UPDATE 04/14/25: The victim was identified Monday as 72-year-old Michael Maurice Schille Authorities are investigating a shooting that left one man dead in South St Paul police said that officers responded to a shooting inside a residence in the 700 block of 12th Avenue North around 8:50 p.m Police found a man suffering from an apparent gunshot wound The police department says that officers found and identified a 36-year-old man from Hudson It is believed that the victim and suspect knew each other and that it was not a random act Authorities state that there is no ongoing threat to the community Paul police and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are working to figure out what led up to the shooting Paul Police said they were investigating the death as a homicide It is the first homicide investigation in South St An autopsy will be performed by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office to determine the exact cause of death and identify the victim Anyone with information should call the South St Any person with disabilities who needs help accessing the content of the FCC Public File may contact KSTP via our online form or call 651-646-5555 Jacob John Audie, 36, of Hudson, Wisconsin is charged with 2nd-degree murder in the death of Michael Maurice Schille The Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office said Schille died from a gunshot wound to the head He was pronounced dead at the scene. According to a criminal complaint last Friday at an apartment on the 700 block of 12th Avenue North in South St Police went to the home after Audie called dispatchers saying he shot his roommate and that his friend was dead officers found Audie standing in the parking lot near the west side of the building He complied with police commands and was taken into custody police found a rifle magazine on the kitchen table an AR-style rifle in the living room leaning against the couch with a live round lying next to it a rifle magazine in the back bedroom on a table and an empty carbine casing found on the couch sitting with a television remote in his hand and a gunshot wound on the left side of his face Audie told investigators he lived with Schille for the past one to two years providing care for him and cleaning the apartment saying the rifle belonged to the victim.  GoFundMe "Audie then unloaded the magazine and put it on the table and took a round out of the chamber and placed it by the couch He called 911 and told them what he did," the complaint reads Audie is scheduled to make his initial appearance in court for a Rule 8 hearing on Monday. He's being held at the Dakota County Jail on $750,000 bail with conditions and $1 million without No attorney was listed representing Audie as of Wednesday afternoon A GoFundMe set up by Schille's children, Jason Resemius and Jessica Comer, says their father was a Navy veteran who was given an honorable discharge. They said they are still trying to figure out the motive behind their father's death. "We thought we still had time to make memories with him. We are shocked and in disbelief that this happened," the fundraiser states. As of Wednesday afternoon, the GoFundMe has raised $45 of its $10,000 goal By Tommy Wiita is a Minneapolis-based news lifestyle and sports reporter for Bring Me The News but lost three consecutive games to end their season in heartbreak Police believe one of two other killings that followed was retaliatory was fatally shot in the chest near his home on Friday A Wisconsin man has been charged with murder in the shooting death of his apparent roommate in South St was charged with one count of second-degree murder As previously reported Paul police responded to a shooting on the 700 block of 12th Avenue North around 8:50 p.m identified as 72-year-old Michael Maurice Schille Police say the person who called in the shooting was Audie who claimed he shot his roommate and the person was dead where he was taken into custody without issue The document says that officers then went into the apartment where they found an AR-style rifle in the living room and Schille on the couch in the back bedroom with a gunshot wound to the left side of his face Audie told police that he had lived with Schille at the South St Paul apartment for the last one to two years while helping care for him and clean the home He also told police he shot Schille once using Schille’s AR15 rifle in the left cheek area while he was in the bedroom and then called 911 Audie did not say why he allegedly shot Schille in the information provided in the complaint where his bail was set at $750,000 with conditions or $1 million without conditions South St. Paul residents have filed a formal recall petition against City Council Member Pam Bakken, who faced public pressure to resign after a boy allegedly ingested meth at a day care she owns a 3-year-old child consumed an unknown substance at the in-home day care on Dec The boy’s family was notified that he had thrown up at lunch A trip to the doctor confirmed that the boy had meth in his system Three days later, the Minnesota Department of Human Services temporarily suspended the facility’s license, following up with an indefinite suspension in March frustrated with a lack of action from the City Council a citizen-led recall effort has filed official paperwork calling for Bakken’s ouster “I truly wish members of Council would speak up for what’s right and join the community in calling forBakken’s resignation – and I wish Pam would simply step down,” said Molly Smith “We could avoid a painful recall process and further embarrassment to the City I’d like to remind Pam and the rest of Council that it’s always the right time to do what’s right.” Paul City Clerk Deanna Werner told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS the petition was certified Friday morning The committee now has until May 12 to collect 2,763 valid signatures — equal to 25% of the turnout for last year’s city election If the group gathers enough signatures by the deadline Werner’s office will have five days to verify the signatures If any entries are thrown out and put the petition below the 25% threshold the committee will have another 10 days to get the requisite signatures 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS has reached out to Bakken for comment and is awaiting a response According to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development(DEED) the Sportsman’s Guide location in South St Sportsman’s Guide’s parent company will reportedly consolidate the company’s distribution center operations into one facility in Greenfield 57 employees at the 411 Farwell Avenue location will be permanently laid off beginning July 18 the employees being affected are not represented by a union DEED also says bumping rights do not exist and that there are no trade implications at this time Sportsman’s Guide told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that 65% of its workforce will continue to work at their corporate headquarters in the Twin Cities Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker There is new information released regarding a South St. Paul day care incident that ended with a 3-year-old swallowing meth 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS learned one investigating agency is providing some answers Dakota County Social Services said its investigation has determined “maltreatment” occurred in that day care It comes two months after the license for that in-home facility was suspended by the state — citing an “Imminent risk of harm.” “I want people to know that this happened in our community,” said Victoria Kane Kane is getting some answers as to how her son ingested meth back in December Investigators found “A preponderance of the evidence to support a finding of neglect” at his in-home day care Kane says the boy threw up and later tested positive for methamphetamine at the hospital “They told us he wouldn’t sleep for 48 hours; we were up all night in the hospital,” Kane said “There was nothing they could do other than sit and watch him tweak out.” The county is now confirming the child “Experienced methamphetamine related environmental hazards” at the day care the little boy will be ok but questions remain around who is responsible RELATED: ‘It’s horrifying’: Minnesota lawmaker proposes having cameras in daycares after recent allegations Lakeville police confirmed it is currently investigating the incident due to a possible “Conflict of interest” for South St because the day care is licensed to an elected official there which will be their first public meeting since the incident came to light Members of the community plan to be there to voice their concerns The Dakota County Attorney’s Office will not bring charges against Pam Bakken, the owner of a South St. Paul day care where a 3-year-old child allegedly ingested methamphetamine Bakken, who also serves on the South St. Paul City Council, has faced pressure to resign from public office, and a citizen group launched a recall campaign this month to force her ouster told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS the day care asked her to pick her son up back in December because he was displaying abnormal behaviors and threw up after eating lunch the boy tested positive for amphetamine and methamphetamine The child later told his mother he ate something “gross” that resembled an “onion crumb” off the bathroom rug of the day care Prosecutors with the Dakota County Attorney’s Office reviewed the case after receiving a report from the Lakeville Police Department, which led the investigation due to conflict-of-interest concerns Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena said her office could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the child had ingested the substance while at Bakken’s day care “Even assuming the child ingested meth while at the day care Bakken knew it was present in her home and that she intentionally or recklessly allowed the child to be placed in a situation likely to harm the child’s health or that she deprived the child necessary supervision appropriate to his age,” the attorney’s office said in a release In March, the Minnesota Department of Human Services suspended Bakken’s child care license indefinitely at the recommendation of Dakota County Community Services Bakken has said she is appealing that decision The group of residents seeking to remove Council Member Pam Bakken would need to obtain close to 2,800 signatures for the recall effort to move to an election Paul residents have started a petition to recall a City Council member accused of neglect for allegedly exposing a child at her day care to methamphetamine Council Member Pam Bakken had her day care license suspended last month according to a Minnesota Department of Human Services letter dated March 4 The suspension followed a Dakota County investigation that found she “failed to provide required supervision when a child in your program ingested methamphetamine,” according to the state’s letter to Bakken Bakken operated the day care out of her home in the 300 block of Grand Avenue W The group of residents who call themselves “RECALL BAKKEN” submitted a formal recall petition on Friday morning said a recall is the “only avenue for recourse the citizens have been given.” “It’s regrettable that it has come to this,” Smith wrote Paul have continually asked members of the City Council to speak up in demanding accountability and answers from Council Member Bakken — but have been met with deafening silence." Bakken did not return requests for comment on the recall petition Friday City Clerk Deanna Werner confirmed that the petition was accepted and that the group can now begin collecting signatures for the recall The group would need 2,763 city residents to sign the petition — 25% of the number of voters in the most recent municipal election – for it to move forward to a citywide recall election The deadline to collect the signatures is May 12 If they collect the required number of signatures Werner would have five days to verify that all the signatures are from residents of South St If some of the signatures are rejected and that causes the total to drop below 2,763 the group would have 10 additional days to attempt to receive more signatures The petition follows a tense, packed South St. Paul City Council meeting in February, where some residents called for Bakken to resign while others supported her. Lakeville police investigated Bakken last December in a case where a child was potentially exposed to a harmful substance. It was forwarded to the Dakota County Attorney’s Office for review for possible criminal charges on March 10. The office is still reviewing the case for charging consideration, a spokeswoman said Friday. Eva Herscowitz of the Minnesota Star Tribune contributed to this report. Louis Krauss is a general assignment reporter for the Star Tribune. Twin Cities Suburbs Conservative board members had questioned the content of the books and curricula prompting criticism from the teachers union Ariel Lawhon and Imani Perry also are coming to Hopkins for the popular Hennepin County Library series Hyperlocal cable TV stations that broadcast everything from high school sports to city government meetings confront a perilous existence Some residents have demanded Pam Bakken’s resignation after a child attending her in-home day care reportedly consumed a drug he found in the bathroom The Dakota County Attorney’s Office won’t file charges against a South St Paul City Council member who came under fire after a child at her in-home day care allegedly ingested meth capping several tumultuous weeks in the south metro city amid reports that the state Department of Human Services had suspended Bakken’s license to operate a day care business in her South St Lakeville Police Department reports offered more details about the Dec A child in Bakken’s care allegedly began acting out of character fidgeting and struggling to focus before vomiting The child subsequently tested positive for methamphetamine and amphetamines at a local hospital He later told his mother he ate something he found in the bathroom that resembled an “onion crumb.” News of the episode set off an uproar in South St. Paul, as some residents demanded Bakken resign from the City Council, to which she was first elected in 2020. For the last several weeks, the public comment period at routine meetings has transformed into a venting session, as residents variously aired their anger or support for Bakken. Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena’s decision not to pursue charges against Bakken dented the efforts of her detractors, who filed a petition earlier this month to remove her from office. That contingent, organized under a group called “Recall Bakken,” said in a statement that it’s suspending its efforts. Keena said in an April 29 news release that the state can’t prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the child ingested meth at Bakken’s day care, given the timing of his symptoms. And she added the state can’t prove Bakken knew the drug was in her home and “intentionally or recklessly allowed the child to be placed in a situation likely to harm the child’s health.” Bakken, whose in-home day care license remains suspended, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. The news release states she’s appealing the suspension, with a hearing set for July 31. The city of South St. Paul released a statement this week about the incident after declining for weeks to weigh in. The statement noted the City Council lacks the authority to remove one of its members from office. And it encouraged people to review available reports rather than turn to the city for answers. “We recognize the community’s desire for transparency and appreciate the public’s patience throughout this process,” the city’s message read. “Now that the investigation has concluded, we would like to reaffirm our commitment to being clear, honest, and impartial in our communication about this sensitive — but ultimately private — matter.” Eva Herscowitz covers Dakota and Scott counties for the Star Tribune. A quiet shift on patrol quickly changed for two South St Paul Police Officers who raced to save a woman from a burning home early Wednesday morning Michael Dahl and Officer Aaron Schmidt were set to get off their shift when the call came across their dispatch radio — a house fire on the 100 Block of Frost Avenue West with people possibly trapped Body-worn camera video from the two officers captured the rescue “Knew I didn’t have time — just had trust in my partner here that he’d know what to do and follow my lead,” said Sgt The video captured flames shooting out the home’s front picture window as smoke filled the home “The smoke from a house fire is something a lot of people don’t realize how thick it is how strong it is,” said Officer Schmidt. Sgt Dahl tried to push his way into the home through a kitchen door but wasn’t able to get it to budge Officer Schmidt urged Dahl to leave and try a different route as smoke filled their space “I was frustrated at that point because I couldn’t gain access,” Sgt “With the help of Officer Schmidt helping keep me levelheaded — got me out of there.” The officers tried to find another way into the burning home The two walked around the home and found a window where they could see the woman inside Officer Schmidt was helped through the window by Sgt Dahl and he got into the woman’s room as smoke was coming into it that feeling we were able to find her and get her out of that room,” Schmidt said Family of the woman have been thanking the officers on social media for their heroic efforts South St Paul’s police chief shared the video on social media and thanked his officers “It’s not often I can publicly share the outstanding work of our staff but I’m proud to do so tonight,” wrote Chief Brian Wicke on Facebook “Mike and Aaron………outstanding work Council Member Pam Bakken has had her license suspended as the Dakota County Attorney’s Office reviews case involving a child potentially exposed to toxins at her day care Paul city council member’s in-home day care has had its license indefinitely suspended and the county Attorney’s Office is considering criminal charges after a child at the facility was possibly exposed to a harmful substance In a letter dated March 4 the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) informed Council Member Pam Bakken that her license to provide family child care at her house in the 300 block of Grand Avenue W was suspended and she was prohibited from operating as a child care provider “DHS cannot ensure the health and safety of the children served by your program at this time,” the letter stated and rights of children in your care continue to be at imminent risk of harm DHS is suspending your license to provide family child care.” DHS said Bakken was “responsible for maltreatment,” “failed to provide required supervision,” “failed to ensure that children did not have access to toxins” and committed other violations who has owned and operated a home day care since 2006 didn’t respond to requests for comment Monday afternoon DHS temporarily suspended Bakken’s license While the details of what prompted the order haven’t officially been publicized Lakeville Police Chief Brad Paulson told the Minnesota Star Tribune in February that his department was investigating a December incident at the day care involving a child who was potentially exposed to a harmful substance Paulson said Monday that his department had forwarded the case to the Dakota County Attorney’s Office to review for possible criminal charges the Dakota County Attorney’s Office confirmed in a statement it had received the case for charging consideration but a spokeswoman was unable to provide a timeline on the review Last month at a packed South St. Paul City Council meeting, some residents called for Bakken to resign while others supported her. City administrators didn’t immediately return requests for comment Monday. Eva Herscowitz of the Minnesota Star Tribune contributed to this story. Nicole is one of the team leaders of the Today desk and typically works as the night editor. Previously, she worked as a business reporter covering beats like the retail industry and commercial real estate. In 2022, she and Jeffrey Meitrodt were named Pulitzer Prize investigative reporting finalists for their "Unsettled" series. Riley Iverson scored with a wrist shot in double-overtime to give the Academy of Holy Angels a 3-2 double-overtime victory over South St Paul in the Section 4A championship Thursday night in Richfield This is the Stars’ second straight trip to the state tournament and fourth overall ***Click the video box for highlights from the game*** SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Today, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency announced intentions to issue Sanimax USA a $55,000 civil penalty for a series of air permit violations at its South St seek a required major air permit amendment and conduct air emissions modeling before changing its pollution control equipment systems and Newport residents impacted by the plant’s odor – applauded the sanction “When polluters fail to follow the law and meet expectations allowing neighbors to have a decent quality of life the only path to meaningful change is accountability,” Rep “Today’s penalty is a positive step forward for my constituents who have been forced to deal with the plant’s unbearable stench for years Now it’s time for Sanimax USA to follow through on the corrective actions the MPCA has laid out and for the agency to use its authority to ensure families can have the clean an MPCA inspection discovered Sanimax had taken required pollution control equipment offline and rerouted emissions to unpermitted equipment while failing to conduct air quality modeling before making these changes The company also failed to consistently perform daily emissions checks or report excessive deviations in pressure drop and water flow rates for its pollution control equipment the MPCA’s ruling requires Sanimax to reactivate required pollution control equipment submit plans to ensure future compliance with modeling requirements and conduct daily monitoring to keep equipment within permitted limits a group of residents settled a class-action lawsuit with Sanimax requiring the company to pay $750,000 into a fund for residents – over 1,500 of whom submitted claim forms – affected by the smell and spend $450,000 toward projects reducing odors Paul has enacted a series of city ordinances aimed at addressing odor from the plant including a 2019 zoning modification and a 2020 measure allowing the city to issue citations against businesses emitting ongoing nuisance odors that refuse to work with the city to address them 8th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the ordinances earlier this year The shooter was waiting for police at the apartment they shared A caretaker shot a 72-year-old Twin Cities man in the head with the victim’s assault-style rifle and surrendered to police outside the South St was charged in Dakota County District Court with second-degree intentional murder in connection with the shooting about 8:50 p.m Friday at the home in the 700 block of 12th Avenue N. identified Monday by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office as Michael Maurice Schille The Examiner’s Office said Schille died from a gunshot to the head Audie remains jailed in lieu of $750,000 bail Court records do not list an attorney for him In an online campaign to raise money for Schille’s burial, his children wrote that he was a Navy veteran. “No motive for taking his life has been found,” the posting read. Audie called police and said he fatally shot his roommate and added that the gun was on a couch. Officers arrived to find Audie standing in the apartment building parking lot, where he was arrested. Officers entered the residence and saw the AR-style rifle leaning against the living room couch. They found Schille sitting on a bedroom couch with a television remote in his hand. Audie told police he has lived with Schille for the past year or two and helped care for him and clean his apartment. The complaint did not reveal what prompted the shooting. Court records in Minnesota show that Audie has a criminal history that includes one conviction each for illicit drug possession and drunken driving. Paul Walsh is a general assignment reporter at the Minnesota Star Tribune. He wants your news tips, especially in and near Minnesota. please let us know if you are not satisfied with a print or product Please direct any issues to support@limitlessproductiongroup.com Include a thorough description and if possible a photograph of and defects We will work with you to find a resolution we collect personal information from you to fulfill the order Details relating to your purchase (for example We share this information with Squarespace so that they can provide website services to us this site may auto-complete your shipping and billing address by sharing what you type with the Google Places API and returning suggestions to you to improve your checkout experience.When you subscribe and purchase a membership on this website we collect personal information from you to enable your member areas access We may email you with messages about your order or account activity Your customer account password has been reset or updated It\u2019s not possible to unsubscribe from these messages We share your contact information with Squarespace so they can send these emails to you on our behalf.We may send you marketing emails which you can unsubscribe from by clicking the link at the bottom of the email so they can send these emails on our behalf Select \u201CAccept all\u201D to agree to our use of cookies and similar technologies to enhance your browsing experience Select \u201DManage cookies\u201D to make more choices or opt out Paul Police Officers were called to a Speedway Gas Station for the report of a robbery that had occurred at the business According to the criminal complaint released by the Dakota County Attorney's Office an employee was working behind the counter when a male walked up to the counter holding a knife in his right hand and demanded the employee open the register the male ordered the employee to give him all the money Once the employee had given the suspect all the money he left the store in a dark blue Toyota Camry The employee described the knife as a steak knife with a six to eight-inch serrated blade and a wooden handle Officers reviewed surveillance video from the gas station and confirmed the information provided to them by the victim The suspect was said to be wearing a navy zip-up sweatshirt police were able to identify the suspect as possibly Anthony Rubio Police could use known photographs of Rubio and compare them to the surveillance video to get a match Rudio was registered to have a dark blue Toyota Corolla Surveillance video from the gas station also matched his vehicle officers obtained and executed a search warrant on Rubio's residence in South St Paul but officers were able to seize a navy zip-up sweatshirt multiple pairs of dark-colored Nike athletic pants a three-pack of knits hats with one missing and a gray case containing a set of steak knives with black handles The criminal complaint states that Rubio had previous convictions for Assault 2 Anthony Rubio was reportedly charged with 1st Degree Aggravated Robbery which comes with a 3-20-year sentence and/or a fine of $10,500 to $35,000 His bond was set at $100,000 without conditions and $30,000 with conditions Email: contact@limitless-news.comPhone: 507-301-6001 Privacy PolicyTerms of Service ©2025 A Limitless Production Group LLC Company MINNESOTA—A formal complaint has been filed against Mayor James "Jimmy" P accusing him of multiple violations of Minnesota's Campaign Finance and Fair Campaign Practices Acts alongside allegations of inappropriate conduct submitted by a local resident seeks a thorough investigation into these accusations The complaint was also sent to several state and federal officials including Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and U.S Nicole Larson alleges that Mayor Francis failed to report a significant campaign expenditure related to paid postage mailers distributed in late July which she estimates to be valued between $2,000 and $3,000 These mailers were not listed in his official campaign filings Larson also claims multiple donors contributed more than the $600 individual limit violating Minnesota’s campaign finance laws According to the Campaign Financial Reporting Chapter 211A donations and contributions are capped at $600 in an election year for a candidate’s territory with a population of 100,000 or less The 2020 census shows the population of South St Paul she states that a campaign ad placed in the August edition of South St Paul Voice failed to include the required legal disclaimers as mandated by Minnesota Statutes Chapter 211B.04 the complaint accuses Mayor Francis of creating and using a fake Facebook profile under the alias "Carl Franklin" to falsely endorse his candidacy and discredit political opponents has posted inappropriate and offensive content She believes these profiles could be linked to Mayor Francis through IP address verification raising questions about transparency and the ethical conduct of public officials Larson further claims that Mayor Francis has blocked several constituents from his social media platforms after they questioned his actions or pointed out discrepancies including the existence of these alleged fake profiles She cites the recent legal precedent set by O’Connor-Ratcliff v which determined that blocking individuals from an official’s social media platform may constitute a violation of free speech rights under the First Amendment It has been reported to us that some accounts previously blocked by the Mayor have allegedly been unblocked since this complaint was sent The complaint also includes an accusation that Mayor Francis attempted to intimidate Larson and her husband by asking a neighbor to harass the couple via TikTok The neighbor reportedly refused the request Larson alleges that this behavior is part of a pattern of intimidation aimed at silencing critics a violation of Minnesota Statutes Chapter 211B.02 and 211B.075 The seriousness of the allegations has led Larson to send her complaint to several high-profile officials Larson has requested that these officials take action to ensure an impartial investigation into Mayor Francis' conduct stressing the importance of transparency and integrity in public office The complaint has sparked intense discussion in South St with some residents expressing concern over the accusations and others defending the mayor highlighted what he described as dismissive behavior by the mayor towards residents who express dissenting opinions has claimed she was told to leave the community if she disagreed with Mayor Francis’ leadership Mayor Francis has not publicly responded to the allegations nor replied to our email request for comment Should the Office of Administrative Hearings determine that the complaint has merit with potential legal and electoral consequences This article provides an overview of the allegations against Mayor Francis The community is reminded that charges are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law Further updates on this case will depend on the progress of the legal proceedings Follow our social media accounts for the latest breaking news updates City officials call the Yards and Backyards the first market-rate residential development in the city in over 20 years a success despite ongoing lawsuits and liens When a sleek apartment complex opened in South St Mayor Jimmy Francis hailed the project as the suburb’s first market-rate residential development in over two decades People swiftly signed leases to rent one of 265 units at The Yards and Backyards apartments, a boxy structure whose name nods to the city’s rich history as a booming stockyard town “The project has been really successful by most accounts,” City Administrator Ryan Garcia said the apartment’s general contractor and various subcontractors have been bickering in court over payment for years Allegations that one company abandoned the project and that another failed to compensate a construction firm are the basis of two lawsuits filed in Dakota County District Court And records show subcontractors have placed at least four liens totaling about $345,000 on the property since February 2024 including a lien recorded as recently as Jan “It’s always in our best interest to get them resolved as quickly as possible,” said Ben Beard, executive vice president of the project’s developer, the Beard Group Beard said the payment disputes won’t impact renters but he characterized them as “more unusual than what we’ve typically seen.” “This has been more difficult than projects in the past,” he added said he wasn’t aware of the lawsuits and liens because the city stepped back from the project early on Paul — long a magnet for affordable housing — have an appetite for the amenity-rich living that the Yards and Backyards embody A one-bedroom apartment runs for roughly $1,600 to $1,900 per month with the residence boasting several communal amenities: two gyms a virtual golf simulator and an outdoor pool “The Beard Group was able to … show that it can be done,” Francis said touting the building as “forever an amenity in South St The site on which the apartment now sits was once an aging parking lot, a mostly empty space facing an old, redbrick stockyard building that’s since become a popular wedding venue. In the early 2000s, city officials pledged to supplant surface lots and other suburban mainstays with more “urban-style” development, Garcia said. About 20 years later, Garcia started calling developers he hoped would see opportunity in the barren slab overlooking Concord Exchange N. One of them was the Beard Group, a Minneapolis-based company with a knack for building amenity-packed housing in cities where that living style is scarce. “We never say no to those kinds of conversations,” Beard said. With the company on board, the city scored around $800,000 from the state to clean up the site, demolish an old building and finance storm water infrastructure, Garcia said. But construction proceeded in fits and starts. As the COVID pandemic raged, the Yards, the first phase of the project, was “plagued by product shortages and labor shortages,” Beard said. Then the apartment’s general contractor took a subcontractor to court. Almost seven months before the first building opened, Nottingham Construction, a firm headquartered in St. Paul, accused Oklahoma-based Black Diamond Nationwide of missing deadlines, damaging material and failing to complete required work. The subcontractor’s “actions put the entire Project in jeopardy and effectively held the Project hostage,” the March 2023 complaint read. A judge granted Nottingham a nearly $800,000 judgment against Black Diamond after the general contractor had to hire a replacement subcontractor to correct the deficient work. (Attempts to reach Black Diamond were unsuccessful, and a Minneapolis-based attorney involved in the suit said his office no longer represents the company.) Soon after, Nottingham faced its own allegations of nonpayment. A subcontractor in February placed a roughly $110,000 lien on the property, contending the general contractor owed the group thousands for asphalt work. “We don’t do [this] very often,” Chris Grimes, a project manager for the subcontractor, Park Construction Company, told the Minnesota Star Tribune. Nottingham paid the group in full about a month later, records show. “There’s no ill will from our end of things,” Grimes said. But more liens followed. One construction company demanded some $70,000 from Nottingham for roofing work; another firm said this January that the general contractor owed it over $150,000 for plumbing and heating projects. Nottingham hasn’t satisfied the former lien, records show. That prompted the construction company, Advantage Construction, to file suit in December 2024 against the general contractor to recoup the sum it’s allegedly owed. Greg Johnson, the president of Nottingham Construction, didn’t respond to multiple interview requests. An attorney representing the company declined to comment on pending litigation; a lawyer for Advantage Construction also declined to comment. Other defendants listed in the complaint include a bank, several subcontractors and the Yards and Backyards. Beard, the developer, said his company isn’t inserting itself in a legal battle between a general contractor and subcontractors. “Developers like to keep their hands out of that,” he said. “All it does is create more conflict and issues if we get involved.” But he added that Nottingham has been slow to hand over its payment applications — an accounting of invoices indicating how much companies are owed. Now, with the Yards almost entirely occupied and the Backyards quickly filling up, the Beard Group is attempting to “hold Nottingham’s feet to the fire,” Beard said. “Our goal is to close out these projects here sooner rather than later, make sure everyone’s gotten paid and move on with the next,” he said. Paul Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a white pick-up truck that was seen in the area of a serious injury accident at Southview Boulevard and 2nd Avenue South they found a man who had sustained “significant injuries.” Witnesses reportedly told police that a white pickup truck had been in the area at the time of the accident but police did not state if they believed the truck was involved in the crash The truck is believed to be a 2008-2010 Ford F350 or F450 model The rear of the window is covered by plastic If you recognize the truck seen in the photos or have information on the incident Paul Police Department asks you to contact them at 651-413-8300 or by emailing tips@sspmn.org MINNESOTA—The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has suspended the license of Pamela Bakken following serious allegations involving child endangerment The decision follows an investigation by Dakota County Community Services which found that a child in Bakken’s care had been exposed to methamphetamine with community members calling for Bakken’s resignation from her position on the South St According to an Order of Suspension issued by DHS on March 4 Bakken’s license was suspended due to multiple alleged violations including failure to provide required supervision failure to comply with the terms of a disqualification variance and failure to ensure children did not have access to toxic substances The investigation was initiated after Dakota County received a report on December 7 indicating potential health and safety risks for children in Bakken’s care DHS issued an Order of Temporary Immediate Suspension on December 9 according to the latest documents released by DHS The recent Order of Suspension confirms that she remains barred from operating a daycare The case gained significant attention after Victoria Kane, the mother of the affected child, spoke publicly about her son’s experience. Kane told FOX 9 Minneapolis that her son became seriously ill on December 6 after consuming an unidentified substance at Bakken’s daycare The child later described eating “onion crumbs” from the floor of a bathroom at the facility—substances later believed to be methamphetamine Kane described her son’s behavior following the incident, stating, “He didn’t stop talking the whole time as we sat in the ER room. He just talked and talked and talked.” The boy was hospitalized but has since recovered, according to reporting by Fox 9 Minneapolis The suspension order lists additional violations Allowing a disqualified staff member to be alone with children Failing to complete a background check for a household member Not ensuring toxic substances were inaccessible to children Dakota County determined that Bakken was responsible for maltreatment by neglect which led to the child’s exposure to methamphetamine and while no criminal charges have been filed the Lakeville Police Department has taken over the case due to a potential conflict of interest The incident has led to growing demands for Bakken to step down from her City Council position residents have voiced concerns over her ability to serve in public office The South St Paul City Council Meeting from February 18 Bakken has not publicly commented on whether she intends to resign According to the order of suspension Bakken has the right to appeal the suspension within 10 days of receiving the order a contested case hearing would be scheduled before an Administrative Law Judge who would then recommend to the DHS Commissioner for a final ruling families previously enrolled in Bakken’s daycare program have been urged to seek alternative child care providers The Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) has also advised that families receiving financial assistance may experience disruptions due to the license suspension Written By: Will WightCover photo from South St Paul City Council Meeting from February 18 A March settlement between the city and the animal processing plant forces the company to install equipment to minimize unpleasant odors store manager Cody Swenson has grown accustomed to the noxious odor that occasionally wafts from the business down the road “It’s a necessary evil,” said Swenson of the stench from the nearby Sanimax plant workers and machinery turn animal parts into pet food biofuels and even cosmetics — a laborious process that can pump out a smell neighbors have likened to rotting flesh But better smelling days could be on the way Paul reached a settlement with Sanimax in March obligating the Montreal-based company to install equipment that minimizes unpleasant scents follows a years-long legal battle with Sanimax over its challenges to the city’s odor ordinance and zoning code Leaders hope it represents an enduring solution to a nose-wrinkling problem that has dogged the city for years “I’m confident [the company’s] intent is for the future and for fixing the issue,” Mayor Jimmy Francis said “I know it’s been ours this entire time.” echoing the mayor’s message in a statement pointed to the company’s ongoing efforts to reduce the plant’s impact on residents “is another positive step forward for the community and our company.” The city has attempted for years to crack down on the stench associated with Sanimax’s bank of beige buildings at 505 Hardman Ave which commuters crossing the Wakota Bridge sometimes smell before they see A plant manager hoped in 2010 that an $8 million remodel would eliminate the foul odor. But the problem persisted four years later, prompting South St. Paul to adopt an odor ordinance that allowed the city to fine offenders Sanimax, feeling the pressure, filed suit in federal court against the city in 2017 calling its smell rules unconstitutionally vague The company dropped its action a few months later after city officials agreed to strip its designation as a “significant odor generator.” But Sanimax brought a similar action three years later contesting an amended odor ordinance in court as well as a zoning change that prevented the company from expanding Around that time, complaints against the company accumulated as the COVID pandemic raged forcing home-bound residents to face a smell they couldn’t evade The company opted not to pay the mounting fines as its lawsuit against the city unfolded, City Administrator Ryan Garcia said. When a court ruled on appeal in 2024 that the city’s odor ordinance was constitutional, Sanimax faced a pile of unpaid citations, Garcia said. The company appealed them to Minnesota’s administrative court before approaching South St. Paul leaders with a proposition: What if the parties instead worked out an agreement? Garcia said Sanimax’s decision to settle didn’t surprise him. “It was a lot of time and energy focused on fighting over something that had been resolved through [the appeals court ruling],” Garcia said. “The individual citations hadn’t been resolved, but the merits of our ability to enforce our ordinance were upheld,” he added. “It made some sense that [Sanimax] approached us and said, ‘Let’s start over.‘” The agreement obligates Sanimax to pay the city $55,000 within 30 days of its approval. It also labels the plant a “significant odor generator” — a designation the company can’t appeal. But the crux of the settlement requires the company to develop an “odor management plan” within 90 days, laying out the smell-minimizing technology it intends to implement. The goal: Ensure Sanimax’s emissions comply with the city’s odor ordinance, which bars “offensive or obnoxious” smells. The company has six months to implement the plan, which is contingent on city approval, and six additional months to adjust equipment. During that time frame, the city will stop citing the company for any odor ordinance violations, though residents can continue lodging complaints during the equipment adjustment period. Citations the city leveled against Sanimax between 2020 and 2023 will be dismissed. So will those issued last year — unless follow-up monitoring detects persistent smell problems, giving the city authority to collect those fines. Francis, the mayor, said he’s optimistic the settlement will please businesses like Sanimax that contribute tax dollars to the city, as well as people who call South St. Paul home. “We just want everybody to get along and be good neighbors,” he said. A permit violation for a facility in South St Paul has resulted in a $55,000 fine being issued According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Sanimax USA LLC failed to seek a required major air permit amendment and conduct air emissions modeling before making changes to its pollution control equipment systems The citation comes after a May 2023 inspection by the MPCA which confirmed the company had taken a piece of pollution control equipment required by the permit to control emissions out of service The company instead routed the emissions to a different type of control equipment The MPCA said Sanimax also failed to conduct air quality modeling before making the changes in 2019 the facility is required to put the required pollution control equipment back into operation which the MPCA said was done in September of 2023 They will also need to submit a plan to ensure future projects and plans will be evaluated so modeling requirements will be complete when needed and another plan to ensure that daily monitoring is conducted and pollution control equipment operates within permitted limits 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS has reached out to Sanimax for comment on the citation and will update this article if a response is given UPDATE: Hudson Man Charged with Second-Degree Murder in Fatal Shooting of South St. Paul Roommate MINNESOTA—Authorities are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred Friday night in South St leaving one man dead and another in custody According to a press release from the South St officers responded to a report of a shooting around 8:50 p.m on April 11 at a residence in the 700 block of 12th Avenue North officers discovered an adult male inside the home suffering from an apparent gunshot wound was located at the scene and taken into custody Investigators believe the shooting was an isolated incident and that the two individuals knew each other Police also stated that there is no threat to the broader community Paul Police Department is leading the investigation with assistance from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Investigators are working to determine the circumstances that led to the shooting and are collecting evidence that may clarify what transpired The identity of the deceased has not been released The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office will conduct an autopsy to confirm the cause of death Authorities are urging anyone with information about the incident to contact the South St