The Minneapolis School District has locked down all of its schools after police informed officials of vague threats posted on the Web.
Rochester, MN's local news source.
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March 10, 2010
March 9, 2010
Ex-auto magnate Hecker faces more charges
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The criminal case against Minnesota former auto magnate Denny Hecker has gotten broader in scope.
A federal grand jury indicted the 57-year-old Hecker on Tuesday with eight additional counts of wire fraud and 10 counts of bankruptcy fraud. The new charges are added to an existing indictment that accuses Hecker of conspiracy to defraud lenders and others out of millions of dollars.
The indictment alleges the scheme was created in part to fund Hecker’s extravagant lifestyle.
Hecker was one of Minnesota’s largest auto dealers before his empire collapsed. He filed for bankruptcy last June, claiming $787 million in debt and $18.5 million in assets.
One of Hecker’s attorneys, Marsh Halberg, says he hasn’t had a chance to review the new charges and has no comment. Halberg and Hecker’s other criminal attorney have asked to withdraw from the case.
March 8, 2010
Highway 247 shut down near Potsdam during house fire
Minnesota Highway 247 in Wabasha County was shut down for about an hour tonight due to heavy smoke pouring from a nearby house fire that greatly reduce visibility. The shutdown was near a stretch of the highway near Wabasha County Road 2, near the small town of Potsdam. The State Patrol shut down the highway at about 5 p.m.
No crashes happened on the highway after the house fire began, according to a Wabasha County Sheriff’s Office dispatcher.
Rochester synchronized skaters take 6th at nationals
The Rochester Figure Skating Club’s intermediate synchronized skating team, Rhythm & Blades, took sixth place out of 12 teams at the USA Skating Inc. national championships in Minneapolis over the weekend. Last year, the team finished fourth. It was the first two times that Rochester synchronized skating teams had reached nationals since the Rochester program was started in the early 1990s.
Austin School Board votes to remove member
The Austin School Board has voted 5-0 to approve the removal of board member Curt Rude.
MPCA issues air pollution alert
MPCA press release:
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an air pollution health alert for Rochester and the Twin Cities for today.
Dense fog overnight, which aids in fine particle production, and calm winds, have allowed fine particle concentrations to build to levels considered unhealthy for sensitive groups in the Twin Cities, Rochester, Marshall, St. Cloud and Detroit Lakes areas. Hourly pollution monitors indicate that fine particle levels have begun to fall in western Minnesota; however elevated concentrations persist in the Twin Cities and Rochester. Air-quality conditions are expected to improve statewide on Tuesday as an approaching low-pressure system produces moderate east-southeasterly winds and enhances vertical mixing.
Those with respiratory or cardiovascular disease, young children, the elderly and individuals who participate in activities that require heavy exertion are the most sensitive to elevated levels of air pollution. Since fine particle can be drawn deeply into the lungs, it is a good idea to reduce or postpone activities that lead to deep or accelerated breathing.
Exposure to high levels of fine particles may cause chest pain, shortness of breath, and/or coughing and fatigue, even after air quality has improved. If you experience these symptoms, contact your physician. Even individuals that are otherwise healthy may experience health effects when air pollution increases.
Chisholm police officer is suspect in shooting
Duluth News Tribune
A 47-year-old former Chisholm police officer was under police supervision Sunday in a Hibbing hospital. He is suspected of shooting and killing one man Saturday night and wounding two others, one of whom is fighting for his life.
State and county authorities said that Jason Musburger is facing potential charges of homicide and attempted homicide in connection with the shooting at Jim’s Sports Club Bar & Grill, 108 W. Lake St., in Chisholm about 9:45 p.m. Saturday.
Edward John Walberg, 40, was shot and killed. Steve Nelson, 29, was shot twice in the stomach and is “fighting for his life” in a Duluth hospital, said Andy Skoogman, director of communications for the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Larry Elj, 38, was shot near the shoulder. His injury is not life-threatening.
Investigators believe that Musburger confronted his ex-wife inside the bar. When Nelson intervened, the suspect left the bar and returned a short time later with a gun. He allegedly shot the three men before being subdued by a bar patron. The assailant was reportedly injured when he was hit over the head with a chair or stool to end the attack.
According to court records, Musburger and his ex-wife, Janice, were divorced on April 16.
Minn. House ready to vote on absentee ballot bill
Associated Press
ST. PAUL — Problems exposed during Minnesota’s drawn-out Senate race in 2008 are the motivation behind an elections bill drawing closer to a state House vote.
Lawmakers were planning to vote as early as today on a proposal designed to clean up the state’s absentee voting system, or at least start to.
The bill headed for a House vote requires local elections administrators to use ballot boards to deal with absentee ballots. It also would streamline the process for tracking the status of absentee ballots and making sure voters using them are properly registered.
Rejected absentee ballots played a central role in the recount and court case leading up to Sen. Al Franken’s win over Republican Norm Coleman.
A Senate plan is also awaiting a vote.
March 5, 2010
State reaches deal to extend health care plan for poor adults
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Democratic lawmakers have reached a deal to extend a health care plan for poor adults.
Steelers quarterback accused of sexual assault in Georgia
MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is being investigated in an allegation of sexual assault at a Georgia nightclub, police said today. Officers said the alleged assault occurred early this morning in Milledgeville, about 85 miles southeast of Atlanta. The player owns a home nearby.
The two-time Super Bowl champion and some of his friends were seen visiting local restaurants and bars Thursday night. “He’s been identified as being at the scene and there are allegations naming him as the perpetrator,” Deputy Chief Richard Malone said.
Malone said Roethlisberger had been with three other people who were mingling with another group that included the alleged victim. Malone said the woman and her party contacted a nearby police officer following the alleged assault. Several areas of the bar were considered a crime scene, but Malone would not elaborate.
Steelers’ Roethlisberger accused of sexual assault in Georgia
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