Earlier, the Associated Press identified Vance Boelter as a suspect in the shooting deaths of Melissa and Mark Hortman, and the attempted assassination of John and Yvette Hoffman. A quick search led to the website www.mnafricaunited.org which included a photo of Dr. Boelter. It claims he is the CEO of Praetorian Guard Security Services in Minnesota. Dr. Boelter currently resides with his wife Jenny and their children. Basil Ajuo, CEO of MAU, confirmed Dr. Boelter had only participated in speaking engagements for MAU and was not a regular employee.
MAU has an office at the 7900 block of Brooklyn Blvd. in Brooklyn Park.
A tip line has been set up to assist in the investigation of this morning’s shooting. If you have any information that could lead to the arrest of Vance Luther Boelter, please call 877-996-6222. The suspect is considered armed and dangerous—if spotted, do not approach. Instead, call 911 immediately.
Craving lasagna but don’t want all the calories? I have the perfect recipe for you!
This lasagna is one of my go-to protein packed meals for when I don’t really feel like cooking but want some real food that helps me achieve my goals.
I found out about this recipe while scrolling through Instagram Reels, so shout out to my algorithm for letting me find this gem!
This recipe is super easy and doesn’t take too much time to cook.
Here are the ingredients:
Low carb tortillas (or lasagna/protein noodles)
For an 8×8 pan, I used about 4 tortillas
The low carb tortillas also provide a good amount of fiber!
Marinara sauce (I used Rao’s)
I used one whole jar
Whatever ground meat you’d prefer (I used chicken for a little protein boost)
I used about 1 ½ cups
The amount can change depending on how much meat you want
Small curd cottage cheese (4% or more)
I used about 2 ½ cups
The amount can change depending on your preference
Italian seasoning
Egg (optional)
For an 8×8 pan, use 1-2 eggs
The egg is optional for extra structure
Your choice of shredded or sliced cheese
I used at least 1 cup
Feeds about 4 people.
The recipe can also be adapted for a personal size lasagna (any microwave/oven safe bowl):
2 low carb tortillas
Marinara sauce (½ jar)
Ground meat (½ cup)
Cottage cheese (½ cup)
Italian seasoning
Shredded/sliced cheese (3-4 slices/ ½ cup)
Now, into the construction of the lasagna!
First, preheat your oven to 360°F.
If you choose to add meat, season with Italian seasoning and cook until brown.
In your pan/bowl, *lay down your first tortilla (for personal size, I suggest cutting the tortillas into halves or fourths). Next, take some marinara sauce and spread it around the tortilla. Then take some of your cottage cheese and layer that on top of the marinara. Sprinkle your meat of choice and top with some more marinara. Last, take your shredded/sliced cheese and sprinkle on top!*
Repeat the steps between the asterisks (*…*) two more times, until you have completed 3 layers. For the last layer, put down a tortilla and spread marinara, then sprinkle with remaining shredded/sliced cheese. Finish with a sprinkle of Italian seasoning.
*NOTE: These steps can be modified however you prefer! I have seen alterations where you only layer cottage cheese once, or you switch out the cottage cheese with ricotta, or not using an egg. (My reminder: You don’t need to use an egg for your personal size!)
Heating instructions for 8×8 pan:
Place it in the middle rack of your oven and cook for 35-40 minutes.
You can choose to cover the lasagna with tinfoil for the first 30 minutes but be sure to take it off towards the end (last 5-10 minutes) to get a nice brown on the cheese!
Heating instructions for personal lasagna:
Microwave: Place in the microwave and cook for about 2-5 minutes.
Air fryer: Place in the air fryer and cook at 400°F for 10 minutes.
Let sit for at least 5 minutes before digging in!
Here’s the nutritional breakdown for all those who like to keep track:
Ground meat (varies a lot! I used chicken because it has less calories than beef)
Per 8×8 pan (chicken): 597 cal, 52g protein, 0g fiber
Cottage cheese (Trader Joe’s small curd 4% cottage cheese)
Per serving: 110 cal, 12g protein, 0g fiber
Per 8×8 pan: 440 cal, 48g protein, 0g fiber
And now for the Protein Packed Lasagna total numbers…. (Drumroll please!)
Per 8×8 pan: 1,697 cal, 132g protein, 72g fiber
Per serving (also personal size): 424 cal, 33g protein, 18g fiber
If you’re looking for some meal prep ideas, this is a great option for you! You can follow the personal size recipe and prep yourself a couple of lasagna for the week! It’s super easy to microwave whenever you want a push of protein.
A gunman posing as law enforcement entered the home of Melissa and Mark Hortman in Brooklyn Park on Saturday morning and assassinated both in what has been called by Gov. Walz a “politically motivated attack.” Details are still emerging so there is no known cause as of yet. But Gov. Walz did say this of Hortman, “Our state lost a great leader, and I lost the dearest of friends. Speaker Hortman was someone who served the state of Minnesota with grace, compassion, humor and a sense of service. She was a formidable public servant, a fixture and a giant in Minnesota. She woke up every day determined to make this state a better place. She is irreplaceable and will be missed by so many.”
Additionally, DFL State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette were also shot at their home in Champlin by the same suspect. Both John and Yvette are alive, but their condition is unknown at present.
This is a developing story and further details will be provided as they become available.
For many people, engaging in conversations with someone who has a stutter can feel challenging, as they might perceive the interaction as awkward or difficult. As someone who stutters myself, I deeply understand the struggles of trying to connect with others while navigating this condition.
I’m not sure exactly when it started, but I began to notice moments where my thoughts and speech felt out of sync—like when the lyrics of a song didn’t align with the melody playing in my mind. Whenever I spoke, reaching the final word in a sentence became a struggle; my mouth would freeze, leaving me unable to complete my thoughts. I’d find myself with my jaw hanging open and my mind suddenly blank.
I began to notice this frustrating pattern where my words wouldn’t come out right, and something about it just felt…wrong. It seemed like my thoughts couldn’t keep pace with the speed of my speech. Watching others converse effortlessly, I couldn’t help but wonder why they could speak so naturally while I struggled—tripping over words, with some refusing to emerge entirely. To make matters worse, certain words would get stuck in my throat as I tried to pronounce them. They were clear in my mind, yet I found myself frozen, unable to push out even the first syllable.
Through a journey of self-reflection and frustration, I finally discovered the term that encapsulated what I was experiencing: stuttering. I can’t pinpoint when it started, but I remember it being a part of my life since middle school. Since then, I’ve tried countless strategies to improve my speech—whether it’s adopting long, deliberate pauses like President Obama or attempting breathing exercises from online articles. While these efforts have helped to some degree, any encounter with stress tends to unravel my progress, leaving me grappling with my familiar stuttering patterns once again.
“It wasn’t until I started reading about others living with their stutters that I had a realization: ‘Sure, I stutter—so what? I get along just fine despite it, and I’m still a (relatively) normal person.’ I mean, even Former President Biden had a stutter, and he managed to live a successful and fulfilling life well into his 80s. Honestly, on good days, my stutter barely even surfaces—especially when I’m talking to people I’m close with or communicating behind a screen. Maybe my stutter is more tied to the nerves I feel when speaking face-to-face with strangers?
Stuttering has certainly made conversations more challenging for people like me, but I’ve learned to navigate life just fine despite it. There are even days when it hardly bothers me at all. Over time, I’ve come to accept stuttering as a part of who I am—for better or worse. To anyone else living with a stutter, know that you are not alone in the journey of expressing yourself. Our voices, regardless of their cadence, are just as valid and meaningful. We are not defined or diminished by this condition.
Whether it’s out of fear of an economic crisis or to ensure a more comfortable retirement, knowing how to save is extremely important to combat economic uncertainties.
Saving is a valuable skill that can lead to financial security and peace of mind. Setting aside a portion of your salary and spending less than you earn are fundamental principles for building a solid financial future.
This is more than just a practice; it’s a lifestyle. Having a financial reserve is essential. The ability to save a portion of your salary not only provides a safety net, but also opens doors to achieving long-term dreams and goals.
But for many people, knowing how to handle money may not be an easy task. And that’s where studies on financial education come in. It’s a critical subject that deserves a place in school curriculums, as living outside the financial system is nearly impossible. The aim is to empower individuals with the knowledge, tools, and resources they need to make informed and confident financial decisions.
The importance of financial education
Financial education allows us to make choices that take into account what is truly important in our lives and the things we want to achieve soon. This is what leads us, for example, to walk past a store that is on sale without buying anything because we are saving money to take a course that will be good for our professional career.
Let’s take the example of buying a house, which is usually the most important financial decision of our lives. If you need to take out a mortgage, financial education will help you make the best decision regarding the amount, term and type of mortgage:
– Understand the impact of macroeconomic factors like inflation on interest rates and how these changes affect your mortgage and repayment capacity;
– Embrace responsible practices, such as seeking professional advice and comparing various options; and
– Exercise caution and prudence when navigating financial decisions.
These criteria will help you make better decisions in this case and in many others, contributing to your financial health.
Knowledge and Understanding
According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development – OECD, financial literacy is defined as “the knowledge and understanding of financial concepts and risks, as well as the skills and attitudes needed to apply them. Its objective is to make effective decisions in various financial contexts, improve the financial well-being of individuals and society, and promote participation in economic life.
Recent research conducted by the OECD reveals that, globally, only 33% of adults have adequate financial education. Levels of financial literacy are low even in developed countries, which continue to lack the notions required for their full development.
What to do to improve your knowledge about money
To gain better control over your finances, it’s essential to understand how money flows through your daily life. We work, earn, and spend—but how does it all truly come together? Taking practical steps can help clarify this cycle. Here are some tips to guide you:
Track your monthly income to know exactly how much money you earn.
Record all your expenses to get a clear picture of where your money goes and how much is spent each month.
Identify your major expenses and explore opportunities to save.
Determine a fixed amount you can set aside each month to build an emergency fund.
Sometimes, it’s difficult to recognize behaviors that may hinder your financial wellbeing. Watch out for key warning signs, such as:
Spending your entire paycheck within days and struggling for the remainder of the month.
Being unsure of exactly how much you earn or where your money goes each month.
Picking and choosing which bills to pay while postponing others to the next month.
Relying on family or friends for emergency financial support.
Developing good financial awareness begins with understanding your habits, behaviors, and limits, while pinpointing areas for improvement. Once you have a solid foundation, you can explore various financial tools and products to identify those that align with your needs, lifestyle, and stage in life.
If you’re striving for a more secure financial future, consider taking the following steps:
Start slowly: It is not necessary to set aside large amounts immediately. Starting with a small percentage of your salary and gradually increasing it can make a big difference over time. Consistency is key.
Live within your means: Though simple in concept, spending less than you earn can be challenging for many. Evaluate your spending habits, cut back on non-essentials, and prioritize needs over wants.
The 50/30/20 Rule: This approach recommends allocating 50% of your income for necessities, 30% for discretionary spending, and 20% for savings. This helps strike a balance between enjoying the present and planning for the future.
Build an emergency fund: A dedicated fund is essential for managing unexpected expenses, such as medical bills, car repairs, or job loss. It reduces reliance on loans or credit cards during emergencies.
Enable freedom of choice – Savings grant you the flexibility to make life-altering decisions, such as switching careers, starting a business, or traveling the world. Financial security gives you the confidence to seize opportunities.
Enjoy peace of mind – The true value of saving lies in the security it brings. A financial cushion provides the reassurance needed to navigate life’s uncertainties with confidence.
Beyond individual benefits, financial education fosters informed, socially responsible citizens. By understanding how personal financial decisions influence community well-being, individuals contribute to a healthier and more cooperative society.
As we have seen, knowing what to do with your money is essential so that you do not feel like you are groping in the dark when dealing with your money: it is the tool that will help you understand the different processes related to the world of finance, so that you can have more control over your life, make good choices and achieve your dreams. Having financial education means having more control over your life, making good choices and achieving your dreams.
Ultimately, having financial education is like holding a guiding light—it empowers you to navigate the world of money with clarity, control, and confidence. Whether it’s achieving your dreams or building a brighter future, the right financial tools can help you take charge of your life.
What makes Anora stand out from all the other 2024 releases (at least the ones I’ve seen) is that writer/director Sean Baker has immense respect for the audience, allowing them to go on a wild, uncensored ride with no restrictions whatsoever. This bravery shows that Baker truly wants the audience to feel like they aren’t watching a movie but experiencing a slice of life.
There were several instances during my viewing of Anora where I was blown away by how real everything seemed, no matter how absurd it was. For example, right after Ivan “Vanya” Zarkharov (Mark Eydelshteyn) abandons Ani (Mikey Madison) at their mansion with Garnik (Vache Tovmasyan) and Igor (Yuriy Borisov), Ani does everything she can to escape but is subdued by Igor. She screams, kicks, and bites yet cannot escape due to Igor’s firm grasp. Then, when Toros (Karren Karagulian) arrives, the situation escalates due to Ani’s fear and confusion. Seeing the three frustrated Russians scramble to subdue Ani while simultaneously expressing their disdain for Ivan was as entertaining as it was hilarious. From my perspective, it seemed as if the actors had an abundance of adrenaline while filming this sequence, which ultimately elevated it for me.
In fact, Anora would not be what it is without its stellar performances. Mikey Madison’s portrayal of Ani is one of, if not the best, performances I have seen in recent years. I know I have a tendency to commend good acting quite a bit, but Madison’s performance was far beyond anything I’ve seen recently. Her portrayal of Ani felt so effortless, as if some internal part of herself was actually Ani. Her innate sense of awareness in the role definitely earned her that Academy Award for Best Leading Actress.
Madison’s performance isn’t the only one that’s spectacular; in fact, I’d say every performance in this film felt genuine and authentic. While Yuriy Borisov deserved his nomination for Best Supporting Actor, I actually enjoyed Karren Karagulian’s performance as the frustrated Toros more. With Karagulian’s portrayal, I could tell how visibly determined he was to find Ivan, thanks to his mannerisms and the way he spoke to bystanders, as if they were inconveniencing him.
Writing and acting aside, the entertaining, visually appealing film has an ambiguous ending that left many (including myself) confused about its meaning in the grand scheme of the story. After some deep thinking, I feel as if I have a grasp—not a full interpretation, but a grasp—on the ambiguous ending. However, it requires some insight into what I believe to be the core theme of the film: control.
From start to finish, Anora is a film about control. Ani’s job as a sex worker is to let aroused men believe they are in control when, in reality, she is the one in control. She flirts with men daily, giving them lap dances, yet acts like she respects them when she does not. In fact, there’s a scene at the beginning of the film where Ani and her friend Lulu (Luna Sofia Miranda) discuss how disparaging some of the customers are due to their disgusting requests. This quick discussion, held during a smoke break, perfectly illustrates how some men view sex workers merely as objects for their pleasure rather than as actual human beings.
Once Ani meets Ivan, she leads him to believe he is in control, but that changes when Ivan unexpectedly proposes to her in Las Vegas, and the two get married. As Ivan’s wife, Ani loses the control she had over him but gains a big mansion and all the money she could ever want to compensate for that. It’s unclear whether Ani loves Ivan for who he is or for his money. Ivan was most definitely a toxic partner through and through, yet I feel Ani genuinely loved him for who he was because he was likely the first man (in a long while) to pretend to genuinely care for her. Perhaps Ani’s naivety prevented her from seeing Ivan’s true colors right away, or perhaps she was blinded by greed; I’m not too sure.
When Ivan abandons Ani, she is then controlled by Garnik, Igor, and Toros. She puts up a big fight but eventually succumbs to Toros’ agreement to find Ivan and annul the marriage. While searching for Ivan, Ani is still controlled by the three but has more freedom.
When they eventually find Ivan, she tries to control him, but her efforts are thwarted by Diamond’s (Lindsey Normington) repeated insults and battering. Ani then attacks Diamond with rage and frustration at the entire day’s events, all directed at Diamond. Her fight with Diamond is when she realizes she has lost control of her life and that her life will likely never be the same again.
After that, she meets Ivan’s mother (Darya Ekamasova), where she tries to regain control of her life with Ivan, only to find out that Ivan was, in fact, using her as a means of rebelling against his parents and not because he cared about her. Because of this, Ani refuses to board the airplane and threatens to sue the Zakharov family for the emotional distress they caused her, but Ivan’s mother coldly retorts, telling her she would lose everyone and everything she cared about if she did that. As Ani’s last attempt at control fails, she sits on the airplane, overhears Ivan’s parents berating him, and then joins in, but it seemingly goes nowhere.
After the divorce is official, Ani is finally free of control. She tells Ivan’s mother Ivan’s true feelings about him, leaving in a blaze of glory as Ivan’s father laughs, much to the chagrin of his family.
Yet, Ani’s story doesn’t end there. Instead, she spends time with Igor, who has been nothing but kind to her, yet Ani is too distracted by the chaotic events to acknowledge him. As the two smoke and recall the events of the past few days, Ani questions Igor about his control, to which Igor tells her he would not lose control and that all he was trying to do was keep Ani under control but struggled due to Ani’s lack of control.
The next day, Igor drives Ani home and gives her the wedding ring Ivan had purchased for her. This leads Ani to initiate sex with him but then stops when he tries to kiss her, leading her to sob in his arms.
So, with Ani’s control of her life constantly shifting throughout the film, what does the ending mean?
I believe the ending depicts someone who has shielded themselves from love for so long, only to be heartbroken when true love did not work out because they were used as a means of rebellion. After Igor attempts to kiss Ani, she rejects it, possibly reminded of the weight of her experience. She feels exhausted, humiliated, and abandoned. She finally lets out her true feelings, allowing herself to regain control of her life after what seemed like an eternity.
Undeniably, Anora stands as the greatest film of 2024, deserving every bit of its flawless five-star rating.
Osgood Perkins’ The Monkey is the cinematic equivalent of a Jello Salad—a dish that looks good and might even taste good, yet defies its own category as one of the least salad-like “salads” out there. Much like how the original creator of the Jello Salad, Mrs. John E. Cook, likely intended it as a treat rather than a true salad, Perkins seems to have approached his 2025 horror-comedy with a similar mindset. The Monkey isn’t simply a horror film; it’s a gleeful, absurd, and oddly satisfying treat masquerading as something far more sinister.
Based on a Stephen King short story, The Monkey centers on a wind-up toy monkey with a liking for murder—an incredibly bizarre premise. One may assume that adapting such material would result in a straightforward horror film, but that is not the case. Like the multifaceted chaos of a Jello Salad, The Monkey leans into humor, balancing its darker elements with an unapologetically comical tone.
Unlike Perkins’ previous film, Longlegs—a gritty, brooding crime-horror reminiscent of The Silence of the Lambs—The Monkey opts for a lighter approach. Perkins injects playful absurdity into the story, using the toy monkey as a vehicle to lampoon the genre’s conventions. The closest cinematic comparison may be Five Nights at Freddy’s, but where Freddy’s stumbles into absurdity, The Monkey fully embraces it, crafting a film that’s pun intended, bananas.
The comedy’s lack of subtlety works surprisingly well, with outrageous gore amplifying the absurdity of death itself. The creative kills are so over-the-top that they become comedic highlights. However, where the film falters is in its emotional depth. The first act establishes a heartfelt bond between identical twin brothers, Hal and Billy (Christian Convery) and their mother (Tatiana Maslany), as well as a strained sibling relationship. Sadly, this emotional groundwork doesn’t carry through the film’s following acts.
Another area that feels underdeveloped is the antagonist’s motivation. Without giving away spoilers, the solution to their motive feels overly simplistic, leaving room for deeper exploration. Similarly, the dialogue occasionally comes across as too “on-the-nose.” While this may have been intentional, it detracts from the otherwise clever tone of the film.Despite these shortcomings, The Monkey is a refreshingly self-aware blend of horror and comedy. Its commitment to shock value and absurdity makes for an engaging and unique viewing experience. With strong performances, creative writing, and a clear sense of its own identity, The Monkey delivers a delightfully unhinged ride. In conclusion, this film is as bananas as its premise suggests, earning a respectable three and a half out of five stars.
