goldens kennels, are each charged in Becker County District Court with failure to file and pay individual income taxes and state sales taxes between 2018 and 2022. According to court documents, the investigation found the couple reported zero income during that period despite business records showing otherwise. They owe over $117,000 in unpaid taxes, penalties, and interest. They are scheduled to make their first court appearances on March 27.
>>Group To Sue State Over Nitrate Pollution
(St. Paul, MN) — Environmental advocacy groups in Minnesota are initiating legal action against state agencies due to concerns over nitrate pollution. The lawsuit aims to compel these agencies to implement new fertilizer regulation policies. The groups allege that runoff from fertilizers is causing high nitrate levels in private wells, which can lead to serious health issues such as birth defects, thyroid problems, and cancer. While the organizations leading the lawsuit acknowledge the efforts already made, they urge the agencies to collaborate more effectively in addressing this critical issue.
>>St. Paul Joins Minneapolis in Lawsuit Against President Trump’s Administration
(St. Paul, MN) — Leaders in St. Paul are joining their counterparts in Minneapolis in a lawsuit against the Trump Administration, claiming that it is unlawfully targeting sanctuary cities that refuse to enforce its immigration policies. The lawsuit argues that it is illegal for Trump to withhold federal funding to compel local law enforcement to act as federal immigration agents. Many local agencies depend on this public funding to support their operations. St. Paul and Minneapolis leaders are now joining San Francisco, which filed the lawsuit earlier this month.
>>Former Minnesota School Employee Facing Federal Child Pornography Charges
(Minneapolis, MN) — A Maplewood man is facing federal charges for taking pictures of students while he was working in two school districts and producing sexually explicit images. Prosecutors say 30-year-old William Haslach was a lunch monitor and traffic guard for the North St.Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale District and a paraprofessional and program assistant for Stillwater Area Schools. Court records say Haslach took non-explicit photos of children and morphed the images to show minors engaging in sexual conduct. He also possessed and received child pornography. Haslach has a detention hearing on Monday.
>>City Council Overrides Mayor Frey’s Veto of Pedestrian Mall at George Floyd Square
(Minneapolis, MN) — It looks like there will be a pedestrian mall at George Floyd Square in south Minneapolis after all. A supermajority of the Minneapolis City Council overrode Mayor Jacob Frey’s veto of the plan this morning (Thurs) for the project at 38th Street and Chicago Avenue. Community members and Floyd’s family called on council members to override Frey’s veto. Councilwoman Emily Koski said, “George Floyd Square is not just an intersection. It is a memorial.” The site is where Minneapolis police killed Floyd on Memorial Day 2020.
