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Briefly

Winnebago resident wins $500K

ROSEVILLE – Madge Toland of Winnebago has won $509,412 playing Gopher 5 in the Minnesota Lottery.

Toland claimed the prize Feb. 22. Shell Food Mart located at 1510 Giant Drive in Blue Earth sold the winning ticket.

Another winner from the area is April Ploshnick of Fairmont. She recently won $5,000 by playing the Coffee Break Crossword game through the Minnesota Lottery.

Ploshnick claimed the prize Feb. 24. Freedom Valu Center located at 407 E. Blue Earth Ave. in Fairmont sold the winning ticket.

For more information about the Minnesota Lottery, visit www.mnlottery.com

Inquiry handed to outside firm

ROCHESTER (AP) – The investigation into a Rochester police officer who was suspended after allegedly posting offensive images is being turned over to an independent, outside firm, the city’s police chief said Friday.

Chief Roger Peterson also said the department’s professional standards manager, Scott Hildebrand, will be placed on paid leave until the investigation is over to avoid a potential conflict of interest.

“During the course of this investigation we were provided with additional information that, in my opinion, compromises our ability to provide a full, fair and impartial inquiry into this matter,” Peterson said in a statement.

Officer Ben Schlag was placed on paid administrative leave earlier this month as the department investigated allegations that shortly after a Black Lives Matter demonstration in the Twin Cities, he posted on Facebook an image of a car running over protesters. He also allegedly posted an item about shooting Muslims. Peterson and Rochester Mayor Ardell Brede called for an immediate investigation.

A look at minimum wage workers

ST. PAUL (AP) – State labor officials have released a snapshot of minimum wage workers in Minnesota.

The Department of Labor and Industry says there are nearly 1.6 million hourly workers in Minnesota. And, about 216,000 made $9 an hour or less in 2015. The state minimum wage was raised to $9 an hour as of Aug. 1, 2015 for employers with annual revenues of at least $500,000. It will increase to $9.50 this Aug. 1.

Labor officials say 34 percent of Minnesota’s minimum wage employees work in eating and drinking places, and 40 percent of them receive tips, overtime or commissions.

The labor department’s analysis shows women are more likely than men to be paid the minimum wage. And, 45 percent of minimum wage workers are older than the 24.

Briefly

Firm receives endorsement

BLUE EARTH – Express Diagnostics Int’l, manufacturer of DrugCheck onsite drugs of abuse screening tests, has announced that the National Narcotic Officers Associations Coalition has endorsed the use of DrugCheck test devices.

NNOAC advocates for narcotic officers’ concerns regarding legislation, drug enforcement policy and research. In light of the fact that increased attention has being placed upon drugged driving across the country, EDI has partnered with NNOAC to promote drug abuse recognition training and roadside testing options for officers across the country.

Gochenour joins Thrivent Financial

FAIRMONT – Rhiannon Gochenour of Mankato has joined Thrivent Financial as an associate representative with Scott Fuhrman’s regional finance office.

Gochenour offers a range of financial products. Her office is located at 301 Downtown Plaza in Fairmont.

Before joining Thrivent Financial, Gochenour worked for Sanford Health and the Mayo Clinic Health System. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sports science from Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, Iowa, and a master’s degree in exercise physiology from Minnesota State-Mankato.

U.S. Bancorp named ‘Most Admired’

MINNEAPOLIS – Recently, Fortune magazine named U.S. Bancorp the most admired superregional bank, the sixth consecutive year it has topped the list.

U.S. Bancorp is the parent company of U.S. Bank National Association, the fifth-largest commercial bank in the United States, including a branch located at 103 N. Park St. in Fairmont.

Walters joins Hawkins Chevrolet

FAIRMONT – Hawkins Chevrolet has announced that Jesse Walters is the newest addition to the sales team in Fairmont.

Walters grew up in Fairmont and graduated from Fairmont Area Schools in 2008. He graduated from University of Wisconsin-River Falls in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies.

After college, he began a sales career with Walser Subaru in Burnsville. In three years, he became the No. 1 Subaru salesperson in the Midwest.

UBS allegedly organized tax evasion

BRUSSELS (AP) – A Belgian judge charged Swiss bank UBS on Friday with money laundering and “serious and organized tax evasion,” saying it directly sought clients in the country to help them skip taxes.

The spokeswoman for the crown prosecutor, Jennifer Vanderputten, said in a statement that the charges were laid thanks to cooperation with French authorities, and refused to provide additional details.

UBS said in a statement it takes note of the Belgian authorities’ actions, but that “any discussion of potential charges at this stage is premature.”

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