>>Walz Sued By State Republicans Over Scheduling Of District 40-B Special Election
(St. Paul, MN) –State Republicans are suing Governor Tim Walz over his decision to schedule a special election for a Minnesota House seat. The Republican Party argues that Walz acted prematurely by setting a date for the District 40-B election later this month. The lawsuit claims that the election cannot be scheduled until after the legislature has been in session for 22 days. The next legislative session is set to begin on January 14th. In response, Walz criticized the lawsuit, stating that Republicans are attempting to use the courts to block Democratic lawmakers from taking their seats.
>>Burnsville Man Pleads Guilty to $1.2 Million Federal Wire Fraud
(Minneapolis, MN) — A Burnsville man is pleading guilty to defrauding an electronics manufacturing business out of more than one point two million dollars. Federal prosecutors say 53-year-old Thomas Thanh Pham was the C-E-O of Enterprise Products L-L-C in 2019 and 2020 when he devised a scheme to defraud a California-based company. Court records say Pham claimed Enterprise could facilitate multi-million-dollar repair contracts between a company in San Jose and large electronic companies but supplied bogus documents and required the victim to pay a one-point-two-million-dollar deposit bond. Pham also sent 20 samples of electronic devices to the California company that were stolen property. His sentencing hasn’t been scheduled.
>>Defendants Found Guilty In MN Human Smuggling Case File New Motions
(Fergus Falls, MN) — Two men found guilty in a human smuggling case in northern Minnesota have submitted requests for a reconsideration of their verdict. Lawyers for Harshkumar Patel and Steve Shand filed motions in the U.S. District Court in Fergus Falls. A federal jury convicted the two men in November, but their attorneys argue that insufficient evidence supports the convictions. They ask the court to grant new trials or acquit both men of the charges. Patel and Shand are scheduled to be sentenced in March.
>>Ruby Slipper Theft Suspect Expected To Plead Guilty This Week
(Minneapolis, MN) — A man arrested for stealing a pair of ruby slippers worn in “The Wizard of Oz” is expected to plead guilty in federal court this week. A change of plea hearing for Jerry Saliterman is scheduled to take place in Minneapolis on Friday. The 77-year-old is the second person charged with the theft of the slippers that occurred in 2005 at the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids. Terry Martin pleaded guilty to stealing the slippers in 2023 and was sentenced to time served last year. The government has not disclosed Saliterman’s specific role in the theft. The slippers were recovered in 2018 and recently sold at auction for $28 million.
>>Renewable Fuels Advocates Disappointed in E-15 Not Being Approved Year Round
(Burnsville, MN) — Renewable fuels advocates are disappointed that a provision allowing year-round sales of E-15 in all 50 states wasn’t included in the one-year extension of the Farm Bill. Brian Werner of the Minnesota Biofuels Association says drivers in our state know the benefits of ethanol-blended gas. Minnesota and seven other states petitioned the E-P-A and will be allowed to sell 15 percent ethanol in the summer months, but it will not be available in the other 52 states.
>>Rockville Will Soon Have a Gas Station
(Rockville, MN) — The community of Rockville will soon have a gas station again after being without one for nearly two years. Snak Atak #55 is set to open by the end of the month. Rockville has been without a gas station since the closure of Rockville Gas and Bait in 2022 following the owner’s passing. Incoming Mayor Mark Husnik believes having a gas station will attract more people to the downtown area. He also says not having a vacant building will bring more life to the town.
>>MN Blackout Plates Prove Popular In First Year
(St. Paul, MN) — A new Minnesota license plate featuring a retro design has gained significant popularity in its first year. According to the state’s Driver and Vehicle Services Division, over 256,000 blackout license plates were sold between January 1st and December 31st. State officials noted that these year-end sales far exceeded the expected total of around 160,000 plates. In addition to the blackout plates, six other new designs were introduced last year, with the Minnesota Vikings plate being the second most popular, selling just under 5,800 units.
