Latest Minnesota news, sports, business and entertainment at 9:20 p.m. CDT

AP-US-EPA-MIDWEST-CHIEF

Biden appoints Debra Shore to lead EPA Midwestern office

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — President Joe Biden has appointed Chicago wastewater official Debra Shore to direct the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Midwestern office. Shore will oversee EPA’s Region 5, which includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin — along with 35 indigenous tribes. The office oversees efforts to clean up the Great Lakes and deals with matters including industrial and agricultural pollution and tainted drinking water. Shore is an elected member of the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. That agency handles wastewater treatment and stormwater management.

LINNAEUS-ARBORETUM RENAMED

College removes name of racist botanist from arboretum

ST. PETER, Minn. (AP) — A private college in Minnesota has renamed its arboretum that originally honored an 18th century Swedish botanist who has been lambasted for promoting racist scientific theory. The 120-acre greenspace at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter has been known as the “Linnaeus Arboretum” since 1988. It recognized Carl Linnaeus, who popularized the system of naming living things. Recently, though, Linnaeus has been criticized for classifying races among humans based on skin color. School officials say Linnaeus’ name and legacy do not accord with school efforts to build an inclusive community, especially since George Floyd’s death in Minnesota. The gardens at the school about 70 miles south of the Twin Cities have been renamed “The Arboretum at Gustavus Adolphus College.”

VIRUS OUTBREAK-MINNESOTA

Minnesota COVID-19 positivity rate hits vaccine-era high

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota’s COVID-19 test positivity rate has soared to 8.3%, the highest mark since the vaccines first rolled out late last year. The seven-day rolling average for the state’s positivity rate continues to climb toward the high risk category. The state draws that line at 10%. Meanwhile, COVID-19 hospitalizations in Minnesota reached 960 as of Monday and included 254 people needing intensive care. It was the highest level of hospitalizations the state has recorded since giving its first shots in mid-December. Minnesota’s rate of new infections for the past seven days is the seventh-worst among U.S. states. The most new infections continue to be among school-age children.

RABBIT FIRE

Scores of rabbits perish in Minnesota barn fire

HOLLANDALE, Minn. (AP) — A fire in southern Minnesota has claimed the lives of more than 100 rabbits. The Albert Lea Tribune reports the fire broke out in a barn north of Hollandale on Sunday night. The Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office says a neighbor walking nearby saw the fire and reported it. The sheriff’s office says 117 rabbits died in the blaze. Three survived. The cause of the fire remains unknown but authorities say they don’t suspect any foul play.

DISTRIBUTION CENTER

Amazon distribution center coming to Twin Cities suburb

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — An Amazon distribution center is coming to a Twin Cities suburb. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports that the 517,000-square-foot facility will open in Woodbury late next summer. The center is expected to generate 500 jobs and may add another 500 during the holiday season. It’ll be Amazon’s third large-scale facility in the metropolitan area behind an 855,000-square-foot facility in Shakopee and a 750,000-square-foot facility opening this fall in Lakeville. Woodbury City Planner Eric Searles said the City Council approved the project at a meeting in August but officials didn’t reveal that Amazon was moving in until Monday.

POLICE PURSUIT

Man hits two police cars, gets shocked by officer

MANKATO, Minn. (AP) — A Mankato man has been charged with two felonies after he allegedly hit two squad cars and threatened an officer with his belt. The Mankato Free Press reports Daniel Devens was charged Monday with fleeing police and property damage, both felonies, as well as gross misdemeanor counts of driving while intoxicated and obstructing the legal process. According to court documents, Devens began following a squad car in his Jeep on Saturday night. He stopped in front of the squad, got out, removed his belt and threatened to use it like a whip on the officer. He got back in his Jeep and a pursuit ensued. Officers blocked him in but he hit two squad cars before an officer stunned him.

COACH RESIGNATION

Minnesota HS football coach resigns amid investigation

PROCTOR, Minn. (AP) — The football coach at a Minnesota high school has resigned amid a police investigation into player misconduct on his team. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that Derek Parendo resigned from his coaching and teaching jobs at Proctor High School on Monday. He had worked for the school district for 21 years. Officials canceled the football season for all high school grades in September amid the investigation. Police have said little about the investigation because it involves juveniles. Proctor is a city of about 3,000 people just west of Duluth.

SCHOOL CLOSURES

St. Paul district officials consider closing 5 schools

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The St. Paul school district is considering closing five schools due to falling enrollment. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that school board members were briefed Monday on a proposal to close four elementary schools _ Highwood Hills, John A. Johnson, Jackson and Wellstone _ as well as LEAP High School. The changes would take effect in September 2022. As many as 2,949 students could find themselves in different buildings. Enrollment has dropped due largely to declining birth rates and a rise in school choice options. Board members received a report last week that shows about 16,000 of St. Paul’s school-aged children attended charter schools or used open enrollment to go to other districts in the 2019-20 school year.