The Dakota Dispatch

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  • Minnesota CEO Fatally Shot

    Minnesota CEO Fatally Shot

    New York, Dec. 4, 2024 – Investigators are searching for the killer of Minnesota resident and United Healthcare Chief Executive Officer Brian Thompson, who was shot outside a New York City hotel while preparing for his company’s annual investor conference.

       A $10,000 reward was posted for information leading to the capture of Thompson’s killer, a masked gunman who fled into the city after shooting Thompson, age 50, in the leg and chest early Wednesday morning.

    Thompson’s wife, Paulette, told police her husband had been receiving threats, according to a national news report.

  • Virnig Sues, You Pay

    Virnig Sues, You Pay

    Taxpayers are stuck with the legal bills for Minnesota state rep Bianca Virnig’s employment issues. The state legislature approved $10,391.40 in legal fees for Virnig, a state representative installed by special election last summer.

    The legal fees stemmed from Virnig’s dispute with her employer, BrightWorks, which provides services to the school district. Virnig claimed the nonprofit cut her hours after she devoted her time to campaigning and holding office.

    Virnig was unsuccessful for her first run for office. Like many democratic candidates, she then ran for ISD 196’s school board and won after receiving an endorsement from the district’s teachers’ union. She was part of an entire board comprised of teachers’ union-endorsed candidates, which approved pay raises for teachers and staff, special “bonuses” for administrators, and large budget increases.

  • Lakeville South Suppresses TB Info

    Lakeville, Minn., Dec. 1, 2024 – School and public health officials are saying little about an active case of tuberculosis reported at Lakeville South High School.

       As parents seek information about the report, neither the school nor Dakota County’s public health agency had any information about the Lakeville high school illness. Parents have had to rely on local media for information. Local officials have refused to even disclose whether the carrier was a student or a staff member. The agenda for the most recent ISD 194 school board meeting, Nov. 26, included no mention of tuberculosis nor parental concerns.

       Tuberculosis has increased substantially since the start of the Biden administration, according to figures reported by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Hispanics and Asians account for more than two-thirds of the cases, according to a CDC report. https://www.cdc.gov/tb-surveillance-report-2023/tables/table-3.html

      Earlier this month, more than 300 students at a Georgia high school were tested for tuberculosis after a similar report of infection. The state of Minnesota leaves decisions about testing students mainly to local health departments and schools. https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/tb/rules/students.html

      Ukrainian immigrants waived in under a lenient federal program are supposed to be tested for tuberculosis. However, according to the county, immigrants can wait until 90 days after their arrival to be tested for the disease, which can be spread through the air. The local lab for such testing is in Lakeville.

  • Showing Support

    Trump supporters showed enthusiastic support in the 2024 Presidential election, such as this display in Lakeville. In the interest of fairness, we looked for a similar Walz display. There were none.

  • Police Say Trail Assault Report was Hoax

    Eagan, Minn., Nov. 24, 2024 – The report of a midday sexual assault on a popular Lebanon Hills hiking trail that sparked widespread fear was a hoax, according to police.

          “Following an extensive investigation surrounding the reported sexual assault in Lebanon Hills Park on [Nov. 7] we’re able to report the assault never occurred, and we will be charging the reporting party with filing a false police report,” an Eagan Police spokesperson posted on the department’s Facebook page.

          The assault report prompted fear among local residents and caused some to avoid the area when police announced the report on Nov. 8. It also prompted community criticism of police for failing to alert the public to another reported attack on the trail two months earlier, on Sept. 7.