Articles by Steve Karnowski

Minnesota Bill Aims to Combat Sexually Explicit, AI-Generated Deepfakes

Molly Kelley was stunned to discover in June that someone she knew had used widely available “nudification” technology to create highly realistic and sexually explicit videos and images of her, using family photos that were posted on social media. “My …

Minneapolis Pays $600K Settlement in Excessive Force Lawsuit with Ex-Officer Chauvin

The city of Minneapolis has agreed to pay $600,000 to settle a lawsuit by a woman who alleged that ex-Officer Derek Chauvin hauled her from her minivan and pinned her to the ground with his knee in January 2020, just …

Minneapolis to Overhaul Police Training After George Floyd’s Murder

The Minneapolis City Council this month approved an agreement with the federal government to overhaul the city’s police training and use-of-force policies in the wake of the murder of George Floyd. The deal incorporates and builds on changes the Minneapolis …

North Dakota Approves Underground Storage for Proposed CO2 Pipeline

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota regulators approved permits last Thursday for underground storage of carbon dioxide delivered through a massive pipeline proposed for the Midwest, marking another victory for a project that has drawn fierce opposition from landowners. The …

New Jersey, Minnesota Sue Glock Over Firearms With Adaptable Switches

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey and Minnesota sued Glock last Thursday, calling on the gunmaker to stop selling firearms that can be adapted with dime-sized switches to fire up to 1,200 rounds a minute. New Jersey Attorney General Matt …

Smithfield to Pay $2M in Minnesota Child Labor Violation Settlement

Smithfield Foods, one of the nation’s largest meat processors, has agreed to pay $2 million to resolve allegations of child labor violations at a plant in Minnesota, officials announced. An investigation by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry found …

Smithfield to Pay $2 Million in Minnesota Child Labor Violation Settlement

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Smithfield Foods, one of the nation’s largest meat processors, has agreed to pay $2 million to resolve allegations of child labor violations at a plant in Minnesota, officials announced Thursday. An investigation by the Minnesota Department of …

Marathon Oil Reaches $241M Settlement for Air Quality Violations in North Dakota

The federal government announced a $241.5 million settlement with Marathon Oil last week for alleged air quality violations at the company’s oil and gas operations on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota. The Environmental Protection Agency and Department …

Attempted Bribe Doesn’t Stop Jurors From Convicting Defendants in $40M Fraud Scheme

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A jury convicted five Minnesota residents and acquitted two others on Friday for their roles in a scheme to steal more than $40 million from a program that was supposed to feed children during the coronavirus pandemic. …

Bird Flu Strikes Turkey Farms in South Dakota and Utah, Prompting Fears of More Cases

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Highly pathogenic bird flu has made its first appearances in U.S. commercial poultry flocks this season, affecting one turkey farm in South Dakota and one in Utah and raising concerns that more outbreaks could follow. The U.S. …