Seventeen people, including four Minnesotans. Stephen Montemayor at the Star Tribune reports on indictments surrounding an international sex trafficking in a scheme that stretched from Thailand to Belgium to the United States: “The charges, announced Wednesday morning by federal prosecutors in Minnesota, allege that the conspirators transported hundreds of young women from Thailand to the United States with fraudulent visas, then forced them into lives of prostitution in slavery-like conditions.”
Down side: Only "smalls" in the clothing section. Phil Wahba at Fortune checks out Target's new 45,000-square-foot small-format store in TriBeCa: “The concept behind Target’s flexible formats (executives don’t like to use the word 'smaller') is simple: The company thinks city and college campus stores that are more compact than their suburban counterparts will enable it to more easily reach city dwellers, tourists and office workers who don’t have time to go to a suburban store for a mid-week stock-up trip.”
Maybe turn off the Walkway's hot tub once in a while. Southwest Journal’s Michelle Bruch has a piece on the increased electricity demand in Uptown and what Xcel intends to do about it: “'We’ll add some hardware to relieve the overloaded circuits up and down Hennepin,' [Senior Engineer James] Nash said. 'It’s not a band-aid fix, this is a long-term fix.' Nash said the electrical system has historically served three-story brownstones, and in recent years the grid is increasingly powering new six-story buildings.”
Only losers use American steel. John Myers at the Duluth News Tribune hears from Iron Range steelworkers about Donald Trump's use of Chinese steel in casinos: “Reaction was quick and fierce Tuesday to published reports that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump used cheaper Chinese steel rather than steel made in the U.S. to build recent casinos and hotels.… Officials of the United Steelworkers of America, whose members work in Minnesota taconite iron ore mines and in steelmaking mills across the U.S., said the news shows Trump has been dishonest about his wishes to rebuild American manufacturing that has drifted to China in recent decades.”
In other news…
Mondale on the Kaine-Pence debate: “Messaging With Mondale: Real-Time Reactions From an Ex-Vice President” [New York Times]
Checking accountability: “Senate Democrats press Lynch to investigate Wells Fargo officials” [Roll Call]
After a three-year congressional delay: “Automatic train braking coming to Minnesota” [St. Cloud Times]
When you find that perfect pair, though: “Serial St. Paul burglar found on couch, in stolen pants, charges say” [Pioneer Press]
I guess more time for family then: “Mall of America takes bold stand by closing on Thanksgiving” [Star Tribune]
From the Ryder Cup to Colbert in one shot: “Mayville's David Johnson heckles his way on to Late Show” [Inforum]
Pillow Rock may not be done moving: “Ruckus caused over moving 2-billion-year-old rock from Minn. city” [West Central Tribune]
#1 for #2: “Vote for a Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport bathroom as America's Best Restroom” [Cintas]
Viking has Minnesota twins:
#Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph and his wife Jordan welcomed twin girls last night -- Andersyn Kate and Finley Claire Rudolph. pic.twitter.com/armEIt6OAH
— RandBall (@RandBall) October 5, 2016
