Minnesota News Roundup: Teen charged in girlfriend's stabbing death
Minnesota News-- A court appearance is this afternoon (130pm) for a 17-year-old boy from Maplewood accused in the stabbing death of his 16-year-old girlfriend.
ST. PAUL -- A court appearance is this afternoon (130pm) for a 17-year-old boy from Maplewood accused in the stabbing death of his 16-year-old girlfriend. Anthony Mitchell faces charges of second-degree murder and prosecutors will ask the judge that he be tried as an adult. Authorities say Mitchell led them to victim's body in a Maplewood Park early the morning of February 23rd after his mother called police. A witness told investigators the victim had planned on ending her relationship with Mitchell, and authorities say the accused was also seen at a party the night before playing with a knife.
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A Coon Rapids man has been charged with taking secret videos of boys in locker rooms at local YMCAs. Bail has been set at a half-million dollars for 53-year-old Robert Minor. A 12-year-old boy told his parents he was changing clothes at the YMCA in Andover last week when he saw a man holding a watch over the area where he was getting dressed. A search of the suspect's home turned up a wrist watch that records digital video and photos. Investigators also found files on his computer showing young boys undressing in Y-M-C-A locker rooms, plus other child pornography.
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An Iowa woman accused of leaving her one and six-year-old nieces alone in a Bloomington hotel while she hit a strip club and a casino with a man has been charged with child neglect. Hotel staff called police March 1, after the girls were found wandering the lobby and in the hallways. When investigators searched for the couple that checked in with the children they found the room empty and a complete mess, including open bottles of alcohol and dirty diapers. The children were taken to an emergency child care center. Their aunt, 18-year-old Alexah Mauskemo, and her 39-year-old friend Douglas Cadotte were arrested when they returned to the hotel more than seven hours later. Mauskemo is charged with child neglect, and Cadotte with drug possession after officers found meth in his pants.
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Despite a record-setting year for Minnesota corn producers, last year's drought may be catching up. Unlike other states, Minnesota dodged some of the driest weather conditions that led to poor yields. But if farmers don't see early spring rains, Minnesota could quickly find itself in the same position. State Climatologist Greg Spoden says the state is already seeing the impact of a dry fall and nearly everywhere in Minnesota faces some sort of drought situation right now. Spoden says because the ground is still frozen, recent snowfall won't have an impact on soil conditions. He says it will, however, give lakes and rivers a nice bump.
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An increase in the minimum wage and a hike in the alcohol tax are being debated in committees at the State Capitol today (Wed). A House committee this afternoon (1230pm) considers a bill that would increase Minnesota's alcohol tax about a dime a drink. Money raised would go into a special fund for D-W-I and other enforcement, plus treatment and prevention. And this afternoon (3pm) a Senate panel debates increasing the minimum wage at large employers from 6-15 up to 7-50, and in 2014 indexing minimum wage increases at all employers to inflation. Another bill proposes larger increases than that. Backers say workers supporting families need a living wage. Opponents say minimum wage earners are mostly young people entering the work force who quickly get promotions -- and they warn a minimum wage increase will stifle job creation.
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Wal-Mart will move ahead with the construction of a distribution center in Mankato. President and CEO Greater Mankato growth Jonathon Zierdt says it's a huge vote of confidence for the community, and will create more than 300 jobs. The 420,000 square foot facility will be used primarily for the distribution of perishable products throughout the upper Midwest. The distribution center will open in 2015.
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A St. Paul woman admitted that she ran over her boyfriend with her car and left him to die on the side of the road. 54-year-old Arlene Garcia pled guilty to one count of vehicular homicide, admitting that she was drunk when she ran over 50-year-old Mark Urang during an argument January 30. Police found Urang in the middle of the street in St. Paul, surrounded by a large pool of blood. He died at the hospital. Garcia will be sentenced April 25.
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Three federal detainees are charged with attacking and assaulting two correction officers at the Sherburne County Jail in early February. The U.S. Attorney's Office says 26-year-old Ira Goodwin, 25-year-old Michael Luedtke, and 28-year-old Edward Robinson conspired with each other to use a chair and a can of pepper spray to severely injure correction officers. They are each facing two assault charges and one conspiracy count. The officers suffered several injuries, including one with a concussion. All three men have violent criminal records, and if they're convicted face up to 20 years in federal prison on each assault charge and five years on the conspiracy charge.
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A suspended lawyer has admitted that she sideswiped a car in a bar parking lot, and then fought with officers that tried to arrest her. 31-year-old Laura Toberman of St. Paul pled guilty to drunk driving and obstructing the legal process, after police responded to the bar when a customer called to report that his car was hit. Toberman was found inside the bar, and the complaint says that when the officer tried to cuff her she tried to hit and kick him, and used "profane language and personal derogatory remarks toward the officer." The Supreme Court suspended Toberman for at least nine months last October, for unrelated reasons. The reinstatement of Toberman's license to practice is contingent on her "demonstrating that she has addressed any addiction or mental health issues that led to the misconduct."
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