Minnesota county attorneys may soon be armed

ST. PAUL – County attorneys might soon be able to carry weapons while on duty if a bill unanimously passed by a Minnesota House committee Thursday makes it through the Legislature.

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Sanford Bemidji medical campus expansion plans released

A new orthopedic center would be the first step toward a greatly expanded Sanford Bemidji medical campus. Sanford Health of Northern Minnesota has detailed a master plan outlining its expansion plans for the future. Plans include a new 20,000-square-foot orthopedics and sports medicine center, a 24,000-square-foot surgery center and 40,000-square-foot cardiac center.

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• site
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Officials dismayed by proposal to cut C-27J

BISMARCK – A proposal to eliminate the Air National Guard’s C-27J transport program at Fargo’s 119th Wing is being panned by North Dakota’s senators and the state adjutant general.

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Spring flood outlook optimistic in Fargo-Moorhead

FARGO - A year ago, Fargo officials were scrambling to order flood-fighting materials as communities geared up for the third consecutive year of major flooding.

• flood
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Update: Eh? One of the new Ely bear cubs is a screamer (with video)

If you’re wondering whether that Ely research bear Jewel had two cubs or three, the answer seems to be two. But the two make more than enough ruckus for one mother bear, according to North American Bear Center researchers Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield.

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Bemidji woman allowed to keep 7 dogs; dozens to go to shelter

BEMIDJI, Minn. – Most of the dogs will go, seven will stay and a few could be returned home once they’ve been neutered or spayed and her house is cleaned. That is what 63-year-old Carol Schmidt agreed to Wednesday

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Man sentenced for high-speed chase near Lake George

A Hubbard County farmer will get his ruined 2009 crop field reimbursed by the career criminal who led a posse of squad cars on a high speed chase through it early one summer morning.

• tracks
• David Michael Lee
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Surveyors work to update county records using history, GPS

Hubbard County’s survey department alternately finds employees chasing satellites and delving into the moldy archives of history. Depends on the day.

• LIDAR
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April levy a go

The Perham-Dent School Board is hoping April 3 will be its lucky day.

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Zorbaz brings a little flair and a ‘buy local’ message to shores of Green Lake, Minn.

There’s fresh paint inside and out, and a new bar has been built. But a quick look around will tell you that the new Zorbaz on Green Lake still has some things in common with its former incarnation as Melvin’s on the Lake.

• Zorbaz
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Family, police, wildlife rehab workers help save injured Minnesota bobcat

When Brenda Winberg heard a “thump” outside of the door of her Hermantown home around 8 p.m. Thursday, she thought the dog wanted in.

• Wounded bobcat
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Local governments want more flexibility, report looks at Minnesota potential

Local government officials, including those from the Bemidji area, say they could help citizens better if the state got off their back.

• Sen. John Carlson
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Verndale woman charged with criminal sexual conduct

A Verndale woman was charged in Wadena County District Court with having sex about a year ago with a 16-year-old boy who self-identified as gay.

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Moorhead member of 'Miracle on Ice' team fights to get hockey jerseys returned

MOORHEAD - Two of the proudest moments for the Christian family of Warroad happened during the Olympics.

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• Dave Christian

Child to deputy: 'Mommy smokes weed all the time'

A young child, whose mother was pulled over Thursday, allegedly told a Grand Forks County sheriff’s deputy that “Mommy smokes weed all the time,” according to a court affidavit.

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Three Hawley young people among four injured in crash east of Moorhead

MOORHEAD - Four Minnesota residents were injured in a two-car crash on an icy Interstate 94 about 9:22 a.m. today just east of Moorhead, the State Patrol reported.

Stray dog lost in Alexandria, Minn., reunited with owners after turning up 150 miles away in Woodbury

An underweight, tattered dog turned in at the Woodbury Animal Humane Society wasn’t just any stray. He was a long distance traveler.

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Get ready to polar plunge

It’s a good thing when an organization outgrows its home, which is the case for the Boys and Girls Club of Detroit Lakes’ Polar Fest Plunge. Housed at Lakeside Tavern for the last several years, headquarters for the event is now being moved down the street to the Pavilion. It is the second weekend of the Polar Fest activities, scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 18.

• commemorative beer steins
• Cara Frank
• polar plunger splashes
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Unemployment rate drops in MN -- Becker County rate at 5.4 percent

The Minnesota unemployment rate fell two-tenths of a percent in December to a seasonally adjusted 5.7 percent, according to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

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Alexandria couple hit with 29 felony tax charges collectively

Alexandria couple’s felony tax charges include evading tax on a motor vehicle purchase

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Minnesota receives an additional $29.2 million for Energy Assistance Program

Good news for seniors, disabled, and low-income families with children.

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Attorney General's Office sues Accretive Health for patient privacy violations

Debt collector lost laptop containing sensitive data on 23,500 Minnesota patients

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Eight businesses will open in downtown DL

The Downtown Crossing development project in Detroit Lakes is ahead of schedule and is nearly full. So far, eight commercial tenants have signed long term lease agreements of 5 to 15 years, said DLM Downtown Properties co-owner Brent Kuehne.

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School construction on schedule

Construction at the site of the new Lake Park-Audubon High School in Lake Park is proceeding as planned, said LP-A Superintendent Dale Hogie at a Tuesday night school board meeting in Audubon. “I think we’re right on schedule … we may even be slightly ahead,” he added.

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Flag for those who died in military service Honor and Remember

On Aug. 10, 1990, Congress passed a law recognizing the National League of Families’ Prisoners of War/Missing in Action flag as a national symbol to honor all American POWs and MIA soldiers.

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Downtown thrifty again

In less than two weeks, area residents will have another bargain store in which to shop. The Helping Hand Thrift Store opens for business on Tuesday, Jan. 31, in the former Ben Franklin store in downtown Detroit Lakes.

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