Worthington motorist gets $60,000 in police beating case

WORTHINGTON (AP) — A Worthington motorist who was pulled from his car, punched and kneed by a police officer in 2016 has reached a $60,000 settlement in an excessive force case.

The settlement between Anthony Promvongsa and the city of Worthington and the Buffalo Ridge Drug Task Force was announced Wednesday by the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota.

In July 2016, Promvongsa was stopped by task force Officer Joe Joswiak, who drew his gun and beat Promvongsa in an incident captured on video.

Promvongsa said he feels vindicated. As part of the settlement, the city of Worthington also made policy changes to increase officer accountability. A message left Wednesday with the Worthington police chief wasn’t immediately returned.

Criminal charges against Promvongsa say he took aggressive action toward officers’ cars. He pleaded guilty to fifth-degree assault.

Minnesota lawmaker apologizes for yanking mic from opponent

ROCHESTER (AP) — A Minnesota state lawmaker is apologizing after he yanked a microphone from the hand of his Democratic challenger during a forum that was livestreamed over the internet.

Jamie Mahlberg appeared startled when Rep. Duane Quam grabbed the microphone from her on Monday night. Quam then rebutted a point Mahlberg had made about education funding.

When Quam then offered the microphone back, Mahlberg did not take it. Quam then dropped it in front of her.

Video of the incident circulated widely on social media, with some calling Quam’s behavior “boorish” or “bullying.”

Quam apologized in a Facebook message to the Rochester Post-Bulletin, saying he respects Mahlberg. He says his nerves got the best of him as his responses were timed and he wasn’t as graceful as he should have been.

Minnesota lawmaker questions Omar’s campaign spending

ST. PAUL (AP) — A Minnesota state representative is alleging that Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar misspent $3,000 in campaign money on personal travel.

Republican Rep. Steve Drazkowski is questioning Omar’s campaign purchase of a plane ticket to Estonia and another to Boston to speak at a political rally. Omar’s congressional campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

It’s the latest allegation by Drazkowski against Omar, who is seeking to become the first Somali-American in Congress.

The state’s campaign finance board earlier ordered an investigation of her state House campaign after Drazkowski alleged that she used campaign money for personal expenses.

Drazkowski suggested that the Omar campaign’s $2,250 in payments to a law firm were for her divorce proceedings. Omar has said they were campaign-related fees.

Signs in Minneapolis police cars remind immigrants of rights

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minneapolis police squad cars will soon display signs that advise immigrants of their rights if arrested.

The placards are in English and Spanish and remind people they have the right to stay silent if asked about their birthplace or immigration status. They also advise people not to provide false information.

Mayor Jacob Frey unveiled the placards Wednesday, saying a lack of compassion for immigrants at the federal level won’t stop Minneapolis from doing what’s right for immigrant families.

Police union head Lt. Bob Kroll has been a critic of the plan since Frey announced it during his State of the City address. Kroll called the placards “insane.”

Minnesota accuses Florida charity of misleading donors

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota’s attorney general has sued a Florida charity, alleging it misled donors who believed they were helping families of fallen police officers.

The lawsuit filed Wednesday by Attorney General Lori Swanson alleges American Federation of Police and Concerned Citizens, Inc., collected $425,000 in donations from thousands of Minnesotans from 2011 to 2017 for a fund to help officers’ families.

Donors were told all of the contributions would go to the fund. But Swanson said only 9 percent did.

Messages left with the American Federation of Police and Concerned Citizens were not returned to The Associated Press.

The Star Tribune reported the charity raised $4 million nationwide last year and spent most of that on marketing, contracts with for-profit fundraisers and salaries.

The charity was also sued by Minnesota in 1996.

Powerful winds whip up waves, flood Lake Superior shoreline

DULUTH (AP) — Powerful winds have whipped up big waves along the shores of Lake Superior, flooding a business district and causing power outages.

The National Weather Service says a Canadian freighter measured a wind gust of 86 mph near Castle Danger north of Duluth Wednesday afternoon. Hurricane-force wind begins at 74 mph. The gale-force winds are creating waves as high as 14 to 18 feet.

The Canal Park business district near the lake was flooded and police closed the end of the park to tourists.

Duluth officials said they wouldn’t start officially assessing damage until today.

The high wind also knocked out service for about 4,700 Minnesota Power customers in the Duluth area on Wednesday.

Elsewhere in northern Minnesota, rain was changing to snow with accumulations of at least 6 inches by early today.