Minnesota News Roundup: Father regains custody of son

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The man who abandoned his son after losing his house to foreclosure will share joint custody of his child when the legal wrangling is over. Reports say 60-year old Steven Cross of Lakeville has reached an agreement with his 39-year old ex-wife on the issue. Cross took off for California last summer and told his 11-year old to go stay at a neighbor's house. In court, Cross was found guilty of child neglect.

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If cheaper-priced gas is what steers you for a quick getaway this weekend, then plan on driving somewhere in Minnesota, or going west. Minnesota-Gas-Prices-dot-Com reports regular unleaded is averaging 3-70 a gallon this morning in our state, while similar prices can be found in the Dakotas, Montana and Wyoming. The national average for gas is about 15-cents higher and drivers will start feeling that pain at the pump after crossing Minnesota's eastern or southern borders.

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Minnesota officials are setting more traps for the emerald ash borer, the green beetle that attacks and kills ash trees. The bug has been confirmed in Ramsey, Hennepin, Winona and Houston Counties. And the experts report some progress in the war on what they call e-a-b. Allen Sommerfeld of the state Agriculture Department says they have been able to hold back on the spread of e-a-b throughout the state. He notes that Minnesota has one of the largest populations of ash trees in the nation and all are at risk of infestation. But authorities are confident they can continue slowing the ash borers' spread - if not kill the bugs entirely.

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