Minnesota News Briefs: Police looking for 17-year old in Granite Falls

Talk about it

(Granite Falls, MN) -- Police are asking for the public's help in trying to locate a missing teenager in southwestern Minnesota.

17-year-old Lily Paulson was last seen around eight Sunday night after finishing some outside work at her home in rural Granite Falls. Paulson is five-foot-two, about 100 pounds and has light brown hair -- blue eyes and wears glasses. She was last seen wearing tan capri pants and pink Converse tennis shoes. Paulson has a medical condition and needs daily medication. Anyone with information should contact the Yellow Medicine County Sheriff's Department.

__________________________________________________________________

Two families are being cared for by the Red Cross after an explosion and fire at a duplex in northeast Minneapolis. The blast prompted crews to evacuate the surrounding city block on Sunday. One resident was hurt and five firefighters were taken to local hospitals suffering from heat exhaustion. There's no word yet on the cause of the explosion.

__________________________________________________________________

A small plane crash in north-central Minnesota left a pilot dead and his passenger injured. It happened Sunday near Crosslake as the aircraft went down near the Upper Whitefish Lake. The pilot was a 55-year-old from Crosslake who died at the scene. His passenger, also from Crosslake, was taken to a hospital with serious injuries.

__________________________________________________________________

Minnesota's odd and extreme weather patterns continue. The state's driest area, the northwest, is seeing expanded drought conditions and little rain in the forecast. As for severe weather, large hail was reported last night from Lake of the Woods County eastward. Meanwhile, southern Minnesota, which is in a moderate drought, is due for more highs in the 90's today, plus more heavy rain and volatile weather this week. Forecasters say high winds and strong thunderstorms are possible tonight over the lower third of the state.

__________________________________________________________________

What started as a trash fire became quite a battle for local crews in the northwestern Minnesota town of Ulen. Crews finished up dousing a grassfire that got out of control on Sunday. A local resident burning trash didn't see that the fire had spread to his grass and onto his barn. Firefighters were able to save other buildings on the property before the fire worked its way into the woods where crews finished it off. No one was injured. Dozens of acres of land were charred, along with the property owner's riding lawnmower.

_________________________________________________________________

The effects of last month's devastating floods in northeastern Minnesota could be felt for years. For now, Carlton County officials are offering more help to citizens of Moose Lake with a public meeting scheduled tonight at 6 p.m. The meeting at city council chambers is for flood victims who are still having problems in their homes or businesses.

_________________________________________________________________

It's been an unusually active fire season to the north and as a result, Minnesota is lending a hand to fight fires in Canada. Currently, three 20-person crews of firefighters are working in Canada -- two in Manitoba and one in Ontario. Minnesota Interagency Fire spokeswoman Jean Goad says the crews are made up of people from several different agencies, including the Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Indian Affairs and National Parks Services. Crews have also been sent out this summer to help with fires in 11 western states.

__________________________________________________________________

Since April, a 14-member task force has been talking with students, staff and parents about the problem of bullying and will have recommendations for Governor Dayton on August 1st. Walter Roberts, co-chairman of the panel, says they heard a number of compelling stories while traveling the state, adding "we are continually reminded of the difficulty and the pain that a lot of people experience when dealing with bullying and other forms of intimidation." Governor Dayton wants toughen Minnesota's current anti-bullying law which is the shortest in the nation at only 37 words. It requires districts have a written policy prohibiting all forms of intimidation and bullying.

___________________________________________________________________

Minnesota-based Cargill has a beef recall on its hands. The ground beef being is being pulled due to salmonella contamination -- and was produced at a Cargill plant in Wyalusing, Pennsylvania. Nearly 30,000 pounds of the ground beef sold at East Coast supermarkets are being recalled.

___________________________________________________________________

An afternoon drive on a motorcycle in Minnesota became a dangerous affair on Sunday. One rider in a group traveling through Becker County ran off a highway and struck a sign before being ejected into a ditch. The cyclist was seriously injured. Another rider was thrown from his bike while attempting to cut across lanes of Interstate traffic to catch an exit ramp northwest of the Twin Cities. He ended up in critical condition. Also on Sunday, a collision between a motorcycle and a deer injured two near Granite Falls. Both riders were treated and released.

___________________________________________________________________

Performers from across Minnesota are auditioning for the 2012 State Fair Amateur Talent Contest starting today. The Fair's Brienna Schuette says the contest is not limited to any particular act. There's a ten-thousand-dollar grand prize to the winner of the Open Division which is open to all ages. Auditions run today through next Sunday at the Leinie Lodge Bandshell on the State Fairgrounds.

____________________________________________________________________

Red Cross blood donations are at their lowest level in 15 years. Minnesota Red Cross spokeswoman Sue Gonsior says supplies are at emergency levels and donors are needed. She said it's been a tough summer to get donors in the door, with July 4th holiday falling in the middle of the week, plus flooding, which forced cancelations of many blood drives. Gonsior says all blood types are needed. To make an appointment, go to Red-Cross.org.

_____________________________________________________________________

Congressman Collin Peterson says it's unlikely the Farm Bill will come up for a vote in the U.S. House before Congress recesses August 3rd, and the 7th District Democrat is criticizing Republicans for not bringing it up. Peterson predicts lawmakers will get an earful from constituents when they go home for August recess without voting on a Farm Bill. He says when the House comes back in September "there's gonna be the biggest clamor to put this bill on the floor that you've ever seen."

_____________________________________________________________________

Drivers moving through one of the state's busiest areas will need to take a detour tonight (MON) and tomorrow night. Mn-DOT is closing all lanes of I-94 through the Lowry Hill Tunnel in Minneapolis for routine cleaning. The closures are from 10pm to 5am.

______________________________________________________________________

Whether it's a trip to Cleveland, Ohio or Cleveland, Minnesota -- it's important to keep an eye on food safety while traveling. Robert Prevendar

with the health and public safety organization NSF International says food-borne illness is less likely when a restaurant is doing good business. He says follow the crowds--and look for the locals. Prevendar says the locals wouldn't choose a place where it's not safe to eat. He adds you should take a moment to watch for personal hygiene among workers in the restaurant -- whether their hands and clothes are clean.

Tags: news, minnesota