Counties leery of juvenile detention facility; Senate eases shutdown pain; Fighting fire in drag

Counties still leery of juvenile detention facility

Fairmont Sentinel: "Martin and Faribault counties are talking with the Youth Services International facility in Elmore, but local youth will not be housed there until further notice. YSI Academy houses at-risk youths ages 13-19, and had been the holding facility for local juveniles finding themselves in trouble with the law. But recently there have been reports of non-violent offenders, such as runaways or truancies, being housed with students from Ramsey County who have been sent to Elmore for violent crimes."

Boat dealers happy with unseasonal temps

WPR: "The unseasonably warm weather has been a boon for lakeside communities. Boat retailers are reporting a double-digit increase in sales."

Senate votes to keep parks and lottery running during shutdown

MPR News: "Republicans in the Minnesota Senate passed two bills Thursday that are aimed at easing the impact of future state government shutdowns.One measure would keep state parks open, while the other would make sure the State Lottery and horse racing tracks continue operating."

Feds critical of how Minnesota polices haze over parks

Star Tribune: "They say Minnesota's rules don't go far enough to reduce pollution-related haze over areas such as the BWCA and Voyageurs."

Loyal customer protests Kmart closing

New Ulm Journal: "Braving light rain and cool temperatures, an elderly New Ulm resident spent the day outside Thursday, protesting the pending closure of New Ulm's Kmart across the street from the store with home-made signs."

DNR, tribe reach deal on walleye spearing limit

JSOnline: "The state and the Lac du Flambeau band of Lake Superior Chippewa have reached a deal that keeps a three-walleye daily bag limit on most lakes where tribal members exercise their treaty rights to spear fish."

Hotelier Jim Graves considering run against Bachmann

Political Animal: "Graves lives in Minneapolis, but touted his St. Cloud roots. Born and raised there, he attended St. Paul's Elementary School, graduated from Cathedral High School and received a bachelor's degree at St. Could State University. He started his career as a sixth grade teacher at Holy Spirit Elementary."

Minnesotans are driving less, MnDOT says

MinnPost: "In what might be viewed as the silver lining to the economic black cloud, Minnesotans apparently are driving less."

Once-obscure wine regions: Minnesota

Napa Valley Register: "The remarkably cold winters in northern U.S. states would kill most French varieties, so in the last 20 years, special French-American hybrid varieties have been developed that, though a bit unusual at first taste, can make appealing wines."

The Brick offers refunds after first show

Star Tribune: "Concertgoers said sightlines, security and other logistics wrecked the Brick's opening."

Rain dampens concerns for fast spreading wildfire

Brainerd Dispatch: "The Brainerd lakes area received about 1.61 inches of rain in Monday's downpour and has added to that total with .06 inches on Wednesday and .01 inches as of Thursday afternoon, the Department of Natural Resources reported."

Sedan firefighters combat car blaze on St. Patricks Day in drag

Minnesota waterfalls raging from recent snowmelt (with videos)

Duluth News Tribune: "Can't make it up the North Shore this month to see the waterfalls running high from melting snow? Then check out these videos, shot earlier this week, of the show being staged by the rivers at three state parks: Gooseberry Falls, Tettegouche and Judge C.R. Magney."

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Highway 94 in Collegeville, MN By speedreed66

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