Cottage Grove

Gun safety instructor accidentally fired handgun inside Stillwater school just before class began

If the instructor of the firearms class offered at Stillwater's Salem Lutheran School is a model of gun safety, we'd hate to be around the reckless folks.SEE ALSO: MNGOP Rep. Tony Cornish says Jesus would pack heat if he were alive todayThat's because the 76-year-old teacher and Cottage Grove reside ... More >>

Brooke Bass, ex-police union lawyer, might seek up to $7 million for private data breaches

If Brooke Bass's lawyer follows through on his threat to sue agencies for $10,000 for each time they accessed his client's private driver's license data, her case could end up making Anne Marie Rasmusson's look like child's play.SEE ALSO: Anne Marie Rasmusson's settlement haul now over $1 million Th ... More >>

St. Paul duo busted transporting 26 pounds of pot in Oregon [PHOTO]

Two 27-year-olds from St. Paul were busted in Oregon on Tuesday morning with a lifetime's worth of pot in their vehicle -- 26 pounds, to be exact.SEE ALSO: The new Green Giant looks like he just took a bong rip [PHOTO]Gregory Swenson and William Shepherd were arrested and now face a felony delivery ... More >>

Pedro Ayala-Leyva gets record 30-year sentence for smuggling meth from California

On Tuesday, Hennepin County Judge Regina Chu doled out a record sentence for a Minnesota drug crime and sentenced Pedro "Peli" Ayala-Leyva to 30 years in prison for his role in a large methamphetamine operation.Peli, 37, was found guilty in October of conspiracy to traffic drugs. State sentencing gu ... More >>

Rep. John Kriesel has a badass hunting wheelchair [PHOTO]

Retiring Rep. John Kriesel, R-Cottage Grove, had both his legs blown off while on duty in Iraq in 2006, but he doesn't let that stop him from enjoying an active lifestyle, including pheasant hunting trips to South Dakota.SEE ALSO:-- Bob Koss, MNGOP Senate staffer, calls John Kriesel a "piece of shit ... More >>

Bob Koss, MNGOP Senate staffer, calls John Kriesel a "piece of shit" -- and gets fired [UPDATE]

Between Michael Brodkorb and Bob Koss, the MNGOP sure knows how to hire 'em, don't they?SEE ALSO:-- Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer says disabled Purple Heart recipient John Kriesel has "no courage"-- Michael Brodkorb says marriage amendment is cynical MNGOP get-out-the-vote ploy Last night, Koss, a MNGOP Sena ... More >>

Andy Parrish says war hero Rep. John Kriesel is a 'pretend Republican,' "all about John K"

In May 2011, Rep. John Kriesel, R-Cottage Grove, gave an impassioned speech on the floor of the House of Representatives laying out why he's a Republican who proudly supports gay marriage.SEE ALSO:-- John Kriesel destroys Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer for "no courage" remark during radio appearance-- Chris Kl ... More >>

Woman shot, killed at Jimmy John's in Cottage Grove

Police called to a Jimmy John's in Cottage Grove found a woman shot dead inside the restaurant and a wounded man in the parking lot who had apparently shot himself, according to news reports Thursday night. The unidentified man was taken to Regions Hospital, where his condition is unknown. An em ... More >>

John Kriesel objects to pro-Occupy mural at South High featuring image of Brother Ali

SEE ALSO:-- Brother Ali arrested at Occupy Homes protest [VIDEO]-- Occupy Homes celebrates new victories with party and conference-- Minnesota police giving Peavey Plaza Occupy-ers drugs as part of impairment study, report says [VIDEO]Last week, Minneapolis' South High School unveiled a 1,700 square ... More >>

Hardee's to open 59 new area restaurants. Is one near you? [MAP]

Hardee's recently announced a five-year expansion plan that will increase its Minneapolis/St. Paul-area presence four-fold, from 21 locations to 80. That's 59 new burger joints.If you're interested in heading up one of the new franchises, there's an "Executive Roundtable" this afternoon where you ca ... More >>

MNGOP Rep. Urdahl, under fire for pro-stadium vote, shouts down fellow GOPers

The Vikings stadium issue has been a rough one for Rep. Dean Urdahl, R-Grove City.First, he was blasted by pro-stadium Strib columnist Jim Souhan for being "no smarter than the guy who writes in the comments section of an online newspaper, 'your stupid.'" Problem was, Souhan was bashing Urdahl for b ... More >>

Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer says disabled Purple Heart recipient John Kriesel has "no courage"

People sometimes say politics is war, but retiring Rep. John Kriesel, R-Cottage Grove, could tell you from experience that the two are very different.Kriesel, 30, lost both of his legs in Iraq in 2006. He was later awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Purple Heart, and the Bronze Star. So it's ... More >>

Katy Perry's "Firework" used to promote legalizing bottle rockets in Minnesota

Minnesota Rep. John Kriesel may be retiring from the local Legislature, but he's trying to go out with a resounding bang. The Cottage Grove Republican has chosen an unlikely source for inspiration in his quest to legalize bottle rockets and certain more powerful fireworks in the state, and it's the ... More >>

House shoots down Sunday liquor sales, Twittersphere groans

​Today, a pair of GOP Representatives -- Stephen Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa, and John Kriesel, R-Cottage Grove -- introduced amendments to allow Sunday liquor sales in Minnesota.Both amendment went down in a ball of flames, with about four times as many nays as yays.Who are these Minnesotans who don't ... More >>

Minnesota student group aims to end legislative immunity from drunk driving arrests

​Did you know Minnesota legislators have immunity from drunk driving arrests while the Legislature is in session?It's true. Article IV, Section 10 of the state constitution says, "members of each house in all cases except treason, felony and breach of the peace, shall be privileged from arrest dur ... More >>

John Kriesel, pro-gay marriage MNGOP Rep., won't seek reelection [VIDEO]

​Last May, Rep. John Kriesel, R-Cottage Grove, gave one of the most remarkable, well-delivered speeches in the history of the Minnesota House.Kriesel, 30, lost both of his legs in Iraq in 2006. During his speech, voice breaking with emotion, he recalled gay military colleagues of his who had died ... More >>

Rogue Valley tour diary, Vol. 3

​Rogue Valley's tour diaries are written by frontman Chris Koza and edited by bandmate Peter Sieve. You can read their first installment here and second here.Most of us in the van slept on our two-our northbound drive from Cottage Grove to Portland, OR, where we would be spending the night. I ... More >>

Rogue Valley tour diary, Vol. 2

​​Rogue Valley is a Minneapolis-based theatrical folk-pop band who are currently on tour. On the road are drummer Luke Anderson, bassist Paul Engles, keyboardist Joey Kantor, guitar/vocalist Chris Koza and guitarist Peter Sieve. Their tour diaries are written by Koza and edited by Sieve. Read th ... More >>

Peter Robert Stibal, Scoutmaster, guilty of sex assault on Scout

Peter Robert Stibal ignored the Boy Scout Oath.​Peter Robert Stibal, the former Scoutmaster of Troop 650 in Burnsville, paid no attention to the final clause in the Boy Scout Oath, the part about doing one's best to stay "morally straight." Instead, he sexually assaulted at least one of the t ... More >>

Peter Robert Stibal, accused Boy Scout molester, now faces child porn charges

Stibal faces new charges.​Peter Robert Stibal is accused of being every parent's worst nightmare, a Boy Scout troop leader who sexually assaulted the boys they trusted to his care. Originally arrested in October 2009 and chargd with six counts of criminal sexual conduct involving four minors, th ... More >>

Minnesota's Most Haunted Places

​Halloween is supposed to be scary -- something that can be forgotten while party-hopping in a sea of Lady Gagas and Mike "The Situation's." In an attempt to get back to the holiday's haunted roots, we took a walk on the dark side of history and found a whole panoply of local lost souls: murdered ... More >>

Patrick Thomas McHugh "snapped" and killed 3 relatives [UPDATED]

​A 55-year-old man with no job, no wife and kids, and no criminal history was charged today with shooting three of his relatives dead on Friday, and wounding a fourth, in the home he shares with his 80-year-old mother in St. Paul. Patrick Thomas McHugh "just snapped," he told investigators.

Mahamoud Wardere will challenge Rep. John Kline in District 2

Wardere found himself in hot water last Election Day when, while working as a translator, he was accused of interfering with voters.

Fourth Boy Scout accuses former troop leader of sexual misconduct

Former Burnsville Boy Scout troop leader Peter Robert Stibal now faces seven felony counts.

Wisconsin quadruple murder suspect found dead

Tyrone Adair, the subject of a massive manhunt after his two daughters and their mothers were found murdered, was found dead Monday.

Twin Cities Halloween hot-spots this weekend

A list for the undecided, wayward, ghoulish traveler this weekend.

Tornado strikes stretch of S. Minneapolis, tedious cleanup begins

The storm came through in just minutes with no warning, lifting large trees and their roots from the ground and tipping them into yards, houses and streets.

Man says he stole neighborhood mail because he was "bored"

A 26-year-old Cottage Grove man says he decided to steal mail out of mailboxes in his neighborhood earlier this month out of sheer boredom.

Strawberry Fest

Craig Newmark speaks at victim's memorial in wake of Craigslist killings

Besieged by politicians and media, Craig Newmark finds an unlikely ally: A victim's family

Craig Newmark speaks at victim's memorial in wake of Craigslist killings

Besieged by politicians and media, Craig Newmark finds an unlikely ally: A victim's family

Craigslist killer guilty on all counts

Michael Anderson, the 20-year-old man accused of killing a woman he lured to his Savage home with a fake Craigslist ad for a babysitter, has been found guilty of all charges by a jury.

Man rams abortion clinic; buy your own skyway

All the weird news that's fit to print in capsule-sized bites

Man who slammed vehicle into Planned Parenthood said God made him do it

Local teen broadcasts his life

Spice as Nice

Tea House, a(nother) new Sichuan restaurant in St. Paul, has juicy buns and spice to burn

Revolving Door to Keep Spinning

Instant follow-up: 3M's bluegill problem

When Good Science is Bad Politics

A troublesome family of synthetic chemicals called PFCs—many of them produced in Minnesota—is turning up in the bodies of people and animals worldwide. So why did the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency force its leading PFC researcher, Dr. F

Crime blotter: doggy style

Daly Double?

Murder, My Sweet

Whispering of St. Paul's hidden lives (and deaths),a new photojournalism exhibit shoots to kill

Up The Academy

Cinema studies takes questions from the 'media'

The Hunted Man Awards

A Jesse-free review of the headlines that made us wince in 2001

A Moscow Kind of Melancholy

Tripped Out

The film junketeer's absurd travels have nothing on the screwy Road Trip

The Dream Team

Angels on Parade

Santacruzan, the annual Filipino festival, lights up the Majestic Ballroom

Going After Ashland Oil

Ginger Sanders, like a lot of Pine Bend area residents, believes her home is in the middle of a cancer cluster, but officials from industry and the state say they see no problem.