PB Communications Event A Success; No Ethics Probe For Mitchell; DFL Committee Doubles Down On Endorsement
(Bemidji, MN) (April 24, 2024) – An estimated crowd of nearly 4,000 attended the GigaZone Gaming Championship & TechXpo on Saturday, April 20 at the Sanford Center. The event featured free gaming, numerous gaming tournaments, over 25 technology exhibitors, and special guest Danielle Feinberg from Pixar Animation Studios. According to a press release, the regional gaming event showcases Paul Bunyan Communications’ IT and web development team which custom built and integrated much of the online technology and leverages the speed of the GigaZone . For more information on the GigaZone Gaming Championship and a lis of winners, visit www.gigazonegaming.com For more information about the GigaZone TechXpo visit www.gigazonetechxpo.com
>>State Senate Avoids Ethics Probe Of Mitchell With Tie Vote
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Senate will not expedite an ethics probe into a state senator arrested for burglary earlier this week. Republicans in the chamber requested an investigation into the conduct of DFL Senator Nicole Mitchell of Woodbury yesterday. The move to jumpstart the investigation was derailed when the motion failed in a 33-33 vote. Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy said Mitchell deserves the right to a full defense in court and said her alleged criminal behavior is far outside the character Mitchell has displayed as a senator. (24/7 News Source)
>>Two Dead After Crash In Kandiyohi County
(Pennock, MN) — The Minnesota State Patrol says two people are dead after a crash in Kandiyohi County. The crash happened Tuesday night near Pennock. Sixty-nine-year-old Joyce Nokleby and 83-year-old Llewellyn Nokleby of Benson died in the crash. Forty-five-year-old Douglas Robinson of Waseca was injured but is expected to recover. The crash is under investigation.(24/7 News Source)
>>MPCA Fines American Crystal Sugar For Air Quality Violations
(East Grand Forks, MN) — State authorities are fining a sugar processing facility in northwest Minnesota for air quality violations. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says an American Crystal Sugar plant in East Grand Forks had multiple violations between 2020 and 2022. The sugar beet processing facility allegedly released more hydrogen sulfide and particulate matter than its permit allowed and failed to operate multiple pieces of pollution control and air monitoring equipment. In addition to corrective actions, the company was fined 350-thousand dollars.(24/7 News Source)
>>St. Cloud Distribution Center To Lay Off 350 Workers
(St. Cloud, MN) — A St. Cloud distribution company is planning to lay off hundreds of workers later this year. Fulfillment Distribution Center has notified the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development about the planned job cuts. The company had a contract to fulfill orders for Publisher’s Clearing House, but that arrangement is ending in October. The company says about 350 workers will be affected by the layoffs.(24/7 News Source)
>>DFL Committee Affirms Endorsement Of Candidate In District 12B
(Alexandria, MN) — A local DFL committee is refusing to back down from its endorsement of a state House candidate despite pressure from state party leaders. The Senate District 12 Central Committee met over the weekend to review its endorsement of House candidate Judd Hoff of Alexandria. The committee said they found no reason to withdraw their endorsement. Hoff was convicted of felony assault in 2021, and DFL and Republican leaders in the legislature condemned the committee’s decision to endorse him. State DFL Chair Ken Martin said Hoff was unfit for office and said the state party would not support his campaign.(24/7 News Source)
>>State Lawmaker Admits Voting Yes On Voting Bill By Mistake
(St. Paul, MN) — A Minnesota state senator is admitting to making a mistake with her vote on a bill passed by the Senate last week. Republican Senator Carla Nelson of Rochester voted yes on a bill to enact the Minnesota Voting Rights Act. The vote was surprising, as Republicans have criticized the bill. Nelson admitted in a statement that she voted for the bill in error after losing track of the debate while she was multitasking. She said she would vote against the bill when it returns to the Senate floor.(24/7 News Source)
>>Minnesota High Schools Listed In New U.S. News And World Report Ranking
(Undated) — Several Minnesota high schools are listed in a new ranking from U.S. News and World Report. The annual ranking released this week uses data from over 25-thousand U.S. high schools. The Math and Science Academy in Woodbury ranked 120th overall, while the Nova Classical Academy in St. Paul was 179th. The St. Croix Preparatory Academy in Stillwater was ranked 190th. High schools in Maple Grove, Minnetonka, Edina and Wayzata were also ranked among the top 400 schools in the U.S.(24/7 News Source)
>>Minneapolis Council To Vote On Trying To Land Sundance Festival
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Minneapolis City Council is considering a bid to bring the Sundance Film Festival to Minnesota. Sundance officials announced earlier this month that they would accept proposals for a new location for the festival beginning in 2027. Bids must be turned in by next Wednesday. The council will vote on the idea later today.(24/7 News Source)
