The ever-present danger of rip currents in Lake Superior has some people in Duluth calling for more to be done to improve public safety. Retired police officer Dennis Hoelscher tells Minnesota Public Radio News that lifeguard services need to be improved. Lifeguards don't work on "red flag" days that have high risk of rip currents. Hoelscher and others think guards should work on those days, work longer hours in general, work more beaches and be trained to work in big waves. The Duluth YMCA, which runs the lifeguard program on Park Point, says posting lifeguards misleads people to think it's safe. And expanding [...]

CLOVERDALE, Ind. (AP) - The owner of a western Indiana ethanol plant is blaming its shut down on the Trump administration allowing some refineries to not blend ethanol with gasoline as required under federal law. South Dakota-based ethanol producer Poet says it will cease production and cut 50 jobs by mid-October at its Cloverdale plant. Poet says it's consolidating jobs at plants in Iowa, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Missouri.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) - A Minnesota-based payroll servicing company is being sued by a federal agency for allegedly firing an employee because she needed crutches after surgery. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a lawsuit Wednesday accusing Employer Solutions Group, LLC of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act. It says the Eden Prairie company discriminated against the employee based on her actual and perceived liability. Company officials declined to be interviewed by The Associated Press.

LONG PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) - Authorities are searching for a man suspected in the deaths of two people in Todd County. Sheriff Todd Och says his office received a call about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday from someone reporting a death at a rural Long Prairie residence. Deputies found two deceased adults, and say their deaths are suspicious. Investigators have identified a 22-year-old man as a suspect, but Och says there is no threat to the public at this time.

The 66th Princess Kay of the Milky Way was crowned last night. (WED) 19-year-old Amy Kyllo college student from Byron, in Olmsted County, will serve as the official goodwill ambassador for nearly 3,00 dairy farm families. Kyllo says being crowned was a dream come true: Kyllo’s first official duty as Princess Kay will be to sit in a rotating cooler in the Dairy Building for nearly eight hours to have her likeness sculpted in a 90-pound block of butter the first two days of the Minnesota State Fair.

VINE Faith in Action, in conjunction with a team representing community organizations and non-profits, are launching the Greater Mankato Good Neighbor Project at Mankato’s Night to Unite parties on Tuesday, August 27. The project’s goal is to further connect neighbors and end social isolation and loneliness.  The Good Neighbor Project committee has created a list of easy-to-do outreach activities that can help people feel more comfortable and secure with their neighbors.

Ardent Mills seeks proposals for a temporary public art installation at its location in Old Town Mankato. Local artists are invited to submit a design proposal for one of five window wells located at the base of the east-facing wall of the historic mill. Located along Riverfront Drive, a major thoroughfare through City Center Mankato, this temporary outdoor art installation will be highly visible and enhance the pedestrian experience for visitors and residents exploring the City Center. Design submissions should celebrate the spirit of Greater Mankato culture and our vibrant community. Selected artists will receive a $500 stipend to paint their design [...]

If you see extra traffic and people in Mankato, it's likely from the new and returning MSU students returning to campus. Around 3,000 new students moved in. In all, MSU has about 14,000 students each semester. Classes start on Monday.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is celebrating Smokey Bear’s 75thbirthday with a sing-along and more at the Minnesota State Fair. Smokey is celebrating fire prevention successes and urging all Minnesotans to be careful with fire. Smokey Bear is one of the most well-known symbols in the United States. An amazing 96 percent of U.S. adults recognize Smokey Bear and 70 percent are able to recall Smokey’s tagline without prompting - “Only you can prevent wildfires.”

Motorists are advised to expect stop and go situations at three locations on Highway 30 in Blue Earth County beginning Tuesday, September 3 as crews complete maintenance work on three bridges. Highway 30 traffic will encounter temporary stoplights at two bridges west of Amboy and one bridge east of Mapleton during the week. The seal coating is expected to be completed by the end of two weeks.