>>Life in Prison for Man Convicted of Murdering Maddi Kingsbury of Winona
(Winona, MN) — Adam Fravel will spend the rest of his life behind bars for the murder of 26-year-old Madeline Kingsbury of Winona. Fravel spoke briefly at his sentencing Tuesday, saying, “I never caused harm to Maddi, and I am innocent.” Kingsbury was his ex-girlfriend and the mother of his two children. She went missing in late March 2023 and her body was found June 7th after months of extensive search efforts. Maddi’s stepmother, Cathy Kingsbury, said waiting was 69 days of pure torture. Judge Nancy Buytendorp told Fravel, “It is impossible to fully understand the pain you have caused.”
>>House Author Believes Cannabis Retail Market Will Open in 2025
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota House author of the bill that legalized cannabis remains confident the retail marketplace will open next year. Representative Zack Stephenson of Coon Rapids says a judge postponing the pre-approval license lottery delayed the process. He says he believes it will open in the first half of 2025 and they were hoping to begin retail sales in the first quarter. Stephenson says applicants who were verified for the preapproval lottery will be entered into the general cannabis license lottery next spring.
>>National Eagle Center Cheers House Passage of National Bald Eagle Bill
(Wabasha, MN) — Officials at the National Eagle Center in Wabasha are applauding U-S House passage of a bill that will make the bald eagle our national bird. Communications director Ed Hahn says a lot of people assume it is already because the Continental Congress made it our symbol more than 200 years ago. He says it is prominently featured on the Great Seal in 1782, but there was never any official designation of the bald eagle as the national bird. He says they plan to send a delegation with one bird to Washington, D-C when President Biden signs the bill into law. Minnesota’s delegation pushed the bipartisan legislation through the House and Senate.
>>Former Ramsey County Employee Sentenced for Aiding in Murder
(St. Paul, MN) — A former Ramsey County employee must serve one day of probation and pay $136 in fees after being charged with aiding a murder suspect. Prosecutors say 57-year-old Christine Satriano was also sentenced to 121 days in jail but had credit for time served. Satriano was convicted of helping Delaquay Williams kill 31-year-old Regis Jones. Williams next court appearance is on Friday.
>>St. Paul Man Pleads Guilty to 2 Armed Mail Carrier Robberies
(St. Paul, MN) — A St. Paul man is pleading guilty in two armed robberies of U-S Postal Service (USPS) employees. The U-S Attorney’s Office says 26-year-old Rubin Adams and another person brandished a handgun at a letter carrier in Edina last November. They demanded the “mailbox key” the victim didn’t have, so they handed over two sets of U-S-P-S vehicle keys. The next day, Adams approached another letter carrier in Brooklyn Center in the same manner. The victim handed over two mailbox keys, which can be used to steal mail, cash, and checks. Adams sentencing hearing hasn’t been scheduled.
>>Minneapolis Man Sentenced to 33 Years for Killing Ex-Girlfriend’s Husband
(Minneapolis, MN) — A Minneapolis man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend’s husband is sentenced to more than 33 years in prison. Court documents show 38-year-old Orky Xayachack pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and illegal firearm possession earlier this month. Prosecutors say he shot and killed 31-year-old Ricardo Samuel Pena Martinez in November of last year. According to Martinez’s wife, the two had been married for years but often had periods of separation, during which she started a romantic relationship with Xayachak in June 2023. Xayachak became angry about the woman’s eventual decision to go back to Martinez. He will serve a total of 400 months in prison.
>>Police Warn of Fake $100 Bills Circulating in Rochester Area
(Rochester, MN ) — Police in Rochester are investigating the circulation of fake 100-dollar bills in the area. Officers say the bills resemble real currency but are labeled “prop movie” money. Authorities recovered stacks of the fake cash which would be worth 45 thousand dollars if they were real. Anyone who receives or sees counterfeit money should contact the Rochester Police Department or local law enforcement.
>>Atlanta Falcons Bench Ex-Minnesota Vikings Quarterback Cousins
(Atlanta, GA) — The Atlanta Falcons are benching former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins. Coach Raheem Morris announced Tuesday night that rookie Michael Penix, Junior will be the Falcons starting quarterback moving forward. Thirty-six-year-old Cousins left Minnesota in the offseason to sign a four-year, 180-million-dollar contract with Atlanta. The Falcons then selected Penix with the eighth-overall pick in the N-F-L Draft. Cousins threw just one touchdown pass and nine interceptions over the past five games. The Vikings routed Atlanta 42-21 in Cousins return to U-S Bank Stadium on December 8th.
