NEWS --The Minnesota Supreme Court says part of a disorderly conduct law that bars people from disturbing public meetings is unconstitutional and violates the First Amendment. The ruling comes in the case of Robin Hensel of Little Falls who was escorted from a city council meeting and charged with disorderly conduct after she refused to sit in the gallery. In Wednesday's ruling, the Minnesota Supreme Court invalidated the law, saying it's over broad. The justices sent the case back to the lower court with an order to vacate Robin Hensel's conviction. Hensel's attorney, Kevin Riach, says the ruling is a victory for free speech at a time when democratic values are under attack and public dissent is critical. An attorney who represented the state was disappointed with the decision and evaluating its impact.
--Pierz School District Superintendant George Weber appeared on AM960 KLTF community events on Tuesday. Weber spoke about future plans for a potential referendum in the Pierz School District. This past May voters rejected an $18.45 million dollar referendum. Presently the school district is working with a company to create a survey that will be sent out to residents around the Pierz School District area. Weber expected that survey to be sent out in the next week or two. The purpose of the survey is to learn what projects local residents will support on a future referendum. Residents would have until around October 10th to respond to that survey. Under new law, starting in January there will only be five dates that school districts can hold referendum elections. Those dates include the second Tuesdays in February, April, May along with the August primary and general election dates. The Pierz School District will not have a referendum again this year before that change.
--A teenage boy from Detroit Lakes missing since August 21st may be in the Sartell area, according to a Facebook post Wednesday by the Sartell Police Department. Parker Eastman is 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 140 pounds, with brown hair, brown eyes and a dimple on his left cheek. Authorities say Eastman went missing without his personal belongings, but typically wears hoodies, baseball or stocking caps and crazy socks. A Facebook post from the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center said Eastman may still be in the Detroit Lakes area or may be in the Sartell area. Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or the Detroit Lakes Police Department at (218) 847-4222.
--Governor Mark Dayton and Republican and Democratic lawmakers have picked an attorney and mediator to help with their talks in the veto ruling. A judge recently ruled that the use of line item veto on funding the legislature by Governor Dayton was constitutional. Rick Solum will mediate the talks between the two sides with hopes for finding a solution.
--Former Brainerd Police Chief John Bolduc has taken a job to lead the Nebraska State Patrol. Bolduc was police chief in Brainerd from 2001-2010 before moving to San Diego as a Harbor police chief from 2010-2017. Bolduc will take over effective January 1st in Nebraska. Bolduc has been in law enforcement for over 23 years. He has also taken training from the FBI National Academy.
--A 55-year old East Gull Lake man was injured Saturday afternoon just before 4:00pm in Baxter. Police said that Scott Grave was taken to the hospital with injuries after his motorcycle crashed in a parking lot. Baxter police reported that one person was injured Friday around 2:00pm on Highway 371 turning onto Novotny Road. One person had minor injuries in the 2-vehicle accident. No names were released.
--An Air Quality Alert has been issued today from 12-8:00pm for Morrison, Mille Lacs, Benton and the rest of east-central Minnesota including the Twin Cities. Warm temperatures in the 80's and 90's and wildfire smoke from the west will cause pollution levels to rise and cause poor air quality. Those who have asthma or other breathing type conditions could encounter issues if outside for longer periods of time and doing strenuous activities later today.
--A man charged with causing the death of a 10-year old girl in Aitkin County after a hit and run accident in 2016 has entered a guilty plea in Aitkin County District Court. Steven Meier of Hastings was charged with felony criminal vehicular homicide in the death of Caylin Donovan who died after a vehicle struck her by Mille Lacs Lake on June 10th, 2016. Donovan was staying with a family near the lake collecting rocks when she was struck and killed. DNA matching Donovan was found on the boat trailer of Meier's. When questioned he said he never saw a girl near the highway and could not remember hitting her. Damage to the vehicle and trailer proved otherwise. Meier was arrested and charged in the case.
--The Minnesota Department of Revenue announced Wednesday that a Big Lake man has been charged with 17 tax related felonies on suspicion of failing to file or pay sales tax for his business, JC's Body Shop. 56-year old Mark Edmund Miller was charged August 24th in Sherburne County District Court with four counts of failing to file sales tax returns, four counts of failing to pay sales tax and nine counts of making retail sales after his sales tax permit was revoked. According to the criminal complaint, Miller owes more than $106,000 in taxes, penalties and interest. Miller is scheduled to make his first court appearance on the charges September 20th.
--Yesterday afternoon the Buffalo Police Department requested help finding a missing 15-year old girl, but later in the day she was reportedly found safe in Iowa. Authorities continually show appreciation for the public's help in cases like this.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS --Christopher Hirsch and Michelle Charpenter of Little Falls, boy 9/10 --Patrick Jr. and Chelsea Grob of St. Cloud, boy on September 12th
DEATH NOTICES --William (Willie) Kowalczyk, age 60 of Pipestone formerly of Harding --Robert (Bob) Norberg, age 78
WEATHER TODAY= fog early, sunny skies, high 85. TONIGHT= storms develop after dark, low 63. FRIDAY= storms early, partly sunny, strong storms late, high 77. SATURDAY= storms early, some sun, storms late day, high 71, low 49 SUNDAY= sunny and cooler, high 63, low around 40.
SPORTS TWINS= Eddie Rosario hit a 2 run walk off homer last night as the Twins beat San Diego 3-1 in 10 innings. The Twins host Toronto for the start of a 4 game series tonight, pregame 6:30 on Q92 WYRQ LYNX= Lynx/Washington game 2 tonight 7pm at Williams Arena. NFL= Houston at Cincinnati tonight 7pm on AM960 KLTF. NFL= Vikings Quarterback Sam Bradford was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his three touchdowns on Monday.