A potential break in decades-old missing persons case of news anchor Jodi Huisentruit, the future of conservation goes to Washington County’s ballot this fall, and the Superior Hiking Trail marches to its 40th year — in style.
Transcript
WITH HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE STATE, I’M XAN HOLSTON.
--WILDFIRE UPDATE --
FIRE CREWS ARE PUSHING CONTAINMENT LINES AROUND THE BIRCH BAY FIRE NORTHWEST OF ELY … AFTER SIGNS OF PROGRESS.
THE FIRE STARTED MONDAY IN THE SUPERIOR NATIONAL FOREST … WEST OF THE NORTH ARM OF BURNTSIDE LAKE… IN SAINT LOUIS COUNTY.
OFFICIALS SAY PEOPLE WERE EVACUATED AS A PRECAUTION … AND CREWS ARE WORKING CONTAINMENT LINES WITH HELP FROM AIRCRAFT WATER DROPS WHEN WEATHER CONDITIONS ALLOW.
EVERYONE NEAR THE FIRE ZONE IS URGED TO FOLLOW LOCAL EMERGENCY ORDERS … STAY OFF CLOSED ROADS … AND KEEP DRONES GROUNDED.
--VIRGINIA TAX ISSUE--
VIRGINIA CITY LEADERS SAY SALES TAX MONEY MEANT TO PAY FOR THE ‘IRON TRAIL MOTORS EVENT CENTER’ HAS BEEN GOING TO THE WRONG ACCOUNT … AND THEY’RE QUESTIONING WHETHER ANY OF IT WAS USED IMPROPERLY.
THE NORTHERN CITY’S ONE-PERCENT LOCAL SALES TAX IS SUPPOSED GO TO A DEDICATED DEBT SERVICE FUND TO PAY OFF THE BONDS THAT PAID FOR THE CENTER.
... BUT AT A RECENT COUNCIL MEETING … MEMBERS SAID THE MONEY HAS BEEN DEPOSITED IN AN EVENT CENTER CAPITAL FUND …
[COUNCIL MEMBER: WE NEVER AGREED TO LET THAT MONEY BE SPENT. SO, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME OPTIONS ON HOW THEY’RE GOING TO REPLENISH THE ACCOUNT.]
CITY ACCOUNTANTS WILL NEXT DETERMINE IF ANY TAX MONEY WAS USED FOR OPERATING EXPENSES.. .
COUNCIL MEMBERS VOTED TO MOVE FUTURE SALES TAX REVENUE INTO A RESTRICTED ACCOUNT.
--RBC OVERCHARGES--
MINNESOTANS WHO OVERPAID COMMISSIONS ON STOCK TRADES ARE DUE FOR A QUARTER-MILLION DOLLARS IN REFUNDS.
THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE SAYS R-B-C CAPITAL MARKETS CHARGED UNREASONABLY HIGH COMMISSIONS ON MORE THAN SIX-THOUSAND EQUITY TRANSACTIONS OVER A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD.
THE COMPANY NOW HAS TO PAY MORE THAN 242-THOUSAND DOLLARS IN RESTITUTION … PLUS INTEREST … AND A 20-THOUSAND-DOLLAR FINE.
COMMERCE OFFICIALS SAY CUSTOMERS SHOULD READ FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CAREFULLY … AND ASK THEIR ADVISOR OR BROKER ABOUT ANYTHING THAT LOOKS SUSPICIOUS.
--JODI HUISENTRUIT COLD CASE--
31 YEARS AGO ... A MORNING T-V ANCHOR WITH MINNESOTA ROOTS VANISHED BEFORE DAWN ON HER WAY TO WORK. SHE’S NEVER BEEN FOUND. NOW POLICE MAY HAVE A NEW LEAD.
JODI HUISENTRUIT GREW UP IN THE CENTRAL MINNESOTA TOWN OF LONG PRAIRIE … IN TODD COUNTY NORTHWEST OF SAINT CLOUD …
SHE GRADUATED FROM SAINT CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY BEFORE MOVING TO MASON CITY, IOWA TO BE THE MORNING NEWS ANCHOR OF K-I-M-T-T-V.
[JODI HUISENTRUIT: WELCOME BACK TO DAYBREAK AND TO OUR 1-HOUR MORNING SHOW. IT'S A RAINY MONDAY MORNING, JUNE 26TH.]
THAT WAS JODI ON JUNE 26TH, 1995. THE NEXT MORNING … SHE CALLED HER PRODUCER TO SAY SHE HAD OVERSLEPT AND WAS HEADING IN TO WORK. SHE NEVER ARRIVED.
POLICE FOUND SIGNS OF A STRUGGLE AND PERSONAL ITEMS NEAR HER CAR.
A YEAR LATER … MASON CITY POLICE CHIEF JACK SCHERER TOLD K-I-M-T-T-V NEWS THAT THE CASE WOULD STAY ACTIVE.
[MASON CITY POLICE CHIEF JACK SCHERER: I’VE MADE IT CLEAR THIS CASE IS NOT GOING TO GO AWAY FOR US. WHENEVER THERE’S A TIP THAT COMES IN, WE WILL WORK THAT INFORMATION.]
NOW A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR SAYS HE DISCOVERED A NEW WITNESS… AND PASSED THE INFORMATION TO IOWA INVESTIGATORS.
THERE IS A 100-THOUSAND-DOLLAR REWARD FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE LOCATION AND POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION OF HUISENTRUIT’S REMAINS. THE REWARD IS OFFERED UNTIL JUNE 27TH, THE 31ST ANNIVERSARY OF HER DISAPPEARANCE.
--MOLOTOV COCKTAIL--
A BURNED-OUT FORD FIESTA … A GREY GOOSE BOTTLE … AND D-N-A EVIDENCE ARE AT THE CENTER OF A RANDOM ARSON CASE IN WESTERN MINNESOTA.
PROSECUTORS SAY THE VODKA BOTTLE WAS ACTUALLY A MOLOTOV COCKTAIL USED TO SET FIRE TO A WOMAN’S CAR IN CLAY COUNTY NEAR MOORHEAD.
THIRTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD JAMES KELLNER IS CHARGED WITH THREE FELONIES.
HE DENIED BEING INVOLVED … BUT THE WOMAN TOLD PROSECUTORS SHE SUSPECTED HIM... AND STATE D-N-A TESTING CONNECTED HIM TO THE BOTTLE FOUND INSIDE HER BURNED OUT CAR.
--WASHINGTON COUNTY REFERENDUM--
EAST METRO AREA VOTERS WILL DECIDE THIS FALL WHETHER TO SPEND 40-MILLION DOLLARS TO RENEW A LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM OVER THE NEXT TWO DECADES.
VOTERS APPROVED 20-MILLION DOLLARS FOR WASHINGTON COUNTY’S LAND AND WATER LEGACY PROGRAM IN 2006 … TO PROTECT PARKLAND … WATERWAYS … AND NATURAL AREAS … COUNTY-SPECIFIC .FUNDING SEPARATE FROM THE STATE’S CLEAN WATER LAND AND LEGACY AMENDMENT.
THAT MONEY HAS HELPED PROTECT MORE THAN 19-HUNDRED ACRES ACROSS 53 PROJECTS.
COMMISSIONER STAN KARWOSKI SAYS THE NEW ASK IS LARGER … BUT THINKS IT COULD HAVE A GREATER IMPACT AFTER 20 YEARS OF RISING LAND COSTS.
[COMMISSIONER KARWOSKI: IF PASSED BY THE VOTERS I HOPE WE CAN LEVERAGE THAT MONEY TO BE GET CLOSE TO 80- TO 100-MILLION OF BUYING POWER.]
BUT COMMISSIONER MICHELLE CLASSEN SAYS THE PROGRAM DOES NOT BENEFIT THE COUNTY EQUALLY …
[COMMISSIONER CLASSEN: HUGO, SCANDIA, MARINE ON ST. CROIX — THEIR LAND STAYS GREEN, THEIR PROPERTY VALUES STAY HIGH, THEIR CHARACTER STAYS RURAL, PAID FOR BY THE MOST POPULATED CITIES. 24:11, 10S]
THE COMMISSIONERS VOTED FIVE-TO-ONE TO PUT THE QUESTION ON THE BALLOT.
--SHT TURNS 40!--
AND FINALLY …
THE SUPERIOR HIKING TRAIL IS TURNING 40 … AND THE CELEBRATION IS MOSEYING UP AND DOWN THE WHOLE NORTH SHORE.
ON SATURDAY … THE SUPERIOR HIKING TRAIL ASSOCIATION IS INVITING PEOPLE TO HIKE … RUN … OR SAUNTER ANY SECTION OF THE TRAIL AS PART OF A COMMUNITY-WIDE BIRTHDAY EVENT.
AFTERWARD … BIRTHDAY PARTIES RUN FROM 4 TO 7 AT HOST SITES IN GRAND MARAIS … TOFTE … TWO HARBORS … AND DULUTH.
MORE DETAILS ARE AT SUPERIOR HIKING DOT ORG.
FOR NORTH STAR STORIES, I’M XAN HOLSTON.