Charges: Red Wing teens broke into St. Paul Hotel, Palace Bar

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One of two teens who broke into Palace Bar in downtown St. Paul and stole liquor and then tried to get onto the roof of the nearby St. Paul Hotel told police what they did was “dumb and irresponsible,” according to charges.

Seth Garrett Janick, 18, and Micah Scott Meyer, 19, both of Red Wing, are each charged in Ramsey County District Court with two counts of felony second-degree burglary and two counts of felony possession of burglary or theft tools in connection with the Jan. 31 early morning break-ins.

The duo are suspects in several other burglaries at St. Paul businesses, including Seventh Street Truck Park bar, Amsterdam Bar, 620 Club, Burger Dive and Keys Cafe, Tuesday’s criminal complaints said. The investigation is ongoing.

According to the complaints:

Just before 3:30 a.m., police responded to an alarm at the Palace Pub at 33 Seventh Place W. and found it’d been burglarized, with chairs turned over, a shoe print on the bar and bottles of booze missing.

About 15 minutes later, officers were called to the St. Paul Hotel at 350 Market St. after security guards reported two male suspects were on surveillance cameras trying to force open a roof access door.

When officers arrived, the two suspects ran and were caught and identified as Janick and Meyer. In Meyer’s backpack, officers found a pry bar, headlamp, bottle of Southern Comfort whiskey and bottle of Bacardi rum. Pry bars, a bottle of Bacardi, Malibu Original rum and two bottles of Bud Light beer were in Janick’s backpack.

Hotel video footage showed the pair forcing entry into the hotel by yanking on a lobby door and breaking the lock. They went to the roof door, where Janick tampered with a security camera and then used a crowbar to try to force open the door, but failed. They went back down through the stairwell, and left the hotel.

Video surveillance footage from Palace Pub showed Meyer pulling on a patio door, and the two going inside. Janick jumped over the bar and “the two selected and stole bottles of alcohol,” the complaint read.

In a police interview, Janick said he and friends were in St. Paul to explore tunnels. He admitted he went into the bar and was at the hotel ledge/rooftop, adding it was “dumb and irresponsible,” the complaint read.

Meyer admitted to pulling on the bar’s patio door to get inside and that he and Janick stole alcohol before walking over to the hotel. He told police they were “messing around (and) doing (expletive) we shouldn’t have,” the complaint read.

Janick and Meyer posted bond and were released from jail Wednesday. An attorney for Meyer is not listed in his court file. Janick’s attorney did not return a call for comment Thursday.

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Four days before the two break-ins, Janick was sentenced to a year of unsupervised probation after admitting to “exploring” Ardent Mills Lake City Mill in Lake City, Minn., with two others in September, according to court records. He was convicted of misdemeanor trespassing.

Janick told police he saw Snapchat videos of people going through the flour mill and ”thought it would be cool to check it out,” the complaint read.

In November, Janick was convicted of trespassing after being caught with three others on the roof of a railroad station in Red Wing in August. He was fined $188. “They stated that they saw the location on social media and thought it was abandoned,” the citation read.

US announces $6M in aid for Cuba as island’s leader accuses it of imposing an ‘energy blockade’

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By DÁNICA COTO

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The U.S. government on Thursday announced an additional $6 million in aid for Cuba as the island’s crisis deepens and tensions escalate between the two countries, with Cuba’s president accusing the U.S. of an “energy blockade.”

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The aid is largely meant for those living in Cuba’s eastern region, which Hurricane Melissa slammed into late last year. The supplies include rice, beans, pasta, cans of tuna and solar lamps that will be delivered by the Catholic Church and Caritas, said U.S. Department of State Senior Official Jeremy Lewin.

He warned that officials with the U.S. embassy in Cuba will be out in the field “making sure that the regime does not take the assistance, divert it, try to politicize it.”

The U.S. previously sent $3 million in disaster relief to Cuban people affected by Melissa.

Lewin rejected that a halt in oil shipments from Venezuela — after the U.S. attacked the South American country and arrested its then leader — is responsible for the humanitarian situation in Cuba.

He said that for years, the island has “hoarded all of the resources for the few senile old men that run the country, for their henchmen, for the security apparatus” as he accused Cuba of “meddling abroad,” including “colonizing Venezuela.”

“So that’s what they’re spending their time and attention on,” said Lewin, who noted that his mother was born in Havana.

“Why can’t they get food? It’s not because we’re not letting illicit Venezuelan oil continue to make Raúl Castro rich,” he added, referring to the former Cuban president. “It’s because the government can’t put food on the shelves. They have billions of dollars, but they don’t use it to buy food for ordinary Cubans.”

Lewin spoke hours after Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel held a rare, invite-only press conference in which he fielded questions from a select group of reporters. The Associated Press was not invited.

Díaz-Canel said that there was a “psychological war” against Cuba as he described a recent threat by U.S. President Donald Trump to impose tariffs on any country that sells or provides oil to Cuba as “an energy blockade.”

He said such actions affect transportation, hospitals, schools, tourism and the production of food. In addition to severe blackouts, Cuban officials note that U.S. sanctions, which increased under Trump’s second term, cost the country more than $7.5 billion between March 2024 and February 2025.

“I know we are going to live through difficult times. But we will overcome them together, with creative resilience,” Díaz-Canel said in a two-hour speech in which he answered questions from a handful of reporters.

He noted that Cuba has not received oil shipments since the U.S. began its “naval blockade” on Venezuela in December.

“Therefore, we have problems with fuel availability to guarantee not only electric generation, but also basic activities,” he said.

Díaz-Canel promised that in a week, he would share details regarding the island’s current situation and how the government will confront it.

“There’s a lot of fear,” he said. “I know people say, ‘Sacrifice, again?’ Well, if we don’t sacrifice, and if we don’t resist, what are we going to do? Are we going to give up?”

Lewin said that if the Cuban government comes to its senses and is willing to allow the U.S. to provide more support, that there might be more announcements.

“They should be focused on providing for their people, not making these blustery statements,” Lewin said. “He can talk a big game, but again, any government, its first responsibility is always to provide for its people.”

In his speech, Díaz-Canel said his government is open to dialogue with the United States under certain conditions, including respect for Cuba’s sovereignty and “without addressing sensitive issues that could be perceived as interference in our internal affairs.”

“Cubans do not hate the American people,” Díaz-Canel said. “We are not a threat to the United States.”

Follow AP’s Latin America coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

In the Land of 10,000 Sports Heartaches, who left to win a championship?

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As if watching Sam Darnold try to win the Super Bowl on Sunday with the Seattle Seahawks isn’t hard enough, Vikings fans won’t get a reprieve if the New England Patriots win.

Donning championship caps at that point would be former Vikings Stefon Diggs and Garrett Bradbury (the latter of whom spoke of his desire to remain in Minnesota).

Darnold has caused plenty of second-guessing as he has quarterbacked Seattle to the verge of an NFL title. Sure, Diggs — with more time between and having definitely worn out his welcome in Minnesota — and Bradbury won’t bring the same kind of feelings as Darnold holding up a trophy at the end. Darnold’s success and J.J. McCarthy’s initial struggles is a fire still burning. (No one tell Vikings fans that Joshua Dobbs is also on New England’s roster).

If Darnold does win a Super Bowl on Sunday, he will go down as one of biggest “what-ifs” in Minnesota sports. Unfortunately, he joins a long line. There have been plenty of stars who couldn’t win in Minnesota, who left and became champions.

We wanted to take a look at some of the biggest stars who got their rings elsewhere. For the purposes of this exercise, anyone to win a championship in Minnesota doesn’t qualify. Thanks to the Twins and Lynx for helping pare down the list.

Without further ado (in no particular order):

Kevin Garnett

Is there any other to start us off? The “Big Ticket” was the ticket to many postseasons for the Wolves, pulling them out of their expansion-franchise woes. In 14 seasons in Minnesota, Garnett won an MVP, made 10 all-star teams and took the team to the playoffs in eight straight seasons. But a first-round loss followed in the first seven of those occasions. Finally, with resources put around Garnett such as Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell, the Wolves made it to the Western Conference finals, only to lose in six games to Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal and the Los Angeles Lakers. Three years later, Garnett was traded to the Boston Celtics and won a championship in his first season after leaving Minnesota.

FILE — This is a June 17, 2008, file photo showing Boston Celtics’ Kevin Garnett, left, Ray Allen, center, and Paul Pierce celebrating in the locker room after winning the NBA basketball championship, with a 131-92 win over the Los Angeles Lakers, in Boston. The Big Three who led the Celtics to the NBA title in 2008 added a Big One when Rasheed Wallace signed as a sixth man. With the return of Kevin Garnett from knee surgery that weakened the Celtics in the playoffs, they’re poised for a serious run at another championship. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson, File)

Andrew Wiggins

Sorry, Wolves fans, but let’s keep the NBA train rolling. Wiggins was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers and acquired by Minnesota in a three-team deal. All the promise that Anthony Edwards seems to be fulfilling was once there with Wiggins, who won the Rookie of the Year award and was later an all-star. But team success didn’t follow. The Wolves made the playoffs once with Wiggins, a first-round exit in 2018. Not two years later, he was traded to Golden State and helped the Warriors win the championship in 2022.

Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates with the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy after defeating the Boston Celtics 103-90 in Game Six of the 2022 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 16, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Kevin Love

We’re not picking at wounds, we promise. The trade that landed Wiggins in Minnesota sent Love to Cleveland. Two years later, Love was an NBA champion. The Wolves never made the playoffs in six seasons with Love, who was a three-time all-star in that timeframe.

Katie Smith

Let’s stick with basketball. There was a time the Lynx were, basically, an afterthought before becoming the most prolific championship team in Minnesota professional sports, winning four titles in seven seasons. Smith was the first star for the Lynx. In seven seasons, the Hall of Famer was named All-WNBA four times. She led the team to back-to-back Western Conference semifinals before being traded to Detroit, where she was a two-time champion.

David Ortiz

Another summertime team with championships in their history, the Twins have also had lean years, leading to a few more “what-ifs?” No one exemplifies that, and infuriates Twins fans more, than Ortiz. The gregarious Dominican had a promising start to his career with Minnesota but never blossomed until he signed with the Boston Red Sox as a free agent. The Twins made the playoffs one season with Ortiz, his last in 2002. In Boston, he finished out a Hall of Fame career with more than 500 home runs, 10 all-star games and three World Series championships.

Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz, right, addresses the crowd alongside team owner John Henry, left, after the Red Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 5-2 in Game 6 of the American League baseball championship series on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013, in Boston. The Red Sox advance to the World Series.(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Doug Mientkiewicz/A.J. Pierzynski

Mientkiewicz and Pierzynski (at least while he was in Minnesota) were fan favorites of the next iteration of successful Twins baseball. The group that included Corey Koskie, Christian Guzman, Jacque Jones, Torii Hunter, Johan Santana and Brad Radke would also fall short. Mientkiewicz played seven years in Minnesota and made the playoffs twice (including a trip to the American League Championship Series in 2002). Pierzynski was on that 2002 team and was on two playoff teams in six years. He went on to win the World Series in 2005 with the Chicago White Sox. Mientkiewicz was traded to Boston midway through the 2004 season and caught the last out for the World Series winners.

Brian Dozier/Eddie Rosario/Mitch Garver/Ryan Pressly

The next competitive Twins group also fell short, a big part of that record 18-game playoff losing streak. Dozier went on to win a title in 2019 with the Washington Nationals, Rosario followed with the Atlanta Braves in 2021, Pressly got his championship in 2022 with the Houston Astros, and Garver made it three in a row as the starting designated hitter for the 2023 Texas Rangers.

Washington Nationals player Javy Guerra and Brian Dozier and Anibal Sanchez celebrates the World Series baseball championship during a rally following the parade to celebrate the team’s World Series baseball championship over Houston Astros, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Dallas Stars

What’s worse than a former star going on to glory elsewhere? How about an entire team? The Minnesota North Stars had plenty of success, but their best finish was losing the Stanley Cup final in 1991. No need to rehash history, but they left Minnesota in 1991 to become the Dallas Stars. Six years later, with former North Stars such as Mike Modano and Derian Hatcher still on the roster, they won the Stanley Cup.

19 Jun 1999: The Dallas Stars pose for a team photo with the Stanely Cup trophy as they celebrate the win over the Buffalo Sabres at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, New York. The Dallas Stars defeated the Sabres 2-1 in the third overtime. Mandatory Credit: Elsa Hasch /Allsport

Marian Gaborik

Minnesota’s new NHL team isn’t immune to seeing stars go win elsewhere. Gaborik, the original Wild star, had eight seasons in Minnesota and three playoff appearances, including a trip to the Western Conference finals in 2003. He later won a Stanley Cup in 2014 with the Los Angeles Kings.

Darcy Kuemper

Kuemper could hardly carve himself out a role in five seasons with the Wild. Three teams later, he helped the Colorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 2022.

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Darcy Kuemper lifts the Stanley Cup after the team defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals on Sunday, June 26, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Brad Johnson

Finally, we wrap up with former Vikings that are trying to follow Darnold’s lead. Surprisingly, despite having success in a deep history with plenty of star power over the years, not many true “stars” have left Minnesota to win a Super Bowl. Even Johnson barely fits the bill. He started parts of three seasons for the Vikings and it was two teams after leaving before he finally reached the mountain top, quarterbacking the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the championship after the 2002 season. An honorable mention, former Viking Jeff Christy was Johnson’s center that season.

Gary Zimmerman/Matt Birk

Offensive linemen have had the most success as former Vikings. The Hall of Famer Zimmerman went on to win with the Denver Broncos in his final year after the 1997 season. Birk, the St. Paul native and Cretin-Derham Hall grad, also left on top, winning after the 2012 season with the Baltimore Ravens.

Baltimore Ravens center Matt Birk, bottom, plays with his children on the Mercedes-Benz Superdome field after an NFL Super Bowl XLVII walkthrough on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013, in New Orleans. The Ravens face the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII on Sunday. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Percy Harvin

The 2013 Seattle Seahawks featured a few former Vikings, so perhaps it’s natural for Vikings fans to root against Seattle. Harvin had a kickoff return for a touchdown in the Super Bowl for the Seahawks, who also had Sidney Rice (he missed back half of season with knee injury), Tarvaris Jackson (backup quarterback to Russell Wilson) and linebacker Heath Farwell on the roster.

Seattle Seahawks’ Percy Harvin, left, celebrates with a teammate after the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Seahawks won 43-8. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

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Man wielding butcher knife at Cottage Grove Elementary charged

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A man who allegedly brought a butcher knife to Cottage Grove Elementary School on Tuesday, causing the school to go into a brief lockdown, had four other large knives in his pickup, according to a criminal complaint filed Thursday in Washington County District Court.

Touyer Yang (Courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office)

Touyer Yang, 46, of Cottage Grove, faces three felony charges in connection with the incident: possession of a dangerous weapon on school property, threats of violence and first-degree damage to property.

Yang, driving a black pickup, allegedly came to the school just before noon on Tuesday. Employees at the school said Yang was spotted “driving erratically around the parking lot,” according to the criminal complaint. After he exited his truck, which he left running, Yang “walked into the vestibule and had a knife in his hand,” the complaint states. “(He) was waving the knife around and yelling.”

An employee told investigators there were several children in the common area just beyond the doors where Yang was located. She brought five children into her classroom, and another employee took the rest of the children to another part of the building, according to the complaint.

“Several children saw (Yang) with the knife and were very afraid,” the complaint states.

Multiple marks were found on the doors and windows where Yang struck them with his knife; the cost of repairs will exceed $1,000, officials said.

Three other large knives were found in the driver’s door pocket of Yang’s truck, and a large kitchen knife was in the passenger’s door pocket, according to the complaint.

Yang’s eyes were bloodshot, watery and glossy, and an officer could smell a strong odor of consumed alcoholic beverage coming from him, the complaint states. He also was swaying, according to the complaint.

Yang later admitted several times to drinking and going to the school, the complaint states.

Yang is being held at the Washington County Jail in Stillwater.

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