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Briefly

Rosen celebrates pension reforms

ST. PAUL – State Sen. Julie Rosen, R-Vernon Center, chairwoman of the Commission on Pensions and Retirement, is celebrating the signing by Gov. Mark Dayton of a landmark overhaul of Minnesota’s public pension system.

Rosen spent several years working on the reforms, which will close the unfunded liability gap in Minnesota’s public pensions.

The overhaul will save Minnesota $6.1 billion over a 30-year period, $3.4 billion of which is immediate savings, through a series of benefit reforms, increases to employer and employee contributions, modifications to retiree cost-of-living adjustments, and some state funding.

Crosby named teacher of the year

LENNOX, S.D. — Blake Crosby, originally from Sherburn, has been named teacher of the year at Lennox School District in Lennox, S.D.

Crosby is a fifth-grade reading and social studies teacher at Lennox Intermediate School. He has been with the district for four years.

Crosby attended Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa.

“Both my parents are teachers back in my hometown,” he told the Lennox Independent newspaper. “They showed me what a big impact you can make on a student’s life. That’s what really made me decide to be a teacher. I, as well, wanted to try to impact young men and women in our community.”

Billboards seek new clues

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — Friends and family of a northern Iowa TV news anchor missing since 1995 hope a new billboard campaign will help solve the mystery of her disappearance.

Jodi Huisentruit went missing on her way to work June 27, 1995, at station KIMT in Mason City. Investigators have never found Huisentruit, who was declared legally dead in 2001. No one has been charged in her disappearance.

Four billboards featuring a photo of Huisentruit and the message “Somebody knows something … is it YOU?” are being installed around Mason City under the direction of FindJodi.com, a website devoted to solving the case.

Huisentruit was Minnesota native who graduated from St. Cloud State University.

No charges in fatal shooting

FRIDLEY (AP) — The Anoka County Attorney’s Office will not file criminal charges against a motorist who fatally shot a driver who threatened others with a knife following a multi-vehicle crash.

Police say 33-year-old Simon Schiffler got out of his truck and was acting erratically after he was involved in a four-vehicle crash in Fridley last February. Authorities say Schiffler molested a woman who had gotten out of her car at the accident scene, then began stabbing at the window of another driver.

Another motorist stopped to help and took his handgun out of the holster. Police say Schiffler raised his knife and charged at the man, who then fired his gun. Schiffler was shot three times and died of his injuries.

Prosecutors said Thursday the fatal shooting of Schiffler was justified because of the threat he posed.

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