Paress' News Blog

A new Minnesota law goes into effect Monday requiring all cigarettes to be fire safe, according to The Minnesota Daily. The fire safe cigarettes are designed to self-extinguished if left unattended for too long.
Nyle Zikmund of the Minnesota Fire Chiefs Association says unattended cigarettes are responsible for 1/4 of all fire deaths and the association has called the legislation the most important fire-prevention law passed in more than 30 years, according to The Star Tribune.

Posted by Paress Huebner at 12:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Mother and twelve-year-old son died in a slaying on Sunday and husband is named "a person of interest" in the killing that took place in Dodge County, according to Pioneer Press. Two daughters survived knife wounds.
The children ran to a neighbor in the trailer park for help, where 911 was called and they were rushed to St. Mary's hospital in Rochester, according to the Star Tribune.

Posted by Paress Huebner at 5:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

St. Paul's Pioneer Press received a small package labeled "anthrax" on Saturday, according to The Pioneer Press. According to tests the substance inside was sugar, St. Paul police spokesman Pete Crum said.
The envelope contained a CD with a photo of Gen. Colin Powell labeled "Anthrax Shock and Awe Terror" and a white, sugar-like package taped to the top labeled "Anthrax" and "Biohazard", according to The Star Tribune.

Posted by Paress Huebner at 3:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Como Pool in St. Paul's regional park since 1962 has closed permanently because of safety problems and high repair costs, according to The Star Tribune. "If we tried to open it again, it would be over $1 million just to get it operational", Brad Meyer, a spokesman for the St. Paul Parks Department said.
The city plans on opening a new pool by 2010, according to The Pioneer Press. "(The process) is going to be about the pool, but it's also going to go beyond the pool," Meyer said. "It's going to include how the footprint affects other aspects of the park, including traffic and parking."

Posted by Paress Huebner at 4:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sun County Airlines has warned of lay offs or possible shut down, affecting its 850 employees, according to Pioneer Press. Sun Country employees received a warning letter from John Fredericksen, general counsel for the Mendota Heights-based carrier, on Thursday.
The letter was sent in regards to the Federal Law WARN Act that requires airlines to give employees 60 days notice for any large-scale laying off or shutdown.
Sun Country lost $47 million on $251 million in operating revenue for the 12 months ended in June.
Owner Tom Petters can no longer offer a loan because of his resignation earlier this week because of suspected federal fraud, according to The Star Tribune.
"While Sun Country has no plans to shut down or institute a major layoff, we wanted to be sure we are in compliance with federal law in light of the recent developments at our parent company," Sun Country said.

Posted by Paress Huebner at 11:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Bicyclist, Virginia Marie Huerer-Bower, 51, was hit by a vehicle Saturday morning in the area of Snelling and Summit avenues, according to Pioneer Press. She was taken to Regions Hospital, sustained head injuries regardless of wearing a helmet during the time of the accident, and died around 3 p.m.
"He stopped and accelerated, and all of a sudden, she was in front of him," Police officer Pete Panos said the man who hit her had told police. He was not issued any tickets, but is still being investigated, according to The Star Tribune.

Posted by Paress Huebner at 3:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Republican presidential candidate John McCain and running mate Sarah Palin held a campaign rally in Blaine, MInn on Friday, their first time back to Minnesota since the Republican National Convention in early September. Palin spoke first, talking about energy independence plans and targeting Obama, according to The Minnesota Daily. Palin also introduced her husband Todd as the "First Dude" of Alaska. McCain talked much about the economy and head Gopher hockey coach also addressed the crowd.
Barack OBama Democratic supporters also had a rally of thier own in downtown Minneapolis where 4,000 people gathered including May R.T Rybak and several Minneapolis City Council members near the Peavey Center.
There were also a few dozen protestors outside the airport gate according to MinnPost
Signs being held included, "Hockey Dads Against Incompetence" and "Say No to Barbie and G.I. Joe"

Posted by Paress Huebner at 12:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The new Interstate 35W bridge is said to be open to cars as soon as next Tuesday, reports the Minnesota Daily. http://mndaily.com/2008/09/11/i-35w-bridge-almost-completeThree months after the collapse, construction began, costing $234 million. If the bridge is finished by Monday, the construction team could be eligible for a $20 million bonus. An average of 141,000 motorists used the bridge daily and now pay $400,000 in fuel every day the bridge is closed because of traveling farther.
The bridge collapsed into the Mississippi River on August 1, 2007 and took 13 lives, reports the Star Tribune. http://www.startribune.com/local/28339529.html?elr=KArks:DCiUnP::DE8c7PiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiU

Posted by Paress Huebner at 5:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Park Rapids water system was found to be contaminated with E. coli Friday. The Department of Health issued a boil advisory Saturday morning, telling residents to either boil there water for a minute and letting it cool or purchasing bottled water, according to The Pioneer Press. The Star Tribune reports that the cause is unknown but they were looking at highway construction as a probable source.

Posted by Paress Huebner at 5:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The article in the Star Tribune reported on Farve's status before Sunday's game actually occured and Pioneer Press reports after the game Sunday. According to Pioneer Press, Farve made his 421st touchdown in the first quarter and his 422nd touchdown in the fourth quarter, beating Dan Marino's record of 420.
The Star Tribune quotes Farve: "I realize that if I make a lot of mistakes, that puts our team in jeopardy. We don't win many games when I do that. And I think coming into this year, I felt probably more pressure than any other season, offensively speaking. I know our defense is playing better. I know that we have higher hopes for our defense. But I also know we have to score points."

ANALYSIS:
Star Tribune lead: "A year ago, the Green Bay Packers were a 1-2 team with a veteran quarterback whose best years seemed to be a distant memory.
Pioneer Press lead:The record is his, for now, and Brett Favre can return his focus on two other numbers: 4-0.
The first one is more of a vague story, talking about "ifs" rather than what actually happened like in the second lead.
The Star Tribune's article is written more like a story: "Just as he attempts to downplay any talk of breaking Marino's record with an aw-shucks demeanor that comes complete with his Mississippi drawl". Whereas the Pioneer Press is more reporting on the event.

Posted by Paress Huebner at 3:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

According to the Star Tribune, 1,000 Iraq troops were welcomed home on Sunday at Bloomington Sheraton Hotel. The unit was the longest serving unit since the war's start, lasting 16 months. Moments of silence were held during the hour long ceremony for three soldiers who died while on duty. According to the Star tribune, the unit was awarded "one silver star, the Army's third-highest award, along with 220 bronze stars, 32 purple hearts, 771 medals of commendation, 136 combat infantry badges, 302 combat infantry badges and 14 combat medical badges." According to Pioneer Press, this unit, the first of the34th Brigade Troops Battalion, was responsible for "security, military intelligence, communications and other duties in Iraq." Govenor Pawlenty spoke at the event welcoming the troops safely home.

Posted by Paress Huebner at 5:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

According to the Star Tribune, 18-year-old father, Beauford Jackson pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder of his daughter Destiny and sentenced to 13.75 years in prison. The mother, Maeve Clifford returned from the grocery store to find her daughter having trouble breathing and called 911. Jackson had her lie, saying the injuries came from falling out of bed.
The Pioneer Press explains Destiny, 15 months old, died about an hour later and only then did Clifford tell the truth about how Destiny recieved her injuries from Jackson's beatings. This is not the first incident Jackson and Clifford have lied to authorities. In December, Destiny suffered a skull fracture which was again blamed by falling out of bed, but Jackson later admitted to carrying her on his shoulders and hitting her head.

Posted by Paress Huebner at 10:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)