Craig will make his case to withdraw plea Sept. 26

U.S. Sen. Larry Craig is scheduled to appear in Hennepin County District Court's Southdale office on Sept. 26 to plead his case for the withdrawal of his guilty plea for disorderly conduct in an airport bathroom.

Craig's court session is to start at 1:30 p.m. before District Judge Charles Porter Jr. in Room 227 at the Southdale Suburban Courthouse at 7009 York Av. S. in Edina.

The Idaho Republican is asking to rescind his plea on the grounds that he was panicked and under pressure from an investigation by the Idaho Statesman newspaper into his sexual orientation.

A police report alleged that Craig had solicited sex from undercover police Sgt. Dave Karsnia at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport in June, which the senator has denied.

Porter has been in the news lately because Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman is trying to have him removed from hearing the retrial of Myon Burrell in the shooting of 11-year-old Tyesha Edwards, who was killed by a stray bullet while doing her homework. Freeman contends Porter expressed an opinion about the prosecution's case.

ROCHELLE OLSON

Mall security guards charged with theft

Two more Rosedale Center security guards and a third man who told police he acted "as a lookout" have been charged with stealing everything from vegetable choppers to shoes from the Roseville mall.

Bernard Homich, 23; Jerry Lee, 21, and Dave Ankarlo, 23, all of St. Paul, were charged Monday in Ramsey County District Court with second- and third-degree burglary.

The complaints said Homich and Ankarlo were security guards at the mall between March and May of this year. Both worked with Paul Fransen and Cory Woodhams, who were charged in June with stealing merchandise and cash amounting to more than $20,000.

PAT PHEIFER

Woman gets 24 years for child-sex crimes

A Cottage Grove woman was sentenced to 24 years in prison for having sex between 2004 and July 2006 with two children she knew. The case came to light through an FBI child pornography sting in March.

Cassie S. Kappers, 32, was sentenced Tuesday in Washington County District Court after pleading guilty in June to two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a girl and boy, now ages 15 and 9. Four other sex charges, including having sex with two other children, and possessing and distributing child pornography, were dropped.

JIM ADAMS

Wayzata teacher gets jail for kidnap, assault

Wayzata High School math teacher Todd W. Grams has been sentenced to 60 days in jail with work release for the kidnapping and assault of his former girlfriend in August 2006 after the couple went out for dinner and drinks. Grams' lawyer Bob Miller said the sentence is a victory for him because it means he will have a gross misdemeanor rather than a felony on his record.

ROCHELLE OLSON

ATV crash victim was Minneapolis woman

The Stearns County Sheriff has identified the ATV rider who died early Monday after colliding with a car in St. Augusta as Heather Stokke.

Stokke, 21, of Minneapolis, was heading west on a county road when a sedan struck the rear of the ATV she was driving.

TIM HARLOW