Florida murder suspects waive extradition
Andy Brownell KROC-AM NEWS
September 2, 2010
The two men arrested early today at Whitewater State Park will soon be headed back to Florida to face murder charges. A SWAT team surprised the men while they were sleeping in a camper around 1:30am, and Winona County Sheriff Dave Brand says they did not offer any resistance. A credit card purchase made in Saint Charles apparently led authorities to check the state park for the wanted men. They are suspects in the execution-style murders of a married couple and their nephew in a northern Florida home last week. The two men, who are 38 and 47-years-old, today waived extradition, which will expedite their return to Florida.
Kudos for Mayo Clinic website
Andy Brownell KROC-AM NEWS
September 2, 2010
Time Magazine has named the Mayo Clinic's website one of the 50 best of 2010. Time noted MayoClinic.com is one of only five websites in the health and fitness category, and praised it for combining ease of use with sound medical advice. Mayo launched its website in 1995. It now attracts around 17 million visits each month.
100,000 people expected in downtown Minneapolis for Vikings and Twins games
Minnesota News Network
September 2, 2010
An estimated 100,000 people are expected to converge on downtown Minneapolis tonight for two sold-out sporting events. The Minnesota Twins will host the Detroit Tigers tonight at Target Field in a game that's expected to attract around 40,000 fans, while the Metrodome will host the Vikings final pre-season game against the Denver Broncos. Minneapolis has added extra traffic police, reset signal lights and activated electronic messaging signs to help fans get to the games on time - and then get home without too much delay.
Veteran Lakeville Police Officer killed in motorcycle crash
Minnesota News Network
September 2, 2010
The motorcyclist killed in an accident in the south metro last night was a 20-year veteran of the Lakeville Police Department. Sergeant Brigham Strole lost control of his motorcycle on a residential street in Lakeville and was thrown off. He died at Hennepin County Medical Center. Witnesses told investigators the cycle was swaying back and forth just before it crashed. The blacktop was dry at the time. The State Patrol says Strole was not wearing a helmet. It is believed to be the first officer death in Lakeville in more than 30 years.
Lakeville man admits running Ponzi scheme
Minnesota News Network
September 2, 2010
A 40-year-old Lakeville man pleaded guilty in federal court today to operating a Ponzi scheme that bilked at least 17 lenders out of more than 79-million dollars. Corey Johnston admitted that, from 2005 through 2009, he oversold participation in large commercial and personal loans arranged through his company, First United Funding. Prosecutors say Johnston sold loan participation to banks after already selling that same participation to other banks. He faces a possible sentence of more than 30 years in prison.
Petters assistant gets year in jail
Minnesota News Network
September 2, 2010
The whistleblower in Minnesota's largest financial fraud case is going to jail. Deanna Coleman was sentenced this morning to a year behind bars after pleading guilty earlier to conspiracy to commit fraud in the case of businessman Tom Petters. Coleman was the government's key witness in the case against Petters and could have been sentenced to up to five years in prison, but was rewarded for her cooperation. Petters is serving 50 years for using a Ponzi scheme to bilk investors out of more than $3 1/2 billion dollars.
Florida murder suspects caught camping at Whitewater
Minnesota News Network
September 2, 2010
Two men wanted for an execution-style triple murder in Florida were taken into custody overnight at Whitewater State Park. Winona County Sheriff Dave Brand said they were captured without incident while sleeping in a camper around 1:40am. Authorities in Suwannee County, Florida issued first-degree murder arrest warrants for the two suspects who were considered armed and dangerous. The "Gainesville Sun" reports that James Howze and Lonnie Munn were wanted for the execution-style shooting deaths of Jospeh Militello Jr.; his wife, Nancy Militello; and their nephew, Angelo Rosales, in a robbery gone bad at the Militello's Suwannee County home on August 26th.
Bad peanuts case settled
ABC News
September 2, 2010
A judge has approved a $16-million settlement for those sickened or killed in last year's nationwide peanut-related salmonella outbreak. The peanuts were distributed by the Peanut Corporation of America and were linked to at least nine deaths and 700 illnesses. Two nursing home residents in Minnesota were among those who died after eating the tainted peanuts. The settlement involves 120 lawsuits.
Powerball Drawing
September 2, 2010
Powerball numbers for 09/01/2010 are: 17 20 21 40 51 Powerball 19. Powerplay 3. The estimated Grand Prize was $34,700,000 ($19,600,000 cash). There was no Grand Prize Winner. The next Powerball drawing will be on Saturday, September 4th, 2010 with an estimated Grand Prize of $47,000,000 ($26,500,000 cash).