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17-Jan-2025

Fentanyl Sentencing

A man could be sentenced to more than 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to his role in a drug trafficking operation that led to the largest fentanyl bust in Minnesota history. Robiel Williams pleaded guilty on Thursday to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl after authorities seized more than 280,000 fentanyl pills in early 2023. Eight other people were charged in the drug trafficking conspiracy that involved purchasing the pills from suppliers in Phoenix and hiding them inside stuffed animals. They would then mail the stuffed animals to addresses around the Twin Cities. The packages were lined with dog treats to prevent drug-sniffing dogs from alerting to them. In all, the pills had an estimated value of over $2.2 million. The only defendant to be sentenced so far is Cornell Chandler Jr., who was sentenced to 13 years in prison. Williams' sentencing has yet to be scheduled, but court documents show he can expect somewhere between 121 and 188 months in prison. Fentanyl was involved in more than 90% of all opioid-related deaths and more than 60% of all overdose deaths in the state in 2022, according to data from the Minnesota Department of Health.

17-Jan-2025

Vehicle Goes Into River

Two people suffered minor injuries when the semi they were in went off the interstate and into a river. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened at about 5:45 a.m. Thursday on Interstate 94 near St. Joseph. Twenty-six-year-old Joby Joy of Port Saint Lucie, Florida was driving the truck heading east when he lost control, entered the center median, and entered the river. Joy and his passenger, 48-year-old Sunish Maliakal of Tinley Park, Illinois, were both taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

16-Jan-2025

John Deere Lawsuit

Minnesota farmers who've long pushed for the right to independently repair their own agricultural equipment are celebrating a lawsuit filed against John Deere, in which the company is accused of instituting illegal repair policies that drive up costs for farmers. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) along with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul have brought the lawsuit, alleging violations of federal antitrust laws. The lawsuit alleges John Deere's longstanding policies limiting the ability of farmers and independent technicians to repair Deere equipment unlawfully boosts the company's profits while raising repair costs for farmers. Farmers are also deprived of the ability to make timely repairs on critical equipment as Deere's policies force farmers to rely on the company's network of authorized dealers, the lawsuit alleges. Gary Wertish, president of the Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) said the legal action represents a "critical step" in creating a more competitive market for farm equipment repair, which will in turn benefit both farmers and independent repair technicians. In a news release, MFU said members have advocated for the "Right to Repair" for years and have been working with lawmakers to remove a provision exempting farm equipment from the state's Digital Fair Repair Act passed in 2023.

16-Jan-2025

Murder Suicide

A 64-year-old New Ulm man sought in connection with the murder of his romantic partner last week has died, according to authorities. The Blue Earth County Sheriff's Office on Monday said the man died of his injuries after being found unresponsive with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound inside a vehicle in the garage at his home Friday. 57 year old Kristi  Gardner,was discovered dead inside her home in rural Crystal Lake on Thursday, Jan. 9. The two deaths are being investigated as a murder-suicide, Sheriff Jeff Wersal told the Star Tribune.

16-Jan-2025

One Vehicle Crash With Injuries

A Bemidji woman suffered life-threatening injuries in a one-vehicle crash near Hill City on Tuesday afternoon. The Minnesota State Patrol says 53-year-old Twila Pesola was driving an SUV westbound on Highway 200 near 680th Lane in Aitkin County when she lost control of the vehicle on an icy road. The SUV went off the road and hit a tree. Pesola was transported to St. Mary’s hospital in Duluth with life-threatening injuries. The State Patrol says she was wearing her seat belt and that alcohol was not involved in the crash.