Large Minnesota kennel to auction dogs, shut down

LITTLE FALLS, Minn. — A Minnesota dog breeder whose kennel application sparked protests and a lawsuit has plans to auction more than 100 dogs and may be going out of business.

Pawlenty heads to Iowa as signs point to 2012 run

ST. PAUL — Republican Tim Pawlenty is off today on his first trip to Iowa as a probable but not-yet-declared presidential candidate.

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Salmon spawning operations wrap up in North Dakota

BISMARCK — Fisheries crews have completed their annual salmon spawning operation on Lake Sakakawea after surpassing their goal of collecting 700,000 eggs.

Flood damage in Cavalier County nearly $3 million

LANGDON, N.D. — Cavalier County officials estimate nearly $3 million worth of damage in their county from last spring’s flooding.

AROUND NORTH DAKOTA: Drowning killed DSU trio ... Cops at flu shot clinic today ... Flood disaster aid increased ... more

The Stark County (N.D.) sheriff said preliminary autopsy results show drowning as the cause of death of three college softball players whose sport utility vehicle went into a livestock pond in southwestern North Dakota. The bodies of Kyrstin Gemar, 22, San Diego; Afton Williamson, 20, Lake Elsinore, Calif.; and Ashley Neufeld, 21, Brandon, Man., were found Tuesday inside the SUV. It was submerged about 10 feet of water in a pond north of Dickinson.

AROUND MINNESOTA: Care shift aids patients ... Forced chemo nearly done ... Experimental grapevine stolen ... more

The Minnesota Department of Human Services outlined a plan Friday to maintain health insurance for more than 30,000 low-income adults whose coverage runs out March 1, by moving them from one state program into another. Commissioner Cal Ludeman said the agency will automatically transfer 28,000 people from the General Assistance Medical Care program into MinnesotaCare, a bigger subsidized plan for the working poor. Another 8,000 GAMC enrollees already are switching or dropping coverage.

Two vehicles hit moose on Interstate 29 near Thompson, N.D., exit

The North Dakota State Patrol said a van and a semi struck and killed a moose on Interstate 29 near the Thompson, N.D., exit Thursday evening. Scott Gulsvig, 32, Moorhead, suffered minor cuts from glass when his GMC Safari hit the moose in the southbound lanes about 7 p.m., Trooper Ryan Panasuk said.

GF man pleads guilty to sexual contact

A Grand Forks man has admitted to having sexual contact with three underage girls. Brandon Jon Kuntz, 21, pleaded guilty to gross sexual imposition, a Class A felony, in a case involving a 14-year-old. In separate cases of contact with a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old, he entered guilty pleas on two misdemeanor counts of corruption of minors.

A big decision made quietly

The decision to essentially take on all the risks of hosting major concerts at Grand Forks’ Alerus Center appears to have been made by an informal committee that doesn’t announce its meetings to the public.

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Minnesota task force report urges improvements in broadband service

The task force’s recommendations, released Friday, call for a dramatic expansion and speeding up of broadband service. But the report stopped short of detailing how the expansion would be funded. The report did not call for state spending but left that option open. The group’s chairman said Adamec’s plight shows how many Minnesotans are at a disadvantage.

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UND philosopher Weinstein to interview Nobel Prize-winning economist

For UND philosopher Jack Russell Weinstein, it’s not enough to lecture about ancient Greek philosophers or publish books about contemporary conservative Catholic philosophy. He has the improbable-sounding goal of bringing philosophy to the masses.

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Three N.D. residents injured in car accident

A Friday evening car accident near Devils Lake injured three North Dakota residents, the North Dakota Highway Patrol reported.

Construction begins on facility for young adults with autism

A local non-profit organization held a groundbreaking ceremony Friday to celebrate the beginning of construction of a new town-home facility for autistic young adults.

Alerus acquires more Twin Cities banks

Grand Forks-based Alerus Financial has acquired another Twin Cities bank, the company announced Friday.

N.D. flags fly at half-staff for Fort Hood dead

Gov. John Hoeven has directed all government agencies in the state to fly the U.S. and North Dakota flags at half-staff until Veterans Day in honor of the victims of the Fort Hood, Texas, shootings. Hoeven’s order issued Friday was in accordance with a directive issued by President Obama. Veterans Day is Wednesday.