Recent content from Mike Hughlett
Former Lakewood Cemetery crematorium manager pleads guilty to theft for medical debris sales
The employee sold metals left over after cremations for his own profit.
A $735,000 payment to R.J. Ryan Construction vanishes in an apparent cybercrime
Ryan and a Stillwater escrow company are sued over a misdirected payment due on the construction of a commercial building in South St. Paul.
3M appoints outsider as new CEO at critical moment
Outgoing CEO Michael Roman will remain as board chair during the transition.
Fatal Minnesota work accidents prompt willful safety violations in recent years
Minnesota OSHA issued willful violations for seven fatal accidents since 2017.
A Wisconsin 3M factory worker died. Was the company indifferent to safety?
Federal workplace regulators hit 3M with rare 'willful' safety violations after a fatal 2023 accident at a plant in southwestern Wisconsin. The company is fighting the citations.
Former oil executive Michael Reger accuses Dorsey & Whitney of legal malpractice
Dorsey denies claim, says Reger failed to pay $600,000 in bills.
Report: Notorious ransomware group launched cyberattack on UnitedHealth Group
A group called "Blackcat" targeted a network for filling prescriptions that's operated by the company's Change Healthcare subsidiary, sources told Reuters.
Minnesota attorney general settles predatory lending case involving Montana tribe
Fort Belknap Indian Community companies will cease to make certain online loans in Minnesota under the settlement agreement.
Minnetonka-based US Internet's gaffe left personal email addresses exposed on webs
Thousand of emails were inadvertently publicly available, before an internet security firm spotted the flaw.
Snoop Dogg's company claims Lakeville-based Post Consumer Brands tanked its cereal line
Rappers Snoop and Master P claim Post and Walmart colluded to keep the cereal off shelves; the companies deny the claim.
Tribes accused of predatory lending; some may have been fleeced as well
Attorney General Keith Ellison's lawsuits against Montana tribe and others reveal how complicated tribal online lending operations are.
UnitedHealth lawsuit alleges former executives stole trade secrets to create rival firm
The suit pivots on a diabetes management tool initially developed by the two executives, who sold their company to United and then ended up at odds with the health care giant.
Minnesota student rejects court's $10M malpractice award, opts for new trial
Federal judge in Minneapolis sought to cut a milestone jury award from $110 million to $10 million, calling it "shockingly excessive."
Rochester charter schools serving Somali children declare bankruptcy, leaving future in doubt
Rochester STEM Academy and its counterpart Rochester Math and Science Academy began Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in early December.
Lakewood Cemetery alleged theft spotlights market for metal implants left after cremation
Prosecutors charged the former crematorium manager for selling artificial joints and other metal refuse. He says he sold what he considered trash.
Derek Chauvin survives attack in prison that raises security questions
The U.S. Department of Justice and its Federal Bureau of Prisons were mum on details about the attack against the former Minneapolis police officer, who's serving time for killing George Floyd.
Man dies after shooting on roadside in South St. Paul
Police responded to reports of gunshots Friday afternoon.
Andre 'Debonaire' McNeal, a music promoter and mentor to Black youth, dies
McNeal promoted comedy, R&B and gospel events, started the Doorstep Foundation mentoring nonprofit and hosted networking events for Black professionals.
Judge reduces largest-ever award in a Minnesota malpractice case from $110M to $10M
The defendant, the judge says, said the award for pain and suffering was excessive.
Twin Metals Minnesota appeals ruling on lease cancellation lawsuit
A District Court judge in September dismissed the lawsuit, saying it did not have jurisdiction to hear some of the arguments.
Ellison sues affiliates of Montana tribe, alleging predatory lending against Minnesota laws
The Minnesota Attorney General claims the lenders violated several state and federal laws with high-interest loans
Hydrogen hub in Minnesota and North Dakota wins nearly $1 billion in federal money
Xcel Energy will anchor a project that would produce hydrogen from renewable energy.
$700M Meta data center in Rosemount can move ahead after key approval
Utility regulators greenlighted agreements between Facebook's parent company and Xcel Energy.
Utilities plan power line project across Minnesota that could cost nearly $700M
The line, which would run from Big Stone City, S.D., to Becker, Minn., is the second major transmission proposal submitted to state utility regulators since August.
Minnesota utilities spending $130M to improve wind energy transmission
Congestion on transmission lines has led to a growing amount of time that wind farms are inactive.
Hackers exploited flaw in Eden Prairie firm's software in record year for ransomware attacks
Fortra software hack and that of a Massachusetts firm that struck the Minnesota Department of Education and UnitedHealthcare resulted in millions of compromised records.
Xcel Energy receives $70M federal grant for long-lasting grid battery in Becker
The grant from the U.S. Department of Energy will split between the project in Becker and one in Colorado, which are Xcel's largest markets.
Minnesota regulators vote to move forward the third large Xcel solar project in Becker
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved the land acquisition and other details for the project.
Minnesota regulators stick with decision for smaller rate increase than Xcel wanted
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission voted unanimously to reject Xcel's request to reconsider the rate case decision.
Another $20M in federal funds for northern Minnesota Talon nickel mine
The Talon project, backed by Rio Tinto, will need to match the Department of Defense grant.
Duluth's Cirrus Aircraft flies high with Chinese owner
With business booming, Cirrus has filed for an IPO in Hong Kong. Still, it would remain controlled by the Chinese state as tensions rise between the U.S. and China.
Delta, Xcel push for sustainable aviation fuel hub in Minnesota
A manufacturer is needed to make those dreams a reality.
State OKs storing more nuclear waste at Xcel's Monticello plant
The PUC's vote is a key step to extend the life of the nuclear plant.
From promising to endangered, Minneapolis-based Foxo Technologies teeters on the brink
The Minneapolis life insurance firm is hit by weak sales, the termination of its CEO and an SEC investigation.
Minnesota electric co-ops band together to secure $970M in federal clean power money
Great River Energy is leading a group of Minnesota co-ops in applying to the USDA for grants and loans to reduce carbon emissions.
North Dakota's oil industry had its best month in more than 2 years
The state's petroleum and natural gas output each climbed 3% in June.
With U.S. Steel on sales block, is a Minnesota iron ore shake-up ahead?
U.S. Steel rejected a buyout offer from Cliffs, but the Iron Range's only two taconite miners may yet combine. U.S. Steel then received a competing bid from Esmark.
Xcel says state regulators erred in rate case and asks for do-over
Xcel said the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission was unreasonable and erred legally when it did not grant the utility's rate increase request.
Lakeville man remains jailed on suspicion of being drunk when he caused fatal crash in Minneapolis
A 42-year-old Fridley man was killed in the crash at 50th Street and S. Lyndale Avenue.
Teen arrested in fatal shooting of 12-year-old boy in St. Paul
A 14-year-old male is in custody pending charges of manslaughter, St. Paul police said. Relatives said the shooting was accidental.
Girl injured in ATV accident in northeastern Minnesota
The 6-year-old fell off the ATV and was run over by the brush mower it was pulling.
Canadian man rescues 2 swimmers after riptide sweeps them into Lake Superior in Duluth
Toronto man said he heard a cry for help and rushed to help the two young women.
Minnesota regulators blast Xcel for halting projects after rate case decision
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission voted to allow Xcel to scrap a program that included a rollout of EV chargers but held them to a microgrid project for underserved communities.
Cargill fights fraud claims by Russian bank over 'imaginary problems'
Minnetonka-based Cargill seeks to thwart a subpoena for financial records related to bank with Kremlin ties.
Consumer advocacy group dings Minnesota gas utilities for overspending on capital investments
The Citizens Utility Board of Minnesota says the investment plans will have an outsized effect on customers' bills. Utilities deny the claims.
Xcel says profitability down partly because of Minnesota regulators' decision on rates
Unfavorable weather conditions, especially in Colorado, also affected results. Minnesota regulators did not allow as large a rate increase as Xcel wanted.
William Hodder, longtime leader of Bloomington-based Donaldson, dies at 92
He helped root the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management in the business community.
Xcel drops plans for EV fast chargers after regulators nix preferred rate hike
In filings with state regulators, the Attorney General's Office and the Department of Commerce took the company to task for mistakes in its pilot projects.
Glencore deal to purchase all of PolyMet moves forward
A special committee of PolyMet's board approved the deal; now it needs full board approval.
Minnesota locked in global dilemma: More copper and nickel are needed, but mine development slow
There's a not-in-my-backyard mentality surrounding new hardrock mine projects.
Dozens of insurers sue Xcel to recoup Colorado wildfire losses
The official fire investigation found that a spark from an Xcel line contributed to one of the two fires that converged to cause the damage, but did not find the Minneapolis-based utility liable. The insurers disagree with the finding.
Minnesota regulators approve Xcel battery project in Becker; its cost was not disclosed
The battery can store electricity for 25 times longer than conventional grid batteries.
Glencore bids $73M to take full ownership of PolyMet
The international mining company already owns 82% of the company proposing a controversial copper-nickel mine in northern Minnesota.
Bloomington murder-suicide tied to securities fraud in Minnesota small towns
U.S. securities regulators claim perpetrator and victims of the killings raised over $3.7 million for fraudulent stock trading scheme
CenterPoint proposes $106M plan to cut carbon emissions from its gas system
The plan includes 18 pilot projects ranging from geothermal heating to increased use of "renewable" natural gas and hydrogen.
3M makes $10.5B settlement in 'forever chemical' cases involving drinking water
The settlement involves a bevy of cases out of South Carolina involving cities and public water agencies. Other companies settled the cases earlier.
Minnesota's clean energy plan needs nuclear power, but aging plants have their own risks
Xcel recently asked nuclear regulators to extend the life of its Monticello plant from 60 to 80 years and expects to do the same for Prairie Island.
North Dakota oil industry has lackluster month
The number of rigs, an indicator of future activity, also was down.
3M bankruptcy court gambit to resolve earplug lawsuits rejected by judge
The development is a big blow to 3M's defense against lawsuits that claim the Maplewood-based company is liable for alleged flaws in earplugs it sold to the military.
'Forever chemical' trial delayed; 3M settlement appears near
Major trial over toxic PFAS chemicals used in firefighting foam was slated to start Monday in a South Carolina federal court.
Xcel will reassess investments in Minnesota after regulators' rate hike decision
Regulators approved a 9%, three-year rate increase, much less than Xcel had requested. The state's largest utility says it will ask for a reconsideration of the decision.
Xcel shuts down nuke generator at Prairie Island after 'unusual event'
Fire alarms went off after an external transformer malfunctioned, the utility said, but there was no fire and no threat to the public or to plant workers.
PolyMet venture clearing out Hoyt Lakes taconite plant for copper-nickel project
The PolyMet and Teck American joint venture will spend $18 million and employ up to 120 workers on the project.
Minnesota awards Nashwauk mineral leases to Cleveland-Cliffs
The Department of Natural Resources had canceled Mesabi Metallics' rights to the leases in Nashwauk after the company failed to meet requirements.
Mesabi Metallics' last-ditch effort could complicate award of Nashwauk mineral leases
A state panel on Thursday will vote whether to approve the Department of Natural Resources' recommendation to award the leases to Cleveland-Cliffs.
Minnesota will revamp community solar garden program, but questions about cost remain
Legislation expected to be signed this week will transfer administration to the state Department of Commerce, but some of the costs will continue to be passed down to Xcel Energy ratepayers.
Judge orders 3M CEO to attend mediation for earplug lawsuits
Mike Roman is required to go to Florida this week to help resolve costly federal litigation against 3M military earplugs.
Xcel, Minnesota vie for billions in federal funds to create 'clean' hydrogen hub
The proposal would jump-start several hydrogen projects in North Dakota and Minnesota, including Xcel using renewable power to make hydrogen for a potential fertilizer plant in Morris.
Lawmakers reach historic deal on environment, climate, energy
The bill features a broad ban on PFAS and $1 billion in new spending for environment and energy projects.
North Dakota oil, natural gas production 'mixed bag'
The state's March production report had oil production falling while natural gas production was flat.
Xcel's plans in Becker would create one of largest solar plants in country
As Xcel announces an addition to its already giant Sherco solar project, the company acknowledges soaring construction prices for solar power.
DNR recommends Cleveland-Cliffs get much sought after mineral rights in Nashwauk
The rights are up for bid after Mesabi Metallics went into default on state agreements.
