Twin Cities Daily Herald

Aaron Hunter, a social studies teacher at Champlin Park High School pulled his student Darren Callender out of a turned-over, burning car Wednesday evening, Star Tribune reported.

Callender's car burned up after he was pulled out of it. Callender said he was grateful to be buckled up because he only used it about half the time and most who don't wear a seatbelt in this rollover reck are ejected from the car.

The story was interesting; a story of a hero. With all the bad news out there, it's good to hear a story like this every now and then.

Posted by Vadim Lavrusik at 10:55 AM | Permalink

24-year-old truck driver Michael Kozlowski was found not guilty of all charges in a crash with a Chippewa Falls High School bus that killed five people and injured others in October 2005, Star Tribune reported.

Kozlowski was driving a semitrailer truck for Whole Foods company and fell asleep on a delivery. The truck overturned and blocked the lanes of Hwy. 94. A bus driven by Paul Rasmus, 78, collided with the truck that blocked both lanes.

The defense cited that Rasmus and the school district of the bus is to blame, not Kozlowski. Rasmus wasn't wearing his glasses, they said and should have had time to stop before hitting the truck. But the prosecutor argued that Kozlowski was negligent because he was tired and if his truck was not there the bus would have never collided. The defense won.

The story was very well covered and showed both sides of the story well. When I read it, it made me want to take sides with each viewpoint, the defense and prosecutor.

Posted by Vadim Lavrusik at 10:59 PM | Permalink

Two women stopped their car and got out to fight in the middle of a 694 center lane, Star Tribune reported. The two got out and were throwing punches at one another. They were accompanied by a man.

The fight took place during rush hour and slowed lanes. Police came and arrested the two, taking them to jail. The man was not arrested and police did not say why the fight happened, but the two were riding in a vehicle together.

Police said the event was unusual because road rage altercations usually occur on the shoulder.

In other news, the father of accused shooter Jerome Pablo Cross, 17, says his son was at home and questions police evidence that his son was involved, Pioneer Press reported. Cross was charged Wednesday with second-degree murder of 16-year-old Earl Freeman, who was shot and killed on a Metro Transit bus Sunday. James Cross said the surveillance footage didn't catch the actual footage. Police say that they have solid evidence against Cross that there were several eye witnesses who saw Cross.

Posted by Vadim Lavrusik at 10:22 AM | Permalink

As enrollment in Minneapolis and St. Paul schools continues to drop, schools struggle to find a way to survive.

Star Tribune reported a story about two North Side Minneapolis schools that are going to be restructuring because of their low enrollment numbers. Pioneer Press reported that St. Agnes in St. Paul is struggling to meet their budget and are in debt, suffering from a dropping enrollment.

Recently the Minneapolis school board voted to close 6 schools, one of them being nearby Tuttle Community School. The enrollment is predicted to continue to decline, and the school board will need to close more to come to a enrollment and capacity equilibrium. Most students are going to the suburbs or to charter schools, as many families are moving out of the city and into suburbs.

Posted by Vadim Lavrusik at 11:46 PM | Permalink

Although there have been three bus shootings since March, bus police officials say that these are isolated incidents and buses are still safe, Star Tribune reported.

Earl Freeman, 16, of St. Paul was shot and killed Sunday while riding a bus home, Pioneer Press reported.
The Star Tribune reported today that police have arrested a 17-year-old St. Paul youth in connection with the shooting, but have not released a name.

Although the increase of incidents, Metro Transit has increased their bus police force by almost quadrupling it within the last five years, a police official said. There are about 15 cars on the street at any given time and officers board the buses five times each shift. Buses are also being equipped with digital cameras. With all these measures, “Transit systems reflect the communities they serve, Metro Transit Police Chief Dave Indrehus said, "and violent acts sometimes spill over.�

What I wonder is that Pioneer Press wrote the story, and I wonder if it helped the police track down a suspect.

Posted by Vadim Lavrusik at 6:09 PM | Permalink

Police released the details of the search warrant from the football players accused of rape, MN Daily reported.

Alex Daniels, E.J. Jones and Keith Massey have not been charged, but the police collected evidence at the player's apartment.

The woman said she drank until she was intoxicated and the three men picked her up and took her into a bedroom where the alleged assault took place. When she woke up, her clothing was half-off and her underwear were missing. She called herself from the men's cellphones so that she could identify them later, Star Tribune reported.

The suspects remain suspended from the team, but the investigation is still pending.

Posted by Vadim Lavrusik at 4:56 PM | Permalink

University officials evacuated seven buildings after finding a threatening note in Smith Hall on campus, Star Tribune reported.

The note specifically listed all of the buildings that were evacuated. The threat came two days after Virginia Tech shootings and days before the Columbine aniversary shootings.

The note read, "I am sick and tired of these buildings and people who operate in them, Today before 10 pm I am gonna bomb them simultaniously, I have nothing to lose."

The police received a call at 12:15 p.m. from a faculty member who was given the note that was found by a student in a bathroom. Buildings were locked and evacuated by 1:15 p.m. and the area was cordoned off shortly after. The threat is one of many during the weak and many question whether the Virginia Tech shooter's rampage has encouraged others.

Police found no bomb, Pioneer Press reported.

Posted by Vadim Lavrusik at 4:33 PM | Permalink

St. Paul officials are trying to spice things up in downtown St. Paul by trying to entice music club owners to fill vacant spaces, Pioneer Press reported.

Joe Spencer, arts and culture associate for Chris Coleman, said he has been trying to recruit club owners to open music clubs to add to the nightlife. Part of the reason is also to prepare for the 2008 Republican National Convention, which will be hosted at the Xcel Energy Center.

Posted by Vadim Lavrusik at 5:28 PM | Permalink

Minneapolis school board is going to vote tonight on which schools will close in June, Star Tribune reported.

Five of the schools are on the North Side and one is on the southeast side of Minneapolis. Most of the schools are on the list because of poor test score results and a short in funding to keep them open. The district has enough room for 50,000 but enrollment is down to 37,000 right now and the schools are closing to make it closer to the enrollement numbers.

However, neighborhood leaders express a sense of racism in list of schools on the list, which most are attended by mostly minorities. Neighborhood folks are upset because it decreases the middle-class in their neighborhoods, which has been moving to the suburbs.

More schools are to close in 2008, which the school board hopes to make a list of this summer.

Posted by Vadim Lavrusik at 3:58 PM | Permalink

Gopher men's football players held in custody for suspicions of rape were released from jail Monday due to insufficient evidence, Star Tribune reported.

After being released, Alex Daniels, 20 said he did not have a lawyer.

"Go gophers," he said. "I don’t know what happened. I’m just taking it one day at a time."

Authorities will continue to investigate the case. Daniels, E.J Jones, 19, and Keith Massey, 20, were taken into custody Friday after an 18-year-old woman flagged down a police officer and accused the three of sexually assaulting her. According to the police report, the incident happened late Tuesday or early Wednesday and she went to the hospital for a "rape kit" early Wednesday.

The questions I now have is the evidence insufficient due to the result of the rape kit test? Why were they released when initially Hestness said it is a "credible" case. What has changed since it was initially reported? For one, when the incident was initially reported by WCCO they said they were booked for was a first-degree sexual assault and then it was reported as a third-degree sexual assault.

Posted by Vadim Lavrusik at 5:30 PM | Permalink

Three Gopher football players were arrested Friday and are being held on suspicions of third degree sexual assault of an 18-year-old woman, reported Star Tribune.

The 18-year-old woman, whose name has not been released, flagged down a police officer outside of University Village Friday, accusing Alex Daniels, E.J. Jones, both 20, and Keith Massey, 19, of raping her. The three were picked up by police and suspended from the team. Charges could be brought as early as Monday. But the alleged rape occurred late Tuesday or Wednesday.

According to the MN Daily, the woman was examined at the hospital Wednesday morning.

It is unclear whether she is a U student, Pioneer Press reported.

Today, at the annual Spring game, University officials told reporters they would cut interviews short if any of the questions didn't focus on the spring game itself.

Posted by Vadim Lavrusik at 7:21 PM | Permalink

A 25-year-old man has been charged with murder and is suspect of several others, Star Tribune reported.

Tyvarus Lindsey, 25, was charged Monday with second-degree murder of Leon Brooks. Lindsey, who has a long criminal history, is also a suspect of a triple-homicide and another man two days after he was released on other charges.

Although the Star Tribune said he is the only suspect the police have for that murder, The Pioneer Press reported that the police have three, though the other two have not been named. The Pioneer Press focused on the triple homicide, because it occured in their coverage of St. Paul.

The police said the several murders are connected, but would not say how. The Star Tribune article is hard to follow and some of the first four graphs are very hard to read. The Pioneer Press article seemed much more clear. Also, as a side note, the new Pioneer Press Web site looks very fresh and easy to navigate.

Posted by Vadim Lavrusik at 12:07 AM | Permalink

A first-year mechanical engineering student died at the Hennepin County Medical Center Sunday afternoon after falling from the Oak Street parking garage earlier that day, Star Tribune reported.

Kyle Sharbonno, 19, died from injuries caused by the fall and what police call a "tragic accident."

The Pioneer Press reported was able to get the story on their website first, and also included the drowning of another student last week. One would think that two students dead in a week would be worth mentioning but the Star Tribune focused only on the student who fell. Both of the papers were able to talk to father, who essentially seemed to tell them the same thing, that Kyle was going to school to build a better snowmobile.

Star Tribune's headline seemed deceiving because it focused on the fatal fall being under investigation to make it sound like there is some sort of controversy.

I also reported the story for the Minnesota Daily. I included witnesses who saw what happened. The biggest difference with my story from their is that I didn't talk to the father. I think that since it is a student newspaper it is important to report the news first and then have a obituary styled story, which the two big papers mixed together. Instead of family, I talked to a close high school friend of Kyle's, who was shook up and didn't want to talk much. I wanted to wait until the family had a day to grieve, but I guess for the big papers news can't wait and perhaps they weren't sensitive enough to the family.

What is interesting is that Pioneer Press reported the family and police saying that the boy slipped, is their surveillance evidence to back this up? Or are they just trying to honor the students name? The police said nothing of the boy slipping and didn't seem close to be at that conclusion.

Posted by Vadim Lavrusik at 11:47 PM | Permalink

The of bodies of Tristan White, 4, and brother Avery Lee Stately, 2, were found Sunday after the boys went missing last November, the Star Tribune reported.

The bodies were found "encased" in ice in a lake close to their home. Red Lake Tribal Chairman Floyd (Buck) Jourdain said it appeared that the boys had walked out onto the ice that was only an inch or two thick. The bodies were recovered by a St. Louis County volunteer search team.

The death's seem accidental but an investigation will continue, Jourdain said.

"Jourdain says tribal police and the FBI received more than 300 tips during the course of the investigation. He says a lot of energy and resources were poured into finding Tristan and Avery," MPR reported.

Posted by Vadim Lavrusik at 5:55 PM | Permalink

Local Tuttle School in Southeast Como has been added to the closing list of schools in Minneapolis, according to the Star Tribune.

Administrators added it to the list because it hasn't performed well academically. The school is expected to merge with the smaller Pratt school in Prospect Park, but the school may not have room for the Tuttle kids.

But local community heads think the closing is part of the a bigger issue. James De Sota, neighborhood coordinator of Southeast Como Improvement Association, said many community members are upset about the school closing for several reasons.

One of them, De Sota said, is the closing of the school will drive out the middle class in the neighborhood out. The neighborhood is already suffering from the library closings, decreased funding for Van Cleve Park, and NRP funds which could bring the neighborhood group to an end.

The association put in over $100,000 of their NRP funds into a new science lab for the school several years ago, which now seems to be a waste to neighborhood leaders.

Cam Gordon, Ward 2 Councilman, said that the school is moving to Pratt because Pratt has performed well on their test scores and ranked high academically in Minneapolis. Gordon said people in Como are upset because they feel like the city is failing them, due to all the many losses they have suffered in funding over the year.

Justin Eizenholz, also part of the Como neighborhood group, calls the closing a bigger issue of a neighborhood collapse, in a posting on e-democracy.org.

Posted by Vadim Lavrusik at 5:16 PM | Permalink

Calhoun Lake was filled with kids playing tag, people playing volleyball in the warm sand, joggers everywhere drenched with sweat. Sounds like a regular summer day at the beach right? Wrong, not even close in fact. But today was a record high of 81 degrees for March 26, Star Tribune reported.

The former high 74 degrees for March 26 was set in 1991.

However, temperatures are supposed to drop to the 50s and the there are chances of showers for the rest of the week, according to the Weather Underground Web site.

I thought it was interesting that the Strib put the article on their front page, because it seems like papers rarely write stories dedicated to the weather, but since it was a record I guess it made it worthy.

Posted by Vadim Lavrusik at 12:02 AM | Permalink

Tubby Smith, the former Kentucky basketball coach, received a warm welcome at Williams Arena Friday as the new coach of the Gopher's men's basketball team, Star Tribune reported.

Announcement of Smith coming to the University was announced yesterday and came as a shock to students and players alike.

Sophomore guard Jamal Abu-Shamala said he didn't how he felt about the situation, but said Smith was a great coach.

"I guess I am just shocked," Abu-Shamala said in an interview. The mixed emotions of some of the players could be because all of their scholarships are now under review with the new coach.

After 10 season with Kentucky and making an NCAA appearance in each one, Smith decided to come to Minnesota for a seven-year contract worth $1.7 million per season.

Many have criticized Smith's decision because of the Gopher's nine-game winning season, like ESPN's Gene Wojciechowski.Smith said transition is never easy but is excited for a new start with a new challenge.

Posted by Vadim Lavrusik at 4:25 PM | Permalink

A St. Paul man accused of beheading an ex-girlfriend's dog was charged Friday, Star Tribune reported.

Anthony Albert Gomez, 24, was charged on one count of killing a "companion animal" and one count of animal cruelty done to threaten or terrorize another person.

Gomez has video clips on his cell phone of the dog being decapitated with a chain saw. He accused Crystal Brown, 17, his girlfriend, of being there while the dog was decapitated. Police said the dog was dead during the time of its beheading. He was arrested Thursday after police issued a search warrant for his home, finding blood splatter in his basement.

Posted by Vadim Lavrusik at 3:28 PM | Permalink

New census numbers show the Twin Cities populations still growing, while the suburbs may be slowing down, Star Tribune reported.

Part of the trend, the article said, might be caused by the growth of condos in the Twin Cities and semi-retired folks who want to move closer to the cities and don't mind living in a smaller place to be closer to the amenities they want.
Twin Cities boasts one of the fastest growing markets for condos.

Scott Country, which has been one of the fastest growing counties in the country over the last several years, has slowed and dropped out of the top 100.

The lead in this article was very confusing and a bit hard to follow. But the piece was very interesting and it was nice that they could use the numbers and focus them to the trend in condo growth.

Posted by Vadim Lavrusik at 12:04 AM | Permalink

Mall of America has had a policy of not allowing anyone under 16 years old to be at the mall unaccompanied after 4 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays since 1996, Star Tribune reported.

Teenagers either have to have a state-issued ID or be accompanied by their parents at the hours. Mall of America officials decided on the policy to prevent teenagers from hanging out over the weekend in the thousands.

Last week a mom dropped her 10-year-old son off at the mall so that she could go gamble. That's when security found the boy. Mall of America officials stress that the mall is not a babysitter, while the teenagers say they feel like they are being babysat because of the stringent policy.

The article looked at an issue that not many really think about. It was mostly informational, but interesting nontheless.

Posted by Vadim Lavrusik at 9:52 PM | Permalink

DFLers in the Legislature are looking to raise taxes with proposed bills that if passed could total as much as $3 billion, Star Tribune reported.

Increases in the income tax, gasoline tax, sales tax, and more are being included as part of the proposed bills.

The gas tax hasn't been raised since 1988. The increase in sales tax will go towards transportation improvements in the state. Advocates say the state is $1.7 billion behind on its transportation needs. But Gov. Tim Pawlenty is known to oppose an increase in taxes.

Pioneer Press reported that a bill to raise income sales taxes for top earners. The bill would go towards education, bringing in about $252 million for next year.

Posted by Vadim Lavrusik at 9:24 PM | Permalink

Coon Rapids Sgt. William J. Beardsley, 25 is the third Minnesotan soldier to die in Iraq this year, AP reported.

Beardsley died Wednesday after an improvised bomb exploded near his vehicle in Diwaniyah, Iraq, a city 80 miles south of Baghdad, Pioneer Press reported.

The AP said he is the 52nd person from Minnesota to die in the Iraq and Afganistan wars, while the Pioneer Press reported Beardsley being the 44th person from Minnesota to die in Iraq alone.

Posted by Vadim Lavrusik at 10:34 PM | Permalink

A 19-year-old Chaska man found partially frozen to a sidewalk died Sunday, Star Tribune reported.Sean Patrick Humphrey died Sunday afternoon at the Hennepin County Medical Center after he was found Saturday by a snowplow driver lying on the street unconscious. Police said it appears he slipped and hit his head on a curb and was outside for two hours before he was found. His core body temperature was at 77 degrees.

Police spent two hours trying to identify the victim because he had no identification and was not wearing a coat, gloves or hat. His parents called the Police, saying they hadn't seen their son since Friday and that the description of the victim that aired on news broadcasts Saturday matched their son's.

No other newspaper covered the death. Investigators suspect no foul play. Tragic that someone can die just walking down the street, however, investigators initially had leads that the suspect was seen at local area bars, but that has since been ruled out.

Posted by Vadim Lavrusik at 10:49 AM | Permalink

In 2002 a groundbreaking study conducted by University researcher, Dr. Catherine Verfaillie, showed that adult stem cells from mice can be used to grow other tissues, including the heart, brain, lung and liver. The study was a political issue because it pointed stem cell research into a direction outside of embryonic stem cells, which some view as a moral issue because it destroys embryos. A University study has concluded that the findings of the study are flawed, Star Tribune reported.

The panel said it was most likely an honest mistake and as did the researcher who interviewed with Star Tribune reporters over e-mail.

Other researchers were unable to duplicate her findings and it looks as though data from of the researcher's studies was practically duplicated, Associated Press reported.

The coverage of the story is a win for the Star Tribune, because they were actually able to get a hold of the researcher, even if it was by mail. The AP ended up citing Star Tribune's article.

Posted by Vadim Lavrusik at 10:39 PM | Permalink

Josh Hanson, 29, broke through a hotel window and fell 16-stories to land on his feet January 20, but he doesn't remember any of the fall or how it happened, reported Star Tribune.

Hanson was in town at the Hyatt Regency hotel for a dart tournament. Him and his friends had been drinking at a bar and made their way over to the hotel. They took the elevator to the 17th floor. He said he started running down the hall towards their room and that was the last thing he remembers. He broke his fibia and tibia in his right leg.

He still has stiches on his face and is taking medication for his leg. He doesn't remember hitting glass or striking the overhang.

Posted by Vadim Lavrusik at 8:24 PM | Permalink

A Senate panel approved a modified statewide smoking ban Monday with a clause that would allow bars with ventilation systems that block out the smoke to remain, Associated Press reported.

The new law may undo local restrictions that have stringent bans on smoking in bars and restaurants in cities like Bloomington, St. Paul and Mankato.

The panel members voted 9-7 to pass the clause. Other Senators hope the bill that becomes law will not include the new changes.

The Pioneer Press reported that it is unlikely that the bill remain in its current form because it has to go through three more committees.

Both of the articles were quite brief. The lead in the Pioneer Press article was much more precise.

Posted by Vadim Lavrusik at 7:19 PM | Permalink

Gophers men's basketball lost 85-76 to the Buckeyes Sunday, reported the Associated Press.

The Gophers, who suffered their fifth straight loss, kept the Buckeyes on their heals until the second half.

Lawrence McKenzie, who according to stats is the fifth best shooter in the Big Ten, scored 22 points for the Gophers, but didn't get much support from his teammates.

Ohio State moves on to play No. 2 Wisconsin next Sunday. Wisconsin is the only Big Ten team to beat the Buckeyes this season and both teams are looking for a No. 1 seed in the tournament.

I think an analysis of why the Gophers lost the game would have been nice. The article didn't talk about the fact that their were a lot of turnovers, and that the game was really close in the beginning. It only focused on Ohio State chasing their No. 1 ranking.

Posted by Vadim Lavrusik at 6:14 PM | Permalink

Billionaire T. Denny Sanford, Univerisity of Minneasota alumnus, said he wants to die broke and in an attempt to fulfill his goal he gave $400 million away to a South Dakota medical organization, Star Tribune reported.

Sioux Valley Hospitals & Health, the organization received the charity, has already changed its name to Sanford Health.

Sanford, who tried to get the University of Minnesota to put his name on the new football stadium, is worth an estimated $2.5 billion. According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy he was 14th most generous donor in 2005. The Keloland TV reported that this great contribution would add him to be 14th most generous, implying he was at a different position before.

He is also responsible for funding the T. Denny Sanford Pediatric Center at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

Posted by Vadim Lavrusik at 5:47 PM | Permalink

An 18-year-old father was arrested Monday in St. Paul on suspicion of beating his 15-month-old daughter to death, Star Tribune reported.

Charges on Beauford Jackson may be announced today. The baby died in Regions Hospital in St. Paul from a severe blow to the torso, Pioneer Press reported.

The child, Destiny Jackson, was taken into foster care for a fractured skull in late November but was returned to the father and mother, Maeve Clifford, 18, in January. The social workers were not able to prove that Jackson had abused the child, even though the grandmother said that he had failed a polygraph test concerning on the incident.

The Star Tribune article looked deeper into a bigger issue of there not being enough social workers to see through such cases. The Star Tribune article also had Jackson's mother in it, while the Pioneer Press only covered the main incident and barely referenced the grandmother, without using her name but just calling her grandmother. Disappointing that the Pioneer Press article lacked substance and only touched on the surface of the issue.

Posted by Vadim Lavrusik at 9:57 PM | Permalink

Ward 5 Councilman Don Samuels is being called to resign after his controversial comments regarding the failings of North High School, the Star Tribune reported.

Samuels, who was elected 2003, said he has no plans of stepping down but is apologetic about his statements, which he claims were taken out of context.

Leaders plan to attend Friday's meeting in attempt to show their disapproval of Samuels and to put pressure on him to resign.

Posted by Vadim Lavrusik at 9:59 AM | Permalink

University football coach, Tim Brewster, wasn't able to get a the top state prospects, but was able to get a solid group of players, including his son, the Star Tribune reported.

Brewster had four of his top recruits go else where, but was able to get four other important recruits from the state who decided to keep their commitments before the coaching change.
A total of 22 players were signed, and others like Walker Ashley (DE) of USC have given the coach verbal commitments. One of the most promised or praised athletes recruited is Harold Howell of Florida, who is known to be small but speedy.

Brewster hopes to have an even stronger recruiting class next year.

Posted by Vadim Lavrusik at 9:26 AM | Permalink

Stillwater prison officer shot himself before starting his 6 a.m. shift at a maximum security prison.

Authorities suspect no foul play, since the security officer was in an area that is not accessible by prisoners. Pioneer Press reported that "Steven J. Jensen, 41, was found dead about 5:30 a.m. Sunday. The Ramsey County medical examiner issued a provisional report saying Jensen shot himself in the head, Bayport Police Chief John Gannaway said Monday." Although the information about where he shot himself is important, it may be a little too much.

The question I still have is whether this is something that is common in the profession, or even what the suicide rates are for prison guards. It would have been interesting if one of the reporters would have talked to a psychologist or an expert, to talk to them about what drives a person to such a thing. Also, it talks about his family grieving, and it may be hard to talk to his family right now, but that is very important to this story to figure out why he may have done this.

Posted by Vadim Lavrusik at 10:00 AM | Permalink

An 11-year-old girl was dragged underneath a van for over five hundred yards Monday, after the van hit her as she crossed the street .

A couple witnessed the whole thing and helped police to the suspect, who the police suspect was not drinking. The suspect was expected to be charged Monday with criminal operation of his vehicle and driving after his license was suspended. The Pioneer Press reported that the suspect "Mauricio Sanchez, 33, of St. Paul, is in the Dakota County jail and could face charges of criminal vehicular operation resulting in great bodily harm, leaving the scene of an accident and driving with a suspended license."

I end of the Pioneer Press story the comments from the witnesses are really irrelevant and a little awkward.

Posted by Vadim Lavrusik at 9:18 AM | Permalink

According to a report released by the state auditor, state pension funds may be in a $4 billion defecit, the Startribune reported Tuesday. The report blames the deficit on the Legislature for increasing returns and investing in unusual "bullmarket" investments.

The reporter said, the Legislature has "painted too rosy a picture," and attributed it to a state official, which is a great way to get the point across in the lead without editorializing. It would have been nice to hear from an actual state employee who will be affected by the deficit not just union reps and state officials. I want to hear from the people.

I also thought it was interesting that the article talked about the state messing up and having a deficit and then in the last subhead, it talks about firefighters would have received a greater return if they had the state invest for them. The article says, "On the upside, most of the plans are adequately funded. On the downside, they could make more money on investments if they let the state do it."
Isn't the state the one that put all the other workers in the deficit? This is a little confusing.

Posted by Vadim Lavrusik at 3:45 PM | Permalink

The Strib reported today that an ex-boyfriend was arrested this morning in connection with former girlfriend and her current boyfriend's murders, which took place last Thursday. Brooklyn Park Police said the motive seems to be a domestic dispute. The boyfriend hasn't been charged and the police said they are looking for atleast two other suspects.

The Ppress reported that two men were arrested this morning in connection with the killings.

The Strib reporter focused the story on a larger issue of domestic abuse, ""Our justice system is ineffective in protecting people like this from others who are set on doing this kind of violence," Capt. Ankerfelt said. An order for protection "is designed to separate victim and suspect. ... It's only good if the suspect follows the law."" The victim had filed atleast three police reports regarding domestic abuse against the suspect, who was charged twice for assaulting her.

The Strib reporter focused on the greater issue, tying the domestic abuse within the relationship to reasoning of the crime.

Posted by Vadim Lavrusik at 6:34 AM | Permalink