Minnesota Supreme Court suspends Anoka County judge for misconduct
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The Minnesota Supreme Court has suspended an Anoka County judge for misconduct that included holding a hearing from a moving vehicle. Calling his actions “flagrant and egregious,” the state’s highest court suspended Judge John Dehen for nine months without pay. The justices found that Dehen wrongly held a remote hearing involving confidential juvenile matters while riding to a family member’s swim meet.
Court filings show that Dehen is retiring Oct. 10. Anticipating such a move, the justices suspended him from practicing law. Dehen has also filed a confidential petition to change his name.
Former state Sen. Nicole Mitchell has been sentenced to six months in jail for her felony burglary convictions. Mitchell was arrested in 2024 after breaking into her stepmother’s Detroit Lakes home through a basement window. Mitchell later said she was doing a welfare check on Carol Mitchell, who has Alzheimer’s. Before receiving her sentence, Mitchell expressed remorse for her crimes. Nicole Mitchell resigned from her state senate seat in July.
Health insurance premiums are expected to increase for some Minnesotans in 2026. The proposed health insurance rate hikes are being driven by rising health care costs and Affordable Care Act subsidies that are set to expire at the end of 2025.
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People across the state who enroll in individual or small group market plans can expect to pay around $180 more per month for health insurance premiums. Middle-income Minnesotans, farmers, small business owners and early retirees could be hit the hardest. Families living in greater Minnesota and enrollees over age 55 who are too young for Medicare will likely notice the highest cost increases. Final health insurance rates for 2026 will be available on Oct. 1.
President Donald Trump has signed an order raising the cost of sponsoring a H-1B visa to $100,000 dollars. The H-1B visa allows U.S. companies to hire highly skilled foreign workers when they can’t find qualified candidates in the U.S. Minnesota employers like Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota depend on the visas to fill specialized jobs in medicine, research and technology. Critics say the program has been abused, while supporters argue U.S. companies need access to global talent.
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Former state Sen. Nicole Mitchell must serve 6 months in jail for felony burglary
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