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Ellsworth Creamery to pay $250K fine after wastewater violations

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Wisconsin’s AG says the longtime maker of cheese curds and other dairy products repeatedly violated its discharge permit between Oct. 2017 and Aug. 2022.

ELLSWORTH, Wis. — A well-known western Wisconsin dairy will pay a $250,000 penalty and install additional pollution control equipment after allegedly violating terms of its wastewater discharge permit. 

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul says Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery (ECC) agreed to the settlement after “repeatedly” exceeding wastewater discharge limits for suspended solids, ammonia, dissolved oxygen, phosphorus, and water temperature from October 2017 to August 2022. A complaint filed by the state in Pierce County said water discharged into Isabelle Creek – a trout stream used by local anglers – harmed an approximately 3-mile segment of the stream and triggered a fish kill in August 2022.   

“To protect both our environment and human health, our water should be free of unlawful wastewater discharges,” said Attorney General Kaul. “Wastewater discharge permit holders must help safeguard clean water by following the terms of their permits.”

In addition to the fine, AG Kaul says ECC officials agreed to install equipment that will dilute high-strength wastewater before it enters the Cooperative’s water treatment facility. 

In a released statement ECC CEO and General Manager Paul Bauer said the agreement was reached following “unforeseen issues” involving discharges of treated wastewater effluent, adding that the farmer-owned cooperative is working with the DNR to ensure the issues are resolved. 

“Any wastewater effluent discharged over permit limits was completely unintentional and addressed immediately, with complete follow-up reporting to and cooperation with the DNR,” said ECC CEO Paul Bauer in a released statement. “We are proud to have been a part of the Ellsworth community for more than 100 years thanks to our farmer-owners who share our deep commitment to environmental responsibility, and we will remain dedicated to protecting the environment and its natural resources.”

Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery’s facility processes milk into cheese curds, barrel cheese and dried milk products.

In June Minnesota’s Hastings Creamery was disconnected from the local sewer system after the Met Council said the business repeatedly violated the terms of its wastewater discharge permit. The creamery soon closed after nearly 110 years in business, leaving farmers without a place to sell and process their milk and scuttling dozens of jobs. Then in September, the Hastings Creamery went up in flames, destroying the empty facility. 

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Man gets 20 years in north Minneapolis apartment murder

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Donald Edmondson suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the chest at his north-side apartment building on Nov. 24, 2023.

MINNEAPOLIS — A Minneapolis man who pleaded guilty to entering another man’s apartment and shooting him to death last year was sentenced to 20 years in prison Friday.

The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office released a statement saying 59-year-old Walter Hill was sentenced on second-degree intentional murder charges in 60-year-old Donald Edmondson’s November 2023 killing.

Prosecutors said Hill was given 337 days of credit for time already served.

“Mr. Edmondson should still be alive,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said in a statement. “A violent act committed with such disregard by Mr. Hill has taken him from his family. This sentence delivers accountability and protects our community, and I hope it brings some measure of peace to Mr. Edmondson’s loved ones as they attempt to move forward with their lives.” 

According to police, Edmondson suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the chest at his north-side apartment building on Nov. 24, 2023. 

The attorney’s office said Hill entered his guilty plea Monday.



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Kris Lindahl, ‘Call of Duty’ partner on new billboards

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Turns out, Twin Cities realtor and billboard personality Kris Lindahl is in on the joke.

MINNEAPOLIS — The makers of the video game “Call of Duty” launched a new, locally inspired campaign Friday, coinciding with the release of the franchise’s newest installment, “Black Ops 6.”

Motorists might notice real estate agent Kris Lindahl, famously seen with his arms out over every interstate in town, was replaced by *ahem* “The Replacer,” an Activision character played by actor Peter Stormare. 

For the next few weeks, The Replacer will step in for Lindahl not only on billboards but also on advertisements across television, streaming and social media platforms.

But why does Lindahl need The Replacer’s help, you might ask? 

So he’s free to play “Black Ops 6,” of course.

The Replacer isn’t new to Minnesota. He also once stepped into the shoes of Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards.



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Project ‘Will You See Me?’ aims to build empathy through stories

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Reverend Shawn Morrison, founder and executive director of Good in the ‘Hood, shares his project to connect humanity through stories.

MINNEAPOLIS — In the busy intersections of life, some moments are often overlooked, while others are ignored. 

Reverend Shawn Morrison, founder and executive director of Good in the ‘Hood, sees these intersections as opportunities for connecting and understanding.

“Three years ago, I just got a heart for this,” Morrison said, explaining that overlooking these moments was never an option. “Some might say it’s a calling that I was just compelled,” he shared, describing his deep motivation.

This project, “Will You See Me?” shares stories of people who are often unseen, aiming to create connections and build empathy. With each story, photograph and encounter, the team hopes to bring dignity and significance to every life they touch. 

Ultimately, they plan to compile these stories and images into a book to serve as a powerful testament to the human experience.

“How can we not make it just an excursion but an encounter? How can we give dignity and significance a listening ear of understanding?” Morrison asked, hoping the project fosters empathy through shared narratives.

One participant, Wade Smith, reflected on the range of life experiences among the project’s subjects. 

“I went to radio and television broadcasting school, yeah, and then I went to the service,” Smith shared. 

Morrison’s approach includes photographing and recording participants’ words, preserving their voices authentically.

After initial challenges finding collaborators, Shawn Nielsen, owner of Nielsen Studios, and Elizabeth Korth, owner of Narrative Nuance, joined Morrison in his mission. Together, they approach individuals directly, offering respect, gift cards and a chance to be truly seen. 

“People don’t even look at me,” Smith said. “It’s a problem for all Americans.”

Through each encounter, Morrison hopes to leave lasting impressions. 

“I’m hoping that the people of our community start to see things differently, and they might ask this question, ‘What can I do?’” Morrison said.

Dre Woods, another participant, spoke about his family and dreams. Woods asked for help to take care of his four-legged companion, Oreo. 

“I’m trying to feed her, right? That’s my baby,” Woods shared, revealing the motivations that guide him.

Dozens of stories and plenty of surprises, all things that give an often unshared perspective.

“I be asking God what it is why I’m still here. A lot of my friends not hear no more and I think about that,” Woods said. 

Each interaction serves as a reminder of humanity’s shared connections. 

“I think that it would encourage someone to do just something once. Each person could do something one day at a time, to be profound,” Nielsen said.

For Morrison, these stories are part of a larger mission. 

“Boy, has there been a rest of the story for some of these beautiful people,” he said, hoping to inspire others to view their communities with fresh eyes.

Each moment and interaction serves as a call to action: look closer; adjust the community’s vision; and see the intersection they pass by more clearly — as part of their own destination.



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