Former state Sen. Nicole Mitchell will be sentenced Tuesday morning in Becker County following her July conviction on two felony burglary charges.

Mitchell was found guilty on July 18 of first-degree burglary and possession of burglary or theft tools following her arrest at her stepmother’s Detroit Lakes home in April 2024.

The Woodbury DFLer resigned from her seat in the Minnesota Senate on July 25 following the conviction.

Mitchell is asking a Becker County judge to downgrade the felony charges to misdemeanors when she is sentenced. Minnesota law allows for a judge to reduce Mitchell’s convictions at the time of sentencing, according to court documents.

She also is asking that if she is sentenced to six months of jail time immediately, she be able to serve the sentence near her children, in Ramsey County, and participate in work release.

The felony burglary charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of at least six months in jail or a county workhouse, and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $35,000 fine. Felony possession of burglary tools carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Return to twincities.com for updates on this story.

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As the weather cools and pumpkin spice season returns, many of us find comfort and enjoyment in a cozy latte or festive tea. Whether preparing your daily cup at home or grabbing a beverage from a trendy café, these small indulgences can have a bigger impact on our health than we realize.

Coffee and tea both come with potential health benefits, but sweeteners, creamers, whipped cream and other add-ons can lead to excess added sugar, fat and calories. With well over half of Americans drinking coffee every day, the way it is prepared matters. Here are strategies to navigate the top ingredient concerns when preparing or ordering your favorite hot (or iced) drink.

Be Mindful about Sugar

A medium pumpkin spice latte contains about 32 grams or eight teaspoons of added sugar. Women and men should aim for no more than six to nine teaspoons of added sugar daily, respectively. When ordering specialty teas and coffee drinks, consider ordering your drink with fewer pumps of syrup or requesting sugar-free options if available. Even reducing the standard amount by half can be enough to satisfy a sweet tooth. At home, try flavoring your coffee or tea with cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom or vanilla extract instead of syrups. These add warmth and enhance aroma without hidden sugar.

Choose Creamers Wisely

Many creamers actually contain no cream or milk at all. Instead, they can be loaded with oils, stabilizers, emulsifiers, sugar and water, providing little to no nutritional value. When shopping for coffee creamers, look for products with milk or cream listed in the top three ingredients. A splash of milk, non-dairy milk or half and half can also be a good choice. For those who prefer flavored creamers, choose those with less added sugar and keep an eye on the serving size.

Milk Matters

What you choose as a base for your espresso drink, milk tea and other beverages can make a difference. Whole milk and heavy cream add richness, but may not always be the best option. For example, skim milk, 2% milk and unsweetened non-dairy alternatives such as oat, soy or almond milk contain less fat, saturated fat and calories compared to whole milk and heavy cream. If you love lattes, try an Americano with a generous splash of milk. This way you’ll get the same amount of espresso and a similar taste as a latte, but with much fewer calories and fat.

Customize your Order

When ordering a coffee or tea drink, make it healthier by customizing it. Baristas are used to requests like “light whip,” “half sweet” or “skinny.” These simple changes can cut down on hundreds of calories and tablespoons of sugar over the season without compromising taste and enjoyment. In fact, making healthy requests or choosing a Tall instead of a Venti size can be the difference between a balanced treat and an unintentional sugar overload.

Savor Mindfully

Finally, make it a ritual. When we slow down and enjoy coffee or tea as part of a mindful break, satisfaction is increased. A sprinkle of cinnamon, a dusting of cocoa powder or a teaspoon of local honey may be all it takes to elevate a simple cup into something special. Try out some of these smart sipping strategies so your everyday favorite beverage can easily fit into your healthy lifestyle.

LeeAnn Weintraub, MPH, RD is a registered dietitian, providing nutrition counseling and consulting to individuals, families and organizations. She can be reached by email at RD@halfacup.com.

Drugstores are ready to deliver updated COVID-19 vaccines this fall and insurers plan to pay for them, even though the shots no longer come recommended by an important government committee.

On Friday, vaccine advisers picked by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declined to specifically recommend the shots but said people could make individual decisions on whether to get them.

The recommendations from the advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention require sign-off by the agency’s director, but they are almost always adopted.

Those recommendations normally trigger several layers of insurance coverage and allow drugstores in many states to deliver the shots. But insurers and government officials have said coverage will continue, and several states have allowed for vaccine access through pharmacies, the most common place to get shots.

Many people start seeking vaccinations in the late summer or early fall to get protection against any winter surges in cases.

Here’s a closer look at the issue.

Will insurers cover these shots?

Many are expected to do so, but you still may want to check with yours.

The Department of Health and Human Services said Friday that the committee vote “provides for immunization coverage through all payment mechanisms.” An HHS spokesperson said that includes Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, commercial coverage sold through health insurance marketplaces and the federal Vaccines for Children program, which pays for roughly half of childhood vaccinations in the U.S. each year.

The VFC program normally automatically covers any vaccines recommended by the CDC committee.

The trade group America’s Health Insurance Plans said earlier this week that its members will continue to cover the shots at no cost to patients through 2026.

That group includes every major insurer except UnitedHealthcare. And that insurer has said it will continue covering the vaccine at no cost for its standard commercial coverage, which includes plans offered for individuals and through small businesses.

One caveat: Large employers that offer coverage will make their own decisions on the vaccines.

They may be motivated to continue coverage: The vaccines can help ward off expensive hospital bills from people who develop a bad case of COVID-19.

Where people can get vaccinations

About two-thirds of adults get COVID-19 shots at pharmacies, and around 30% receive them at doctors’ offices, according to CDC data.

Access to the shots has grown after a clunky start to vaccine season that saw some people travel to nearby states when they couldn’t make appointments at pharmacies closer to home.

Drugstore chains like CVS say their locations are stocked with the latest vaccines, and they now are able to deliver vaccinations in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Prescriptions are required in D.C. and a handful of states, including Florida and Georgia, CVS Health spokeswoman Amy Thibault said.

Walgreens also requires prescriptions in a few states, a company spokesperson said.

Who can get the shot

Until now, the U.S. has recommended yearly COVID-19 shots for everyone age 6 months and older.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved the shots for all people age 65 and older, and for younger adults and children with conditions that put them at high risk for catching a bad case of COVID-19.

The CDC maintains a long list of conditions that would put someone at high risk, including asthma, cancer, heart or lung problems, obesity, depression and a history of smoking. It also includes those who are physically inactive, and the agency notes that this list is not conclusive.

Patients can consult with their doctor or care provider to decide whether they are high risk if they don’t have a condition on that list.

Both CVS and Walgreens representatives say their companies will ask patients under age 65 if they have any of these factors. They won’t require proof.

“In simplest terms, if a patient says they’re eligible, they will get the vaccine,” said Thibault, the CVS Health spokeswoman.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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By DAVID FISCHER, Associated Press

FORT PIERCE, Fla. (AP) — A man representing himself in federal court against charges of trying to assassinate Donald Trump last year at his Florida golf course is set to present his closing argument on Tuesday, but a judge has already warned him that his presentation could be cut short if he doesn’t follow the rules.

Ryan Routh and prosecutors will each have one hour and 45 minutes to make their final cases to jurors before they begin their deliberations.

This courtroom sketch shows lead government prosecutor John Shipley speaking during the opening statements of the during the trial of Ryan Routh, who is charged with attempting to assassinate Donald Trump last year at a golf course in South Florida, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, in Fort Pierce, Fla. (Lothar Speer via AP)

Prosecutors have said Routh spent weeks plotting to kill Trump, a Republican, before aiming a rifle through shrubbery as Trump played golf on Sept. 15, 2024, at his West Palm Beach country club.

Routh, 59, has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer and several firearm violations.

During the final minutes of court Monday, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon reminded Routh that closing arguments must be tied to evidence and testimony presented during trial. She warned him that failing to follow those restrictions could lead to him losing his closing argument time.

Routh exercised his constitutional right not to testify in his own defense, and Cannon said Routh can’t use his closing argument as a chance to testify without the potential for cross examination.

“This can’t be your opportunity to provide pseudo-testimony outside the context of sworn testimony,” Cannon said.

Routh said he understood, but he also claimed to understand nearly two weeks ago when Cannon gave him similar instructions for his opening statement. Cannon cut him off after less than 10 minutes, explaining that he forfeited his right to continue when he ignored her warnings and veered off topic to talk about Adolf Hitler and the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

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Routh rested his case Monday morning after questioning just three witnesses — a firearms expert and two character witnesses — for a total of about three hours. In contrast, prosecutors spent seven days questioning 38 witnesses.

Cannon signed off on Routh’s request to represent himself following two hearings in July. The U.S. Supreme Court has held that criminal defendants have a right to represent themselves in court proceedings, as long as they can show a judge they are competent to waive their right to be defended by an attorney. Routh’s former defense attorneys have served as standby counsel since Routh took over his own defense and have been present during trial the past two weeks.

Recounting what happened at the golf course, a Secret Service agent testified earlier in the trial that he spotted Routh before Trump came into view. Routh aimed his rifle at the agent, who opened fire, causing Routh to drop his weapon and flee without firing a shot, the agent said.

Law enforcement obtained help from a witness who testified that he saw a person fleeing the area after hearing gunshots. The witness was then flown in a police helicopter to a nearby interstate where Routh was arrested, and the witness said he confirmed it was the person he had seen.

Just nine weeks earlier, Trump had survived an attempt on his life while campaigning in Butler, Pennsylvania. That gunman had fired eight shots, with one bullet grazing Trump’s ear. The gunman was then fatally shot by a Secret Service counter sniper.

Routh was a North Carolina construction worker who in recent years had moved to Hawaii. A self-styled mercenary leader, Routh spoke out to anyone who would listen about his dangerous, sometimes violent plans to insert himself into conflicts around the world, witnesses have told The Associated Press.

In the early days of Russia’s war in Ukraine, Routh tried to recruit soldiers from Afghanistan, Moldova and Taiwan to fight the Russians. In his native Greensboro, North Carolina, he was arrested in 2002 for eluding a traffic stop and barricading himself from officers with a fully automatic machine gun and a “weapon of mass destruction,” which turned out to be an explosive with a 10-inch fuse, police said.

In 2010, police searched a warehouse Routh owned and found more than 100 stolen items, from power tools and building supplies to kayaks and spa tubs. In both felony cases, judges gave Routh either probation or a suspended sentence.

Besides the federal charges, Routh also has pleaded not guilty to state charges of terrorism and attempted murder.