For the Strib Rochelle Olson reports. “Longtime Minnesota State Fair General manager Jerry Hammer disclosed publicly Wednesday that he earns $350,000 per year. Hammer provided the information to the Star Tribune in response to a request for a preview from this year’s fair. The Star Tribune asked Hammer for the information. Although Hammer had previously stated that Hammer’s salary was not public under state law when he was asked, he replied that he recently decided to release the information. The State Fair, a quasi-governmental organization, is not subject to the same open records laws as other state offices. The salaries of elected officials and state employees are also public information. The State Agricultural Society oversees the fair and does not receive a state subsidy. Hammer is the fair’s director for 25 years. His salary comes from operating revenues and he operates on a contract year-to-year basis.
Josh Verges reports at the Pioneer Press, “St. Paul Public Schools Superintendent Joe Gothard fired Marie Schrul, his finance chief. Her transparency regarding the district’s missteps won her favor with district watchdogs, but less among other administrators. Schrul, 49 years old, began her career in 1998 as an accountant and rose to become controller before becoming chief financial officer in 2014. Schrul, 49, started her career as an accountant in 1998. She rose to controller and then chief financial officer in 2014. On Aug. 24, the district posted a position for executive chief of financial services. Gothard informed Schrul Monday that she wasn’t chosen. Gothard informed employees that the new position, which was only open for five days, went to Tom Sager (business services director for Mankato Area Public Schools). Laurie Niblick, Business Office Management Assistant, said that Schrul raised concerns about the district’s spending on construction and the questionable spending of its nutrition department. However, they never prioritized doing anything about it.
Tommy Wiita, reports that a group non-students entered a Minneapolis school building on Wednesday morning. According to a Minneapolis Public Schools spokesperson, a group of youth entered Thomas Edison High School in Northeast Minneapolis. They were then ‘immediately approached and removed without incident’. … A St. Anthony-New Brighton Public Schools alert was issued after the incident. They placed lockdowns at St. Anthony Community Services and Wilshire Park Elementary, St. Anthony Middle and St. Anthony Village High Schools.
According to an AP report, states that a judge in Minnesota ruled that sheriffs had no right to prevent access to a camp established in opposition to Enbridge Line 3 crude oil pipeline. Jana Austad, Hubbard County District Judge, ruled that the protesters used a private driveway to reach Camp Namewag, near Menahga. Hubbard County Sheriff Cory Aukes notified Winona LaDuke, an American Indian activist, and Tara Houska (the site manager) that the road to Camp Namewag was a county-owned path that would be blocked and that anyone driving on it would face arrest.
Matthew Holding Eagle III reports that , a fungal pathogen which affects both apple and crabapple trees as well as junipers has been discovered in Minnesota for the very first time. In Scott, Rice, and Dakota counties, the state Department of Agriculture confirmed that Japanese Apple Rust was discovered during inspections of nurseries and orchards. To determine how widespread the disease has spread, surveys are currently being done. Defoliation can be caused by the fungal pathogen. Michelle Grabowski, Minnesota Department of Agriculture plant pathologist, said that affected trees might not be able to produce fruit.
CBS News’ Aimee picchi reports that Amtrak has announced it will cancel all long-distance travel beginning on Thursday due to a imminent railway strike which could cause a disruption of the U.S. economic system and lead to lost productivity of $2B per day. A labor dispute between railroad companies’ unionized workers is the root of this potential work stoppage. The strike could start Friday if the sides can’t reach an agreement this week. According to a Labor Department spokesperson, Wednesday night’s dinner was ordered. The talks between federal officials, railroad executives, and railroad workers union leaders in Washington are continuing.
John Breech, CBS Sports’ says : “Normally, when I make a pick in Monday night games that involve Kirk Cousins my first instinct is always to pick against him. Cousins’ record in Monday games is 2-9, but two of those wins were against the Bears so they don’t count. Cousins is 2-9 in Monday games, but both of those wins were against the Bears so I’m not sure if they count. Pick: Vikings 23-20 win over Eagles
Allison Quinn, of The Daily Beast, tells us that Donald Trump had an emotional meltdown on Truth Social Tuesday night after Mike Lindell, MyPillow executive, said that his phone had been taken by the feds as he was eating at Hardee’s. The FBI just raided Mike Lindell’s home in New York. We now live in a Weaponized Police state, Rigged Elections and all.’ The twice impeached former president wrote. He declared, “Our Country is a laughingstock all over the World. This cannot happen. “TAKE BACK AMERICA!”
Jennifer Bendery writes for The Huffington Post. Ron Johnson (Republican-Wis.), who is currently in the back of his reelection campaign, stated Thursday that his message was to Wisconsin voters that if they love America they should vote for him. Johnson stated that he is a strong advocate for the nation and he was concerned about its future in an interview with Hugh Hewitt, a conservative radio host. “Join us in unifying, healing, and salvaging this nation. That’s what it’s all about.’… Johnson, during his Thursday interview with Hewitt said that he was’so sad’ that Biden hasn’t done more to unify Americans. He then attempted to downplay the Capitol Insurrection by falsely claiming that Black Lives Matter protests were being suppressed. Let’s be real. This nation is being divided by the left. He said that it has been the left that has divided this nation since inception. “They want to focus on January 6th, which is something we all condemn, but they want the peaceful protests of 8,000 to be completely ignored and buried. However, 570 of these things led to riots that injured over 2000 law enforcement officers and caused property damage of $1 to $2 billion. A few people also died. Johnson has made similar false claims before. They are so wrong they received a Washington Post fact check and ‘three Pinocchios’.
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