>>Sherburne County Closes Investigation Into Baby’s Death In 1989
(Elk River, MN) — Investigators in Sherburne County say they will not press charges against a mother who left her baby dead in a box by the side of a road in 1989 in Santiago Township. The Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday that they have closed the case after recently identifying the infant’s mother using DNA. The woman told investigators that she was hiding the pregnancy from her parents and that the baby was stillborn. The county attorney says the statute of limitations for improperly disposing of the baby’s body has run out, closing the case.
>>Air quality Alert for Northwest MN Later Today
(Undated) — There’s an air quality alert for northwest Minnesota from 3 p.m. this afternoon (Fri) all the way through 6 p.m. Sunday. The state Pollution Control Agency says pollution is expected to hit the “red” category — unhealthy for everyone — as heavy ground-level smoke moves in later today. They say it will reach the border by 3 p.m. and the Fargo-Moorhead area by about 6 p.m.. Officials say northerly winds will persist for several days, additional smoke is expected to move into northern Minnesota tomorrow (Sat) afternoon, and they might have to expand the alert area. But they say smoke levels could decrease by Saturday to the “orange” category — unhealthy for sensitive groups.
>>United Therapeutics To Build $100M Pig-To-Human Organ Research Center In Southeast Minnesota
(Stewartville, MN) — A biotechnology company, United Therapeutics, based in southeast Minnesota, plans to invest $100 million in a research farm in Stewartville. The Maryland-based business is well-known for engineering organs for the first-ever pig-to-human heart and kidney transplants. They plan to expand their research at a site ten miles south of downtown Rochester. All pigs will be born and harvested inside the tightly controlled facility, which is equipped with biosecurity measures regulating every aspect of their lives. United hopes that human studies could start as early as next year.
>>Crews Search for Possible Additional Victims after Second Body Found in Rubble of South Minneapolis Apartment Building Fire
(Minneapolis, MN) — Crews continue searching for possible additional victims of an apartment building fire Tuesday morning in south Minneapolis after finding a second body on the fourth floor under the collapsed roof. Earlier, the body of an elderly man was found in a pile of rubble. Officials say fire crews will continue searching with dogs.
>>Authorities Investigating Poacher/Vandal Near Pierz
(Morrison County, MN) — Authorities are looking for a poacher and vandal near Pierz. The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office says they received a report on Wednesday about deer poaching and several complaints of street signs, mailboxes, and electrical boxes that had been shot in Platte and Pulaski Townships in the Harding area north of Pierz. Deputies responded to the area and found a deceased deer with a 12-gauge shotgun wound, which appeared to have been shot from the roadway. They also found multiple mailboxes and street signs that had been shot, along with casings in several locations. The only detail authorities have on the suspect is that it was a noticeably loud older truck. The incidents are believed to be related. They occurred Tuesday morning between 12:30 and 1:00 a.m. and again on Wednesday morning around 4:00 a.m. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office.
>>Flood Recovery Center Opens Today in St. Louis County
(Virginia, MN) — A FEMA disaster recovery center opens today (7:30 AM) in northeastern Minnesota’s St. Louis County. Emergency Manager Josh Brinkman says flood victims will be able to meet with officials from FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and other organizations at their Virginia office. The center will be open seven days a week from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. A disaster recovery center opened last Friday in Waterville for flood victims in southern Minnesota. The FEMA disaster recovery center is located at 7823 Highway 135 in Virginia.
>>Murder Charges Pending after Minneapolis Woman Killed in Maplewood Altercation
(Maplewood, MN) — Second-degree murder charges are pending against a 34-year-old woman from Saint Paul after authorities say a feud Wednesday night in Maplewood between two groups of females escalated, resulting in the death of a Minneapolis woman. The victim is 23-year-old Zakirrah Anderson, and authorities say another woman, 22 years old and from Saint Paul, had non-life-threatening injuries. The initial report police received was of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle, which fled the scene and was found unoccupied Thursday morning in Saint Paul.
>>Lt. Gov. Flanagan, Other Leaders to Break Ground on I-94 Lane Expansion in St. Cloud/Twin Cities Corridor
(Albertville, MN) — Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan joins state and local leaders this afternoon (Fri 1:15 pm) to break ground on what’s dubbed the “I-94 Gap Project” — a lane expansion between Albertville and Monticello in the far northwest metro. Backers say it’s badly needed due to increased congestion in that highly-traveled corridor between Saint Cloud and the Twin Cities. The project received 78 million dollars in state funding.
>>Minneapolis Daycare Worker Charged with Producing Porn Using Children in his Care
(Minneapolis, MN) — A Minneapolis daycare worker faces federal charges for allegedly producing child pornography after taking photos of children in his care. 39-year-old Eric Allen also faces state charges in Hennepin County. Allen had his first court appearance Thursday and remains in custody pending a formal detention hearing next Tuesday. Investigators say there could be other victims and are asking anyone whose minor dependents have been in contact with Allen to notify the tipline at the State Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (877-996-6222 or bca.tips@state.mn.us).
