This complaint was heard on written submissions only. The Fargo Forum declined to participate.
Bob Shaw and Nedra Wicks, former Council members, took part as public members in order to ensure a balance of public/media members. The proceedings took place at South Central Technical College in Faribault.
Participants included the complainant, Morris Kurtz, accompanied by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities’ vice chancellor for human resources, Bill Tschida; from the St. Cloud Times, Susan Ihne, executive editor, and Dave DeLand, sports editor.
Attending the hearing were the complainants, Jeffrey Thompson, Rice County Attorney and Assistant County Attorney Noah Cashman, and the Hanlon Family: Donna (mother), Casey, Kelly, and Katie (children) and the children’s uncle, Dan Hanlon. Representing the Faribault Daily News were Lisa Schwarz, managing editor, and David Balcom, publisher.