News Blogger

A suburban Seattle high school cheerleader was trampled by her football team while she was holding up a banner. The video can be seen on You Tube and was viewed more than 725,000 times.

The cheerleader reports that she's a little embarrassed about the incident but that she is fine.

Cali Kaltschmidt tried fixing the banner when the players started running through onto the field.
The 18-year-old Kaltschmidt told KOMO, "Smack, I got run into." http://www.startribune.com/526/story/1519609.html

Kaltschmidt was checking the banner because a former cheerleader said there were no holes in it to ensure proper ripping so she sent Kaltschmidt to check on it. Kaltschmidt said she watched for the football players but didn't see any coming at the the time. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,306981,00.html

Kaltschmidt also said in her interview with KOMO that she was nursing a bruised neck from her car accident the day before. However, she said she'll be back on the field cheering on the sidelines for Friday's game.

According to Foxnews, Kaltschimdt was also homecoming queen.

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Three students at St. Thomas are being targeted with threatening racial messages.

Notes were slipped under the doors of black women living in John Paul II hall regarding racial-natured messages specifically intended for them, school officials said.

The first message came Tuesday at 1:30 a.m. under a girl's dorm room door. A second one was sent to her classroom around 8 a.m. that same morning. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21560692/

The hate mail came even when a guard was standing outside the room. President Dennis Dease is call the threats a hate crime. http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1519707.html

School officials and police don't know yet who is behind these notes.

“It’s quite a mystery,� said Jim Winterer, a university spokesman. “It’s really weird. As more and more this goes on maybe we’ll be able to figure it out.�http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1519707.html

President Dease sent an email to faculty, students and staff showing his sympathies and apologizing on behalf of the university to each of the students. He continued on by saying that hate crimes are not tolerated at St. Thomas and those who act in that manner shall be condemned.

http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1519707.html

A program is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. Thursday in support of the students who have been victimized by these hate crimes.

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http://www.startribune.com/459/story/1510238.html

Guitar Hero is more than a video game, its a pop-culture phenomenon, and the new "Legends of Rock," will be out at midnight tonight.

The news report showcased how big of a game Guitar Hero has become. It's rated as the top gift on children's christmas gifts.

I really liked this paragraph in the Startribune. It shows how big of a phenomenon it has become:
But "Guitar Hero" is more than just a big game; it's also a pop-culture phenomenon. Bars and clubs have replaced Karaoke Night with "Guitar Hero" Night. Real-life rock guitarists have offered their unbridled -- and unpaid -- endorsements and have customized "Guitar Hero" controllers to be auctioned for charity.
http://www.startribune.com/459/story/1510238.html

The report got me excited for Guitar Hero and I've never even played it.

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Attorneys for the Osseo school district are appealing a federal court order that involved a student-run gay rights group that was granted at Maple Grove Senior High.

According to court documents, the defendants are appealing whether U.S. District Judge Joan Ericksen abused discretion by issuing a permanent injunction on Sept. 25 putting Straights and Gays for Equality (SAGE), on equal grounds with other groups and organizations.http://www.startribune.com/west/story/1508982.html

SAGE contended that they were denied the rights to publicize meetings over the public address system and have access to school facilities, but groups such as cheerleading, synchronized swimming and the Black Achievers were allowed those rights. http://www.startribune.com/west/story/1508982.html

The school district stated that these other groups were under the "curricular" label, meaning their activities related to the school's curriculum.

The federal judge ruled Tuesday that the Osseo school district must give the student-run gay rights group the same privileges it gives the other student-run groups. http://wcco.com/education/Maple.Grove.Senior.2.370479.html

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ST. PAUL, Minn -- Several bullets were found inside a St. Paul high school, but police and school authorities say they have no reason to believe anyone is in any kind of danger. http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1507625.html

At St. Paul Central High school a student found a .22-caliber bullet in a hallway on Wednesday. Staff members and teachers searched for more bullets but none were found. They did not find any weapons or threatening notes, Howie Padilla, a school district spokesman said. http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1507625.html

According to WCCO, officials are still working with St. Paul Central high school to find out who put the bullet there.

"Given the way they were placed, somebody may have wanted a day off," said Tom Walsh, a police department spokesman. "They wanted to make people panic."http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1507625.html

A telephone message was sent to all the parents as a precaution.

School officials said classes continued to go on without any disruptions on Wednesday and no problems have been reported. http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1507625.html

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ST. PETER, MINN. -- A St. Peter family of nine is one of 25 winners in a national "Got Milk?" contest.

The Olinger family submitted photos of the seven milk-mustached children to the diary industry that sponsored the contest. http://www.twincities.com/ci_7272632?IADID=Search-www.twincities.com-www.twincities.com&nclick_check=1

Randy and Cara Olinger now have seven kids after their marriage three years ago. Cara recalls telling her husband to run and pick up some milk on his way home after she realized she was out. Randy bought a gallon and soon returned home to find out that wasn't enough. "We buy about six to eight gallons of milk at a time," Cara Olinger said.
http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1507626.html

According to Startribune, Olingers' said they used heavy whipping cream to make their milk-mustaches stay on good.

The contest is part of a nationwide campaign to encourage families to bring milk to the dinner tables. The latest market research cites that nearly 60 percent of children's dinners do not include milk and that percentage is soon declining.

"They're so excited. They think it's great," Cara Olinger said. "They're telling everybody, 'We're going to have a chef for a week.'" http://www.twincities.com/ci_7272632?IADID=Search-www.twincities.com-www.twincities.com&nclick_check=1

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A man from Monticello contracted rabies after swatting at a bat in his cabin porch in mid-August. Randy Hertwig didn't realize he had beittne because there was no blood and no puncture marks.

Last weekend Hertwig's family and physicians realized he contracted rabies as he lay dying from the neurological virus. Hertwig, 46-year-old father, died Saturday in Rochester at St. Mary's Hospital.
http://www.startribune.com/west/story/1503056.html

Hertwig is the fifth person to die in Minnesota from rabies in the past century, others died in 1917, 1964, 1975 and 2000.

"What is most saddening about these deaths is that they could have been prevented with prompt medical attention following exposure," said Ruth Lynfield, state epidemiologist and medical director for infectious diseases at the Minnesota Department of Health. http://www.startribune.com/west/story/1503056.html

According to state Health Department, in the early 1900s, 100 people died each year from rabies, now only two to three people contract the virus in the United States. http://www.startribune.com/west/story/1503056.html

The Minnesota Department of Health issued a public health alert about Hertwig's death on Tuesday to warn people about the danger or rabies.
http://www.twincities.com/ci_7261634?IADID=Search-www.twincities.com-www.twincities.com&nclick_check=1

On the CaringBridge.org website, Hertwig's wife, daughter and son report on Hertwig's symptom's which started a month after the bite and went unnoticed.

Symptoms started as tingle in Hertwig's hand where he had been bitten. Soon after he had lost his ability to talk and move, and by mid-October he lay in a deep coma.

According to experts at the Minnesota Department of Health, everyone who has contracted rabies should have vaccinations immediately because the disease can incubate in a matter of years or even days.

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Miley Cyrus, formerly known as Hanna Montana performed Sunday evening at the Target Center.

Cryus was greeted by over 16,000 teenage fans and accompanying parents whom felt very lucky to be there.

"I'm still disappointed it cost so much, but for a once-in-a-lifetime thing it seemed worth it," said Andy Medley, of Spooner, Wis., whose four seats with his wife and two daughters cost double their face value, about $120 apiece, from a ticket broker website. http://www.startribune.com/music/story/1498609.html

There was a ruling last week in Las Angeles bannging software that's used to rig Ticketmaster's website said four states' attorneys general.

Another mom, whose daughter is a Miley Cyrus fan-club member, was promised early access to tickets for the concert. Julie Zemanick, mother of 9-year-old Lynsey, said she was on the computer for eight hours trying to get tickets but that they sold out instantly to many of whom were ticket scalpers.
http://www.twincities.com//ci_7215889?IADID=Search-www.twincities.com-www.twincities.com

Zemanick said tickets were being sold by scalpers anywhere between $300-$1,300 a piece.

Very few however did get lucky, beating the brokers in Minnesota, where scalping of tickets was legalized statewide in August. Tickets for face value ($64 and under) could be found on Craigslist and eBay last-minute, said ticket holder Stacey Mulrooney, "We gave it a last shot, and it worked."

Ticket costs weren't the only thing that money went towards on the night of the concert. T-shirts, hats and posters were all being sold for the children's excitement and memorabilia stash.

As quoted in Startribue, "I've bought a few concert T-shirts myself, so how could I not get her one from this show?" said Jennifer Kuntz, of Coon Rapids, whose daughter Melanie, 11, was one of the many girls who wore a Hannah-like wig to the concert. http://www.startribune.com/music/story/1498609.html<

"They say ticket scalping is a victimless crime," Brill said, "but I think there are a lot of 8- and 9-year-olds who didn't make this show who'd say otherwise."
http://www.startribune.com/music/story/1498609.html

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http://www.virginiadot.org/news/newsrelease.asp?ID=CO-0743

The story was organized well. The reported started off by explaining what was going on and why they were holding the meeting, followed by an agenda of times and then locations and dates. It was a well written and informative agenda.

There were also instructions who can speak and what is going on followed by contact information of people in charge.

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Paul Barker awaits with sweaty palms in the Bloomington Armory parking lot in July, holding a dozen roses.

His fiancee of two years, Amanda Ploog, Minnesota National Guard Spc. is finally coming home.

The 22 year-olds have spend their entire engagement apart while Amanda has been away in Iraq. Paul and Amanda must get to know each other again and spend time preparing for their wedding that is in just three months.

"I think it's gonna be harder than what everyone else thinks it is," she says. "Everyone else is so happy to go home ... My friends were all 21 and going to universities, going out partying, and I was in Iraq. Different lifestyles. I have nothing in common with them anymore, and I've realized that through e-mails. So that's going to be different, trying to hang out with my friends again. With Paul, everything's changed - he's changed, I've changed ...
http://www.twincities.com/cominghome/ci_7233466?source=rv

"I used to be very outgoing, but I don't know how I am now. We'll see when I go home," she says. "I know I've changed a lot, and I hope I can go back to the way I used to be. I think I was a very fun person."http://www.twincities.com/cominghome/ci_7233466?source=rv

"People sympathize for the soldier, but sometimes I sort of think it's harder on the people waiting back at home," Paul says. "I wouldn't want to put Amanda through what I just went through for two years of just waiting, waiting on her and hoping everything is all right. A lot of late-night worrying. I'd rather be in her shoes than sit home and just wait. The unknown will eat you up, kill you."
http://www.twincities.com/cominghome/ci_7233466?source=rv

Amanda said one of the things she will enjoy the most about being back is being by herself. She said she shared a room in Iraq and even when she was in the shower room people were there. She said everywhere you went someone was always there.

This summer 2,600 Minnesota National Guard members returned home to Minnesota after serving 22 months in deployment.

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HUDSON, Wisc - A teenage boy waited until his parents left for a movie, to call his friends and threated suicide said St. Croix County Sheriff Dennis Hillstead.

"He talked to them about how he was tired of his life," Hillstead said. http://www.twincities.com/ci_7236985?source=most_viewed&nclick_check=1

The shootings began at 9 p.m. Friday at 260 Troon Court, about five miles from south Hudson.

The friends heard the gunshots going off in the background and preceded to call the police.

As a precaution, police told surrounding houses to evacuate.

The boy was armed with a .22-caliber pistol, two shotguns and plenty of ammunition, shooting for three hours, according the sheriff's office.

There was extensive damage from the shots and shattering of most of the main floor windows in the home.

"Police contacted the teenager by having his friends call the house, Hillstead said. Officers were able to persuade him to surrender about 12:30 a.m." http://www.twincities.com/ci_7236985?source=most_viewed&nclick_check=1

Paramedics rushed the boy to the Hudson hospital due to cuts from the broken class said Hillstead.

The neighbors said the boy was a "good kid" and that the incident was shocking and uncharacteristic.

According to Startribune, no one was injured and the boy was taken to Madison hospital for evaluation.
http://www.startribune.com/10240/story/1497875.html

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Text lingo is starting to migrate into some students' school work.

Phrases such as BFF (Best friends forever), CU (see you), B4 (before), along with absense of punctuation and grammar have all been seen in school work.

"I write 'cuz' a lot, instead of 'because'," said Nick Miron, 17. "And I forget apostrophes." http://www.startribune.com/10240/story/1497704.html

Minnesota teachers are split in their idea of text message writing. Some really don't like seeing it, and some say it might be a way to keep students' writing.

Schools could possibly help students learn by using text messaging said one official with a national teachers group.

http://www.startribune.com/10240/story/1497704.html

According to the Startribune, seventh and ninth - grade teacherat Lake Junior High and Woodbury Junior High, Eva Pitzel said that she estimates 25 percent to 40 percent of her students use text - messaging in their in-class writing.

"I see it as a negative because they are not always showing me that they can write out the words correctly," she said. "To compensate for this, we spend extra time editing in class and we talk about the different languages we use in our lives. I have to explicitly tell them that it is not OK to write like that for English class."http://www.startribune.com/10240/story/1497704.html

She also said that this form of language is a 'secretive' language because students' know that teachers and adults don't understand the lingo.

There has been a 3 million increase in American teenagers use of text-messaging. It was noted from the Pew Internet and American Life Project that 13 million in 2000 texted and 16 million in 2004.

Not only are students texting, but teachers as well. Shirley Holm, teacher at Junior High in St. Paul sends up to 600 messages a month, and once admitted to sending her son one word at a time the opening of the Gettysburg Address to wake him up. http://www.startribune.com/10240/story/1497704.html

According to the net lingo website some acronyms mostly commonly used by texters are:
2nite (tonight)
14AA41 (one for all and all for one)
4ever (forever)
B4N (bye for now)

http://www.netlingo.com/emailsh.cfm

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The Shakopee Mdewakanton band contributed the single largest gift to the University of MN athletics. The Sioux community donated $10 million towards the Gopher's $288 million football stadium.

The band also owns Mystic Lake Casino.

They will get naming and landscaping rights to the main plaza for the 50,000-seat TCF Bank stadium, named after its top sponsor.

Tribal Chairman Stanley Crooks said they will incorporate the names of Dakota people in honor of Minnesota Indian bands. http://www.startribune.com/gophers/story/1494568.html

'The Dakota Mall' or something like that," Crooks said Thursday afternoon. "We're not promoting Mystic Lake Casino. ... This is an historic place for us. This was an opportunity to make a significant impact on something that will be around for a long time."
http://www.startribune.com/gophers/story/1494568.html

The band is also donating an additional $2.5 million to go towards a scholarship fund at the school which will also be matched by the university.

According to Shakopeenews, more information will be released about the tribe's donation Friday at a press conferences.
http://www.shakopeenews.com/node/3795

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Britney Spears' lost custody of her two young boys for child-endangerment concerns, while Lakeville mother, Katherine Bodem, was able to keep her kids after her 11-month-old daughter drowned in the bathtub while she allegedly shopped for shoes online.

"Apples and oranges", say legal experts asked to compare the cases.

Hennepin County Family Court Judge James Swenson said the parent who does not comply with court-ordered demands, for example chemical abuse evaluations or mental health, may have parenting time or custody scaled back.
http://www.startribune.com/relationships/story/1488298.html

During Monday's custody hearing, Spears' former bodyguard, Tony Barretto, accused Britney Spears of having "issues of nudity and drug use" since she returned from rehab. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,297107,00.html

Bodem's case occurred in juvenile court as Child in Need of Protection orders, also known as CHIPS. The determination in this case is to look at whether the child is in physical or emotional danger in the hands of the parent or guardian.

According to Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom, Children in "imminent harm" are removed immediately from the home and placed in a protective area. A hearing is held to be deteremined in the next 72 hours of whether removal will be temporary or permanent for Bodem's case.

Most cases, like Bodem's, never get that far, which is frusterating to Backstrom. "There has to be specific information before a child protection case will be opened and a social worker sent out to the home," he said. A call to child protection saying "I think this parent might have some mental health problems" is not going to initiate a child protection investigation, he said. "We get around 14,000 of these calls every year in Dakota County. There's not enough social workers in the world to go out and meet with every family." http://www.startribune.com/relationships/story/1488298.html

Cheif Justice Kathleen Blatz collaborated with the judicial branch and Minnesota Department Health Services to to create the Minnesota Children's Justice Initiative which has a goal of looking at each county and determining how to improve the processing of child protection cases and outcomes for abused and neglected children through collaboration with the juvenile courts and social service agencies.

The difference for Britney might be that her she was tracked, photographed and dissected by the public on her every move with the boys. Where Bodem lived a more private life, which made challenges dicier and not always successful.

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I will be looking at 2 articles about the Timberwolves. The articles are about the Timberwolves game against the Boston Celtics. The first is a game blog done by the Wolves Reporter, Mike Trudell. He captures the play-by-play of what is happening at the game. The second article is post-game thoughts.

First article:
http://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/live_game_blog_celtics_vs_wolves_071009.html

The first article is a play-by-play of what is going on in the game. It in interesting to see how the game is re-enacted, because it makes you feel like you are right there watching the game. The post-game interview with Coach Wittman is a great follow-up story because it relays the thoughts of the Coach from the game. The second story advances the news because it gives depth to the reaction of how the Coach feels about how the game went. The main news isn't really summarized by it gives you a good indication of what is going on, therefore I find newsworthy because fans were not able to view the game and this is a way they are able to see what was going on.

There is a lead in the first article, summarizing what the article is about. There is no lead in the second article, it just starts off with the interview.

Second article: http://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/wittman_postgame_quotes_071010.html

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A new $522 million baseball stadium for the Minnesota Twins is now on the way after the settlement, Friday, between landowners and Hennepin County.

The deal ended an expensive legal battle over the land sale of which County officials were worried of paying to much for the land. They felt there would not be enough money to complete roads and public works projects around the new stadium.
http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1481951.html

Nothing will be said until 10 a.m. Monday said Aron, Kahn, spokesman for the landowners.

"I am pleased that we seemed to have come to an agreement and that we can move forward in funding infrastructure rather than attorneys," Hennepin County Board Chairman Randy Johnson said. "We hope we are done on this. Now we move on, on building a ballpark.Obviously I'm very pleased about it, although I don't know any of the details," Jerry Bell, president of Twins Sports Inc., said Friday. "It just seemed like it should be settled."
http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1481951.html

The ballpark is scheduled to open in 2010, however negotiations over the final price were still continuing after the Twins groundbreaking ceremonial in August.

"Today we are breaking ground for the next generation," said president and CEO of Twins Inc., Jerry Bell, who helped in the fight for a new ballpark the past 12 years. "So that they will experience baseball the way it's supposed to be played." http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070830&content_id=2180196&vkey=ballpark_min&fext=.jsp&c_id=min

The fans gathered to with the team on the groundbreaking day for the new stadium to celebrate.
http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070830&content_id=2180196&vkey=ballpark_min&fext=.jsp&c_id=min

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MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. - A stoned 2-year-old boy is recorded on a cellphone after his mother and two male friends gave him pot.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, mother, Sean M. Held, 19, and Dane Thomas Ashley, 20, both from Menomonee Falls, were charged for contributing to the delinquency of a child and possession of marijuana. http://www.startribune.com/484/story/1477925.html

According to the Journal Sentinel, one of the mother's friends, can be heard on the recording, "Hey buddy... Are you stoned?"

District Attorney Brad Schimel said the mother is under monitoring by the county Department of Human Services, but still has custody of her son.

"It's impossible to tell whether the child puffs on it or blows on (the marijuana)," Waukesha County District Attorney Brad Schimel said. "If the child ingested any, it was a very small amount, because the test came up negative."http://www.thehawaiichannel.com/news/14325378/detail.html?rss=hon&psp=nationalnews

Schimel said Held will be under ongoing supervision of the relationship with her son, and that she is still living with her mother, who had no indication that this incident was going on.

http://www.startribune.com/484/story/1477925.html

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WASHINGTON — Younger women that tend to the elderly, changing diapers and serving food and drinks as some of their duties, have the highest rates of depression among U.S. workers.

According to a government report, 7 percent of full-time workers battled depression this past year, with women more likely then men to have it. Younger workers were also shown to have higher rates of depression.
http://www.startribune.com/535/story/1482830.html

Problems with sleep, eating, energy, concentration, self-image, loss of interest and pleasure are just a few symptoms that may surface during the depression episodes.

Depression occurs when the chemical messages in our brain aren't delivered directly between the brain cells. http://www.depression.com/understanding_depression.html

According to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, depression leads to $30 billion to $44 billion in lost productivity annually among 21 major occupational categories.

People who were unemployed had a higher rate of depression at 12.7 percent, compared to those who worked full-time at 7 percent rate of depression.

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LAKEVILLE, Minn- Last summer, 11-month-old daughter of Lakeville mother, drowned in the bath tub. The mother was charged today by the Dakota County District Court. They said Katherine Renae Bodem, 38, was using the computer on a different floor from her daughter, Cecelia Bodem, when she drowned.

Bodem's 10-year-old daughter, believed her mother was buying shoes off the internet at the time, charges said.

Bodem is being charged with two counts of second-degree manslaughter with a bail set at $60,000.

Bodem told police that she went downstairs for a few minutes while her daughter and 2 1/2-year-old son were in the tub. She said she could hear them playing but after their was silence she went upstairs to see her son pulling
daughter Cecelia out from the tub.
http://www.startribune.com/south/story/1473888.html

According to the complaint, Bodem said she attempted to revive the baby by hitting her on the back and blowing into her mouth.
http://www.twincities.com/ci_7128519?IADID=Search-www.twincities.com-www.twincities.com&nclick_check=1

According to forensic examination, the mother was online for 19 minutes.

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Crandon, WIS. - An off-duty deputy went on a shooting rampage during a pizza party on Sunday.

Deputy Tyler Peterson, 20, worked full time for the Forest County Sheriff's Office and part time as a Crandon police officer said Police Chief John Dennee.

Jealousy might have been the motive said mother of a slain 14-year-old girl. Peterson had been in a relationship with one of the victims but they were broken up at the time of the shooting said authorities at a news conference. http://www.twincities.com/ci_7117491?source=most_viewed&nclick_check=1

Peterson's family sent out a statement apologizing for their son's act. It states: "Our hearts go out to the victims, their families and friends," it said. "We are grieving for your losses. We are very sorry for what has happened, this huge tragedy has deeply affected everyone, including us. We also feel a tremendous amount of guilt and shame for the horrendous acts Tyler has committed." http://www.twincities.com/ci_7117491?source=most_viewed&nclick_check=1

"I was shocked," said Ashley Megeshick of nearby Mole Lake. She who got to know Peterson from his work-related visits to the casino where she was employed. "He was laid back. He did not seem like the type of person who would go on a shooting rampage or murder somebody. He was just a reasonable kind of guy." http://www.startribune.com/484/story/1469746.html

All the kids were "run-of-the-mill, regular kids" Crandon resident, Allen Flannery, said of the victims.

"We never thought something like this could happen in Crandon, but yet it did," Superintendent Richard Peters said of the shooting. "It's a tremendous tragedy for the community."

Jenny Stahl, 39, said her 14-year-old daughter called Saturday night and asked whether she could sleep over at a friend's house. "I'm waiting for somebody to wake me up right now. This is a bad, bad dream," the weeping mother said. "All I heard is it was a jealous boyfriend and he went berserk. He took them all out." http://www.startribune.com/484/story/1469746.html

Another victim was Bradley Schultz, 20, third-year student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He was home visiting his friends, said his aunt, Sharon Pisarek.

The school is canceled today for all grade levels and guidance counselors and a school psychologist will be available at Praise Chapel for students and their family members.

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http://www.startribune.com/crime/story/1461842.html

Story about 14-year-old selling meth to other students at her middle school:

It was a little confusing structurally but I did like that it was divided up in a few different sections. I think they should have put parents reactions towards the top because that is a major concern of their child. I felt like it didn't relay any health problems to the children and focused just on the fact she sold the drugs.

I do like that they have a section on telling parents to talk to their children because I think this issue is very important.

I like how they say right away how the drug was ingested and then give professional expertise as to say that it is an "unexperienced" way to administer the drug into the body.

The Principal's quotes were a little broken up (as in they weren't all by each other in the story) so structurally I felt that could have been aligned better. However, it did go along with the story alright.

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AMSTERDAM, Netherlands — Not even bugs can get through customs in the Netherlands.

A customs officer looked closely at a consignment of more than 100 dead bugs to find cocaine was stashed in their backs. The bugs were being sent from Peru to the Netherlands.

"We see a lot of things, but this was a first for us," customs spokesman Kees Nanninga said Thursday.
http://www.startribune.com/722/story/1464299.html

"It looked like they were cut open, the drugs hidden in their backs and then they were glued back together again," Nanninga said.

The bugs held only 10.5 ounces of cocaine, which is worth about $11,300, Nanninga said.http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,299316,00.html

The discovery of the cocaine in the bugs was found this summer in a routine check at a postal sorting office, but wasn't made public until Thursday. Nanninga said he did not know if anyone was prosecuted as a result of the incident.

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ST. PAUL, Minn. - A 14-year-old was caught selling methamphetamine to other children at Hazel Park Middle School Academy on Wednesday.

The students all around the age of 14, ate the drug. Experts say the students aren't experienced with these drugs because you snort it or inject it to get the quickest high. This idea is fueling the rumor going around the school that the students didn't know what they were eating

The 14-year-old girl pleaded guilty Wednesday in Ramsey County juvenile court to giving meth to six other classmates.

http://www.startribune.com/crime/story/1461842.html

Hazel Park Principal Coleman McDonough said that one girl went to the school nurse during Tuesday's lunch period, because she wasn't feeling well and was anxious and scared. The girl proceeded to tell the nurse that six girls and one boy had found a substance and "ingested" it, officials said.

http://www.twincities.com/ci_7070896?IADID=Search-www.twincities.com-www.twincities.com&nclick_check=1

McDonough said that all seven of the students have been suspended from school for further investigation and some, if not all, will face additional school discipline.

Two Hazel Park parents said that the girl who brought the meth to school might have told the students it was candy.

"It was such a large group of kids who tried it," said Becky Grace, whose son is an eighth-grader at the school. "That could explain it." http://www.startribune.com/crime/story/1461842.html

School officials are saying the girl told them she'd "found" the crystal meth. http://www.twincities.com/ci_7070896?IADID=Search-www.twincities.com-www.twincities.com&nclick_check=1

Nancy Schiller, parent of an eighth-grader, said some students said it looked like Pixy Stix.

Methamphetamine use among kids this age is far less common than alcohol and marijuana use said Professionals who work with young people struggling with this addiction.

Chuck Noerenberg, meth policy coordinator for the state's Department of Health, said meth's shiny crystals could pass for something less sinister.

"I think that's indicative that the kids really didn't understand what they were doing," Chuck Noerenberg, meth policy coordinator said of those who ate the drug. "It wouldn't shock me if some of the kids thought it was some kind of exotic candy."

The student who gave out the meth pleaded guilty in juvenile court so she appears to know what she was doing said a Ramsey County spokewoman.

According to prosecutors, the girl charged is facing an uncertain future. Passing out a small amount of drugs would be a third-degree crime, but passing out drugs at school heightens the offense said Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom. http://www.startribune.com/crime/story/1461842.html

"Whoever is at the home, the mother or the father or both, not only could they be charged for the drugs, but maybe with endangering a minor," said Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman.

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Brett Favre threw his 421st record touchdown pass that made for the fourth straight win by the undefeated Green Bay Packers. Favre broke Dan Marino's NFL touchdown pass record on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.

"It didn't hit me like, 'OK, it's finally over and done with,' " Favre said. "I don't want to look at it that way. Every touchdown I've thrown has been a lot of fun, and this one had extra meaning, not only because of a record, but what we've had to do here in the past and overcome." http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_7047807

The record-breaker came on a 16-yard slant to teammate Greg Jennings just 10 minutes into the first period.
http://www.startribune.com/reusse/story/1455984.html

When Favre returned to the sideline after the record throw, he shared a hug and southern smooch with wife and cancer survivor, Deanna. http://www.startribune.com/reusse/story/1455984.html

The Vikings are going into their bye week with a three-game losing streak.
http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_7047807

"We need to regroup and we need to refresh here over this bye week," Vikings Coach Brad Childress said..

"We are what we are," Childress said. "We're 1-3, and we understand that Green Bay's on top. We get another crack at them as well as everybody else."

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Minnesota joined 17 other states in a statewide smoking ban as of 12:01 a.m. today.

The owners of restaurants, bars and private clubs are the most anxious about the new ban on their businesses.

Many outdoor areas, where smoking is permitted, has been added onto businesses so that customers have a spot to smoke and aren't running to their cars to light up.

"They're doing patios, outdoor facilities to try and make their customers have a spot to have a cigarette so they don't have to get in a car and leave," said Kenn Rockler, of the Minnesota Tavern League.

Thousands of information packets have been handed out to food and beverage establishments by the Minnesota Department of Health and local officials reminding them of the new law.

http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1455207.html

The law in intended to protect the workers from secondhand smoke through the Minnesota's Freedom to Breathe Act.

"Smoking becomes something you have to interrupt your social activity to do. Because of that, you just cut down more," said Mike Maguire, a spokesman for the Midwest Division of the American Cancer Society. "We expect a pretty smooth transition with just a few bumps." http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1455207.html

In Ohio, more than 13,000 complaints about the smoking ban was reported in the first four months of their statewide ban effect this year. According to one newspaper account, many businesses appeared to be openly violating the law.

However, for smokers, there are a few places they can still light up. Some places include: Cars that are sometimes used for personal use and used for public transportation if the driver says smoking is ok. Guest rooms in hotels and motels, the Veterans Rest Camp in Marine on St. Croix, and the Traditional American Indian ceremonies. http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_7047624

If you witness a business that is breaking the law you may fill out a drafted Compliance Assistance Letter by the state Health Department found on the agency's Web site: www.health.state.mn.us/freedomtobreathe.
http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_7047624

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LA CROSSE, WIS. - A college student reportedly fell from a bridge and drowned in the Mississippi River early Sunday morning.

The student was identified as Christopher B. Melancon, 24, of Bloomington, Minn. Police said it was too early to know whether alcohol was a factor in Melancon's death.
http://www.twincities.com/ci_7052531?IADID=Search-www.twincities.com-www.twincities.com&nclick_check=1

One eyewitness reports he fell from the bridge, but another eyewitness believes he jumped from the bridge.

The student's body was recovered at about 2:20 a.m. by a dive team, but emergency personnel were unable to revive him.

"This tragic and unfortunate incident overshadows a relatively quiet and successful Oktoberfest weekend," La Crosse Police Chief Ed Kondracki said
http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1456072.html

This incident makes for the second consecutive year that a drowning occurred during the Oktoberfest weekend. Last year, on the same weekend, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse student Luke Homan disappeared after a night of drinking. Two days later is body was found in the Mississippi River.

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