🌱 Patch AM: How a Woodbury couple’s visa business ended up in court

Hi Woodbury! We have the latest buzz right here. Let's keep you in the loop and get this morning started right! ☕️️

Before we get to what's happening, a big thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Woodbury PatchAM possible. Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

• Woodbury Leadership Academy — (651) 571-2100
  Tuition-free, K-12 Public Charter School

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In today's newsletter:

• How a Woodbury couple’s visa business ended up in court
• Woodbury’s Logan Hensler chases World Junior gold practically in his backyard
• Which top-ranked Minnesota beer quietly poured at a Woodbury restaurant?

Today's riddle: What did one magnet say to the other magnet? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Clouds giving way to some sun, with a high of 33 and low of 21 degrees.
• Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, temps: high: 38, low: 26.
• Thursday: Drizzle; freezing early, with a high of 37 and low of 32 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• AG lawsuit: Woodbury couple lived lavish lifestyle off false pledges to land visas for clients' relatives (startribune.com) — State officials have filed a lawsuit accusing a Woodbury couple’s visa-assistance businesses of misleading clients seeking to reunite with family members abroad, and are asking a court to halt the operations and secure restitution. Minnesota’s attorney general says many customers paid thousands of dollars, sometimes surrendering passports, yet allegedly saw no visa applications filed, and is urging potential victims to contact his office, with Spanish-language help available.
   

• Hensler excited to help U.S. go for World Junior Championship 3-peat near Minnesota (nhl.com) — Woodbury native Logan Hensler is set to chase a third straight World Junior Championship gold with Team USA, playing just east of his hometown at Grand Casino Arena. The 19-year-old defenseman, now thriving at Wisconsin and as an Ottawa Senators prospect, says competing for his country in his home state is a rare and thrilling opportunity.
   

• Doin' Beers: The 5 Best Minnesota Beers of 2025 (racketmn.com) — A Minnesota beer writer’s top-five list for 2025 includes a Pryes Brewing fruit beer that recently showed up on tap at a restaurant in Woodbury, giving locals a chance to try a State Fair favorite close to home. The rest of the rankings highlight standout seasonal and specialty brews from around the state, with plenty of personality and tasting notes.
   

📸 Around Woodbury

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Woodbury

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday December 27

• Avatar: Fire and Ash
  Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Woodbury, 9060 Hudson Rd, Woodbury
  10:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Wednesday December 24

• It's Date Night! Bring someone to Swirl tonight!
  Swirl/ Afton House Inn , 3291 St. Croix Trail S. , Afton
  4:00 pm
• Central Park closing at 5 p.m.
  Woodbury, MN Calendar Woodbury, MN 55125
  5:00 pm

Thursday December 25

• Thursday at CURRENT is our Ribeye Special
  Current / Afton House Inn , 3291 St. Croix Trail S. , Afton
  4:00 pm
• CURRENT's Thursday Ribeye Special
  Current / Afton House Inn , 3291 St. Croix Trail S. , Afton
  4:00 pm
• The King's Speakers Toastmasters Club
  King of Kings Lutheran Church , 1583 Radio Drive , Woodbury
  7:00 pm

Friday December 26

• Crab legs Friday--Only $29.99!
  CURRENT/Afton House Inn , 3291 S. St. Croix Trail , Afton
  4:00 pm

Monday December 29

• Winter Offer
  Woodbury Area Chamber of Commerce , 700 Commerce Dr #245 , Woodbury

📣 Woodbury Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Tuesday December 23

• Morning Yoga
  Oakdale, MN Calendar , 4444 Hadley Avenue N , Oakdale
  9:30 am
• Blazing Needles
  Park Grove Library Park Grove Meeting Room,
  9:30 am
• Feeding Your Baby
  Wescott Library , Wescott Large Meeting Room , Cottage Grove
  10:00 am
• Community Resource Outreach Program (CROP)
  Rondo Community Outreach Library , 461 North Dale Street , Saint Paul
  10:00 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Positive Thinking!!!
  If you fail, never give up because F.A. I.L. means "First Attempt In Learning” End is not the end. In fact E. N.D. means "Effort Never Dies" If… (Nextdoor Preserve South)
• Wondering what other Woodbury folks are are doing for this problem:
  I have. 4.2 gallons humidifier and have been using regular tap water. Unfortunately, due to the extremely high levels of lime in our water, the lime… (Nextdoor Pendryn)

🗞 Nearby News

Cottage Grove

• Porter Bayer and Weston Johnson clinch it for Blaine Bengals against East Ridge Raptors - The Rink Live (therinklive.com)
• Minnesota Department of Public Safety Warns of Fire Risks with Christmas Trees; Advocates Sprinklers and Safe Practices (hoodline.com)

Lake Elmo

• Former Hudson teacher sentenced to 6 years in prison for child sex crimes (bringmethenews.com)
• Collective Health: How Women in Stillwater Are Supporting Local Nonprofits (womenspress.com)

St. Paul

Ok Woodbury! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I find you very attractive!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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