MN News
TEACHER-SEX CHARGES-MINNESOTA Police: 2nd Minn. teacher was investigation focus (Information in the following story is from: Star Tribune, http://www.startribune.com) FARIBAULT, Minn. (AP) – Police say a second teacher was investigated for alleged sexual misconduct with a student at a Minnesota prep school. Faribault (FAYR’-boh) Police Chief Don Gudmundson says his department looked into a case involving a former teacher and coach at Shattuck-St. Mary’s and a female exchange student in 2008. But the Star Tribune reports that case ended when the teacher committed suicide in his campus apartment. Shattuck-St. Mary’s says after receiving the allegation, it put in place a plan to remove the teacher from the school. But he committed suicide that evening. The details emerged the day after former drama teacher Lynn Seibel was charged with sexual misconduct involving six teenage boys at the school between 1999 and 2003. Seibel is being held in Los Angeles in an unrelated case.
FATAL FIRE-STUDENTS 2nd student dies after fire at Wis. apartment (Information in the following story is from: Leader-Telegram, http://www.leadertelegram.com/) EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (AP) – A second student has died after fire swept an off-campus apartment near the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. A spokeswoman for Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis says 21-year-old Jacob Clarkson died Tuesday. Clarkson’s family issued a statement saying they will “miss him more than words can say.” Family members say they are honoring Clarkson’s decision to be an organ donor. The Leader-Telegram reports Clarkston was severely burned in Monday’s fire that also killed his roommate, 21-year-old Ross Livermore. Two other roommates escaped the fire and have been released from a local hospital. All of the roommates were friends from Stillwater, Minn.
BEST BUY-CFO Best Buy CFO to leave, retailer looks for new one MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Best Buy says its chief financial officer is leaving, the latest executive departure for the struggling electronics chain. The news comes as Best Buy’s founder and former chairman Richard Schulze mulls an offer for the company, which is attempting to improve results amid tough competition. Best Buy says it is seeking a new chief financial officer to replace James Muehlbauer. Muehlbauer, who joined Best Buy in 2002, became interim CFO in 2007 and was named to the post permanently the next year. He will continue to advise the company until the end of the 2013 fiscal year. Minneapolis-based Best Buy named a new CEO, turnaround expert Hubert Joly, in late August after former CEO Brian Dunn left in April.
CROP REPORT-MINNESOTA Minn. corn, soybean harvests outpace 2011 ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Minnesota’s corn and soybean harvests are advancing well ahead of last year’s pace as well as the five-year averages. In its weekly crop progress report, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Tuesday that 95 percent of Minnesota’s soybean crop was harvested by Sunday, compared with 69 percent last year and a 55 percent average. The corn harvest was 78 percent complete, compared with 16 percent last year and an 11 percent average. Minnesota’s sugarbeet and sunflower harvests are also running ahead of their averages, while the dry bean and potato harvests are nearly complete. While northwestern Minnesota saw its first significant snow of the season last week, most areas remain dry. Topsoil moisture supplies are little changed at 45 percent very short, 41 percent short and 14 percent adequate.
CRIME LAB TROUBLES Dropped drug charged linked to St. Paul crime lab (Information in the following story is from: Minnesota Public Radio News, http://www.mpr.org) ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Prosecutors have dismissed a drug charge against a St. Paul woman after a re-test by the state crime lab found it was not illegal drugs. The troubled St. Paul police crime lab initially tested the evidence and found it was methamphetamine. After the lab shut down drug testing, the evidence was submitted to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for re-testing. Minnesota Public Radio News reports that out of the 97 cases re-tested by the BCA lab, this is the first that found a serious problem with the St. Paul lab’s findings. The Ramsey County Attorney’s office dismissed the charge Sept. 27. The St. Paul lab suspended drug testing in July after employees said they did not follow any written procedures. An independent review of the lab is under way.
FREE SCHOOL SUPPLIES Twin Cities free school supplies center reopens (Information in the following story is from: Minnesota Public Radio News, http://www.mpr.org) ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – A foundation that offers free school supplies to needy students in Minneapolis and St. Paul is reopening its distribution center after being closed for a year. The Kids in Need Foundation closed its Twin Cities Resource Center last year after one of its partners, which provided staffing and space, pulled out. Minnesota Public Radio News reports the center will provide about 3,000 teachers with free school supplies starting next week. Teachers can pick up the supplies if they’re at a school where 70 percent of the student body qualifies for free or reduced lunch. That covers about 40,000 students in 90 schools in St. Paul and Minneapolis. Kids in Need Foundation executive director Dave Smith says teachers are often the ones who pay for supplies for needy students.