Minnesota News Briefs: TB score in Grand Forks area

(Grand Forks, ND) -- Just over Minnesota's western border in Grand Forks Monday, close to 100 people at Valley Middle School were tested for tuberculosis.

It's the latest chapter in a TB scare with 13 active cases in the area over the last month. Some parents are wondering if their children are safe. Don Shields of public health says probably, because tuberculosis is not normally something that's transmitted easily in a school, a cafeteria, in hallways or outside. He says the bacteria is very fragile and breaks down quickly. Shields says testing the students and staff is precautionary because a couple of those with active TB attend Grand Forks schools. Nearly 70 students were tested earlier at an elementary school. Officials say the outbreak was transmitted by homeless visitors who stayed with a family.

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It's been cold across Minnesota but there's no safe ice out there yet. Even around International Falls in far northern Minnesota, the DNR's Kevin Peterson says yesterday two dogs went broke through in a little bay that's been frozen for a few days. Peterson says ice development is about where it was last year at this time, and it could be awhile yet before people can walk out on ponds and lakes.

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Authorities have released the name of a 16-year-old girl who was hit and

killed while crossing Highway 10 in Anoka on Monday night. Investigators say Hannah Craft was jogging across the road when she was hit and died at the scene. The driver of the car that hit Craft, 39-year-old Shawn Cole of Mound, suffered minor injuries. Authorities say there was no crosswalk where she was trying to cross.

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A St. Paul man who helped coordinate an extensive drug-smuggling operation has been sentenced to 21 years in federal prison. Jesus Mendoza pleaded guilty last year to charges of conspiring to distribute drugs and aiding money laundering. Prosecutors say the 45-year-old arranged for cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana to be driven or flown to Minnesota from as far away as California. Some of the proceeds were used to buy cars, property and an airplane. Nine other people have also pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the drug operation, including Mendoza's wife.

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The Republican presidential hopeful who won Minnesota's caucuses but didn't make it to the convention says he's open to another run for the White House in four years. Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania tells CNN he's "open to that possibility" in 2016. Santorum says he's focused right now on making sure lawmakers do the right thing on Capitol Hill. He finished first in the Minnesota GOP straw poll with 45 percent of the vote, Ron Paul came in second with 27 percent and Mitt Romney was third at 17 percent.

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Students at St. Cloud State University are voting on a non-binding referendum question this week that would incorporate "homecoming" back into one of the school's "Celebrate SCSU" events. A university program board decided to replace homecoming with four "Celebrate SCSU" events but never consulted with university students in the decision to end what has always been known as "homecoming." Student Government Association President Jarrod Wiggins says the intent is to bring back the word "homecoming" into one of four celebrated events that SCSU students have come to love. Election results will be released Thursday.

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