The Commission on Judicial Selection announced Monday, May 12, the recommendations of three candidates for consideration to fill the vacancy in Minnesota’s 9th Judicial District.
The vacancy will occur upon the retirement of Judge Erik J. Askegaard. This seat will be chambered in Aitkin in Aitkin County.
Candidates are Daniel Hawley, Cindi Hills and Jordan Olsen.
Hawley is a partner at Gammello-Pearson PLLC, where he practices family law, criminal defense, civil litigation, real estate, corporate and business law, estate planning and municipal law. In this role, he serves as defense counsel for the Crow Wing County DWI Court program. Hawley was previously an associate at Gammello-Pearson PLLC and a law clerk for retired Judge David J. Ten Eyck in the 9th Judicial District.
Hawley’s community involvement includes serving as vice president of the Aitkin/Crow Wing Bar Association and the 15th Bar Association, president of the Crow Wing County Law Library Board of Trustees and chair of the board of directors of Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity.
Hills is an assistant director of Labor Relations at the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system office. She previously worked as an assistant county attorney in Crow Wing County and an assistant public defender in the 9th Judicial District in Aitkin County.
Hills judges moot court competitions, volunteers in local schools and serves on the School Board for Aitkin Public Schools.
Olsen is a managing attorney in the Itasca County and Koochiching County public defender’s offices in the 9th Judicial District. He was previously an assistant public defender in various counties across the 9th Judicial District and a law clerk for Judge Anne M. Rasmusson in the 9th Judicial District.
Olsen is a member of the Public Defender DNA/Forensics team.
For more information about the judicial selection process, visit the Governor’s Judicial Appointments webpage.
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Contributed/University of Minnesota PressIn this episode of Ham Radio: Cooking With Amy Thielen we are all about the summer kitchen.Guests include Alena Levina, one of the contributors of the new cookbook Kitchens of Hope: Immigrants Share Stories of Resilience and Recipes from Home. Alena gives us her family recipe from Belarus: Holodnik or Summer Beet Soup. Alena lives in St. Paul and talks family and farmers markets and memories of outdoor cooking in the summertime. And Holodnik is our Community recipe this week! (stay tuned, we'll post soon! Or check out our past recipes of the week!)We're also thrilled to bring you a conversation with newly awarded St. Paul chef Karyn Tomlinson. She just won the James Beard award for Best Chef of the Midwest. Her restaurant is Myriel in St. Paul and she features local produce from farmers in her hometown of Dassel. We learn about how this strong connection to the local food forges not just sustainable friendships but creates a magic in the kitchen where limitation can mean creativity.So many texts and calls came rolling in this week about favorite summertime recipes and memories. From Mikki's gazpacho, Iris's ratatouille, Steve's watermelon Coke and carving a watermelon in the shape of a beautiful basket, we loved every single second of it. We continue to hear from our Ham Radio fans. Like this one from Sarah: "I especially loved last week’s conversation about recipes and Amy’s appreciation for older ones with those classic “grandma directions” (like using half an eggshell of water in the homemade noodles) and your discussion about special recipes with stories behind them (hello beer cooler chicken)."and a listener who share this memory:"Fresh brook trout with new potatoes has been a summer favorite since I was a young man. I remember doing "quasi-regular "brook trout delivery" to family in our neighborhood. Wonderful memories and a wonderful meal for all.Delivery? How do we sign up? Hope you enjoyed the first season of Ham Radio: Cooking With Amy Thielen. Tell others about us, pass the word and send us your memories and recipes! Ham Radio features original licensed music — "You Know How I Like It" by Jeremy Messersmith.Made possible by the Minnesota Arts & Culture Heritage Fund. Support KAXE by becoming a member today: https://donate.nprstations.org/kaxe/donate -
Plus: Water infrastructure funding covers $5M gap for Aurora water plant; and the Outdoor School for All grant program becomes law in Minnesota.
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Larissa Donovan/KAXEWhether in search of supplies, groceries or even a hot meal, Bemidjians flocked to the location as the first day of operations began for the new center. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEItasca County celebrated Pride Month with a festival at the Old Central School grounds in Grand Rapids on Sunday, June 22, 2025.
