MN News

BOY STARVED-MINNESOTA        Allegedly starved Minn. boy to stay in foster care        ST. PETER, Minn. (AP) – A judge says an 8-year-old boy who was allegedly starved by a Minnesota couple will remain in foster care for now.        But Nicollet County District Judge Todd Westphal ruled last Thursday that the boy’s three siblings will remain with their parents, Russell and Mona Hauer.        The Hauers, of North Mankato, are charged with neglect and malicious punishment of a child. Authorities said they put an alarm on the 8-year-old boy’s door so he would not steal food.        The Hauers’ attorney has said the couple will fight the charges and to keep all four children, including the 8-year-old.        The judge did grant Nicollet County’s request to allow the 8-year-old to enroll in public school in Hastings.        A trial on whether to terminate the Hauers’ parental rights is scheduled for January.

ASIAN CARP-STATES’ LAWSUIT        Judge to toss Asian carp suit if it’s not changed        CHICAGO (AP) – A federal judge in Chicago is threatening to permanently dismiss a lawsuit filed by five Great Lake states over threats posed by Asian carp.        U.S. District Judge John Tharp issued an order Monday dismissing the claims, but he says they can amend the lawsuit. He gave attorneys general from Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio and Pennsylvania until Jan. 11 to file amended claims against the Army Corps of Engineers.        The lawsuit sought an order requiring the corps and Chicago’s Metropolitan Water Reclamation District to create a physical barrier in waterways that connect Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River watershed to help prevent the invasive Asian carp from getting into the Great Lakes.        The judge says the action demanded by plaintiffs is outside the corps’ authority.

ROCHESTER CRASH LANDING        3 injured in crash landing of small plane        (Information in the following story is from: Post-Bulletin, http://www.postbulletin.com)        ROCHESTER, Minn. (AP) – A four-passenger airplane had a rough landing returning to Minnesota from the Vikings-Packers game in Wisconsin.        The pilot missed the runway while landing in heavy fog at the Rochester airport Sunday evening. Rochester fire officials say the plane bounced and flipped end-over-end in a field before coming to rest on its top.        The Olmsted County sheriff’s office identifies the pilot as 23-year-old Scott Lebovitz of Owatonna. The Post-Bulletin says Lebovitz was not hurt.        Three passengers – 36-year-old Daniel Cronk, 38-year-old Alan De Keyrel and a 9-year-old boy, all from Byron – were taken to a hospital with bumps and bruises.        The pilot was able to call 911 for help. The plane left Austin Straubel Field near Green Bay, Wis., before the crash.        The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating.

WANTED MAN-FBI        FBI searching for man who fired at Idaho trooper        SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) – The FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office is searching for a man suspected of firing at an Idaho State Police trooper during a chase early Saturday and later kidnapping a woman who was dropped off unharmed in eastern Montana.        The Kootenai County sheriff’s department in Idaho obtained a $1 million warrant for the arrest of 57-year-old Mitchell Lee Walck on a kidnapping charge after investigators say the 62-year-old woman he reportedly kidnapped was released unharmed in Glendive, Mont.        Walck was last seen driving the woman’s 2005 silver Subaru Forester with Idaho license plate K230050.        The FBI says Walck may be traveling through North Dakota, South Dakota or Minnesota.        Walck is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information is asked to call law enforcement.

SISTERS KILLED        Defense wants to suppress Schaffhausen statements        (Information in the following story is from: Star Tribune, http://www.startribune.com)        HUDSON, Wis. (AP) – Defense attorneys want to suppress statements made by the father accused of killing his three young daughters at their western Wisconsin home.        Aaron Schaffhausen was back in St. Croix (kroy) County Circuit Court Monday. The defense is trying to suppress Schaffhausen’s statements in the case, based on Miranda warning questions and the voluntary nature of anything said or indicated after he turned himself in.        The 35-year-old carpenter from Minot, N.D., is accused of killing 5-year-old Cecilia, 8-year-old Sophie and 11-year-old Amara Schaffhausen at their home in River Falls last July during a visit with his daughters.        The Star Tribune reports Schaffhausen, clad in orange jail garb, sat quietly through the hearing, whispering a couple times with a defense investigator while his attorney questioned witnesses.

SAINTS-BOUNTIES HEARINGS        Vilma’s testimony ends latest bounty hearings        NEW ORLEANS (AP) – The latest round of appeal hearings in the NFL’s bounty investigation have concluded with appearances by former Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress, Saints assistant head coach Joe Vitt and linebacker Jonathan Vilma.        Vilma says his appearance went well but declined further comment citing a request for confidentiality by former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, who has been appointed to oversee the proceedings.        A person familiar with the situation says Tagliabue expects to rule by early next week, meaning Vilma and Saints defensive end Will Smith expect to play Sunday against the New York Giants. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of Tagliabue’s directive.        Smith, suspended four games, and Vilma, suspended for the entire current season, are playing while their appeals are pending.

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