Seven More Cases of Swine Flu May Have Been Detected

(AP) According to the Minnesota Department of Health, seven more cases of Swine Flu may have been detected in the state. The samples have been sent to the CDC in Atlanta for confirmation. Of those seven cases, three came from Hennepin County. There was one each in Dakota, Polk, Wright, and Scott counties. These is still only one confirmed case of Swine Flu in Minnesota.

Another Swine Flu Case Reported in Isanti County

(AP) Minnesota's second case of probable Swine Flu has been reported in Isanti County. Officials for the State Health Department say that the person is at home, and is expected to make a full recovery.

No Flu in Crow Wing County Yet

There have been no reported cases of Swine Flu in Crow Wing County, according to County Public Health Nurse Joyce Mueller. She tells KLKS News, plans are in the works should there be infections.
Nurse Mueller says they have have been coordinating with area hospitals, schools, police, fire and emergency management.
She says it is encouraging that the cases reported so far in Minnesota have been relative mild, but she says there is a lot about the H1N1 virus they don't understand yet, and it could turn severe.

No Agreement to Balance the Budget

A recent state-wide poll indicated that most Minnesotans do not want their taxes raised to help balance the state budget. However, it would be OK if taxes are raised on someone else. Bemidji State Senator Mary Olson tells KLKS News, while few want their taxes raised, most don't want state programs cut that impact them. She also says Minnesotans don't believe the Governor when he says big ticket spending programs can be maintained and not raise taxes.
Olson says the Governor is getting no support to take money from the Health Care Access fund, which pays the insurance for the working poor, to help balance the budget.

The State Patrol Readies for a May Mobilization

Auto fatalities in Minnesota are down from last. Sergent Curt Mowers of the Brainerd office of the State Patrol says fatalities from car crashes are down by seven, motorcycles down by one, and there have been no bicycle fatalities yet. However, He tells KLKS News, he is worried about the number of visitors that will soon be in town.
Sergent Mowers says they will have their May Mobilization effort to make sure motorists are using their seat belts, and the HEAT Project to crack down on speeders, which he says is the number one cause of highway deaths.

Delays on Hiway 210

Motorists should plan for delays as road work gets underway on a 15-mile stretch of Highway 210, from Wisconsin Avenue east of Hewitt to Dakota Avenue in Staples in Todd County. The project is tentatively scheduled to begin on Monday, May 11.

This season's work includes: Mill and overlay a new blacktop road surface, Repair culverts, Construct a new right turn lane at 193rd Avenue, six miles east of Hewitt and Construct a westbound right turn lane at Todd County Highway 21, west of Staples

Traffic will be reduced to a single lane through the work zone, controlled by a pilot car and flaggers. All work will be done during daylight hours.

Widseth Smith Nolting of Baxter is administering the construction contract for this $2.3 million pavement preservation and safety improvement project. Anderson Brothers Construction of Brainerd is the prime contractor.

Work is expected to be complete by the early July, weather permitting.

U of M Twin Cities Closed Three Buildings Tonight due to Threat

The University of Minnesota--Twin Cities has cancelled classes and closed three buildings for tonight due to a shooting threat. The buildings are the Carlson School of Management, Hanson Hall, and the Hubert H. Humphrey Center. Police are investigating the threat.

Massechusetts Man Charged for Luring Bemidji Teen

(AP) A 26-year-old Massachusetts man is charged with attempting to entice a 15-year-old Bemidji girl to visit him in New England. David Weller entered a not-guilty plea in Attleboro district court in Rhode Island.

He is accused of persuading the teen to take a bus to Providence R.I. However police intercepted the girl in Chicago as she was about to switch buses.

Weller was arrested at the bus station in Providence.

The girls was returned safely to her parents in Bemidji.

A Possible Case of Swine Flu being examined in Cold Spring

(AP) Officals have canceled classes at Rocori Middle School as they wait for test results to see if a person at the school is infected with Swine Flu.

Hecker Tagged by Chrysler

(AP) Auto Dealer, Denny Hecker of the Twin Cities, has been ordered to pay $477 million to Chrysler's Financing arm. In a statement, Hecker said that the ruling in Hennepin County District court was "extremely hard-felt and disappointing." Hecker is reviewing his options with his financial and legal advisers.

Ward Says Minnesota Has Enough Flu Vaccine

The state is thinking about how to deal with a swine flu outbreak, according to State Representative John Ward of Brainerd. He tells KLKS News, they have enough vaccine. He worries that we may not have enough hospital beds for those who require more care.
Ward worries that proposed budget cuts may put some hospitals and long care facilities out of business. He says the cuts proposed by the DFL controlled House and Senate would be less harsh on medical facilities than those proposed by the Governor.

Breezy Point to Come Alive with Crab Apple Blossoms

Breezy Point is about to get a make-over. Breezy Pointer Wini Kristufek thinks the city ought to be dotted with crab apple trees. Residents and citizens, particularly along the main traffic routes, will be participating. They should be going in the ground any day now.
Meteorologist and gardener Tony Shumacher says ph level in the soil needs to be just right. Anything under 7 requires some lime. If the soil is more sour than that, another spot ought to be chosen.
Schumacher says apple trees require a lot of sunshine and good drainage.

Dondelinger Buys Hyundai

The Dondelinger car company has added the Hyundai line to its care dealerships. The Brainerd company bought the busness north of Baxter from Denny Hecker, who has been struggling under financial woes lately. The sale was an attractive deal for Dondelinger because, while other labels have suffered sales declines, Hyundai sales have remained relatively stable.

Koering Looses School Battle

State Senator Paul Koering of Fort Ripley has lost his fight against teachers and schools to keep funding of teachers retirement benefits off the property taxes. The Brainerd Schools plan to put $23 million in health insurance funding on property taxes.
Koering's efforts to short circuit the move lost on a party line vote on the Senate floor. He says the teachers union proved to be too strong.

Corn Gluten for Weed Control

There is an answer for folks who want to have a weed-free lawn, but don't want to use a lot of chemicals. Meteorologist and gardener Tony Schumacher says it is corn gluten. It acts as a drying agent and kills the seed as it is trying to sprout.
As a result, spreading grass seed to fill in bare spots will have to wait for six months.
Schumacher says the product also introduces nitrogen into the lawn to help it green-up.