MONTANA AVALANCHE DEATHS

2 Minnesota snowmobilers die in southern Montana avalanche

COOKE CITY, Mont. (AP) — Two Minnesota men died in an avalanche in the mountains north of Yellowstone National Park. Park County officials say a group of eight snowmobilers was riding near Scotch Bonnet Mountain north of Cooke City at mid-day Monday. One of the men got stuck on a southeast facing slope and another man was trying to help dig him out when the avalanche happened, burying the two riders. The group used their rescue equipment and were able to find the men, but they were unable to revive them. The coroner says the victims are 43-year-old Jesse Thelen of Paynesville, Minnesota, and 40-year-old Carl Thelen of St. Martin, Minnesota.

SUPREME COURT-LIMBO CREEK

Minnesota Supreme Court to review drainage projects ruling

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Supreme Court says it will review a ruling by the Minnesota Court of Appeals that provided environmental protections for Renville County’s last free-flowing stream. The October appeals court decision called for an environmental review to determine whether a proposed drainage ditch improvement could harm the stream in the heavily agricultural western county. The dispute involves proposed improvements to a century-old ditch that empties into the upper reaches of Limbo Creek. Backers say the project would lead to better drainage of farmland in the area. The Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy says the appeals court’s ruling sets a precedent that means any drainage project across the state that affects public water will require an environmental review.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-MINNESOTA

Minneapolis delays city’s return-to-office date to February

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Officials in Minneapolis have pushed the city’s return-to-office date back to February. The Star Tribune reports workers were due back on Jan. 10 but now have until Feb. 14 to return. The move comes after some staff took issue with going back to the office as the omicron variant surges without a vaccination requirement. The new return-to-office date coincides with the expiration of Mayor Jacob Frey’s latest public health emergency declaration. City spokeswoman Sarah McKenzie says the delay will give the city another month to assess post-holiday COVID-19 spread. About 60% of the city’s approximately 4,000 employees are considered essential workers who have worked in-person through the pandemic. St. Paul has not established a return-to-office date for city staff.

STOLEN DECORATIONS

Police in Scandia searching for stolen street decorations

SCANDIA, Minn. (AP) — Police in a St. Paul suburb are searching for stolen street decorations. Scandia Mayor Christine Maefsky told the St. Paul Pioneer Press on Monday that on Dec. 22 someone made off with seven giant snowflake decorations the city hung on lampposts. The town originally bought 42 of the ornaments at a cost of $100 each. The decorations hang 11 feet above the ground, suggesting the thief _ or thieves _ were highly motivated. The mayor said the thefts has left her town a little less merry.

POLICE-KNEE-ON-NECK

Mankato officials won’t discipline officers for take-down

MANKATO, Minn. (AP) — Officials in Mankato have decided not to discipline two police officers accused of using excessive force when they took a college student to the ground outside his apartment six years ago. Justin Coates posted a photo on social media of Sgts. Ken Baker and Bill Reinbold pinning him to the floor. Baker has his knee on Coates’ neck, much like Derek Chauvin had his knee on George Floyd’s neck. The Mankato Free Press reported Tuesday that the city announced neither officer will be disciplined after an “ongoing dialogue” with Coates. The city’s statement touted a number of initiatives the police department has launched in the past year, including listening sessions and establishing a committee on police reform.

MANSION FIRE

Investigators suspect arsonist torched shoreline mansion

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Investigators think an arsonist torched a mansion on Lake Minnetonka’s shoreline. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports the fire in the village of Minnetonka Beach was reported just before midnight Monday. Police arrived to find the 6,320-square-foot mansion’s second floor engulfed in flames. Fire officials said two residents were outside and taken to a hospital with minor injuries. Police said as the house burned authorities received a report of someone with gas and candles. No one has been arrested. Long Lake Fire Chief James Van Eyll said the home is a total loss. Property records show it was assessed in January 2020 at almost $3.4 million.

MINING RULES

Appeals court says group can sue over mining rules

ELY, Minn. (AP) — A Minnesota appellate court has affirmed that a wilderness advocacy group has standing to challenge state rules on copper mine sites. The Minnesota Appeals Court’s ruling Monday means that Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness’ lawsuit can continue. The group filed the action in June 2020 arguing the 29-year-old siting rules should prohibit copper mining along waters that flow directly into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The group fears run-off from a proposed Twin Metals Minnesota copper-nickel mine in the Rainy River Headwaters would flow into the Boundary Waters. Twin Metals Minnesota moved to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing the wilderness group hasn’t shown any injury. Appellate Judge Michael Kirk ruled Monday that state environmental law grants broad standing.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-MINNESOTA

Minnesota tops 1 million COVID cases since start of pandemic

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota has topped a million cases of the coronavirus since the pandemic began in March of 2020. The state Department of Health confirmed 4,155 new cases, lifting the total number of infections to 1,000,361. The figures released Monday do not include cases from the holiday weekend, which are expected to be updated Tuesday. Minnesota’s case count includes nearly 12,800 people who have become infected with COVID-19 more than once. Johns Hopkins University researchers report that there has been 703 new virus cases per 100,000 people in Minnesota over the past two weeks. That ranks 21st in the country for new cases per capita.