Disgraced Democratic state Rep. Kerry Gauthier escaped any action for his removal at the Republican-controlled Minnesota House as Friday's special session keyed in specifically on flood relief. GOP House Speaker Kurt Zellers called Gauthier's sexual encounter with a 17-year-old boy at a rest stop "egregious" and still called for the Duluth lawmaker's resignation. Gauthier skipped Friday's session.

An Andover lawmaker is questioning whether Duluth police broke the law by not providing public information during the investigation into Rep. Kerry Gauthier after he was involved in sexual conduct with a 17-year-old boy at a rest stop.

Minnesota Speaker of the House Kurt Zellers (R-Maple Grove) called Friday for the resignation of state Rep. Kerry Gauthier (D-Duluth) following the revelations of a sexual encounter last month between Gauthier and a 17-year-old boy. Authorities said Thursday that no charges would be filed in the incident, since the sex was consensual sex and no money was exchanged.

DFL State Rep. Kerry Gauthier was hospitalized with breathing difficulty last week, soon after acknowledging to police he'd had a sexual encounter with a 17-year-old boy at a highway rest stop near Duluth. Gauthier and the teen say the sex was consensual and the boy lied about his age. The St. Louis County attorney decided against prosecuting Gauthier, but a fellow DFLer has started a write-in campaign for his legislative seat.

Duluth City Council member Jay Fosle is looking to take state DFL Rep. Kerry Gauthier's place in the the state house. Fosle entered his name as a write-in DFL candidate after Republican leaders called for Gauthier's resignation after the rep's alleged sexual tryst with a 17-year-old boy at a rest stop. Gauthier is seeking his second term as a state representative in House District 7B in November's General Election.

Minnesota's Secretary of State Mark Ritchie told WCCO on Sunday that St. Louis County could delay statewide Election Day results more than previous elections. Ritchie said three write-in candidates looking to replace former state Rep. Kerry Gauthier will have to be hand counted. “We estimate that this may go to 1 a.m., 2 a.m., perhaps a little bit longer, in the morning,” he said.

A 17-year-old and a 15-year-old have been charged with murder in last week's shooting that claimed the life of Nizzel George in north Minneapolis. According to a criminal complaint, the 17-year-old told a witness that he fired at the house where the young boy was sleeping last Tuesday.

Law enforcement officials tell the Duluth News Tribune police are looking into an incident at the Thompson Hill rest area off Interstate 35 near Proctor last month involving state Rep. Kerry Gauthier. A State Patrol officer made contact with the DFLer from Duluth after a witness reported suspicious activity, but details aren't being released because it is "part of an active investigation and classified as criminal investigative data," State Patrol spokesman Lt. Eric Roeske said.