Cooler but still well above normal this week

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

A criminal probe is underway into the past dealings of the sponsor of Grand Old Day, authorities confirmed Monday.

St. Paul police and federal authorities are looking into the finances of the Grand Avenue Business Association, the St. Paul business group that runs the annual street fair. The event 

due to financial difficulties this spring following the abrupt resignations in April of the group’s president and the executive director.

The association’s current president Bob Lawrence said St. Paul police inquired about the group’s finances this spring and launched an audit of the group’s books.

“They said there was enough information that they felt they needed to look into things further, and at some point in that process it got handed over, taken over by the U.S. Attorney’s office,” Lawrence said.

How Grand Old Day came back from the dead

St. Paul's Grand Old Day is back on this year

He said the investigation involved financial impropriety.

“This is looking at the same records we all looked at and scratched our heads a little bit — that over the course of 2011 to 2017, they seemed to burn through about $170,000 in reserves,” Lawrence said.

A report from the St. Paul Police Department confirms that there is an ongoing criminal investigation of the matter. Federal authorities don’t discuss their activities in ongoing investigations.

 over the weekend that the association records included suspect expense charges to the organization’s bank accounts, including casino and entertainment bills.

Lawrence, an insurance agent, said he joined the board in January and was elected president of the association after the resignation of his predecessor. He says new board leadership has righted the business group’s financial situation, including a surplus generated by Grand Old Day, after the last minute reprieve that rescued the festival.

Business and Economic News

Crime, Law and Justice

Minnesota News

Twin Cities News

NewsPartners

Tim Nelson

Author

The probe was prompted by financial problems that initially led to the cancellation this spring of Grand Old Day. A grassroots fundraising effort ultimately saved the street fair this year.

Former Grand Old Day organizers subject of criminal probe

Go Deeper.

Like this?

News you can use in your inbox