MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — An advocate for people with disabilities is taking the city of Minneapolis and two electric scooter companies to court. Noah McCourt says the electric scooters have made city sidewalks inaccessible. McCourt, who has autism and a coordination disorder, says he was injured while tripping over a scooter at a light rain station. Minnesota Public Radio News reports the federal lawsuit filed Wednesday says the scooters are also an impediment to people who use wheelchairs. McCourt claims the city and scooter companies are violating the American with Disabilities Act. The city declined to comment on the lawsuit. One of the [...]

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The latest survey of bankers in rural parts of 10 Plains and Western states showed an improved rural economy this month, but the ongoing trade disputes continue weighing on the economy. The Rural Mainstreet survey's overall index climbed to 51.4 for October from 50.1 in September. Any score above 50 suggests a growing economy, while a score below 50 indicates a shrinking economy. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss, who oversees the survey, says federal crop support payments and higher grain prices helped boost October's index, but noted that nearly three-quarters of bankers "reported continuing negative impacts from [...]

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) - A former Florida police officer who accidentally shot and killed a former Minnesota woman during a citizens academy exercise will serve no prison time. Lee Coel pleaded no contest Wednesday to second-degree manslaughter as part of a deal with prosecutors. A Lee County judge sentenced Coel to 10 years of probation. He must also make restitution and has agreed not to seek employment as a police officer. The gun was supposed to have blanks.

LITTLE FALLS, Minn. (AP) - State investigators say a driver who fired at pursuing law enforcement officers in central Minnesota shot himself after crashing his vehicle. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension says Todd County sheriff's deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop Tuesday evening near Browerville.

FARGO, N.D. (AP) - Many farmers in the Midwest and South whose planting this year was besieged by wet weather are getting a reprieve, though a few Northern states have seen harvest prospects go from bad to worse. Minnesota and the Dakotas have seen snow and rain in recent weeks that have hampered an already difficult harvest. But much of the Corn Belt has somewhat recovered from heavy rains in the spring and summer, with experts predicting good yields from what did get planted.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — One woman is dead and five others are injured in a head-on crash in St. Paul. Police say two vehicles carrying nine people collided in the Battle Creek neighborhood Thursday evening. An 18-year-old woman who was thrown from a vehicle died at the scene. Authorities say three men suffered critical injuries and two people have noncritical injuries. Investigators say one car carrying six people turned into the path of the second car and struck it head on. They are working to determine whether drugs or alcohol contributed to the crash.

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Many farmers in the Midwest and South whose planting this year was interrupted by wet weather are getting a reprieve, though a few Northern states have seen harvest prospects go from bad to worse. Minnesota and the Dakotas have seen snow and rain in recent weeks that have hampered an already difficult harvest. But much of the Corn Belt has somewhat recovered from heavy rains and flooding in the spring and summer, with experts predicting good yields from what did get planted, though it's still a far from stellar year for most farmers. In its Oct. 10 crop production report, U.S. [...]

WELCH, W.Va. (AP) — Authorities in West Virginia say three people have now been charged with murder after the remains of a Minnesota man were found in McDowell County. News outlets report 31-year-old Amanda Michelle Naylor McClure, 32-year-old Anna Marie Choudhry and 55-year-old Larry Paul McClure Sr. were charged with murder and conspiracy in the death of John Thomas McGuire. Choudhry and Amanda McClure were initially charged with concealment of a deceased human body. Larry McClure was originally arrested for failing to register as a sex offender. West Virginia State Police Trooper K.M. Saddler says the three related suspects knew McGuire. He says [...]