Student meets with bank president

SHERBURN — Last month, Martin County West student Nic Potthoff participated in a roundtable meeting with Bremer Bank’s president and chief executive officer, Jeanne Crain, and director of specialized agriculture solutions, Marc Schober.

They discussed commercial agribusiness and banking.

Along with two other FFA officers, Potthoff, the Minnesota FFA Association’s state vice president, utilized the opportunity to share his passion for agricultural education, as well as his developing skills for future agriculture professions.

The National FFA Organization works with youth who are interested in agricultural education to develop their potential through programming and interactive, real-world experiences. Members often become chemists, production farmers, veterinarians, entrepreneurs, bankers, international business leaders and other professionals.

Body found after fire extinguished

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The death of a man whose body was found after firefighters extinguished a fire in a northeast Minneapolis building is suspicious, according to police.

Firefighters were called to the building about 2:30 a.m. Friday to put out a small fire and found the body nearby, said police spokesman John Elder.

Homicide investigators determined the man’s death is suspicious.

The police department’s crime lab remained at the scene for several hours collecting evidence.

There have been no arrests. Elder says the Hennepin County medical examiner will identify the victim and release the cause of death.

Janitors in Twin Cities strike

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Janitors who work at Twin Cities commercial buildings are striking as part of a push for higher wages and better benefits in their contracts.

More than 100 janitors walked off the job Thursday and rallied along Nicollet Mall, waving signs and beating drums outside the skyscrapers they clean each day. They were joined by a separate group of youth climate strikers who marched in solidarity.

The Service Employees International Union, which represents 4,000 janitors who clean Twin Cities commercial buildings, organized the daylong strike before a bargaining session on Friday. Members are also pushing for paid sick days and a program to expand the use of nontoxic cleaning chemicals, among other things.