Star Tribune
Developers sue Lino Lakes over alleged discrimination for treatment of “Madinah Lakes” proposal
The developers behind a fiercely-debated “Muslim-friendly” housing development in Lino Lakes sued the city and two of its council members on Tuesday in federal court, alleging that anti-Muslim discrimination was behind the decision to enact a moratorium that delayed the project.
The suit was filed by developers Faraaz Yussuf and Jameel Ahmed, along with their company Zikar Holdings LLC. It names the city and Council Members Michael Ruhland and Christopher Lyden as defendants. Speaking to reporters outside of U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, attorney Sam Diehl said his clients were treated unfairly because the proposal contained a mosque, and said he believes there would not have been opposition if the project was centered around a different place of worship such as a church.
“My clients have received blatantly discriminatory treatment and there’s been a pattern of unlawful behavior by the City Council and the city of Lino Lakes,” Diehl said.
In an email, spokeswoman Meg Sawyer said the city declined to comment. Ruhland and Lyden did not respond to email and phone requests for comment.
“The matter has been referred to legal counsel and the City has no comment at this time,” Sawyer said.
The project in question, “Madinah Lakes,” would bring an estimated 1,200 to 1,300 new homeowners and renters on the site of an old sod farm in Lino Lakes, and was hotly debated since it was introduced this spring. It would also contain a mosque.
Hundreds of opponents and supporters for the project showed up at a series of public meetings, with opponents saying they had legitimate concerns about the project’s impacts on local infrastructure and water use. Supporters of the project, including many Muslim community members, alleged that the opposition was rooted in Islamophobia. To slow the project, the council voted 4-1 to enact a one-year moratorium on residential building in the northwest quadrant of the city. It does not prevent building the project’s mosque or shopping components.
In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs say the city, and Ruhland and Lyden, were “personally motivated by discriminatory animus against Muslims.” It alleges that the city treated this proposal differently and unfairly based on the religion as protected in the Constitution.
Star Tribune
Investigators searching for additional victims as Hastings man faces child porn charges
A 27-year-old Hastings man has been accused in federal court of producing child pornography over a roughly two-year span, and investigators are trying to identify additional potential victims.
Hunter James Geidlwas charged with four counts of either production or possession of child pornography in federal court Dec. 10. He has pleaded not guilty.
According to the charges, Geidl employed and used minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct for producing explicit videos from July 2022 to March 2024. He is also accused of possessing a video file of pornographic material involving a minor in 2022.
Geidl made his initial appearance in court Friday and remains in custody, according to a statement from U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger.
Investigators believe other minors may have been victimized and ask that if anyone believes their child has been in contact with Geidl to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or tips.fbi.gov.
“She was really into the Replacements. So for her to have her dad suddenly playing in the band, it would be like my dad joining the Rolling Stones.”
Slim Dunlap, right, with Paul Westerberg during a 1987 Replacements concert at First Avenue in Minneapolis. (Brian Peterson, Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Dunlap played guitar on the final two Replacements studio albums, also including 1991’s “All Shook Down.” Westerberg and bassist Tommy Stinson later credited him for sparking a new spirit in the band and extending their run during their waning years.
After the break-up in 1991, Dunlap toured with Dan Baird of the Georgia Satellites, who led the first fundraising campaign on Dunlap’s behalf in the days after his stroke.
Finally, in 1993, Dunlap got his own chance to shine as a singer/songwriter.
He channeled his love for Hank Williams, Chuck Berry and vintage blues alongside the Replacements’ Stones and Faces influences on his debut album, “The Old New Me,” issued by former ‘Mats manager and Twin/Tone Records co-founder Peter Jesperson on the Medium Cool record label. A second solo album came three years later, “Times Like This,” similarly earning a cult-loved status — especially among fellow musicians.
Springsteen publicly raved about those records numerous times, including in a 2014 interview with NPR’s Ann Powers: “I hope I get a chance to cut one of his songs,” said the Boss. “Check out the two Slim Dunlap records, because they’re just beautiful rock ‘n’ roll records. I found them to be deeply touching and emotional.”
A 59-year-old utility worker died Tuesday after falling from the bucket of a boom truck at a job site north of Big Lake, according to Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office Cmdr. Ben Zawacki.
Thomas L. Stewart of Dayton fell about six to eight feet and suffered significant head injuries while working in the ditch on the north side of 241st Avenue NW, just west of 185th Street in Orrock Township.
First responders performed life-saving efforts at the scene before Stewart was transported to St. Cloud Hospital, where he was pronounced dead late Tuesday.
Stewart worked for the Minnesota-based utility company Connexus Energy. In a response to a Facebook post about the incident, a representative from Connexus thanked people for their thoughts and prayers, and clarified the utility worker was not electrocuted in the incident.
“We’re heartbroken over the passing of our friend and colleague but we are waiting for family and friends to be notified so we cannot share additional information,” Stacy Downs, communications specialist at Connexus, said Wednesday.
