Andy Brownell KROC-AM NEWS
May 16, 2012
A Rochester man is facing federal child pornography charges. Officials say a grand jury has indicted 27-year-old Nathan Severson on three counts for receipt , distribution and possession of child pornography. Two of the charges carry mandatory minimum sentences of five years in prison. The indictment alleges Severson received and distributed sexually explicit images of minors via the internet in January, and a search of his computers later uncovered about 11,000 images of similar pornography.
Area man charged with trying to hire a hit man
Andy Brownell KROC-AM NEWS
May 16, 2012
A Kenyon man has been charged in connection with with a murder-for-hire plot. Rice County prosecutors say 26-year-old Jesse Helgeson is accused of trying to hire a hit man to kill his ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend and is facing a conspiracy to commit first-degree murder charge. The criminal complaint says authorities were tipped off by a person who had received text messages from Helgeson that indicated he was looking to have the other man killed. A meeting was then arranged between Helgeson and an undercover officer posing as a hit man. Authorities say Helgeson offered to compensate the "hit man" by giving him an ATV and a golf cart. Conditional bail for Helgeson was set at $250,000 dollars.
Copper thieves hit Eyota area home
Kim David, KROC AM News
May 16, 2012
The Olmsted County Sheriff's Department is investigating an incident that could have left an area family without a home. The department was contacted yesterday morning by a woman who had been watching the home while the owners were on vacation. She arrived at the Eyota-area house to discover a small fire in the basement. She put the fire out and called 911. Investigators later discovered thieves were able to get into the house and rip out copper water pipes in the basement and apparently cut a natural gas line by mistake. They apparently crimped the pipe before leaving but it was still leaking. It's suspected the thieves left a short while before the woman arrived and she may have actually scared them away. A spokesman says while the fire caused minimal damage, the cost to replace the pipes could be expensive. The spokesman says the thieves may be targeting other rural homes and residents are being asked to keep an eye out for anything suspicious.
Central Minnesota man given 10-years in prison for deadly traffic crash
Minnesota News Network
May 16, 2012
A Big Lake man has been sentenced to a maximum ten years in prison after being convicted of criminal vehicular homicide. Forty-four-year-old Eugene Rivetts crashed his SUV into a car near Opole in August of 2009, killing 19-year-old Ryan DeZurik. Rivetts initially claimed his passenger was driving, but forensic evidence showed Rivetts was the one behind the wheel. He also admitted that he had been drinking throughout the day.
Twin Cities man given probation for abandoning his son
Minnesota News Network
May 16, 2012
A judge has ordered two years probation for a Lakeville man who abandoned his eleven-year-old son last year and took off for California. Sixty-year-old Steven Cross was found 43 days later. Dakota County Attorney Jim Backstrom says child welfare officials are looking out for the boy and he's had a surprise reunion with his mother. Backstrom says the boy thought his mother was dead, based on what his father told him for many years. When he disappeared last July, Cross left a note telling his son he was going away - apparently forever - and instructing the boy to go to a neighbor's house.
Mayo Clinic releases new app
Andy Brownell KROC-AM NEWS
May 16, 2012
The Mayo Clinic has released a new app for the iPhone and other Apple mobile devices that provides Mayo patients with easy and secure access to a wide array of resources, including their own medical records. The new app also offers users the ability to schedule appointments, access health information and tips from Mayo's website and on-line publications, and navigation to amenities on Mayo's campuses and in the community.
National Guard airmen welcomed home
Minnesota News Network
May 16, 2012
Family and friends welcomed home 33 Minnesota National Guard airmen in Saint Paul this afternoon. Members of the 133rd Airlift Wing returned from a two-month deployment to Afghanistan. Lieutenant Colonel Carl Lojovich says they departed from Bagram Air Base with the last Air National Guard C-130 Hercules aircraft. The 1-33rd flew more than 360 missions and also provided emergency airlift of wounded service members.
Bill benefiting Minnesota National Guard soldiers clears the U.S. House
Minnesota News Network
May 16, 2012
The US House has passed a bill to ensure Minnesota National Guard soldiers receive full benefits and paid time off. The legislation sponsored by Congressman John Kline would grandfather members affected by a recent change in a post deployment program. Kline says last year after more than two-thousand Minnesota soldiers were deployed, the Pentagon changed the program significantly, reducing leave available to Red Bulls and many others across the nation. Kline says many troops and their families were forced to cope with unexpected financial challenges, less time at home with loved ones, and increased urgency to find employment. Some of the Red Bulls would have lost 27 days of leave. The U.S. Senate is also expected to pass the bill.
Bear gives fisherman a scare in Duluth
Minnesota News Network
May 16, 2012
A fisherman near downtown Duluth got the surprise of his life Tuesday morning. A 250-pound bear came ambling toward him as he fished from a Duluth ship canal pier. The angler didn't see the bear but an operator on the nearby aerial bridge alerted him on the PA. Aerial bridge supervisor Ryan Beamer called the Coast Guard for a boat to get the fisherman off the pier. But the bear headed for land and a rescue wasn't needed. Police officers said the bear wasn't bothering anyone, so they let it mosey on down the beach
Twin Cities health care workers authorize strike
Minnesota News Network
May 16, 2012
There could soon be a strike affecting several Twin Cities hospitals. More than 90 percent of the Service Employees International Union workers at eight hospitals have given their leaders the right to call a strike if they don't soon have a new labor contract. The sides have been at odds over wages and benefits and are scheduled to hold a bargaining session today.
Well known bow hunter convicted of arson
Minnesota News Network
May 16, 2012
A well-known professional bow hunter from northwestern Minnesota has been convicted of arson. Convicted in Clay County Court yesterday was 33-year-old Tara Andvik. She was accused of setting three fires on her family's property near Barnesville last year, including one that destroyed their home. During the investigation, Andvik apparently tried to mislead authorities with claims that she had received on-line threats from animal rights activists. She will be sentenced next month.
Former Mayo employee sentenced for accessing patient info
Kim David, KROC AM News
May 16, 2012
A former Mayo Clinic employee was sentenced yesterday for wrongfully obtaining the personal medical information of a patient and using it to cause malicious harm to the person. Sentenced in federal court was 34 year old Autumn Wright of Rochester. She was placed on probation for 3 years and ordered to perform 300 hours of community work service. In her plea agreement, Wright admitted that she obtained the patient’s demographic information, medical history, and data relating to the patient’s past and present physical and mental health. She also admitted that she obtained the information with the intent to use it for personal gain, including for reputational and other malicious harm. The incident happened in August, 2009.
Mankato woman drowns while tubing
Minnesota News Network
May 16, 2012
Authorities recovered the body of a drowning victim from the Blue Earth River near Mankato around 7 last night. The victim was 21-year old Jenny Kraling of Mankato. Her body was found downstream from the Rapidan Dam. She had been swimming and tubing with some friends yesterday afternoon when she disappeared in the river. Authorities say Kraling was not wearing a life jacket.
Petters: case closed
Minnesota News Network
May 15, 2012
The U.S. Supreme Court has denied Minnesota businessman Tom Petters request to review his 2009 conviction on charges he orchestrated a nearly $4 billion Ponzi scheme. This means the lower court's conviction will stand. Petters is currently serving a 50-year sentence at a federal prison in Leavenworth, Kansas. Petters continues to maintain he is innocent.
Former Mayo tech admits spreading disease
Kim David, KROC AM News
May 15, 2012
A former radiology technician at Mayo Clinic's Jacksonsville site has pleaded guilty in federal court to stealing syringes of painkillers during patients' procedures and replacing them with syringes of saline contaminated with Hepatitis C. Prosecutors say 48-year-old Steven Beumel tampered with the syringes from 2006 through 2008 The clinic tested thousands of patients who were potentially at risk. Two patients from that testing effort were linked to Beumel and one died. No sentencing date has been set. He was fired after he was linked to the case.
Charges filed in 2007 MN suicide
Minnesota News Network
May 15, 2012
The Dakota County grand jury has indicted a national right-to-die group in connection with the alleged assisted suicide of an Apple Valley woman in 2007. County Attorney James Backstrom says Georgia-based Final Exit Network faces felony charges which include assisting another to commit suicide. Four individuals, none from Minnesota, face similar charges. The case centers on Final Exit member Doreen Gunderson Dunn of Dakota County who reportedly asked the group for information and support for her suicide. The Dakota County case hinges on a Minnesota law that prohibits aiding, advising and encouraging a suicide. Final Exit argues the law is unconstitutional because it violates free speech. Backstrom says it is his duty to enforce the law by prosecuting violators. A similar case was thrown out the by the courts in Georgia.
Motorcyclist killed in freak accident
Kim David, KROC AM News
May 15, 2012
There was a deadly traffic accident in central Minnesota last night. The State Patrol says a motorcyclist hit a deer and moments later was run over by two vehicles. It happened around 9:30 last night on Highway 10 in Morrison County near the town of Randall. The victim has been identified as 39 year old Daniel Sceparek of Randall.
Dayton job performance rated
Minnesota News Network
May 15, 2012
A new SurveyUSA poll indicates a majority of Minnesotans are happy with the job Governor Dayton is doing. Fifty-six percent of respondents approve of Dayton's job performance while 33 percent disapprove. Just 21 percent support the performance of state legislators and 67 percent were opposed. The survey also found that 52 percent of registered voters in the state believe same-sex couple should be able to marry, 42 percent oppose gay marriage and six percent are undecided. It's the first poll to show majority support for same-sex unions in Minnesota.