25 Jan 2026

Business people: James Lawrence to chair Metropolitan Airports Commission board

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AIRPORTS

James Lawrence

The Metropolitan Airports Commission announced that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has appointed James Lawrence as chair of the MAC board, which oversees Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and six general aviation airports in the Twin Cities, effective Wednesday. Lawrence previously chaired the commission’s Planning, Development and Environment Committee and was acting vice chair of the 15-member board. He succeeds Rick King, who retired in November 2025.

ARCHITECTURE/ENGINEERING

Golden Valley-based design and consulting firm WSB announced the promotion of Shannon Gwost to director, contract administration, overseeing three offices including Baxter, Minn., Fargo, N.D., and St. Cloud. Gwost has been with the firm for 10 years,

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Platinum Bank, Oakdale, announced that Nicole Sever has been named president, effective Jan. 1. Sever previously was as the bank’s chief sales officer; she succeeds David Faust, who remains with the company as vice chair and as a director. …First Resource Bank, Forest Lake, announced Aaron Siegle has assumed the role of chief executive officer, and Charlie Anderson as president and chief operating officer. Tim Siegle, the bank’s outgoing CEO, will transition to chairman of the bank’s holding company, Ameri Financial Group, and will serve as vice chair of the FRB board of directors. … Piper Sandler Cos., a Minneapolis-based investment bank, announced the following leadership appointments: Co-heads of healthcare investment banking: Brandon Rice and Chad Huber; Carlos Sanchez, co-head of consumer investment banking, and Paul Scansaroli, co-head of equity capital markets.

HEALTH CARE

Medica Foundation, an arm of Minnetonka-based health insurer Medica, announced the retirement of JoAnn Birkholz as executive director, effective Jan. 9. Birkholz began her career as a critical care nurse and joined Medica in 1999 as director of provider and customer support within Health Services.

MANUFACTURING

GF, an Apple Valley-based manufacturer of Uponor-branded indoor plumbing products, announced Javier Alarcón as vice president of finance for GF Building Flow Solutions Americas, effective Dec. 15. He succeeds President John Reutter, who also served as vice president of finance in an interim capacity. Alarcón previously was at CHS Inc., most recently as segment CFO, Agriculture.

MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

Forj Medical, a St. Paul-based contract developer and manufacturer of medical components, announced the appointment of Ward Sokoloski as chief operations officer. Sokoloski most recently was vice president of operations at ECA Medical. Forj Medical was formed by the merger of Minnetronix and Intricon.

ORGANIZATIONS

The Minnesota Chamber Foundation, St. Paul, announced the appointment of the following members to its Board of Directors: Kathy Bray, SFM Mutual Insurance Co.; Justin Erickson, The Brookshire Co.; Mercedes Jackson, Fredrickson; Kristina Morton, API Group, and Laura Oberst, Wells Fargo. The Foundation also announced Rene Knippel, Stearns Bank, as the chair of the Committee for Workforce Solutions.

RECREATION

MarineMax, a global retailer and servicer of recreational watercraft, announced the promotions of Brent Wiczek to district president for Minnesota and of Jeremy Wiczek to general manager of MarineMax Nisswa and MarineMax Crosslake. The brothers previously were with Nisswa Marine.

SERVICES

Assisted Living Locators, a nationwide franchised senior placement and referral service, announced the opening of a Rochester, Minn., office serving the Rochester, Faribault, Owatonna, Red Wing, and Albert Lea communities. The office is owned and operated by Evangeline “Eva” Stadtherr, with her husband, Daniel Stadtherr.

TECHNOLOGY

FORTÉ, formerly AVI Systems, an Eden Prairie-based provider of audio-visual systems for businesses and schools, announced that Josh Braun has been promoted to chief information officer, a new position at the company. Braun joined FORTÉ in 2016 as director of IT and was promoted to vice president of IT in 2019.

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UTILITIES

Otter Tail Corp., a Fergus Falls, Minn.-based diversified electricity provider and manufacturer, announced it has appointed Chris Clark of Minnetonka and Steve Rasche of St. Louis, Mo., to the board of directors, effective Jan. 1. Clark is the retired president of Xcel Energy – Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota; Rasche is retired as chief financial officer for Spire Inc.  

EMAIL ITEMS to businessnews@pioneerpress.com.

25 Jan 2026

James Seifert: It’s time for the federal courts to do their duty

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The responsibility of federal courts in upholding constitutional rights

The framers of the Constitution designed the federal judiciary as an essential check on the other branches of government. Today, it stands as the only effective check.

The framers recognized that the legislative and executive branches, influenced by political pressures and shifting majorities, might occasionally overstep their constitutional limits. In such instances, it is the solemn duty of the federal courts to act and restore the proper balance, thereby safeguarding the rights of citizens.

Now is the time for judges to step forward.

They can no longer remain secluded in palatial courtrooms adorned with paintings, portraits, artifacts and architectural symbols of governmental authority. This is a moment that calls for great courage. Federal trial and appellate judges must leave behind the safe harbor of timidity and lengthy footnotes and instead act boldly when the executive branch has acted outside the bounds of the Constitution — and strongly consider effective remedies that may require receivership-type oversight.

The intent of the Framers

The Federalist Papers provide clear evidence of the framers’ intent regarding the judiciary’s role.

In Federalist No. 78, Alexander Hamilton emphasized that the courts were meant to serve as a barrier to legislative encroachments on the rights of the people. Hamilton wrote, “The independence of the judges is equally requisite to guard the Constitution and the rights of individuals from the effects of those ill humors, which the arts of designing men, or the influence of particular conjunctures, sometimes disseminate among the people themselves.” This statement highlights the judiciary’s critical function as a protector of constitutional rights against violations by the other branches.

Similarly, in Federalist No. 51, James Madison argued for a system of checks and balances, stating that “ambition must be made to counteract ambition.” The judiciary, protected from political pressures by lifetime appointments, was positioned to ensure that neither the legislative nor the executive branch could unilaterally infringe upon individual liberties.

Constitutional scholars on judicial oversight

Constitutional scholars have consistently affirmed this interpretation of the framers’ intent.

For example, John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, famously established in Marbury v. Madison that “it is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is.” This principle has guided federal courts in exercising judicial review and correcting constitutional violations by the other branches.

More recent scholars, such as Laurence Tribe and Akhil Reed Amar, have further explained the judiciary’s obligation to enforce constitutional limits. Tribe points out that the courts “stand as guardians of the Constitution, ensuring that no branch exceeds its authority or tramples on the rights guaranteed to the people.” Amar similarly argues that “the structure of judicial review is not a matter of judicial supremacy, but of constitutional supremacy, where the courts act as faithful agents of the constitutional text and principles.”

Ronald Reagan stated that federal judges are “… the guardians of freedom for generations yet unborn.” Our freedoms have never been under such a visceral threat as they are today.

Correcting infringements on constitutional rights

When the legislative or executive branches enact laws or take actions that infringe upon the constitutional rights of citizens, it is the responsibility of the federal courts to correct these overreaches. This corrective function is not merely a power but a DUTY, rooted in the Constitution’s separation of powers and the framers’ deliberate design. Judicial intervention is essential for preserving the rule of law and maintaining the integrity of the constitutional system.

In sum, the framers made clear through their writings and the structure of the Constitution that the federal courts must act decisively when the other branches threaten the rights of the people. Drawing from the wisdom of The Federalist Papers and the insights of constitutional scholars, it is evident that now, more than ever, it is time for the federal courts to fulfill their non-discretionary constitutional responsibilities.

Minnesota has a long history of distinguished and courageous federal judges, including Jack Tunheim, Don Alsop, Edward Devitt, Diana Murphy, David Doty, Michael Davis, Mimi Wright, Donovan Frank, Joan Eriksen and many others. I call upon Chief U.S. District Judge Patrick Schlitz to act in the manner of his predecessors and take the necessary steps to restore the Constitutional rights of Minnesotans, stop a rogue agency, and implement an oversight framework to prevent such grotesque abuses in the future — actions that echo the founding principles of our country. The federal judiciary remains our only practical hope.

Jim Seifert, Lake Elmo, is former general counsel for Ecolab and American Public Media Group and a former Republican state legislator who represented parts of Woodbury, Oakdale, Maplewood and Landfall.

25 Jan 2026

Republican calls are growing for a deeper investigation into the fatal Minneapolis shooting

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WASHINGTON — A growing number of Republicans are pressing for a deeper investigation into federal immigration tactics in Minnesota after a U.S. Border Patrol agent fatally shot a man in Minneapolis, a sign that the accounting of events by President Donald Trump’s administration may face bipartisan scrutiny.

The chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee sought testimony from leaders at Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, saying “my top priority remains keeping Americans safe.”

Rep. Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., said in a statement that he takes oversight of the Department of Homeland Security seriously and that “Congress has an important responsibility to ensure the safety of law enforcement and the people they serve and protect.”

That call was echoed by the committee’s former chairman, Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, along with Sens. Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana. Their statements, in addition to concern expressed from several Republican governors, reflected a party struggling with how to respond to Saturday’s fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse at a VA hospital.

The killing has raised uncomfortable questions about the GOP’s core positions on issues ranging from gun ownership to states’ rights and trust in the federal government.

Cassidy, who is facing a Trump-backed challenger in his reelection bid, said in a social media post that the shooting was “incredibly disturbing” and that the “credibility of ICE and DHS are at stake.” He, too, was pushing for “a full joint federal and state investigation.” Tillis, who is not seeking reelection, urged a “thorough and impartial investigation” and said “any administration official who rushes to judgment and tries to shut down an investigation before it begins are doing an incredible disservice to the nation and to President Trump’s legacy.”

Administration officials remained firm in their defense of the hard-line immigration enforcement tactics in the Minnesota city, blaming Democrats in the state along with local law enforcement for not working with them. Many Republicans either echoed that sentiment or stayed silent. Trump made no public appearances Sunday, though issued a number of social media posts on topics including the ballroom he is constructing at the White House and further criticism of Canada.

The White House will likely face at least some GOP pushback

Trump has enjoyed nearly complete loyalty from fellow Republicans during his first year back in the White House. But the positions staked out in the wake of the shooting signal that the administration will face at least some pushback within the party in its swift effort to define Pretti, who protested Trump’s immigration crackdown, as a violent demonstrator.

Deputy White House chief of staff Stephen Miller issued social media posts referencing an “assassin” and “domestic terrorist.” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Pretti showed up to “impede a law enforcement operation.”

At a minimum, some Republicans are calling for a de-escalation in Minneapolis.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt told CNN’s “State of the Union” that the shooting was a “real tragedy” and Trump needs to tell Americans what the “end game” is.

“Nobody likes the feds coming to their states,” Stitt said. “And so what is the goal right now? Is it to deport every single non-U.S. citizen? I don’t think that’s what Americans want.”

He added: “Right now, tempers are just going crazy and we need to calm this down.”

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott said the shooting was “not acceptable.”

“At best, these federal immigration operations are a complete failure of coordination of acceptable public safety and law enforcement practices, training and leadership,” he said in a post. “At worst, it’s deliberate federal intimidation and incitement of American citizens.”

Echoing criticism that local law enforcement isn’t cooperating with federal officials, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., suggested the administration focus its immigration efforts elsewhere.

“If I were President Trump, I would almost think about if the mayor and the governor are going to put our ICE officials in harm’s way and there’s a chance of losing more innocent lives or whatever, then maybe go to another city and let the people of Minneapolis decide do we want to continue to have all these illegals?” he told “Sunday Morning Futures” on the Fox News Channel. “I think the people of Minnesota would rebel against their leadership.”

A sensitive moment for the GOP

Pretti’s killing comes at a sensitive moment for the GOP as the party prepares for a challenging midterm election year. Trump has fomented a sense of chaos on the world stage, bringing the NATO alliance to the brink last week as he pushed Denmark to cede control of Greenland to the United States while also intensifying a dispute with Canada’s prime ministe r. Domestically, Trump has struggled to respond to widespread affordability concerns.

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Meanwhile, approval of his handling of immigration — long a political asset for the president and the GOP — has tumbled in recent months. Just 38% of U.S. adults approved of how Trump was handling immigration in January, down from 49% in March, according to an AP-NORC poll.

The killing spurred notable tension with the GOP’s long-standing support for gun rights. Officials say Pretti was armed, but no bystander videos that have surfaced so far appear to show him holding a weapon. The Minneapolis police chief said Pretti had a permit to carry a gun.

Yet administration officials, including Noem and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, have questioned why he was armed. Speaking on ABC’s “This Week” Bessent said that when he has attended protests, “I didn’t bring a gun. I brought a billboard.”

Such comments were notable for a party where support for the Second Amendment’s protection of gun ownership is foundational. Indeed, many in the GOP, including Trump, lifted Kyle Rittenhouse into prominence when the then-17-year-old former police youth cadet shot three men, killing two of them, during a 2020 protest in Wisconsin against police brutality. He was acquitted of all charges after testifying that he acted in self defense.

In the wake of Pretti’s killing, gun rights advocates quickly noted that it is legal to carry firearms during protests.

“Every peaceable Minnesotan has the right to keep and bear arms — including while attending protests, acting as observers, or exercising their First Amendment rights,” the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus said in a statement. “These rights do not disappear when someone is lawfully armed.”

In a social media post, the National Rife Association said “responsible public voices should be awaiting a full investigation, not making generalizations and demonizing law-abiding citizens.”

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who is often critical of the White House, said “carrying a firearm is not a death sentence.”

“It’s a Constitutionally protected God-given right,” he said, “and if you don’t understand this you have no business in law enforcement or government.

The second-ranking Justice Department official said he was aware of reports that Pretti was lawfully armed.

“There’s nothing wrong with anybody lawfully carrying firearms,” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said on “Meet the Press” on NBC. “But just make no mistake about it, this was an incredibly split-second decision that had to be made by ICE officers.”

25 Jan 2026

Inside Super Bowl week’s concerts, parties and celebrity scene heading into big game

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By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr., AP Entertainment Writer

Super Bowl week will unfold across several days in the Bay Area, with the game itself serving as the final act in a tightly coordinated mix of sports, music, media and celebrity appearances.

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From league-run press events to invitation-only gatherings in San Francisco, the jam-packed week draws athletes, entertainers and executives together in the days leading up the league’s championship game. Early programming sets the stage for nights headlined by figures such as Shaquille O’Neal and Dave Chappelle along with a variety of performances spread out through San Francisco by Kehlani, Post Malone and Calvin Harris.

High-profile stops like the Sports Illustrated celebration — tied to Tight End University collaborators Travis Kelce and George Kittle — help define the celebrity-driven stretch of the week before fan-focused experiences take over on game day.

For first-timers and returning visitors alike, Super Bowl week moves quickly.

Here is a day-by-day look at how each day takes shape starting Feb. 4:

Wednesday, Feb. 4: Power brunch and early arrivals

Super Bowl week begins with events centered on leadership, media and behind-the-scenes influence.

The day’s marquee event is the Sports Power Brunch: Celebrating the Most Powerful Women in Sports with attendees including Becky Hammon, Maria Taylor and Elle Duncan at the Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco. The invitation-only gathering brings together executives, broadcasters and athletes for panels and honors spotlighting women shaping the sports industry.

Thursday, Feb. 5: Bad Bunny, NFL Honors and big concert night

Thursday combines league-run programming with the first major wave of concerts.

The day begins with the Super Bowl halftime and pregame performers media event, hosted at the NFL’s media hub. Reporters and the public will hear directly from the game’s performers including Bad Bunny, Charlie Puth, Brandi Carlile and Coco Jones.

After that, attention shifts to the NFL Honors, hosted by Jon Hamm at the Palace of Fine Arts. There’s a red carpet followed by the awards show, blending sports with entertainment.

But the fun doesn’t stop, launching more into the concert calendar. Fall Out Boy performs an intimate show at The Regency Ballroom as part of the Wells Fargo Autograph Card Exclusives series, a ticketed event limited to cardholders. At Pier 80 Warehouse, Illenium hosts an album release show tied to his upcoming project “Odyssey,” opening one of the weekend’s largest warehouse.

FILE – Shaquille O’Neal performs during Shaq’s Fun House Super Bowl event at Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Feb. 10, 2023. (Photo by Rick Scuteri/Invision/AP, File)

Friday, Feb. 6: Shaq, Post Malone, Kehlani & Madden Bowl

In one of the busiest nights, you can’t really go wrong. Across San Francisco, multiple large-scale concerts and fan-facing experiences run at the same time.

Make your choices early.

At the Cow Palace, Shaq’s Fun House returns as a carnival-style nightlife event hosted by Shaquille O’Neal, who performs as DJ Diesel alongside a rotating lineup of DJs. The event is a ticketed experience with immersive activations ranging from an all-inclusive general admission for $249.99 to a shared VIP table ticket, which starts at $1,550.

Bud Light hosts a free, 21-and-over concert experience with Post Malone at Fort Mason Center, with access granted through a sweepstakes model.

Music continues across the Bay Area. Kehlani headlines a ticketed pre-Super Bowl block party at San Jose City Hall, one of the closest major concerts to Levi’s Stadium. At the Chase Center, EA Sports’ Madden Bowl combines football and music with performances from Luke Combs and LaRussell, athlete appearances and a livestreamed blue carpet, hosted by New York Giants quarterback Jameis Winston and sports commentator Kay Adams. The social media channels will offer behind-the-scenes content with Twitch streamer Sketch who will host a livestream featuring athletes playing each other on “Madden NFL 26.”

The Palace of Fine Arts hosts Sting as the opening night of On Location’s Super Bowl Studio 60.

Pier 80 Warehouse doubles down on EDM with a joint performance from Calvin Harris and Diplo, anchoring one of the largest ticketed shows of the night.

Green Day, who will open the 60th Super Bowl with an anniversary ceremony celebrating generations of MVPs, will hit the stage along with Counting Crows at the FanDuel and Spotify party at Pier 29.

FILE – Comedian Dave Chappelle performs at Madison Square Garden in New York on Aug. 22, 2023, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

Saturday, Feb. 7: Dave Chappelle & Wale anchor Super Bowl eve

Saturday serves as the peak of celebrity-driven Super Bowl weekend activity.

Dave Chappelle headlines an already sold-out comedy show at Chase Center, one of the most in-demand tickets of the weekend. At the Cow Palace, Sports Illustrated hosts SI The Party, a ticketed and VIP event with performances by Loud Luxury and Frank Walker. The costs range from $450 to $1,750 VIP shared table tickets.

Rapper Wale will hit the stage at Pier 27, T-Pain and Sean Paul will have a show called R&B and Ribs at Pier 80 Warehouse while Chris Stapleton and Sierra Ferrell will perform at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium.

Additional Super Bowl Eve performances include Dom Dolla at San Jose City Hall and The Killers at the Palace of Fine Arts as Night Two of Super Bowl Studio 60. Larry June, Hugel, Loud Luxury and Plastik Funk will perform at the Maxim Big Game Party 2026: Bay Lights & Football Nights.

Sunday, Feb. 8: Game Day and Fan Experiences

Game day opens with large-scale fan events leading into kickoff.

Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Tailgate runs for four hours starting at 11:30 a.m. PT, offering free general admission with registration alongside paid upgrades. The event blends live music, food and sponsor activations ahead of the game.

The Chainsmokers will perform at On Location’s Club 67, Champions Club and Touchdown Club pregame parties just outside Levi’s Stadium.

Also near the Stadium, The Players Tailgate delivers a premium pregame experience featuring chefs, NFL players and live entertainment. It’s a ticketed event just steps from the stadium.