MN News

LATE SEASON STORM        NWS confirms two weak tornados in Sat. night storms        (Information in the following story is from: Star Tribune, http://www.startribune.com)        MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Officials with the National Weather Service say two weak tornadoes touched down late Saturday on the south edge of the Twin Cities’ metropolitan region.        Meteorologist Chris Franks tells the Star Tribune the tornados were of the weakest that officials rank, with top winds of about 80 miles per hour.        No injuries were reported. The high winds from Saturday’s late-season storm knocked out power to 12,000 customers at one point. Xcel Energy says only 1,000 were still without power by Sunday afternoon and it was expected to be fully restored by Sunday night.        West St. Paul and Mendota Heights were among the hardest hit, with numerous down trees and reports of structural damage. A senior living center in Lilydale sustained damage.        The storm came after Saturday’s record-breaking temperature of 69 degrees.

FLOOD RELIEF-GRANT        Cargill Foundation gives $500,000 to flood victims        (Information in the following story is from: Duluth News Tribune, http://www.duluthsuperior.com)        DULUTH, Minn. (AP) – Community leaders in Duluth are announcing a $500,000 grant to help those still recovering from June flash floods that damaged 1,700 homes.        The Duluth News Tribune reports the grant announced Sunday is from the Margaret Cargill Foundation of Eden Prairie. It’s the largest single outside donation to help recovery efforts in the region.        The Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation says the money will go toward three areas.        Among them, it will help support disaster case managers for Lutheran Social Services, who act as advocates to help clients get their homes back to pre-flood condition. It will also help rebuild nonprofits affected by the floods.        Community Foundation president Holly Sampson says the grant will help recovery efforts surge forward. She says critical work remains, especially as winter approaches.

FIVE SHOT-SOUTHERN MINNESOTA        5 shot, injured at southern Minn. events center        (Information in the following story is from: Post-Bulletin, http://www.postbulletin.com)        AUSTIN, Minn. (AP) – Five people were injured – including two critically – after shots were fired in the parking lot of a southern Minnesota events center.        The shooting happened early Sunday at the Lansing Corners supper club, a one-time diner near Austin, Minnesota that is now an events center. The shooting happened after a hip-hop event.        The names of the injured were not immediately released. Officials say a Rochester resident and a Sioux Falls, South Dakota resident were critically hurt with gunshot wounds to the chest.        Investigators are trying to figure out what happened. So far, witnesses and victims are not cooperating, or are claiming they didn’t see anything. There have been no arrests.

RED RIVER SEARCH        Vehicle found in Red River at Fargo        FARGO, N.D. (AP) – Authorities in Fargo and neighboring Moorhead, Minnesota searched the Red River Sunday morning for possible occupants of a vehicle found submerged in water.        The Fargo Fire Department responded to a report of a vehicle in the Red River at about 7:30 a.m. Sunday.        Firefighters in dry suits to entered the water and checked the vehicle but did not find anyone inside.        Authorities say firefighters and police also checked along the riverbanks downstream of the vehicle but did not find anyone.        DOUBLE FATAL-ALVWOOD        Grand Rapids residents die in northern Minn. crash        ALVWOOD, Minn. (AP) – The Minnesota State Patrol says two people have died in a crash in northern Minnesota.        Authorities say a car ran off the road on Minnesota 46 near Alvwood, which is northwest of Bemidji (behm-IHD’-jee), just before midnight Saturday. The vehicle rolled when it left the road.        Fifty-six-year-old Donald Wilson and 54-year-old Joy Wilson, both of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, died in the crash. The State Patrol says neither was wearing a seatbelt.        Authorities say the road was wet at the time.

DULUTH-METHADONE CLINIC        Agency gave Duluth methadone clinic high marks        (Information in the following story is from: Duluth News Tribune, http://www.duluthsuperior.com)        DULUTH, Minn. (AP) – Three months before the state recommended a methadone clinic in Duluth be shut down, the agency that accredits the clinic gave it high marks.        The Duluth News Tribune reported Sunday that the nonprofit Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities found during its inspection that the Lake Superior Treatment Center met or exceeded standards for methadone clinics in many areas.        But investigators with the Minnesota Department of Human Services found 56 standards violations during an August inspection.        Department of Human Services inspector general Jerry Kerber says some of the “strengths” listed by the accreditation agency are inconsistent with the state’s findings.        A spokesman for CARF declined to comment to the Duluth News Tribune. The office was closed Sunday and a message left by The Associated Press was not immediately returned.

TIMBERWOLVES-BUDINGER INJURED        T-Wolves swingman Budinger has torn left meniscus        MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Minnesota Timberwolves swingman Chas Budinger will be out indefinitely with a torn meniscus in his left knee.        The Timberwolves made the announcement Sunday night, one day after Budinger was injured in a game against the Chicago Bulls.        The Wolves say he will need surgery, which will be scheduled later this week. No timetable for his return will be set until afterward but the typical recovery time for such an injury is around two months, unless surgery reveals more damage.        Budinger was averaging 11.8 points and 3.5 rebounds this season.        It’s yet another significant injury for Minnesota. All-Star forward Kevin Love will miss the first month of the season with a broken right hand and guard Ricky Rubio won’t return from a torn left ACL until at least December.        The Wolves are also playing without J.J. Barea (foot sprain) and Brandon Roy (sore right knee).

Admin Log In