U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger announced his resignation effective this week, ending his second stint as the top federal prosecutor in Minnesota, saying, “It has been an honor to serve the American people.”

Luger was appointed by President Joe Biden and sworn in in March 2022 as the 37th U.S. attorney for the District of Minnesota. He was previously appointed by President Barack Obama and served from 2014 until 2017.

“I have been honored to lead this office for the second time,” Luger said in a statement. “In March 2022, I set us on the path to address violent crime to meet the challenge our community faced. I am so grateful to the people of this Office and our many law enforcement partners for the work we have done to bring violent criminals to justice. We have also taken aggressive action against child predators, for which I am proud.”

Upon Luger’s resignation Wednesday, which was expected following the election of former President Donald Trump, Lisa D. Kirkpatrick, who currently serves as first assistant U.S. attorney, will become the acting U.S. attorney.

— Kristi Miller

Home care workers reach contract deal

Minnesota home care workers have reached a tentative agreement for a new union contract with the state.

According to a statement from the union, SEIU Healthcare Minnesota and Iowa, the agreement includes wage increases for some workers. It also commits to exploring health care options, and pathways to a retirement program.

Union members hope changes bring more people to the industry, as it struggles to recruit and retain workers.

Jeremy Heyer has had home care workers for more than 20 years, helping him and his wife with household tasks. Both have forms of muscular dystrophy. Heyer was part of the bargaining team. He said he’s cycled through lots of workers, and heard from several who left the job because they couldn’t make ends meet on their wages.

“They definitely put all their hearts and sweat into the work and really help make sure that myself, my wife, and others like us are very well taken care of,” he said. “Unfortunately, that type of work also takes a toll on their bodies, and they also have to be able to support themselves, support their families, put food on the table.”

One big win in the contract, he said, is a commitment to create a retirement program. The union says the agreement commits to building a pension fund that employers and employees will pay into.

It will take time for that pension to get off the ground, but SEIU organizer Tyler Frank said the agreement commits to taking the first steps.

“A pension doesn’t just pop up … but the agreement that we have is to build it,” he said.

Care workers have been pushing for a path to retirement. Minnesota will be among few states to create a retirement plan for home care workers, Frank said.

Health care benefits could improve under the tentative agreement, too. It includes a commitment to explore options before the next round of contract negotiations. It would also create $1,200 stipends for workers to put toward out-of-pocket health care costs.

“Health care is such an issue with all of our care workers,” Heyer said. “Not only is the state committed to trying to find a health care option that we can look for in the future, but even in the meantime we have been able to at least put something supplemental on the table.”

The union, representing 35,000 workers in Minnesota, formed in 2014. This is its sixth contract.

— MPR News

New mayor concedes Trump won’t pay city

St. Cloud Mayor-elect Jake Anderson said there is not much more the city can do to compel Donald Trump’s presidential campaign to pay a $209,000 bill from his summer rally in St. Cloud.

The bill remains unpaid after two invoices were sent to the campaign.

“We’re kind of limited in our recourse,” Anderson said. “Being candid, one of the fears that I have is if

we push it too aggressively, suddenly any federal aid we may get and other things may start falling apart. I’m only (saying) that on a good hunch.”

Since Trump wasn’t in office at the time of the July 27 campaign rally at Herb Brooks National Hockey Center at SCSU, it was not considered an elected official visit.

“I know there are citizens that have asked about it, I’ve been asked about this,” Anderson said about the unpaid Trump bill. “I understand the frustration, there was a certain cost the city spent. Obviously, those people came to town, there was a number of them, and they spent money in our community, so it’s not like we didn’t recoup some costs.

“But it’s a lesson learned in terms of how we can do things in the future.”

More than 8,000 people attended the rally at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center on the campus of St. Cloud State University while a large crowd gathered outside in sweltering heat. Nearly a dozen people were taken to the St. Cloud Hospital on the day of the rally with heat-related illnesses.

According to an invoice, the rally cost the city nearly $209,000 in services, including police, public services, a road construction change order, the fire department and information technology systems.

The Trump campaign said in October that the city fees associated with the rally are the responsibility of the Secret Service. In response, the Secret Service said that the agency lacks a mechanism to reimburse state and local governments for support during protective events.

The Trump campaign

paid SCSU a $35,000 rental fee.

Despite Harris winning Minnesota’s 10 electoral college votes on Nov. 5, Trump claimed 62% of votes in Stearns County. Trump, who defeated Vice President Kamala Harris, will be sworn in on Monday.

— Forum News Service

Teen killed in dirt bike collision is identified

A teenage boy was killed Sunday evening when his motorized dirt bike collided with a pickup truck in Blaine.

On Tuesday, authorities identified the victim as Artem Sandulyak, 15, of Blaine. The driver of the pickup was identified as Dennis Malmstedt, 50, of Circle Pines.

According to the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office, the crash happened shortly after 6 p.m. at 103rd Lane Northeast and Sunset Avenue Northeast.

Authorities say Sandulyak was southbound on Sunset Avenue when he crashed into the pickup as it turned west onto 103rd Lane from northbound Sunset.

Malmstedt and a juvenile female passenger were not injured.

The crash remains under investigation.

— Staff report