Los Angeles FC coach Steve Cherundolo dared Minnesota United to break them down at Allianz Field on Wednesday.

LAFC deviated from its usual four-man back line and employed a five-man group to force the possession-challenged Loons to score in an area they are least effective: open play.

United had only three low-quality scoring chances in the match, while LAFC rode a Denis Bouanga penalty kick in the first half for a 1-0 win in St. Paul.

When MNUFC’s league-leading goals on set pieces dried up and few opportunities were presented on counter attacks, Minnesota had to resort to the most-traditional, yet uncomfortable-to-them route to stake a rare comeback.

With a league-low 38% possession coming into the match, Minnesota had 55% of the ball against LAFC.

Loons coach Eric Ramsay tried to counter Cherundolo by subbing wingbacks Joseph Rosales and Julian Gressel for attacking width in the 62nd minute. Minnesota had more possession in the opponent’s box but didn’t really challenge Hugo Lloris.

With the victory, LAFC (10-5-5, 35 points) gains ground on MNUFC (11-5-7, 40 points) in the Western Conference standings.

LAFC played its first game without captain center back Aaron Long — who ruptured his Achilles tendon against Dallas on Saturday — but produced its third straight shutout.

Bouanga nearly had a second goal after he put Gressel in a blender for a breakaway, but Dayne St. Clair made a crucial save in stoppage time.

The Loons lineup was said to be a 5-2-3, with defensive midfielders in Robin Lod and Wil Trapp, and attacking midfielders in Joaquín Pereyra, Tani Oluwaseyi and striker Kelvin Yeboah.

Three tidbits

Sam Shashoua is headed out on loan with an unnamed USL Championship side. The attacking midfielder already has his U.S. Green Card, so his move doesn’t create much more roster flexibility. The 26-year-old Englishman is under a club option for 2026. … The Loons wore their “Heritage Kit” — a throwback to the Minnesota Kicks — for the first of four times on Wednesday. … It appears the move of left wingback Joseph Rosales to Mexican club Tigres has been called off.

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DETROIT LAKES, Minn. — Fear and paranoia were common themes in testimony Wednesday as the burglary trial for a Minnesota state senator continued.

On the third day of the trial of Sen. Nicole Mitchell, accused of burglarizing her stepmother’s Detroit Lakes house, prosecutor Becker County Attorney Brian McDonald each called witnesses.

Sen. Nicole Mitchell, DFL-Woodbury.

Mitchell, a DFL lawmaker from Woodbury, was charged with two felony burglary counts after she was arrested in her stepmother’s house in the early hours of April 22, 2024. She was charged with first-degree burglary and possession of burglary or theft tools.

If found guilty, Mitchell could face prison time. She has pleaded not guilty to the charges. McDonald argues that Nicole Mitchell entered Carol Mitchell’s house with the intent to steal. Nicole Mitchell’s defense counters that she entered the house to check on her stepmother, who has Alzheimer’s disease.

Witnesses testify on arrest

The first witness called to testify Wednesday was Jim Hedlund, a friend of Carol Mitchell’s late husband, Rod Mitchell. Hedlund said Carol Mitchell called him early the morning of the break-in.

“She was pretty shook up,” Hedlund said.

Hedlund testified that he found the blue crowbar in the egress window well on the back of Carol Mitchell’s house.

Carol Mitchell’s niece, Pam Muxfeldt, also testified in the morning. Carol Mitchell appointed Muxfeldt to serve as her power of attorney in the months after Rod Mitchell died.

Muxfeldt said Carol had expressed concern about Nicole Mitchell before the break in and that Nicole Mitchell made Carol feel uncomfortable, threatened and scared.

McDonald showed a screenshot of a text message that Carol Mitchell had sent to Muxfeldt. The message was about Rod Mitchell’s estate and who his assets would go to. In the message, Carol Mitchell expressed concern about what Nicole Mitchell was hoping to get from the estate.

“She is so greedy,” Carol Mitchell said of Nicole Mitchell in the text message.

Carol Mitchell’s fear of Nicole Mitchell also came up as Detroit Lake Police Department Investigator Doug Vickmark testified. A few days after the break in, he spoke with Carol Mitchell at the police department. The area by Carol Mitchell’s bed, where she discovered Nicole Mitchell on April 22, is where Rod Mitchell’s gun was kept, Vickmark said.

“She was very concerned that Nicole’s purpose wasn’t necessarily to get items,” Vickmark said. “She was concerned Nicole might be there to end Carol’s life.”

Patient records, defense calls witnesses

Nicole Mitchell’s attorney, Bruce Ringstrom Jr., asked Vickmark and other law enforcement who testified Wednesday if they noticed any items piled near the window, such as mementos, that appeared to be staged to be taken. None could recall items of the sort.

Detroit Lakes Police Department Sgt. Chad Glander said he determined a laptop found in the backpack was in Nicole Mitchell’s possession before the break-in. When Nicole Mitchell was arrested, the laptop displayed Carol Mitchell’s name when opened.

A forensic examination of that laptop showed activity on Sanford Health’s “MyChart” patient records website in April 2024. A search warrant executed on Carol Mitchell’s MyChart account showed access to patient records on April 20, 2024, days before Nicole Mitchell was arrested.

The first witness called by Nicole Mitchell’s defense was Jonathan Kuehl, Carol Mitchell’s biological son who she gave up for adoption. Kuehl and Carol Mitchell were reunited when Kuehl was an adult.

Kuehl was asked about a conversation he had with Nicole Mitchell at her father’s funeral, as well as text exchanges between Kuehl and Nicole Mitchell about Carol Mitchell’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Kuehl did not remember either conversation.

Ringstrom showed screenshots of the text conversation between Kuehl and Nicole Mitchell, where Nicole Mitchell expressed concern for Carol Mitchell.

Kuehl also could not recall the specifics of a phone interview with Glander after Nicole Mitchell’s arrest, and whether he was asked about a disagreement regarding items like a flannel shirt belonging to Rod Mitchell or ashes. The shirt and ashes were mentioned by Nicole Mitchell as she was arrested. Glander, called back to the witness stand, confirmed Kuehl was asked about a disagreement during that interview, but confirmed Kuehl said there was not a disagreement.

Concerns about Alzheimer’s diagnosis

Nicole Mitchell’s aunt, Nancy Lund, grew emotional at times as she testified about the Mitchell family’s growing concerns about Carol Mitchell’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Once close family members, interactions between Lund and Carol Mitchell became increasingly tense in the months following her brother Rod Mitchell’s death, Lund explained.

After Rod Mitchell’s death, Lund stepped in to help Carol Mitchell with her finances. Over time, Carol Mitchell started sending more confused messages about misplacing documents. Confusion eventually turned to paranoia, she said. Lund would receive a message accusing her of stealing documents in which Rod Mitchell outlined his wishes upon his death.

A tearful Lund read text messages from Carol Mitchell suggesting neither Lund nor Nicole Mitchell loved Rod Mitchell enough to honor his wishes.

“I still knew it was the disease talking, but it hurt so bad that she would say that about me not loving my brother that I never texted her again,” Lund said.

Lund said Nicole Mitchell and Carol Mitchell’s relationship was sometimes rocky, but consistent with any mother-daughter relationship. She described Nicole Mitchell as a “caretaker at heart,” hard working, trustworthy and not driven by money.

Mitchell’s attorney says she wants to testify

Meanwhile, Ringstrom did not confirm to reporters whether Mitchell will testify, but confirmed that she does want to testify.

Nicole Mitchell was charged during the 2024 Minnesota legislative session. Charges against her were a point of contention in a divided Senate during the last two legislative sessions. DFL leaders barred her from participating in committee assignments or party caucus meetings. Senate Republicans called for her resignation and unsuccessfully tried to oust her from the chamber.

The felony burglary charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 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.

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By CHRISTINE FERNANDO

CHICAGO (AP) — Nine puppies from parts of Texas submerged by catastrophic flooding that killed at least 132 people arrived Wednesday at the no-kill shelter PAWS Chicago, joining dozens of puppies that had already arrived.

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The critters landed by plane at Waukesha Airport in Wisconsin then made a three-hour journey by van to Chicago.

This is the second batch of pets to arrive in Chicago from Texas. The group Austin Pets Alive!, which has been on the ground in the flood-stricken region since the flooding began, has coordinated the effort with PAWS Chicago.

The animals were in shelters in Texas before the floods began. Organizers say the transfers help those shelters focus on rescuing and reunifying animals separated from their humans by the disaster.

“We’re really happy to be able to support the area by freeing up really needed space in their shelters so they are able to open their shelters to displaced pets,” said Celene Mielcarek, PAWS Chicago head of program operations.

PAWS Chicago’s disaster relief program began in 2005 when the organization took in more than 200 pets in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, according to the shelter. Since then, PAWS has rescued pets from areas impacted by Hurricane Helene last year and rescued 33 dogs from Houston shelters after storms in 2023.

Peter Brown, a PAWS volunteer who drove to collect the dogs in Waukesha, said they were anxious on the trip but settled in quickly. He is hopeful the dogs will be quickly adopted.

“They’ll find good homes here,” he said. “And then some family who lost their dog in the floods will get it back.”

On Monday night, 22 dogs arrived in Chicago from Concho Valley PAWS, a rescue organization in San Angelo, Texas. A total of 31 dogs, ranging from six weeks old to adult dogs, have been relocated to Chicago.

The dogs began receiving medical attention immediately after arriving at PAWS, including being vaccinated, microchipped, and spayed or neutered. They may be ready for adoption and fostering within a few days, according to PAWS.

But for now, they’ll get some well-deserved rest, Mielcarek said.

“They’re all pretty tired,” she said. “They’re all ready for their dinner.”

By MELISSA GOLDIN and ERIC TUCKER

Associated Press (AP) — President Donald Trump is countering criticism of the Justice Department’s failure to release much-hyped records around the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking case, trying to place blame on former government officials.

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On Tuesday, he accused former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, as well as former FBI Director James Comey, of making up such documents.

“I would say that, you know, these files were made up by Comey, they were made up by Obama, they were made up by the Biden … ,” Trump told members of the press at the White House before departing for an event in Pennsylvania.

The president on Wednesday posted on Truth Social blaming Democrats in general for a “new SCAM” that “we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax.”

Epstein was arrested in 2019 and found dead in his cell at a federal jail in New York City about a month later. Investigators concluded that he killed himself.

Trump presented no evidence in claiming that Democrats and Comey tampered with documents related to Epstein’s case. Comey was fired in 2017, two years before Epstein’s arrest, and has not returned to the government since. Obama was long gone from the White House by the time of Epstein’s death. During Biden’s presidency, the Justice Department put on trial Epstein co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell and secured a conviction against her, but there is zero indication that he or anyone from the White House had anything at any point to do with that case.

Comey was a Republican for most of his adult life, but said in 2016 that he was that he was no longer registered with the party.

Trump suggested last year that he was considering releasing information about the Epstein case if he won a second term. In February, the Justice Department released some government documents regarding the case, but there were no new revelations. Then, earlier this month, it acknowledged that a months-long review of additional evidence in the government’s possession had not revealed a list of clients and said no more files related to the case — other than a video meant to prove that Epstein killed himself — would be made public. The announcement led to outcry from Trump supporters.

Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared to intimate in a Fox News interview in February that a client list was “sitting on my desk” to be reviewed for release. She said last week that she was referring to the Epstein case file generally, as opposed to an actual client list. Bondi and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino then had a contentious conversation at the White House as backlash grew to the Justice Department’s decision to withhold records.

Trump, members of his administration and conservative influencers have spread unsubstantiated claims surrounding Epstein for years. Conspiracy theories about Epstein’s death are a popular trope in right-wing spheres, playing on Trump’s repeated promises to reveal and dismantle the “deep state” — a supposed secret network of powerful people manipulating government decisions behind the scenes.

Trump’s rivals have recently taken advantage of right-wing fissures over Epstein. Several Democratic lawmakers are calling for the release of all Epstein files and suggesting Trump could be resisting because he or someone close to him is featured in them.