Coach faces child porn charges; Massive BWCA cell tower on again; Prison costs up

MSU Football Coach Hoffner faces criminal child pornography charges, internal MSU investigation (Mankato Free Press).

Minnesota hits 200 traffic deaths this year (Alexandria Echo Press).

Fairmont considers restrictions on chickens, other animals

Fairmont Sentinel: "The council originally was going to determine if chickens are suitable household pets, but after further study of City Code, city staff has decided much of the ordinance that pertains to animals needs clarification."

Cellphone tower near BWCA will be allowed

"A 450-foot cellphone tower with flashing lights that would be seen from parts of the Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness will be allowed to go forward, after the Supreme Court denied a request to hear the case," (AP).

2 General Mills websites accused of collecting kids' data

"A coalition of nearly 20 children's advocacy, health and public interest groups plans to file complaints with the Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday, asserting that some online marketing to children by General Mills Inc," (Star Tribune).

Study: Minn. prison terms lengthening, costs rising

"The average prison term for all crimes committed by Minnesota offenders has grown by 38 percent in the past two decades, the 11th largest increase of all states surveyed, costing state taxpayers an additional $93 million, according to a recent report from the Pew Center on the States," (KSTP).

Never the same: Five years later, displaced residents remember the flood

"Powerful floodwaters in 2007 destroyed the Minnesota City bridge, damaged more than 300 homes in Goodview, left 3 to 4 feet of mud on roads, and raised Goodview Lake as much as 15 feet above normal," (Winona Daily News).

Report warns of wasting infrastructure, more than 1/3rd MN sewer systems at breaking point

"Minnesota 2020 says all over the state, aging sewage systems have reached a breaking point. The Saint Paul based public policy think tank says one-third of sewer systems around Minnesota are more than 50 years old, with an average life span of a system around 40 years," (KARE11).

SCSU teams up with Minnesota business to grow, study algae

"In the basement of Brown Hall at St. Cloud State University, specially-designed water tanks are used to grow algae. It's part of a research project for a southeastern Minnesota company that builds the algae-growing technology," (St Cloud Times).

Biden tries to kick-start Minn. Democrats

"Biden criticized Romney for not releasing a full slate of tax returns, for owning a private investment firm that Biden alleges invested in companies that shifted jobs from the U.S. to foreign countries and for backing tax cuts for America's top earners," (MPR News). In Rochester, Biden "said Democrats often complain that they don't have a short, catchy phrase summing up the campaign that fits on a bumper sticker. Biden offered his own suggestion: 'Osama bin Laden is dead and General Motors is alive,'" (Rochester Post-Bulletin). In Minneapolis, "Biden told a crowd of about 1,500 people: 'Folks, the middle class has started to come back. They have been ravaged,'" (Star Tribune).

"Minnesota delegates to back Ron Paul at Republican National Convention

Delegation chair Marianne Stebbins says state's delegates are 'overwhelmingly Ron Paul supporters" and that she "doesn't think Mitt Romney is a strong candidate,' (Patch).

Affection for Dylan surmounts generations

"As hundreds of people filed into Mayo Civic Center on a pleasant Minnesota evening, Plymouth resident Dennis Norton, 66, recalled his first Bob Dylan concert," (Rochester Post Bulletin).

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