Minnesota News Briefs: Prince runs into tax problems in France

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MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota music favorite Prince is due to make an appearance in Minneapolis a month from today but he won't need his guitar.

It's in a hearing on enforcing a summons against the performer after he failed to appear in court over French tax documents from 2009 and 2010. French authorities reportedly want Prince Rogers Nelson to explain more about his proceeds from several concerts he performed there. Prince's lawyers haven't yet responded.

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The former CEO of the Redwood Area Hospital has pleaded guilty to gross misdemeanor theft charges. Sixty-five-year-old James Schulte was accused of double-dipping on travel expenses over the past two years by being reimbursed by both the city and a private company he was also working for. A jail sentence was stayed and Schulte was ordered to pay 28-hundred dollars in restitution. The Redwood Falls City Council voted to terminate Schulte in early August.

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More areas of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness are reopening, thanks to successes by firefighters this week. Conditions remain dry but U.S. Forest Service spokesperson Becca Manlove expects the situation to keep improving because of fewer people out in the woods. The largest fire -- 525 acres -- is just over the Canadian border at Emerald Lake. Two smaller fires in Minnesota have been put out in recent days: the Parley Lake and Hoist Bay fires.

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How big is the oil boom in the Dakotas? Big enough to prompt Delta Air Lines to add twice-daily flights between Minneapolis-St. Paul International and Williston, North Dakota. The service begins November 12th. Delta joins United Airlines in adding flights in and out of the Bakken region. United's flights will originate out of Denver.

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Several walks in Minnesota are scheduled less than a month from now to help in the fight against diabetes. Christine Schaeberle is founder of the Red Strider Program and says the "Step-Out" walks are designed to raise money and awareness of diabetes, which now accounts for one out of every five health care dollars spent. Walks are scheduled Brainerd, Mankato, and Stillwater on October 6th -- and in Minneapolis on October 27th.

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Selling alcohol seems to be working during Gopher football games at TCF Bank Stadium, so might that spirit translate south of our border? Iowa Governor Terry Branstad was asked whether the University of Iowa should sell beer and wine at football games like they do at the U-of-M. The governor was skeptical, saying there is already, quote, "a lot of beer consumed in the parking lots before the game."

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School nurses are urging parents to get their teenagers vaccinated for meningitis. Nurse Joan Bertelsen says the vaccination rates in Minnesota are lower than the national average, in part because the dangers of the disease are not well publicized in the state. About 10-percent of those who contract meningitis die from it. Bertelsen says meningitis is commonly spread through kissing and sharing beverage containers.

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The Renville County Food Shelf will rise from the ashes and reopen in a new location in Olivia tomorrow. That's after an arsonist started the building that housed the food shelf on fire a little over a week ago. A local businessman in Olivia has offered the space and other people have donated freezers and refrigerators. Foodshelf spokeswoman Ardis Wertish says Second Harvest Minnesota will be bringing a semi load of food so they can begin serving clients again.

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