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Letters: Don’t overlook Al Quie’s pioneering role in improving the judiciary in Minnesota

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:56:19 GMT

Gov. Quie’s meritorious legacyOne overlooked feature last weekend in the reporting about the death of former Gov. Al Quie was his pioneering role in improving the judiciary in Minnesota.During his single term from 1979-1982, Quie, a non-lawyer, established an informal advisory group to provide guidance to him on selection of judges to fill vacancies on state court benches, which  is the exclusive prerogative of the governor, although judges stand for re-election every six years.Quie’s unofficial approach marked a departure from past practice in which selections to open positions were often made in the form of a patronage system based on political pay-backs, personal factors, and even friendships. While those considerations continued to exist — and still do to some extent — under Quie’s initiative merit became the most salient qualification.While not novel, that process formed a template for other states and also is used informally by senators in recommending candidates for the...

MN Department of Human Services shares smartphone-hacking tool with St. Paul police, other agencies

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:56:19 GMT

When St. Paul police need to hack into a suspect’s cellphone, they don’t have to go far.Under a deal with the Minnesota Department of Human Services, approved by St. Paul City Council in June, police officers have around-the-clock access to a controversial smartphone-hacking device called GrayKey. Under the joint-powers agreement, the St. Paul Police Department agreed to pay $7,000 a year for access to the device located in the digital forensics lab that DHS operates from its building at 444 Lafayette Road.DHS also has deals to share access to the smartphone hacking and data-extraction device with the state departments of Commerce and Natural Resources, according to records obtained by the Pioneer Press. The state Department of Public Safety has its own GrayKey device, too.These deals are the latest local examples of how GrayKey, which was created by the technology company GrayShift to crack cellphone encryption, is being used by an increasing number of law enforcement a...

Literary calendar for week of Aug. 27

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:56:19 GMT

WILLIAM DYER: Former literature teacher at Minnesota State University, Mankato, launches his book “Teaching Fools: Masters and Mentors” about building his cabin on Lake Superior’s South Shore and the characters that make it happen. 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2, Barnes & Noble, Eden Prairie Center, 8251 Flying Cloud Dr., Eden Prairie.HELLO LLAMA: Red Balloon Bookshop hosts a special story time featuring a costumed character reading from “Llama Llama’s Little Lie,” latest in this bestselling series by Anna Dewdney with more than 35 million books in print worldwide. During this stop on a national tour, little Llama fans will have a chance to hear a reading of the new book, have pictures taken with costumed Llama, and participate in activities such as crafts. In the new book, Llama accidentally breaks Mama Llama’s favorite picture frame and thinks a little lie will keep him out of trouble, learning a lesson about telling the truth. Dewdney, wh...

Ask Amy: Grieving daughter needs more comfort

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:56:19 GMT

Dear Amy: I married my husband two years ago.He has two children from a previous marriage, both in their mid-20s.I have a teen still at home.We have a really nice time with his children. We regularly talk/check in with them, and I believe we have a good relationship.However, recently my mother died — after a sudden and torturous battle with cancer.My stepchildren have not expressed their condolences in any way, and both skipped the funeral.I then saw them two days later and they did not address it at all.My feelings are very hurt, but I’m not sure they should be.My mother used to say that young adulthood was her least favorite phase of life — people in their 20s are particularly self-involved.So this may just be the behavior of that age group.I haven’t shared my feelings with my husband because I don’t want him to feel bad.Related ArticlesAsk Amy | Ask Amy: A landmark birthday isn’t cruising along Ask Amy | Ask Amy: Siblings c...

Word Game: Aug. 27, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:56:19 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — PRACTICE (PRACTICE: PRAK-tis: To do or perform often, customarily or habitually.)Average mark 60 wordsTime limit 60 minutesCan you find 60 or more words in PRACTICE?TODAY’S WORD — PRACTICE pace pacer pact pair pare paretic part pate pear peat pert pica pier pieta pirate prate price race rapt rate react recap rice ripe rite accept acetic acre aper arctic cape caper caprice care caret carp carpet cart cater circa cite crape crate crept tape taper tare tarp tear tier tire trace trap trice trip tripe ipecac irate epact epicTo purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!RULES OF THE GAME:1. Words must be of four or more letters.2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissi...

Bridge: Aug. 27, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:56:19 GMT

“Show me a good loser, and I’ll show you a loser.” — Major League baseball manager Leo Durocher.In baseball, there are good and bad outs. If a team has a runner on second with nobody out, and the batter hits a ground ball to the right side of the infield, he makes an out, but it’s a “productive out.” The runner advances to third and is in position to score on (for instance) a fly ball.In bridge, there are good and bad losers. Losing a finesse you didn’t need to try is bad, but trading one loser for another to your advantage is good.In today’s deal, West led his singleton ten of diamonds against four hearts. (West’s bid of two spades was preemptive; East’s pass to four hearts was inexplicable; only double-dummy defense would have beaten four spades.) East took the ace and returned the nine, and West ruffed South’s king and led the queen of clubs.South played low from dummy, ruffed in his hand and drew trumps, but...

Russia’s Investigative Committee confirms mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was killed in a plane crash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:56:19 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s Investigative Committee confirms mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was killed in a plane crash.Source

Mueren tres infantes de Marina de EE.UU. en un accidente aéreo en Australia durante un ejercicio de entrenamiento

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:56:19 GMT

(CNN) — Tres infantes de Marina estadounidenses murieron y varios más resultaron gravemente heridos después de que un avión Osprey se estrellara durante ejercicios militares en Australia, dijeron funcionarios este domingo.De los 23 infantes de Marina a bordo del avión MV-22B Osprey, tres murieron mientras que otros cinco fueron trasladados al Hospital Royal Darwin en estado grave, dijo este domingo la Marine Rotational Force-Darwin en un comunicado.El incidente en la isla Melville en Australia tuvo lugar a las 9:30 a.m. hora local.“Los infantes de Marina a bordo del avión volaban en apoyo del ejercicio militar Predators Run. Los esfuerzos de recuperación están en curso”, se lee en el comunicado, y agrega que “la causa del incidente está bajo investigación”.Anteriormente, la ministra principal del Territorio del Norte, Natasha Fyles, dijo que algunos de los otros infantes de Marina estaban siendo tratados en el lugar.“Estamos trabajando increíblemente duro y tan rápido co...

Car slams into North Lauderdale mobile home

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:56:19 GMT

A vehicle reportedly crashed into a mobile home overnight in North Lauderdale.The incident took place between Northwest 57th Street and Northwest 44th Avenue.7News is still working to gather additional information.Please check back on WSVN.com and 7News for more details on this developing story.

Thousands of athletes gather to swim, bike and run the Boston Triathlon

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:56:19 GMT

Thousands of athletes are gathering on Carson Beach in South Boston to run, swim and back as a part of the Boston Triathlon.Racers took off Sunday morning, marking the 15th year of the race. More than 20,000 athletes are competing from all 50 states and 36 different countries.Among the competitors is 12-year-old Eshe Stockton of Rhode Island, who is competing in the adults race. Stockton, who placed third in the Under-19 sprint race last year, said she wants to be an Olympian one day.The Boston Triathlon kids race took place Saturday, which Race Director Michael O’Neil said is an important part of the organization.. “We are open to everyone, and we invite them in and we help them whether it’s teaching them to swim, whether it’s helping coaching them to bike, whether it’s learning how to run,” O’Neil said. “We want to be supportive of everyone’s journey.”Around 7:30 a.m., the first two waves of racers were in the water completing the swimming portion of the race. The athletes th...