Minnesota News Briefs: Persons IDed after Grand Rapids shooting

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GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. - Police have released the names of two shooting victims in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.

32-year-old Paul Johnson and 59-year-old Rosemary Oberg-Johnson were found shot on Saturday evening. They are in critical condition at a Duluth hospital. The 26-year-old male suspect is currently in Itasca County Jail awaiting charges.

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China has lifted a ban on Minnesota poultry imports. Chinese officials put the ban in effect after the H7 avian flu virus was found in two turkey flocks in Wright County last year. China had been the state's number two international market before the ban was imposed last November.

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The issue of wage cuts to 6,600 Minnesotans who care for disabled relatives may end up in the state Supreme Court, the legislature, or both bodies. The Minnesota Court of Appeals last week struck down a law that cut wages for some home health care workers. The cut had been approved at the end of the 2011 special legislative session. Mike Gude with The Arc Minnesota says sometimes the workers are the only ones who understand the unique culture and language of their relatives. Gude says The Arc Minnesota and other advocates for the disabled will work for legislation if needed to ensure the wage cut is permanently reversed. The State of Minnesota must decide if it will appeal the ruling to the State Supreme Court.

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State Fire Marshal Jerry Rosendahl is encouraging Minnesotans to limit their use of candles during the holidays. His office says cooking, heating and open flames are to blame for 70 percent of all fires. Rosendahl says real candles are extremely dangerous especially near wreathes and Christmas decorations on the table. If you only have traditional candles, make sure the flame is three feet from anything combustible.

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The Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety is offering a free Christmas present aimed at keeping drunken drivers off the roads. Impaired driving coordinator Jean Ryan says it's called the designated driver gift card. You can give it to a friend so they can call you when they know they've been drinking too much and they shouldn't be driving and you can pick them up. Ryan calls it "the gift of a safe lift." You can print out a designated driver gift card at minnesotasafeandsober.org There are extra DWI patrols across the state through New Year's Day.

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Duluth Police have released the name of a man who was fatally stabbed last week. 54-year-old Kevin Tyman of Duluth died at a local hospital late Friday. Police were called to a duplex Friday night, after Tyman had gone to a neighboring apartment to say he had been stabbed and needed help. Officials say they continue to follow-up on several leads.

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The president and Republicans in the House continue to look for common ground before going over the so-called "Fiscal Cliff". Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar appeared on ABC's "This Week" Sunday. The senator appealed to citizens to tell their legislators to go back to the negotiating table so middle class people won't see their taxes go up an average of two-thousand dollars a year. The President and lawmakers have until the end of the year to reach an agreement before tax hikes and spending cuts go into effect.

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The Salvation Army is on track to reach its goal of raising nearly $10-million in the Twin Cities, but elsewhere around the state, things are not so rosy. The Salvation Army's Annette Bauer says it's going to be difficult to reach the goals, particularly in the southern part of the state with recent bad weather. She says you can contribute in your area, or choose the areas most in need for your donations by going online at salvationarmynorth.org. On Saturday a generous donor put in ten thousand dollars in Red Kettle in Fergus Falls.

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A lack of snow in November allowed construction projects in Minnesota to continue or be completed. The month saw an increase of 1,300 construction jobs. State labor analyst Steve Hine says an improving housing market is a key ingredient for a robust recovery in the construction industry. Hine says Hurricane Sandy impacted the industry nationally in November but the rebuilding in the coming months will be a boon for construction.

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Tis' the season of giving, but too many Minnesotans this time of year are giving and receiving something nobody wants: norovirus infection. This virus is the leading cause of foodborne illness and is found in the stool or vomit of infected people. The Health Department's Dr. Kirk Smith says norovirus is transferred to food, water, or surfaces by people who don't wash their hands after using the bathroom. Smith say people often mistake the norovirus for the stomach flu.

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Last minute packages are being shipped out and received today U.S. Postal Service Inspector Shawn Tiller says for people getting a parcel out in the mail, security is important. He says there are a lot of shipping methods, tracking options, delivery confirmation and insurance. Insurance is a good method--at a minimal cost. Tiller adds some packages this time of year get delivered when no one is home. His advice: Remove the package from open spaces as soon as possible -- or perhaps tell a friend or neighbor to pick it up if you're not planning to be there for the delivery.

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