Minnesota News Briefs: Senser returns to court for hearing

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MINNEAPOLIS - A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for today on a motion seeking the dismissal of criminal charges against Amy Senser, accused in a hit-and-run death last August.

An attorney for the Edina resident Senser recently filed the motion in Hennepin County District Court, arguing that the two felony counts of criminal vehicular homicide against Senser should be dropped for lack of probable cause. Senser’s trial is currently scheduled to begin on April 23rd.

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A World War Two veteran’s 68-year wait for recognition is over. 88-year-old Gale Fuller of Minnetonka was one of only 28 sailors who survived the German torpedoing of the USS Leopold destroyer escort in the Atlantic on this date back in 1944. One-hundred-71 others were killed. At the repeated urgings of his nephew, the U.S. Coast Guard today presented Fuller with the Purple Heart. Fuller says he is one of only three remaining survivors of the attack.

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A Nebraska man is dead after a blown tire caused his car to crash off Interstate-35 in southeastern Minnesota . The State Patrol reports 26-year old Manbile Mohamud was killed as his car rolled nearly three times off the highway in Rice County . A Minneapolis woman who was riding along was not hurt.

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Four Twin Cities students who died in a car crash last month are being remembered with bracelets. Morgan Lubben and Jake Grossman from North Dakota State say profits from the three-dollar bracelets they sell benefit families of the Minnesota women who died near Alexandria. The bracelets are on sale at the school's student union. They include the initials of Lauren Peterson, Jordan Playle, Megan Sample and Danielle Renninger.

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Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton begins his push for a new Vikings stadium in earnest today (Friday). He has meetings scheduled with key legislative leaders, as well as a number of news media interviews. Meanwhile, legislative hearings on the $975-million-dollar Minneapolis stadium proposal are scheduled to begin next week.

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Governor Dayton appears satisfied with the environmental review that's under way for planned copper/nickel mines in northeastern Minnesota . Dayton 's comments come after a sled-dog team piloted by former state Representative Frank Moe delivered over 12,000 petition signatures opposing expansion of sulfite mining. Dayton says some are against it and some are for it, but he's not aware of anyone who's said government agencies are not adequately reviewing the proposals. Opponents warn environmental pollution will hurt Minnesota 's tourism industry. Backers say government agencies are carefully considering all permit applications and northeastern Minnesota needs the jobs that the new mines will create.

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"Very un-Minnesotan," says Governor Dayton about a constitutional amendment Republicans might put on the ballot this fall that would give Minnesotans in unionized industries the option to not join a union. The governor says it's not proven to be effective in creating jobs, but does bring down citizens' standard of living. Backers say Minnesotans should have the right to decide whether they join a union and not be forced to pay dues. The Senate has a hearing on the bill first thing Monday morning after a parliamentary move on the floor Thursday which drew fire from Democrats.

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A voter photo ID bill passed a House committee last night and now heads into another committee at the Capitol before a possible Senate vote next week. The vote came as Governor Dayton lined up behind an alternative plan, trying to slow down Republicans' move to put voter photo ID on the ballot this fall as a constitutional amendment. Dayton and Secretary of State Mark Ritchie propose "electronic poll books" that would put voters' photos right on the register they sign before receiving their ballot. Ritchie calls Republicans' photo-ID-based system "old technology that can be easily faked." Republican Representative Mary Kiffmeyer responds the Dayton/Ritchie plan cannot be a substitute for photo ID, but says that technology could be a helpful tool after voters pass the constitutional amendment.

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Spring-like weather is on the way and it looks like it could be here to stay. National Weather Service meteorologist Shawn DeVinny says record high temperatures are possible in Minnesota by late next week and above-normal temps are expected for at least the next two weeks. Meanwhile, DeVinny says little -- if any -- flooding is in the offing.

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The winds of March didn't cause any notable damage on Thursday but made it feel a good deal colder than the actual temperature. The National Weather Service reports 47-mile-an-hour gusts at both Minneapolis-St. Paul International and St. Paul's Holmen Field. Stiff winds also caused single-digit wind chills in areas of central Minnesota.

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Spring truck weight restrictions take effect today across central Minnesota . MnDOT imposes the load limits to prevent damage to roads during the spring thaw. Higher winter weight limits remain in effect across northern Minnesota .

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Today is the deadline to apply to become a Minnesota State Patrol trooper. As many as 40 positions are expected to be filled this year. Last year, there were 1,300 applicants. Those selected will undergo a written exam, a physical fitness test, a medical exam, psychological testing, a background check and 15 weeks of Para-military training. Applications can be submitted online at dps.mn.gov.

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If you have an ice house out on one of Minnesota 's lakes, this might be a good weekend to start prepping for its removal. The DNR reminds folks that the deadline for pulling shelters off the ice in northern Minnesota is March 19th -- just ten days from now. Houses over the lower half of the state should have been removed early this week.

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A big travel week lies ahead and so why shouldn't gas prices go up? The latest survey in from Minnesota-Gas-Prices.com reports regular unleaded back up to levels not seen since last fall -- with a gallon now averaging nearly $3.65 statewide. Spring Break travelers take note: the current prices in Minnesota are lower on average than all other Upper Midwest states, except South Dakota .

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Minnesotans who own a recent model Toyota Camry, Venza or acoma truck should check with their dealership about a recall. More than 680-thousand Toyotas made between 2005 and 2011 are affected by the recall. First, the problem with the Camry and Venza vehicles is grease which may have gotten on a stop-lamp switch while on the assembly line. That could trigger warning lights or even keep the car from starting or the transmission from shifting out of park. As for the Toyota Tacoma pickup, models made from 2005 to 2009 have a cable in the steering system which can rub against its retainer. If it happens, the automaker says it can trigger the airbag light to come on, but the airbag might not inflate during a crash.

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When it comes to seat belt use, Minnesota has one of the highest rates in the nation. But one age category is shunning belt use, especially when riding in the back seat -- and that's those between 13 and 24 years old. State Traffic Safety Director Donna Berger notes that in recent years, 30 young backseat passengers were killed in Minnesota highway crashes and only three of them were buckled up.

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The case against the Minneapolis woman who tried to send a puppy through the mail has been dismissed. Forty-year old Stacey Champion was charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty after she put a four-month-old poodle-schnauzer mix in a sealed box and tried to mail it to her son in Atlanta for his birthday. Champion told postal workers the box contained a toy robot, but they discovered the dog after the box fell off the counter. A Hennepin County judge dismissed the case, citing Champion's "mental deficiency."

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Minnesota 's mega-mall is still rated the best in its class. The latest "Travel and Leisure" magazine rankings give Mall of America the number-one spot, followed by the Aventura Mall in Florida . MOA is gearing up for a busy week ahead as Spring Break sends lots of visiting families in for the local attractions.

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Hundreds of antlers will be on display at the Minnesota Deer Classic and Outdoor Expo at the State Fair Coliseum in Falcon Heights starting today. Not the least of which will be the world-class rack from an eight-point buck that was poached by a Cannon Falls archer back in 2009. The Minnesota DNR confiscated the trophy rack, but hasn’t decided what to do with it. The 30th annual Expo continues through Sunday.

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Minnesota ’s most well known canned meat has reached a major milestone. The 75th anniversary of the introduction of Spam is being observed this week. The spiced ham product was launched by Austin-based Hormel Foods back in 1937. This week has been dubbed Spam Appreciation Week by the company.

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A famous snake is said to be fitting in well at a zoo in Owatonna. Justin Bieber's pet snake "Johnson," who became famous after appearing on an awards show last year, was recently donated to the Rad Zoo in Owatonna. Zoo officials say they received the boa constrictor from the unnamed person who bought him in an online auction. Expect to see signs pointing out Johnson's pop lineage soon at the zoo.

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Here are the winning numbers from the Minnesota State Lottery for Thursday, March 8th, 2012. The Daily Three: 6-0-5. Northstar Cash: 4-6-11-23-28.

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