DETROIT LAKES, MINN. — A former Minnesota senator, whom a jury found guilty of felony burglary charges after she broke into her stepmother’s home, is asking a Becker County judge to downgrade the felony charges to misdemeanors when she is sentenced next week.

Former Sen. Nicole Mitchell, DFL-Woodbury, was convicted of two felony burglary charges by a Becker County jury on July 18. She was found guilty of first-degree burglary and possession of burglary or theft tools following her arrest at her stepmother’s Detroit Lakes home in April 2024.

During her five-day trial, Mitchell claimed she was at her stepmother’s home for a welfare check.

On Sept. 17, Mitchell’s attorney Dane DeKrey filed a motion requesting that Judge Michael Fritz reduce the felony charges of first-degree burglary and possession of burglary tools to misdemeanor charges, and that she be allowed to serve the mandatory six months in jail on work release.

Mitchell takes responsibility for harming her stepmother with her actions, the motion said.

“While Nicole’s conduct didn’t hurt (her stepmother) Carol physically, there’s no doubt it hurt her mentally and emotionally,” the motion said.

Minnesota law allows for a judge to reduce Mitchell’s convictions at the time of sentencing, according to court documents.

A felony conviction means Mitchell will have a felony record for the rest of her life, which will impact future employment and financial opportunities. It would also likely prevent her from continuing to serve as a foster parent, which she has done for more than a decade, court documents said.

It may also prevent her from continuing to serve as an election judge and possibly impact her ability to volunteer during her children’s activities.

“Making Nicole a lifelong felon is unjust,” DeKrey argued.

According to court documents, a felony charge is akin to a “scarlet letter,” publicly identifying someone as a criminal. However, DeKrey writes that Mitchell has also been punished as she was forced to “involuntarily end her military career because of the break-in.” Mitchell retired from the Wisconsin Air National Guard as a lieutenant colonel after she was arrested.

After she was convicted, Mitchell resigned from her seat in the Minnesota Senate on July 25.

“It’s debatable whether Nicole deserved to lose both her military and political career because of this mistake,” DeKrey said in court documents. “It was a big mistake, no doubt, but there’s also something to be said about second chances.”

According to court documents, Mitchell’s attorney argues her offense is not as serious as other burglaries.

“Nicole’s conduct is far less serious than the typical theft-based first-degree burglary that makes statewide news,” DeKrey said in court documents. “Unlike these cases, Nicole stole nothing from Carol. Her conviction was based entirely on what she said she was doing in Carol’s home, not for what she took from Carol’s home.”

DeKrey said Mitchell plans to challenge the case law that sets a precedent for felony charge sentencing.

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“The only reason Nicole is facing a six-month jail sentence is because Minnesota law, as it’s been interpreted by the Minnesota Court of Appeals, requires it,” court documents said. “But if that interpretation changed, Nicole’s presumed sentence under the sentencing guidelines would be no period of incarceration.”

DeKrey said while appealing the case law decision, Mitchell will not “commit crimes, intimidate witnesses, or interfere with the administration of justice,” and she will show up for any future court hearings.

Mitchell is also 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.

Mitchell’s sentencing is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 23, at the Becker County Courthouse in Detroit Lakes.

Farm Aid, the annual benefit concert for family farmers, is bringing its 40th-anniversary show to Minnesota for the first time Saturday.

A crowd watches Duluth bluegrass band Trampled by Turtles perform at Farm Aid on Sept. 20, 2025, at Huntington Bank Stadium. The group is the only local band playing the annual benefit concert, visiting Minnesota for the first time this year. (Jared Kaufman / Pioneer Press)

Some 35,000 people are expected to fill Huntington Bank Stadium at the University of Minnesota for a nearly 12-hour marathon of 18 musicians, culminating in headlining sets by Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Farm Aid organizer Willie Nelson. The concert is livestreaming at farmaid.org, and the final five hours of the concert are also being broadcast live on CNN.

Since its founding in 1985, the organization has raised about $87 million to fund farmer support efforts including an agriculture hotline to help farmers navigate both professional and personal challenges, plus grants to both farmers and food-system organizations.

“We were kids when we started this thing,” musician John Mellencamp said during an onstage panel discussion for media and guests before the gates opened. “And I’m so grateful that all you people come out and support Farm Aid every year.”

The fact that this year’s Farm Aid show is even happening is a testament to the power of union organizing, the organization’s co-directors Shorlette Ammons and Jennifer Fahy said onstage, referencing a labor strike earlier this month that almost derailed the concert. Farm Aid expressed support for the striking Teamsters workers, and Willie Nelson himself reportedly intervened, calling Gov. Tim Walz to try to help broker a deal.

Besides listening to the live performances throughout the day, Farm Aid attendees can also visit the Homegrown Village, spread across an indoor concourse and outdoor area along the outside of the stadium. There, dozens of sustainability-focused and food justice organizations, including North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems, Dream of Wild Health and the Land Stewardship Project, are providing information and hosting activities like printmaking and seed art.

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Inside the stadium, the crowd was a bit sparse for opening acts Wisdom Indian Dancers — introduced and joined onstage by country singer and later performer Margo Price — and Madeline Edwards as attendees worked their way through the snarled traffic around the stadium and blocks-long entrance lines.

Stands were filling up by the time singer Jesse Welles took the stage with a Bob Dylan-esque vibe, followed by Eric Burton of the Grammy-nominated band Black Pumas. The day’s lineup is stacked, but at less than a half-hour apiece and somewhat clunky interludes as the stage is turned over between acts, these early performers had a bit of an uphill battle to get the crowd amped up.

That is, until Waxahatchee arrived. If there’s anyone with a voice powerful enough to command attention, it’s Alabama singer Katie Crutchfield, who turned up the volume and energy in the stadium with great tunes like “Can’t Do Much” and “Fire.”

Next up is Wynonna Judd, though we’re running about 20 minutes behind the posted schedule at this point. She’ll be followed onstage by Trampled by Turtles, Steve Earle, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, Lukas Nelson, Billy Strings, Kenny Chesney, Margo Price, Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds, John Mellencamp, Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Willie Nelson.

This article will be updated with reviews throughout the day.

Early in what was likely Joe Ryan’s penultimate start of the season, the Twins’ right-hander gave the fans seated in Target Field’s home run porch in right more defensive opportunities than his outfield.

Joe Ryan #41 of the Minnesota Twins pitches against the Cleveland Guardians in the first inning of game one of a doubleheader at Target Field on Sept. 20, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

Ryan allowed four solo home runs to right field Saturday, three in the first two innings, as the Twins fell behind early in a 6-0 loss to the Cleveland Guardians.

Jose Ramirez, Bo Naylor and George Valera — his first in the majors — all homered off Ryan (13-9) to give the Guardians a 3-0 lead after two innings. Daniel Schneeman added a fourth in a two-run fifth inning as the teams made up for a May 20 rainout in the first game of a doubleheader in front of an announced crowd of 22,160.

Naylor added a solo home run off Thomas Hatch in the eighth inning, a long drive over the scoreboard in right-center, as the Guardians won their ninth straight game and 14th of 15 since Sept. 5 to pull within 1½ games of first-place Detroit in the American League Central.

Cleveland starter Slade Cecconi (7-6) pitched seven innings and allowed only three Twins batters to reach base, including Austin Martin, whose first-inning line drive into center extended his hitting streak to eight games. He was erased on a double-play groundout by Trevor Larnach.

Luke Keaschall hit a leadoff double in the second inning but was stranded at third. Ryan Fitzgerald drew a two-out walk in the fifth inning, but Cecconi struck out the side.

Left-hander Kolby Allard finished the game for Cleveland with a pair of scoreless innings.

Ramirez’s two-out homer in the first inning was his 30th of the season. With 40 stolen bases so far this season, he became the third Cleveland player with three 30-30 seasons.

Hatch relieved Ryan and pitched four innings, allowing only allowing Naylor’s second homer.

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The Minnesota Lynx open their semifinal series with the Phoenix Mercury at 4 p.m. Sunday at Target Center. The battle for a trip to the WNBA Finals is full of All-Star talent and elite matchups as Minnesota tries to book a return trip to the WNBA Finals.

The Lynx won the regular season series, 3-1. Here’s a look at the matchups that will define this best-of-five semifinal (stats courtesy of Her Hoop Stats and Across The Timeline)

Alanna Smith’s defense vs. Alyssa Thomas’s offense

The advanced stats back up Smith’s case as Defensive Player of the Year as she led the WNBA in defensive win shares per 40 minutes (0.08), ranked second in blocked shot percentage (2.2%) and finished second in defensive rating (93.7).

While she isn’t the biggest frontcourt player at 6-foot-4, Alanna Smith does not back down from larger opponents when it comes to physical play. And her quickness gives her an advantage when it comes to creating deflections and defending the perimeter in the pick-and-roll game.

Thomas is one of the most dominant players of this generation. The WNBA has had 59 triple-doubles in its history and Thomas has 24 of them, with her latest coming in the deciding Game 3 victory in the first round against New York on Friday.

“Nobody plays the game harder, smarter,” Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said of Thomas earlier this season.

The Mercury’s powerful MVP finalist is a brilliant passer, averaging 9.2 assists per game this season. But she can also get to the basket with the best in the league. She makes 66% of her shots inside five feet, and she took 197 such attempts, 12th most in the WNBA.

The bottom line: There is no stopping Thomas. But if she has one Achilles heel, it can be reckless passes. She averaged the third most turnovers per game (3.5). If Smith can survive Thomas’ powerful drives and force her into precarious passes, the Lynx have a chance to gain extra possessions by taking advantage of miscues.

Napheesa Collier’s efficiency vs. Satou Sabally’s 3-point shooting

Out of 13 players who took at least 13 shots per game in 2025, no one ranked higher in field-goal percentage than the Collier (53.1%).

The MVP finalist was dangerous from all areas of the floor, making 40.3% of her threes, while hitting 52.9% from midrange and 90.6% of her free-throws. The Lynx’s offense spreads the floor to create winnable matchups for her down low, where she can execute her signature fadeaway against any defender.

How much does Collier mean to the Lynx offensively? The forward scored 20 or more points 21 times this year and the Lynx won 18 of those games. In three games against Phoenix, she averaged 15.3 points.

The Mercury as a team took the third most three-point attempts in the WNBA (27.7). Satou Sabally averages 5.4 attempts from beyond the arc. However, she wasn’t the most efficient. Of the 48 players who took at least three three-point attempts per game and played in 30-plus games, Sabally was 41st in 3-point percentage (32.1%).

The star forward does have the ability hit from deep. Last year she made 45.2% of her 3-point attempts, which was second in the WNBA among high-volume three-point shooters.

The bottom line: The Lynx need to get Collier her shots, no matter where they happen on the floor and they must limit open opportunities for Sabally, otherwise she will make them pay.

Kayla McBride’s three-point shooting vs. Kahleah Copper’s speed

McBride is one of the best three-point shooters in the league, ranking seventh all-time in three-point makes (722) in WNBA history. This year she had the second most made triples (103), knocking down an outstanding 39.5% of her attempts.

Her importance to the Lynx’s offense can be demonstrated this way: In games they won this year, she made 41.7% of her three-point attempts. In games they lost, that number dipped to 33.3%. McBride is a momentum-shifting player, who can swing games when she catches fire.

Copper is a four-time All-Star and the 2021 WNBA Finals MVP. She is capable of shredding opponents with her lightning quick drives to the basket. That will test the Lynx’s outstanding on-ball defense.

However, this year Copper was not on the same level as previous seasons. Her shooting percentage (42.6%) was her lowest since 2019 and her points per game dropped from 21.7 to 15.6. She did not clear 15 points in any of the three first-round games against the Liberty.

The bottom line: The Lynx must lean on McBride’s shooting, especially if Phoenix is focused on stopping Collier. They also have to ensure Copper doesn’t have a breakout series. In the 2021 Finals, she shot 50% and scored 17 points per game. If that happens, it’s going to be a rough ride.

The Lynx’s depth vs. the Mercury’s depth

One of the reasons the Lynx had the best record in the WNBA this year was their depth.

Guard Natisha Hiedeman averaged 9.1 points per game on 49.3% shooting, while forward Jessica Shepard had the best shooting percentage in the league (63.8%) and averaged eight points. The Lynx picked up 2024 All-Defensive player DiJonai Carrington at the trade deadline. In Minnesota’s Game 2 win over Golden State to advance to the semifinals, the three key bench players played 21, 19 and 14 minutes, respectively.

Phoenix’s depth was greatly improved when they signed six-time All-Star DeWanna Bonner mid-season. She splits minutes with defensive specialist Natasha Mack. The Mercury also bring two-time champion Sami Whitcomb off the bench as a 3-point specialist.

The bottom line: Overall, Minnesota has the most impressive bench in the league. They are capable of winning the bench minutes and wearing down Phoenix as the series goes on.

Cheryl Reeve vs. Nate Tibbetts

There is an enormous gap in coaching experience, as Reeve has four championships and Tibbetts is only in his second year coaching women’s basketball. The South Dakota native was previously an NBA assistant from 2011-23.

Despite the difference in WNBA resumes, Tibbetts’ team has a lot of the signals of a modern, well-coached team. The Mercury ranked second in percentage of points from distance and fourth in assisted shot ratio, demonstrating their ball movement and focus on outside shooting.

However, Reeve’s team is No. 1 in points per possession, No. 1 in points per possession allowed, No. 1 in three-point shooting and No. 1 in assist-to-turnover ratio.

She has also had two years with most of her current players and they are very comfortable in her system.

The bottom line: No coach in the WNBA is better at adapting in-game or within a series than Reeve and she has the players to adjust when needed. The Lynx should have an edge on the sidelines.

Series schedule

Game 1: Sunday, 4 p.m. at Target Center on ESPN

Game 2: Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. at Target Center on ESPN

Game 3: Friday, 8:30 p.m. in Phoenix on ESPN2

Game 4*: Sunday, Sept. 28 in Phoenix

Game 5*: Tuesday, Sept. 30 at Targe Center

*= if necessary