MN News

MINNESOTA WILDFIRE        Fire continues burning near Red Lake        (Information in the following story is from: Minnesota Public Radio News, http://www.mpr.org)        RED LAKE, Minn. (AP) – Fire management officials say a wildfire continues to burn near Red Lake in northern Minnesota.        The North Minnie fire has burned more than 38 square miles.        The fire is the largest of several burning in northwestern Minnesota. It threatens private land, timber resources, a major power line and a few private hunting cabins in Beltrami Island State Forest.        Fire information officer Gill Knight tells Minnesota Public Radio News the North Minnie fire is 30 percent contained.        Knight says 150 people are working on the fire.        Firefighters have a fire near Karlstad that forced an evacuation of hundreds of people last week about 90 percent contained. The Viking fire, named for the nearby town of Viking, is 80 percent contained.

MENINGITIS OUTBREAK-MINNESOTA        3 Minn. women linked to meningitis outbreak        ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Minnesota health officials now confirm three cases of a rare fungal meningitis linked to a steroid commonly used to ease back pain.        State Health Department spokesman Buddy Ferguson says like the previous two cases, the latest case in Minnesota is a woman in her 40s. In all three cases, the women received injectable steroids from a compounding pharmacy in Massachusetts.        Ferguson says the third woman is hospitalized and is being treated with antibiotic and antifungal drugs.        The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there are now more than 90 confirmed cases in nine states. The death toll Sunday stood at 7.        Minnesota officials say they believe about 950 Minnesota patients were treated with the implicated steroid products. They hope to finish contacting all of the patients by Sunday evening.

SOLDIERS HONORED        ND Guard soldiers who served in Kuwait honored        WAHPETON, N.D. (AP) – North Dakota National Guard soldiers who served a year in the Middle East were honored Sunday.        The Guard held a “Freedom Salute” Sunday afternoon for the 160 members of the 188th Engineer Company. The unit is based in Wahpeton and Oakes in southeastern North Dakota. The soldiers arrived home last August after a year of duty in Kuwait.        The soldiers are from nearly 70 communities across North Dakota and into Minnesota. They did about 160 construction projects during their time on active duty, doing work valued at more than $2.2 million.        A number of North Dakota dignitaries attended Sunday’s ceremony, including U.S. Senator John Hoeven, Governor Jack Dalrymple (DAHL’-rimp-ul) and Congressman Rick Berg. Guard commander David Sprynczynatyk (SPRIN’-suh-NAH’-tik) also attended.

FATAL OVERPASS FALL        Woman dies in fall from Moorhead overpass        (Information in the following story is from: The Forum, http://www.in-forum.com)        MOORHEAD, Minn. (AP) – Authorities have released the name of a Moorhead, Minnesota woman who died after she fell from an overpass onto Interstate 94 and was struck by at least one vehicle.        She is identified as 55-year-old Kristi Garden.        The Minnesota State Patrol says it appears Garden may have jumped from the overpass in south Moorhead onto the westbound lanes of I-94. She was struck by a sport utility vehicle driven by a 25-year-old Fargo, North Dakota man.        The incident happened about 8:10 p.m. Saturday, shortly after authorities received reports of a woman running in and out of traffic on 34th Street South near I-94.        The Forum newspaper reports the westbound lanes of I-94 were closed temporarily Saturday evening and traffic rerouted.

RICHFIELD SHOOTING        Authorities ID Minn. man fatally shot by police        RICHFIELD, Minn. (AP) – Authorities have released the name of a Richfield man who was shot and killed by a police officer.        The Hennepin County medical examiner’s office says 25-year-old Jeffrey O’Connor died of multiple gunshot wounds.        Officers were called to a Richfield home about 9 a.m. Friday on a report of an emotionally disturbed man and a potential hostage situation.        Investigators say an officer shot and killed a man who was wielding a knife. The officer involved in the shooting was not hurt.        Richfield police expect to release more information Monday.

CONGRESS-2ND DISTRICT        GOP’s Kline faces tougher race in Minn.’s 2nd        WEST ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Republican John Kline is campaigning harder after a new political map removed GOP areas and added Democratic territory to his suburban Twin Cities district.        The House Education Committee chairman faces a challenge from Democrat Mike Obermueller (OH’-bur-muhl-uhr), a former state lawmaker.        Both candidates will start airing TV ads Tuesday as the race shifts into the final weeks.        They are paying extra attention to the district’s new areas, including West St. Paul, South St. Paul, Mendota Heights and Wabasha.        Kline is seen as a potential candidate for Senate or governor in 2014. He says he is running “flat out” for a sixth term and declined to comment on his future beyond November 6th.        Obermueller says he will run again in the 2nd District in 2014, win or lose this year.

TWIN CITIES MARATHON        Kenyan, American win Twin Cities Marathon        (Information in the following story is from: Star Tribune, http://www.startribune.com)        ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Christopher Kipyego of Kenya has won the Twin Cities Marathon.        Kipyego finished Sunday’s race with an unofficial time of 2 hours, 14 minutes and 55 seconds.        Jeannette Faber of Portland, Oregon won the women’s race with an unofficial time of 2:32:38, a personal record.        The Star Tribune reports the times were well off course records, as the elite fields set slow paces in the early-morning cold.        In Sunday’s USA 10-mile championship, Mo Trafeh and Janet Bawcom repeated as the men’s and women’s champions. Trafeh won in 46:56, 23 seconds faster than Ben True of Portland, Maine. Bawcom won in a time of 53:43, with Duluth native Kara Goucher finishing second in 53:56.

 

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