NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Jets signed defensive end Jermaine Johnson, the No. 26 overall pick in the NFL draft, to a fully guaranteed four-year, $13.1 million rookie deal Monday. Johnson joins cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, selected fourth overall, as Jets first-round picks under contract. Gardner signed his four-year, $38.7 million deal on May 7. Wide receiver Garrett Wilson, the No. 10 pick last month, is unsigned. The deal for Johnson includes a $6.7 million signing bonus and the standard fifth-year option for the Jets. Jermaine Johnson II poses onstage after being selected 26th by t ..read more

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — The University of Missouri has proposed disciplinary sanctions against 13 students as part of its investigation into an October fraternity pledge party that left a student from Minnesota with brain injuries. Federal student privacy law keeps the school from naming the students or providing details about the disciplinary decisions, tut the sanctions could include suspension or expulsion, the university said in a statement Thursday. The students will have the option to contest the proposed sanctions at a hearing and can appeal any sanctions, the university said. READ MORE:&n ..read more

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (WCCO) — We’ve heard a lot recently about young people committing crimes and being placed back in the community. And we’ve heard outrage from victims. There’s a program with the Eden Prairie Police department that brings offenders and victims together. It’s called Diversion. The goal is to keep kids and young adults out of the court system, and to help them understand how their actions hurt someone. WCCO found out first-hand the impact it’s had on many lives. Letters of regret and apology fill a folder, including this one. “Getting this wakeup call was almost like a blessin ..read more

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Three of 23 defendants have settled their part in a lawsuit over a University of Missouri fraternity pledge party that left a student from Minnesota with brain injuries. An attorney for the family of Daniel Santulli filed a motion Wednesday to approve the settlement. The terms of the settlement, which must be approved by a court, were not released. Santulli, of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, was found in cardiac arrest inside a car at University Hospital in Columbia on Oct. 20. The lawsuit alleges Santulli and his pledge class at Phi Gamma Delta were each forced to drink a bottl ..read more

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (WCCO) – Bryant Lake Dog Park was perhaps the most popular spot in Eden Prairie Sunday morning, thanks to spring’s first real warm-up. “It definitely was, you know, hard to find a parking spot,” said Blake Dragos of Chanhassen. With temperatures peaking in the 40s and even warmer weather on the horizon, dog owners embraced the sun. (credit: CBS) “This beautiful weather,” said Kari Lindstone. “It was freezing out here yesterday with the wind, but today is so absolutely gorgeous.” “This was a good cold winter, this year, we’ve had enough snow,” said Ralf Loeffelhoz. “We kno ..read more

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (WCCO) — Sticker shock at the pump. The national average for a gallon of regular gas sits at $4 nationwide. In the Twin Cities, the average is at $3.77 a gallon. On Monday, Congress started taking steps to possibly block all Russian imports. But what could that mean for skyrocketing gas prices? In Eden Prairie, Ashley Holt said that it now costs her about $80 to fill up her car. “It’s insane, as they keep going up it’s harder to balance working and paying for gas,” he said. The pain hits station owners, too. In the past two weeks as prices have soared, business is down dram ..read more

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) — Calls to stand with Ukraine continue in Minnesota. More than a thousand people gathered outside the State Capitol in St. Paul for a rally Sunday afternoon, including Gov. Tim Walz, who declared Sunday “Ukrainian Solidarity Day” in Minnesota. Hundreds of people showed up to show their support for Ukraine, many holding flags and signs, and calling on the U.S. government to establish a no-fly zone. The rally was just one of several events taking place across the metro Sunday in support of Ukraine. In times of need, the Ukrainian community stands together. Oleksiy Khrystyc ..read more

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (WCCO) — A faith-based organization headquartered in the Twin Cities is on the front lines in Ukraine helping people in need. WCCO’s Reg Chapman spoke with members of Steiger International in Minnesota and in Ukraine. From his office in Eden Prairie, Aaron Pierce coordinates members of Steiger International’s team in Ukraine, Poland and Belarus. “We were there, we had the network, we had the people that were ready to move and mobilize,” Pierce said. “And so I think we were just positioned to meet the need really quickly.” Steiger is not a traditional humanitarian relief org ..read more

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) — As Russia wages war on Ukraine, Russians living in Minnesota are struggling. Kirill Bak is from St. Petersburg, where he graduated from Vaganova Academy — the most famous ballet school worldwide. After an accomplished career, he co-founded the Minnesota Ballet School in Eden Prairie in 2001. “I can’t believe this is real,” Bak said. “Most Russians here, they don’t like what’s going on. Right now they’re very, very upset.” At Moscow on the Hill in St. Paul, people have sent messages saying they won’t come back to the restaurant unless they change their name. Marina Libe ..read more

Originally published Feb. 25, 2022 EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (WCCO) — Friday’s match between the Edina and Eden Prairie girls’ basketball teams was special. “She’s really one of our hype women,” said Nia Holloway, a senior forward for Eden Prairie and a Gophers commit. “She loves to cheer us on and give us high fives and stuff like that.” “This is one of her favorite things to do, be our manager, so it’s really exciting to see her getting rewarded for it,” said Eagles senior guard Myra Moorjani. Team manager Pilar Sisinni got to accomplish a long-awaited goal. “She came home and said she wanted to t ..read more