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a group of six to eight Palestinian men confronted him and his friend during their walk around New York City on Thursday night.

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- It was just 10 hours after John Kriesel had learned he won Minnesota House Seat 57A; he stood in front of a barrage of cameras and reporters in room 125 of the State Capitol. "Well, compromise is what keeps me from having to sleep on the couch every night," the newly elected Republican from Cottage Grove said when asked about the state's budget. And that was the beginning of his political career. "Whether you're a Democrat or a Republican, he makes us a better body," House Minority leader Kurt Zellers of Maple Grove remarked.

The Pentagon is moving closer to paying 2,500 Minnesota National Guard soldiers who are still owed bonuses after a long deployment to Iraq several years ago. The U.S. Army has officially closed a loophole that delayed payments of about $10 million to the soldiers in Minnesota's "Red Bull" 34th Infantry Brigade. The soldiers began a 22-month deployment in 2005 that kept them in Iraq for 16 months. It became the longest deployment of any infantry unit since World War II.

More than 2,500 Minnesota National Guard soldiers who are owed a total of $10 million in overtime pay for their deployment in Iraq three years ago are still being told that the check's in the mail. Now members of the Minnesota congressional delegation are pressing the Pentagon to make good on the long-overdue checks to the state's famed 34th ("Red Bull") Infantry Division, which served in Iraq longer than any other U.S. military unit. Confronting Defense Secretary Robert Gates in an Armed Services Committee hearing Wednesday, Rep. John Kline, R-Minn., thundered: "My question is when can these soldiers expect to...

Three years after returning from Iraq, Minnesota soldiers are still waiting for bonus pay promised to them by the government. The money is caught in a bureaucratic mess. In 2005, 2,500 Minnesota Army National Guard soldiers deployed to Iraq. It became the longest deployment of any infantry unit since World War II. In 2007, after 22 months on active duty and 16 months in Iraq, the "Red Bull" 34th Infantry Brigade returned home with a promise from the federal government. They would receive bonus pay for their long service. Col. Bill Lieder with the Minnesota National Guard said, "It's really...

Talk about timing. More than 1,000 members of the Minnesota Army National Guard's 34th Red Bull Infantry Division will begin returning to Minnesota, with four separate groups scheduled to arrive about 5 p.m. Sunday. Um, anything else happening around that time? The soldiers will be bused to armories in Rosemount, Inver Grove Heights and Stillwater. With any luck, TVs will be nearby. Since May, the 34th Infantry Division provided command and control of military forces in the southern third of Iraq. Operating out of a base near Basra, the soldiers led a force of approximately 14,000 U.S. service members throughout...

After eight months in Iraq, the Red Bulls are coming home. Known as the Red Bulls, the 34th Infantry Division is an Army National Guard Division located in Rosemount, Minnesota. Some of the soldiers with the 34th are back on U.S. soil. They're in Fort Lewis, Washington where they will go through medical and administrative processing. The exact dates of the the troops' return to Minnesota haven't been set yet. During their deployment, the Red Bulls provided command and control of military forces in the southern third of Iraq.

After nearly a year away from their families, 1,200 members of the Minnesota National Guard will soon be coming home from Iraq. The 34th Infantry Division, known as the Red Bulls, won't be home for the holidays, but they will arrive not long after the new year. The first wave of men and women will start coming home next month. By the end of February, they should all be home. Theresa Nace is counting the days. Her husband Specialist Timothy Nace, is one of the guardsmen returning home. She said, "It's very helpful knowing that once 2010 comes then we're...

Some of the 2,600 Minnesota National Guard members who spent 16 months in Iraq say their tour of duty made them shorter, at least temporarily, and doctors say that's because the 60 to 90 pounds of gear they carried likely caused their spinal discs to compress. Brian Hesse, 25, of Minnetonka, believes he lost about an inch after toting heavy body armor and gear on convoy and security missions. His armor alone weighed over 30 pounds. He also wore a 4-pound helmet, and carried a 7.5-pound loaded M-4 rifle, and 10 pounds of extra ammunition and other necessities. "I shrunk,"...

The Army has resolved the eligibility of more than 600 Minnesota National Guard soldiers for full education benefits through the Army Board for Correction of Military Records. To date, 930 of the 1,162 soldiers affected have applied to have their eligibility adjusted or declined the benefits. So far, 616 have been approved, and the pending ones are expected to be as well, Capt. Allan Hetteen, education officer for the Minnesota National Guard, said in a telephone interview Friday. He added that none have been turned down to date, and that very few have declined their benefits, although he didn't have...

David Ward said his daughter told him that while the picture was meant to be private, her unit is happy their message is getting across. "When they saw and heard what Kerry said, they were just furious and they were sitting around and one thing led to another," he said. The elder Ward said he completely approves of his daughter's message. Kerry is a preening peacock and the best way to respond to him is with humor," he said. Ward said his daughter was particularly incensed by Kerry's comments because her résumé is nothing like the "stuck" soldier the senator...

Lord, Keep our Troops forever in Your care Give them victory over the enemy... Grant them a safe and swift return... Bless those who mourn the lost. . FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer for all those serving their country at this time. ...................................................................................... ........................................... U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues Where Duty, Honor and Countryare acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated. Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. Welcome to "Warrior Wednesday" Where the Freeper Foxhole introduces a different...