MN News

WINTER WEATHER-INTERSTATE CLOSED        MnDOT closes Interstate 94 in western Minnesota        DETROIT LAKES, Minn. (AP) – The Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Minnesota State Patrol have closed highways in western Minnesota due to hazardous road conditions.        Interstate 94 from Moorhead on the North Dakota state line to Alexandria was closed Sunday evening.        Highway 10 from Moorhead to Audubon and Highway 210 from Breckenridge to Fergus Falls were also closed Sunday due to near-zero visibility.        The highways will remain closed until further notice. Motorists are advised not to travel until conditions improve.        It is illegal to travel on roads that are closed. Motorists can be fined up to $1,000 and sentenced to 90 days in jail if caught driving on a closed road. Travelers will also have to pay expenses if they need to be rescued from a closed road.

WINTER WEATHER        No travel advised in western Minnesota due to snow        MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Heavy, blowing snow is causing problems in western Minnesota.        The Minnesota Department of Transportation is advising no travel in west-central Minnesota. The no travel advisory includes Becker, Big Stone, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Mahnomen, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Swift, Traverse and Wilkin counties.        The Minnesota State Patrol says troopers handled 239 crashes and 398 vehicles off the road during the day Sunday. There were no serious injuries or fatalities.        Some parts of northern Minnesota were expected to see up to a foot of snow. Visibility in Duluth was less than a block at one point. Police in St. Cloud were advising no unnecessary travel. Some areas will be under a blizzard warning Sunday night.        Several cities declared snow emergencies, including Minneapolis and St. Paul.

JANITORS UNION-STRIKE VOTE        Union for janitors, security officers OKs strike        MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The union representing about 6,000 janitors and security officers in the Twin Cities area has authorized a strike if necessary.        The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports the union authorized the strike to protest proposed cuts to wages, full-time jobs and health care coverage.        Service Employees International Union Local 26 represents janitors and security guards who work for contractors, which are then hired by companies such as Target and U.S. Bank.        Union spokeswoman Kate Brickman says a work stoppage isn’t imminent, but now workers could strike at a moment’s notice.        David Duddleston is an attorney representing contractors who hire security officers. He says employers are bargaining in good faith.

WCCO-TV reports the Minneapolis-St. Paul Cleaners Association says it’s also working toward a quick resolution.        Negotiations are scheduled to continue this week.        WATER MAIN BREAK-ST PAUL        St. Paul water safe for use after water main break        (Information in the following story is from: St. Paul Pioneer Press, http://www.twincities.com)        ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Residents in St. Paul have been given the all-clear to resume using water as normal after a weekend water main break.        The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports the boil water advisory was lifted Sunday morning after St. Paul Regional Water Services received confirmation that there are no more contaminants in the water.        The water main has been repaired and service was expected to resume Sunday.        The 20-inch, 61-year-old main broke late Friday, sending an estimated 1.75 million gallons of water through parts of downtown.        Water service for many was affected. The exact number is unknown, but many homes and businesses had water supply and water pressure issues.

ETHANOL-CORN SHORTAGE        Corn shortage idles 20 ethanol plants nationwide        ST. LOUIS (AP) – The persistent drought is taking a toll on producers of ethanol, with corn becoming so scarce that nearly two dozen ethanol plants have been forced to halt production.        The Renewable Fuels Association, an ethanol industry trade group, provided data to The Associated Press showing that 20 of the nation’s 211 ethanol plants have ceased production over the past year, including five in January. While most expect to resume, they won’t likely do so until after 2013 corn is harvested in late August or September.        Industry experts don’t expect an ethanol shortage because millions of barrels are stockpiled and the remaining 191 plants are still producing.        But there is growing concern about the high price of corn and what happens if the drought lingers through another corn-growing season.

GRAMMY-OKEE DOKEE BROTHERS        Minneapolis duo wins children’s recording Grammy        (Information in the following story is from: Star Tribune, http://www.startribune.com)        MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – A Minneapolis-based bluegrass duo has won a Grammy for the best children’s recording.        The Star Tribune reports the Okee Dokee Brothers won the award Sunday for their song “Can you Canoe?” It’s about a canoe trip that Joe Mailander and Justin Lansing took on the Mississippi River.        They accepted the award in pre-telecast ceremonies. Mailander thanked the Recording Academy for “recognizing indie-made children’s music.” Lansing says making kids music was a dream of the duo who have known each other since age 3.        The album has sold about 10,000 copies.        The Okee Dokee Brothers have been making kid-oriented music since 2005.

 

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