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Investigation leads to settlement over firing of pregnant worker

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The MN Department of Human Rights says Pet Ranch, which operates Four Paws and a Tail in Blaine, fired a new employee one hour after learning she was pregnant.

ST PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR) says a pet-related business in the north metro is taking steps to improve its anti-discrimination policies following a settlement involving the firing of a pregnant employee. 

MDHR says the agreement follows an investigation into the dismissal of Hannah Grell, who was hired by Pet Ranch as a sales associate in Sept. 2022. Pet Ranch operates a business called “Four Paws and a Tail” in Blaine. Investigators said after accepting the position, Grell was issued a uniform and given her upcoming shifts by the general manager. During that meeting, Grell told the GM of her pregnancy, and one hour later was allegedly notified by the owner of Pet Ranch via a voicemail that she had been terminated. 

In a news release announcing the settlement, MDHR called the dismissal a clear violation of Minnesota’s civil rights law. 

“Pet Ranch fired Hannah one hour after learning she was pregnant. This was blatant pregnancy discrimination,” said Minnesota Department of Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero in a released statement. “Hannah had already collected her uniform and gotten her shifts when she was fired. What should have been a happy start to a new job changed quickly because of discrimination.”

“Filing this case with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights was immensely important to me,” Grell said. “It means that in the future if another woman is put through this, they might not be scared to stand up for themselves and their rights.”

As part of the settlement, Hannah Grell will receive $22,000 from Pet Ranch. The company, which previously did not have anti-discrimination policies, will now create and enforce them with training for all employees on creating an inclusive workplace. MDHR will monitor the compliance of Pet Ranch for three years. 

The settlement follows another involving a pregnant employee announced in December. MDHR ordered a Coon Rapids dental office to pay a woman three years of wages when they dismissed her after learning she was pregnant with twins. 

Pregnancy discrimination has been illegal in Minnesota since 1977. If you feel like you have been discriminated against at work because of a pregnancy or any other reason, contact the MDHR by submitting an online form.

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Preview: ‘The Stories From My Grandmother’s Hands’

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MINNEAPOLIS — How much do you know about your grandma’s upbringing? 

“The Stories From My Grandmother’s Hands” is a book that aims to show young Black children how their grandmas lived through beautiful illustrations and descriptions. 

KARE 11 News at Noon shared more on Thursday about the impact that this book will have. 



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Pumpkin display hopes to raise money for food shelf

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Gary Peterson and his friends are collecting donations to help people in their community.

ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. — A St. Louis Park pumpkin display is raising money for their local food shelf.

Gary Peterson started carving and painting three pumpkins over a decade ago. It’s now grown to over 100.

“I’ve heard people say they’ve come from Hutchinson,” he said.

Peterson along with two of his neighbors have spent the last 14 years growing their display, turning it into a neighborhood event.

“It’s been incredible, I just can’t believe how much this has expanded,” he said. “We did it just because we like to and then people were asking to give us money to cover the cost.”

The trio refused to take people’s money, but then one of them had an idea.

“My neighbor, Steve Leensvaart, just mentioned how about we just do it for the STEP program and the STEP program is our local food shelf in St. Louis Park,” he said.

So, they started to collect donations to help families in need. They’ve raised hundreds of dollars and donated hundreds of pounds of food over the last few years, carving for a cause.

“It is more gratifying every year,” Peterson said.

He estimated they have over 100 unique pumpkins in their yard. They’ve created the displays and come up with new family-friendly concepts for people to enjoy. Peterson said about 30 of their neighbors carved their own pumpkins to be put on display, and it’s been a big hit.

“It’s great. In the last couple of years, it’s turned into more of a neighborhood event,” said Sarah Durch.

“We love this Halloween display, we come every year to see it. We love that the whole community gets involved to craft and carve the pumpkins,” said Jami Gordon-Smith.

“The shading and the details are unbelievable,” said Elizabeth Hanson.

Hanson hopes to take her 2-year-old son trick or treating for the first time but is worried the cold temperatures might keep them indoors.

“We’re going trick or treating hopefully,” she said. “He’s going to be a firefighter, but we’re probably going to have sweatshirts maybe like two pairs of sweatpants underneath. We’re going to be bundled up.”

Gordon-Smith said her family will be out Halloween night no matter the weather.

“Halloween only comes once a year, so you really have to take advantage and enjoy the evening no matter what the weather brings,” she said. “Guess it’s not totally unheard of in Minnesota to have a cold Halloween, but we are going to try and modify and do a lot of layers underneath our costumes and then we might add some hats and maybe some warmer socks.”

Durch also isn’t surprised they’re in for another chilly night.

“Well, what would Halloween be without Minnesota cold? I feel like every time you plan a costume you have to plan for how you can make this work if it’s snowing,” she said.

Peterson said they will have a bonfire and some hot chocolate and cider on Halloween to keep trick-or-treaters warm while they look at their pumpkins.

Click here to learn where you can see the pumpkins and how you can donate.



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Search continues for Bemidji missing person

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Jeremy Jourdain was 17 when he was last seen on Halloween 2016.

BEMIDJI, Minn. — The search for Jeremy Jourdain, who was last seen on Halloween in 2016, continues now eight years later. 

Jourdain was last seen at a family member’s house in Bemidji, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior Indian Affairs. He left the residence near the 500 block of Wood Avenue after midnight and while people followed him, no one was able to find him. 

Jourdain was 17 at the time.

Officials said he was wearing a blue and grey sweatshirt, and blue jeans when last seen. He is Native American and is described as 6 foot 5 and 175 pounds. 

If you have any information on his whereabouts, you can contact the Bemidji Police Department at (218) 333-9111. Tips can also be sent to 1-833-560-2065, or you can email ojs_mmu@bia.gov.



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