Star Tribune
Smith Foundry emissions test in East Phillips Minneapolis shows lead emissions, working soot filters
The south Minneapolis foundry that some neighbors say has exposed them to hazardous pollution is releasing lead from its smokestacks, though a much smaller amount than previous estimates, according to an analysis of recent testing by state and federal environmental officials.
The testing, performed over three days on five smokestacks in December, didn’t settle the question of whether the Smith Foundry is polluting the neighborhood. It didn’t measure emissions from the furnace inside Smith Foundry, which vent through a separate duct in the roof that is not regulated by the company’s 1992 permit.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has committed to completing a new permit for Smith by the end of 2024, and the company has told EPA that it will likely have to install new controls, including around its furnace.
Smith has made iron castings at its location at 1855 E. 28th St. in the East Phillips neighborhood for roughly the past century. The operation, which was purchased by the Canadian firm Zynik Capital in late 2022, has long sparked concern from nearby neighbors and activists. Anger and frustration mounted late last year when the Sahan Journal reported that the EPA had dropped in for a surprise inspection in the spring and found evidence of several potential Clean Air Act violations. Later, the Star Tribune reported that EPA and MPCA disagreed on some of those violations, with state officials saying there was no evidence that the foundry had broken air quality standards.
MPCA spokeswoman Andrea Cournoyer did not specify whether the agencies had resolved the disagreement, but said the two agencies were working “collaboratively” and that MPCA was supporting EPA’s ongoing investigation.
The stack test results were released late last month, and the MPCA completed its analysis on Monday. A joint statement from MPCA and EPA, both of which observed the test, said that “While the tests detected lead emissions, the amounts were low.”
Still, the stack tests were the first to document that the foundry was allowing lead to escape into the air. In annual emissions reports over the past few years, Smith has reported lead amounts that would make it the single biggest permitted source in Hennepin County; however, the company was using an estimate based on industry studies.
The company said the test results show that its emissions were about 9 pounds per year, or less than 5% of the amount in its most recent annual report. The Cournoyer said MPCA could not confirm that calculation, but said Smith is required to report updated annual emissions for 2023 by April 1.
Smith previously conducted its own analysis to show that the iron ingots it melts down don’t contain detectable levels of lead. Now, the company will test the silica sand it uses to create molds for its iron castings, to see if that could be a possible source, said Blois Olson, a spokesman for Smith.
“I’m a little bit surprised at the lead,” said Evan Mulholland, an attorney at the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy. “We were expecting zero. The company kept saying ‘we don’t use lead, we don’t want lead, lead is not good in cast iron.'”
The results also showed that the smokestacks are not releasing more lung-damaging fine particles than Smith’s permit allows.
MPCA will hold two public information sessions on Wednesday to discuss testing, permitting and air monitoring around Smith Foundry. Both sessions will be held at The East Phillips Park Cultural and Community Center, at 2307 S 17th Ave. The first session will run from 3:30 to 5 p.m., and the second will run from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Star Tribune
Former Medtronic consultant gets 18 months federal prison for insider trading
A former Medtronic consultant received an 18-month prison sentence this week for his role in a scheme linked to the $1.6 billion acquisition of an Israeli medical device company in 2018.
A federal jury in February convicted Doron “Ron” Tavlin, 69, of Minneapolis, of one count of conspiracy to engage in insider trading and 10 additional counts related to securities fraud. That same jury found David Jay Gantman, 58, of Mendota Heights, not guilty of all charges against him. A third defendant — Afshin “Alex” Farahan, 57, of Los Angeles — pleaded guilty in 2022 and has yet to be sentenced.
“His crime was cynical and brazen. It was also reckless,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Ebert wrote in a memo calling for a 3-year prison term. “Tavlin’s conduct had the potential to blow up a deal that a team of executives and financial advisers had been diligently negotiating for months.”
Tavlin is now scheduled to self-surrender Jan. 5 to begin his prison term, which will be followed by 320 hours of community service.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Tavlin learned about a secret, pending acquisition by Medtronic of Mazor Robotics, where he worked as vice president of business development, in 2018. Tavlin also previously worked as a consultant to the Ireland-based Medtronic, which also has a headquarters in Fridley.
Tavlin illegally tipped off Farahan, his friend, about news of the imminent acquisition and told him to keep the news secret. Farahan knew the deal would likely result in a boost to Mazor’s stock price and quickly bought more than $1 million of the company’s stock throughout August and September 2018. Medtronic announced plans to acquire Mazor, which specialized in robotics for spinal procedures, in September 2018 and the deal closed three months later.
Prosecutors said Farahan netted more than $245,000, and Gantman made $255,000 in profit by selling the securities quickly after the deal was publicized. Farahan paid Tavlin for the secret information about the pending deal — including a $25,000 kickback about a year later —according to prosecutors.
U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank, who sentenced Tavlin Monday, also ordered Tavlin to pay a special assessment fee of $1,100 – or $100 per each count. Frank did not impose a fine.
Star Tribune
Charges detail assault in Minneapolis that led to shooting rampage, killing one in Kandiyohi County
Another friend of the ex-girlfriend arrived to help. He pulled up in a car as the group exited the apartment and Matariyeh immediately pointed a gun at him before pounding on the windshield with the gun. Everyone fled as Matariyeh ran back inside the apartment.
The two men met in a parking lot before attempting to return to the apartment. That’s when they looked up and saw Matariyeh on the balcony. Matariyeh immediately began firing multiple shots at them as they took cover behind parked cars.
It was around this time that Minneapolis police officers arrived and made contact with Matariyeh’s ex-girlfriend. She believed he was still inside the apartment, but officers later learned that he had fled. They reached him on the phone. He told officers he was going to kill innocent people if he couldn’t speak with his ex-girlfriend or see his daughter, who was at daycare at the time. He later told police negotiators that “he wanted to go out by ‘suicide by cop.’”
All the while, Matariyeh was speeding westbound.
Police officers pursued him near Cosmos in Meeker County after being alerted that Matariyeh might have stolen another vehicle at gunpoint in Carver County.
Around 2 p.m. he pulled into the rural driveway of Peter Mayerchak in Lake Lillian. Mayerchak, who was in his yard placing hay over his septic mound, went and greeted Matariyeh, who shot him in the chest.
Star Tribune
DFL’s last-minute push to keep their trifecta
Mixing progressive dreams with dire warnings, a group of DFL leaders riled up a group of volunteers in St. Paul on Thursday morning, urging them to push on through the day’s freezing rain and fatigue in the remaining days before the election.
Several elected officials including Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar told the group of about 150 campaign staffers, volunteers and union members about how meaningful their work is to keeping DFL control of the Legislature, as the electeds start a statewide bus tour to turn out votes.
“We are here to keep our trifecta here in Minnesota,” U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar told volunteers on Thursday. “We’ve got five days, people!”
On the Republican side, House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, said earlier this month that the House Republican Campaign Committee had raised a record $2.7 million ahead of the election and she said Republicans have also set records in volunteering and door-knocking as they work to break DFL control.
Minnesota Democrats hold a rally before starting a bus tour around the state to get voters excited, including Rep Ilhan Omar, Sen Amy Klobuchar, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, House Speaker Melissa Hortman, Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, Rep Betty McCollum and Sen Tina Smith on Thursday. (Glen Stubbe/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
“Republicans have the momentum and resources heading into the final stretch to win the majority and restore balance to Minnesota,” Demuth said in a statement. “Minnesotans are ready to move on from the expensive two years of Democrat one-party rule.”
House Speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, said she thought voters preferred action to the gridlock of divided government. “They’re looking for people who can get things done,” she said.
These last-minute get-out-the-vote efforts come as Democrats around the country push to keep control of state legislative chambers and try to flip a few statehouses that Republicans hold by just a few seats.
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, the arm of the national Democratic party that works on statehouse races across the country, has spent $500,000 on Minnesota races this year, including House races and the state Senate contest.