MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A new survey by Bankrate.com shows a slight silver lining when it comes to our financial health, but reveals some problems, too.

A poll of more than 1,000 Americans shows that 54 percent have more savings than credit card debt, but one in four Americans have more credit card debt than emergency savings. The study says 16 percent have neither credit card debt nor emergency savings.

The results also showed that parents are the most likely to have more credit card debt than emergency savings. And overall, the survey reveals many Americans are living on the edge without a safety net, with 40% of people admitted they are one emergency away from financial crisis.

Rashad Butler, an assistant manager at a Minneapolis Jazz Club, is among them after a painful detour in debt while trying to make it as an artist.

“I had no safety net, no foundation, so what I have now is all I have,” said Butler, who says he is undergoing debt counseling. “I am really trying to avoid bankruptcy, just out of pride I’d say.”

Bankrate.com says those likely to have neither credit card debt nor emergency savings are households with income of less than $30,000 per year, those with a high school education or less and the unemployed.

Households with income of $75,000 or more per year, college graduates and retirees are the most likely to have more in emergency savings than credit card debt.

Savings is a slow trend, although on the uptick, according to John Hoffman. He founded Consumer Credit of Minnesota, a non-profit rescuing people out of credit crisis.

“First thing I would say is sit down and do a budget. Take a sincere look at the money you have coming in, and then second part, look at your pattern of spending,” said Hoffman.

Hoffman says the bottom line comes down to living within your means. Hoffman tells his consumer credit clients to put 5 percent to 9 percent of their take home pay into a savings account, and also advises credit card customers to pay the same amount each month, and more than the minimum payment.

Last, Hoffman says keep a journal of your spending.

“If I am using this credit card to get miles, OK fine, but if I am using it to live above where I am at, then I am not so OK with that,” he said.

Bankrate.com recommends stockpiling six months’ worth of emergency savings. Read more about their survey here.

JACKSON, Minn. (WCCO) – One family in southwestern Minnesota is grateful the first big snow fall didn’t arrive until Monday. It’s because their 12-year old son is allergic to cold weather.

Grant Schlager constantly needs to bundle up, be careful with cold drinks and pace himself with summer swimming. Schlager is from the small southern Minnesota town of Jackson.

While you may have never heard of such an allergy, doctors say it’s more common than you’d think.

Schlager seems about as normal as 12-year-olds come. He picked his football jersey number to match his birthday, his younger brother is his best friend and his hat sports a popular video game character. Grant, however, lives with a condition that has kids on the playground talking.

“They didn’t know anyone else who did except for me,” Schlager said.

While Jerry and Amy Schlager are no stranger to parenting with five kids, they said they could’ve never predicted what happened a little more than a year ago.  It was after swimming in the backyard, they saw the first sign of a problem.

“He said, ‘Look at my legs,’and it was like, ‘Oh my gosh!’  I said, ‘What is that?’  It looked like someone had thrown acid on him!” Jerry Schlager said.

It wasn’t until winter came that Grant had his second episode.

“When he took his snow suit off, he had big welts.  I wouldn’t even say they were hives, they were welts,” Amy Schlager said.

A couple doctors later, the Schlager’s ended up in Dr. Martha Hartz’s office.  Hartz is a pediatric allergist at the Mayo Clinic. Dr. Hartz diagnosed Grant with a medical condition called “cold urticaria.”

“I looked at my parents, and I’m like, ‘What?’ and they kind of looked at the doctor and they’re like, ‘Really?’,” Grant Schlager said.

The Schlagers had never heard of such a thing, but they said it didn’t take long to know it was a condition they needed to move on.

“You can have a severe enough reaction where it’s life threatening,” Dr. Martha Hartz said.

The worst reactions, as you might guess, come from swimming pools.

“He can have this release of histamines, where you get a full body reaction where you go into shock, lose consciousness and then, if you’re in the water, you drown,” Jerry Schlager said.

Many people with cold urticaria go undiagnosed, and that’s when drowning becomes the biggest risk.

“Dr. Hartz said sometimes you’ll hear of a drowning victim, and people will say ‘I don’t understand it, they were great swimmers and they just went down,’” Amy Schlager said.

Grant is allowed to swim, presuming he slowly acclimates to the cold temperature.  In addition to monitoring swimming, drinking cold beverages, even cool air conditioning can also bring on a reaction. This is precisely why the Schlagers have decided not to move to a warmer climate.

When Grant does go outside, he bundles up, and stays out for 15 minutes at a time before his parents check his skin.

“If I have bumps, they’ll say, ‘Um, why don’t you stay in here, warm up a bit?’” Grant Schlager said.

Grant also must carry his epy pen in case of an emergency.

“It’s a little unnerving to send him away from us, whether it’s to a friend’s house, whatever,” Jerry Schlager said.

For the Schlagers, one of the biggest challenges has been dealing with what’s often been skeptical reactions.

Research shows one in 2,000 people suffer from cold urticarial.

“So it’s not quite as uncommon as people think it is,” Dr. Martha Hartz said.

Dr. Hartz said while they don’t know why certain people have the allergy, they’re learning urticarial sometimes runs in families.

Since Grant’s story was recently published in the “Mayo Clinic’s Magazine,” several parents have reached out to the Schlagers.

“They found me, called us up, and just was relieved, I mean very relieved sounding saying, I heard about this, my Mom read about it, and my daughter has this,” Amy Schlager said.

While most people don’t think to ask, “Am I allergic to the cold?,” the Schlagers said they share their story with hopers that a seemingly silly question could save a life.

The allergy usually doesn’t develop until young adulthood.  It’s less common in kids like Grant, but they can outgrow it. Your children could be more at risk if you have a family history of allergies and asthma.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A college campus is reeling and four sets of parents are dealing with the loss of their daughters. Those young women were just starting out at North Dakota State University.

Lauren Peterson, Megan Sample, Jordan Playle, and Danielle Renninger died Monday on the way back to school from the Twin Cities.

Their car slid into oncoming traffic on Interstate 94 near Alexandria.

On Tuesday classmates left cards on the dorm where two of the friends lived. “Losing four out of the campus is like losing 4 family members,” said NDSU student Cody Hanson.

Each of the four women killed were freshman at NDSU and had only been students there for about five months. But cards and messages left on the doors of their dorm rooms showed just how much they’ll be missed.

“People that don’t even know these girls are mourning and sending their prayers to families and friends,” said NDSU student Courtney Picket.

More than 200 miles from Fargo, the sorrow was felt just as much. Each of the women graduated from high school in the Twin Cities. Peterson, who was driving Monday, graduated from Prior Lake.

On Peterson’s Facebook page friends remembered her love for dance. One wrote, “I’ve been thinking of you all day, it just seems so fake. I feel peace in the fact that your dancing on clouds, and hanging with the angels.”

Renninger graduated from Minnetonka High School and was studying marketing at NDSU. Tuesday morning students and teachers were remembering Danielle as someone who inspired others.

“A lot of us are just trying to figure out why stuff like this happens. We’re going through memories of Danielle and celebrating her life together,” said teacher Erik Sill.

Sample and Playle graduated from Rogers High School together, and lived in the same dorm room on campus.

In a statement, Jordan’s family said, “Jordan approached life with great joy and happiness. She loved life, and brought the best out in the people around her. No one could have a better daughter, sister, or friend.” “Jordan was a really pretty girl. Everyone liked her. There was no one who didn’t like her,” said Rogers student Logan Boward.

Playle, Sample, and Renninger all lived in the same dorm at NDSU. The women, along with Peterson, had been home visiting their families for President’s Day weekend. All four were wearing their seatbelts, and alcohol has been ruled out as a cause for the crash.

Renninger’s mom said her daughter told her she was proud of how she was doing in school, and that she was getting straight A’s. Her parents said she had a great smile and was wise beyond her years.

On Wednesday at Minnetonka High School they will have a pink-out day to remember Danielle.

The man, Jason Lee King, was being transported from the Beltrami County Jail to a medical appointment at the Sanford Bemidji Medical Center. Police said he escaped custody on foot and was heading east and north of the hospital. King was being held on armed robbery charges in connection with a robbery at a Newby’s store last December.

Officers were able to track King to a stolen vehicle that was spotted on Highway 89 north of Bemidji. They attempted to stop the vehicle, but it sped away and a chase ensued through Red Lake and Redby and speeds up to 90 miles per hour.

Police said the suspect vehicle frequently drove into oncoming traffic, forcing cars off the road. The vehicle continued through Redby, where it crashed before a foot chase ensued into a wooded area.

Officers from Kootchiching County, Clearwater County, the Minnesota State Patrol, the FBI and the U.S. Border Patrol were called into assist. Authorities are still searching for King at this time.

Anyone with information on where King might be is asked to call the Red Lake Police Department at (218) 679-3313 or the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office at (218) 333-9111.

BEMIDJI (WCCO) — Six dogs rescued from two Bemidji mobile homes in late January are now ready for a new home, but there are still several others that need a lot of attention before they can get a new place to live.

These dogs are being helped at the Animal Humane Society in Golden Valley, and others are being helped by foster families in the Twin Cities through Pet Haven, Inc.

Now, volunteers are trying to turn fearful dogs into playful pups.

It’s been a big adjustment for a little guy, named Moe, who volunteer Laura Geib is working with at the Animal Humane Society.

“This is all new. A very scary time for him, but he’s coming around fast,” said Geib.

Moe is shy. He’s fearful of people, just like the other 100 dogs that were taken from the Bemidji mobile homes. These dogs lived in a pack and didn’t get to interact with people.

Police called their living conditions “very bad” and the amount of dogs “unbelievable.”

The dogs’ female owners were evaluated for their medical conditions, and their homes were condemned.

“I’m just going to gradually pet up to the top of the head, up to the ears, down to the barrel of the body,” said Geib.

Geib wants Moe to get used to her touch, her smell, and the simple act of someone else around.

After three weeks, Moe and a handful of other dogs are responding well in the shelter, but three dozen other animals need additional work, more long-term care.

There are dogs like Diamond. She’s now living with Youa and her boyfriend, Nick, in their Twin Cities apartment. They’ve become Diamond’s foster parents.

“She doesn’t really know how to play yet. We’re teaching her how to be more comfortable,” said Youa.

Diamond needs constant contact, in a much calmer environment than the shelter, away from other dogs and numerous distractions.

“She’s very shy! Shey’s shy at first. There are moments with us.. she’ll go and hide and peak her head out and observe everything,” said Youa.

The couple is giving Diamond individual attention, but they know soon, she’ll be ready to venture into a new home, a permanent one.

“So yes, great experience over all,” said Youa.

It’ll be another week before Diamond goes to her new home and Moe gets adopted too.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Have you pinned today? Pinterest lovers know what we’re talking about.

The social sharing website is a hit, especially among women. Since launching in 2010, it now has more than 10 million registered users.

There’s an artist, a working mother and a new graduate. Three different women, and three different backgrounds. They all have one thing in common: One online obsession, and that’s Pinterest.

“It’s just amazing,” said Michelle Farullo.

“I signed up a week ago and have been on it every day since,” said Julie.

“I can’t even say enough about how great it is,” said Stephanie Bunomo.

It’s really a simple concept: It’s an online scrapbook or bulletin board. If you come across a photo of something you like, you add it to one of your Pinterest boards. Your images are then shared with Pinterest users all over the world.

“When you come across a good idea online, you kind of look at it and it goes in one ear and out the other so with Pinterest, you save it all to one space,” said Bunomo.

She uses Pinterest to stay organized, but that’s only part of it.

“The best thing about it is other ideas,” she said.

Bunomo is a full-time lawyer and mother, and she didn’t have one for her son’s birthday.

“Max is obsessed with superheroes,” she said.

After just a few minutes on Pinterest she came up with a superhero them, including directions on how to make a cake, a banner and favors.

“I’m not a creative person, but I’m a good copier,” she said.

Whether it’s fashion, food, travel, fitness or books, whatever your interest is, someone is pinning things you might like.

“It’s my resource center. It’s my inspiration file. It’s my bulletin board. It’s my social network. It’s all of that,” Farullo said.

An audiologist by day, Farullo’s true passion is her art. She shares from her studio with more than 100 followers on Pinterest.

“One of the editors-in-chief of a pretty well-known magazine saw one of the things I created, and she really liked it,” said Farullo.

So much in fact that a picture holder she made ended up on the front cover. Since then, she’s written several articles for the magazine.

Social media expert Dave Gerzof said the bulk of Pinterest users are women ages 25 to 44, and they’re statistically the top spenders in our economy.

“That is a very powerful demographic for advertisers and marketers. This is Facebook on steroids,” Gerzof said.

Pinterest is growing even faster than Facebook did in its infancy, and like its social networking predecessor, many users say once you start it’s hard to stop.

WILLMAR (WCCO) — The man who invented the chain saw’s unique chain design was actually married to a Minnesota woman. When he died, she moved back to the area and brought along her love of community. Now, that love is about to enrich the community of Willmar.

As pastor of Calvary Lutheran church in Willmar, Reverend Tim Larson is well aware of community needs. His parish members contribute to the impoverished, the hungry and the sick as well as to civic groups building a stronger future.

“Children, families, elderly and diversity, the needs are many,” said Larson.

Alice Erickson Cox, 97, understood that, too. Cox was an associate member of Calvary Lutheran who grew up in nearby Lake Lillian.

Last October, Alice was honored for her generosity by the Willmar Area Community Foundation with its 2011 Award In Philanthropy.

As part of the celebration, a video was shown of Alice being interviewed for the occasion. When asked about her beloved Willmar area home, Cox responded, “it’s my motherland, the heart of America.”

Alice moved back to Willmar in 2004 just a couple of years after her husband, Joe, passed away in California. They met back in 1942, when he was a logger and she went to California seeking a teaching job.

Joe went on to start the Oregon Saw Chain company, after watching how beetles chew through wood. He took several home and observed their mouths under a microscope.

“He, so to speak, discovered the way they attacked a tree. Well, he thought, that’s a good way a chain saw could attack as well, so he invented the chain used in the chain saw,” said Dean Anderson, the foundation’s director.

Joe’s patents were sold to other chain saw manufacturers and he eventually sold the company. The invention brought Joe and Alice tremendous wealth and his early retirement allowed the couple to travel the world.

After Joe’s death, Alice moved back to the Willmar area to be closer to some relatives and friends. Then, when Alice passed away in December 2011, the Willmar Area Community Foundation was in for a pleasant surprise.

“Some of their jaws dropped, it was over $6 million,” said Anderson.

The Joe and Alice C. Cox Fund will provide a legacy gift that will go a long way in meeting the needs of the people, in a place she loved.

“This is a marvelous way for us to respond to some of them and to do it with joy, and to actually fulfill Alice’s wish,” said Larson.

To put the gift into some perspective, it more than doubles the assets in the foundation’s trust accounts.

The couple had no children, so their entire estate was willed for the greater good of community needs.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) — Was it a sign of progress, or a sign of frustration?

Minnesota Vikings owner Zygi Wilf held a private meeting with Governor Mark Dayton on Tuesday. But there is still no Vikings stadium deal despite weeks of speculation that a deal was imminent.

I suppose you could call it progress compared to where the stadium was at this time last year. But now the legislature is past the halfway mark, and no Vikings bill to look at, let alone debate and vote.

Wilf met with Gov. Dayton for an hour behind closed doors on Tuesday. Wilf told reporters they are negotiating the final points of a deal to put the facility at the site of the Metrodome in Minneapolis. He said he is not frustrated by the stops and starts at the Capitol. And he predicts again, a deal is close.

“I believe that to get a deal like this done as complicated as it is, patience is needed and we will make sure to use that patience to make sure that we both agree on a term sheet that works for everyone’s benefit,” Wilf said.

When asked when a potential stadium deal might be finalized, Dayton said Tuesday that he had no idea. It’s a hot topic and debate that could easily go until the end of the legislative session, if not longer.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota’s new legislative district maps pit 46 incumbents against each other and create 23 open seats.

The new House maps released Tuesday pair 30 incumbents against each other and create 15 open seats. New Senate maps pit 16 incumbents against each other and create eight open seats.

The House gets six districts with two incumbent Republicans, six with two incumbent Democrats, plus three Democrat-versus-Republican pairings.

The Senate gets four districts with two incumbent Republicans, two with two Democratic incumbents, and two Democrat-on-Republican conflicts.

Some notable pairings include House Republican Majority Leader Matt Dean of Dellwood against GOP Rep. Carol McFarlane of White Bear Lake, and eight-term Democratic Sen. John Marty of Roseville against freshman Democrat Mary Jo McGuire of Falcon Heights.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

The Minnesota Security Hospital in St. Peter was fined by the Department of Human Services the maximum $2,200 in December for two cases of client maltreatment. The facility’s license was then put on conditional probation for two years.

DHS officials gave an update Tuesday to the House Health and Human Services Finance Committee, some of whom said they were concerned about the use of restraints and seclusion in the treatment of the state’s hardest-to-care-for patients.

Deputy Commissioner Anne Barry said the hospital will be stopping use of metal handcuffs and “spit cloths”_mesh fabric placed over the head to prevent spitting. Instead, there will be a new focus on trying to defuse dangerous situations and only using soft Velcro and fabric handcuffs in very serious situations, she said.

“There will be times when somebody is so self-injurious or so dangerous to others that you can’t negotiate with them, you can’t talk them down,” Barry said.

Since the fines and probation were ordered, another case of maltreatment surfaced involving a person who was restrained and secluded for a long time without clothing, Barry said.

Steven Pratt, the hospital’s interim medical director, said staff is being retrained. The facility wants to replace its policy of punishment and rules with more emphasis on constructive, positive interactions between staff and clients, he said.

“People don’t change when they’re comfortable. Right now people at Minnesota Security Hospital are not comfortable,” Pratt said of the staff.

Several of the hospital’s psychiatric staff recently left over differences with hospital administrator David Proffitt and a management style. The Department of Human Services ordered an investigation into claims that he was creating a hostile work environment.

Barry said her agency is hoping for investigation findings this week, but that it remains supportive of Proffitt’s approach. She said the hospital is in the process of hiring new psychiatrists.

Barry said after the hearing that she expects the department to develop benchmarks for improving patient treatment, using data on how often they are restrained or placed in seclusion.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

I struggle with the answer not because I’m at a loss for ideas; rather, it’s just the opposite, I have too many ideas! I start by narrowing it down based on allergies and strong dislikes (why do so many people dislike mushrooms?) and then pare it down further based on seasonality, amount of time to prepare, and ease of serving. Often I’m still left with too many ideas, so a bit of personal preference is thrown in and eventually I come to a decision.

(credit: Crystal Grobe)

Last weekend I faced the “What’s for dinner?” question and it didn’t take long to come to a decision on this roasted sweet potato salad. I could pick up most of the ingredients from the winter market at Local D’Lish and since the dish was on the lighter side, we’d have room for an appetizer, drinks, and dessert. I roasted the sweet potatoes, caramelized the onions, cooked the bacon and made the dressing ahead of time, leaving me plenty of time to socialize. While we finished appetizers, I popped the sweet potatoes and onions in the oven on the warm setting and assembled the salad while drinks were refilled. No worries, right?

Roasted Sweet Potato & Caramelized Onion Salad

Adapted from The Healthy Everythingtarian

(serves 4)

3 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced into 1-inch cubes
2 tbsp olive oil, divided
1 large onion, sliced
1 bag spinach
1 bag arugula
Microgreens and pea shoots (from Bossy Acres at Local D’Lish), optional
4 slices bacon
½ cup chopped pecans, roasted
¼ cup crumbled blue cheese
Salt and pepper, to taste

Dressing:

¼ cup olive oil
1 tbsp stone ground mustard
½ tbsp maple syrup
2 tsp white wine vinegar
Salt and pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Toss sweet potatoes with 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 30 minutes, lightly tossing halfway through baking.

Meanwhile, combine dressing ingredients in a small jar and shake until combined. Set aside.

In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté onions in 1 tablespoon olive oil, stirring occasionally until onions are caramelized and tender. Add ½ bag of spinach and toss with onions until wilted. Remove from skillet and set aside.

Add bacon to skillet and cook until browned (or save a few pieces of bacon from breakfast). Drain on paper towels and crumble bacon.

In a large serving bowl, combine arugula, remaining fresh spinach, and microgreen mix. Toss greens with ¾ of the dressing and top with roasted sweet potatoes, caramelized onions and wilted spinach, bacon crumbles, pecans and blue cheese. Pass remaining dressing alongside salad.

Crystal Grobe writes the Bite of Minnesota blog as well as Cafe Cyan.

Check out another helpful link here:

Twin Cities Food Finds

(credit: Amy Rea)

Last weekend I happened to be going through Walker and realized it was the weekend of the Eelpout Festival. This year marked 33 years of all things eelpout, and Walker was ready to celebrate.

(credit: Amy Rea)

While there were plenty of ice houses out on Leech Lake, the warm spells caused some restrictions to be placed: buses, RVs, and motorhomes were prohibited, and other vehicles were requested to stagger parking at least 30 feet apart, all while noting that anyone who chose to go out on the ice chose to do so at their own risk.

(credit: Amy Rea)

It is a little odd to be in northern Minnesota in mid-February and find yourself walking on a sandy beach.

(credit: Amy Rea)

Nevertheless, there was plenty to do. Chase on the Lake was on hand for transportation.

(credit: Amy Rea)

Or you could take a spin behind a team of sled dogs.

(credit: Amy Rea)

You could shop for warmth-inducing goods.

(credit: Amy Rea)

Or you could hang out at the weighing station and check out the eelpout itself. Kind of an ugly beast, but I hear it makes a pretty good meal.

(credit: Amy Rea)

As I was watching people having their eelpout weighed, a young couple walked by me, the woman saying, “Well, the first Eelpout Festival after we get married, we’ll have to—“ and the gong sounded, leaving me in the dark as to what they’ll do for that special event.

There was food too, and a beer tent, and a polar plunge, live music, on-ice auto race, and even a Bikini Ice Fishing Team Fashion Show. Kudos to Walker for pulling this off in the most temperamental of Minnesota winters!

What else is happening in our state? Be sure to check out the 10 p.m. Sunday night WCCO newscasts, where you can learn more in the weekly segment, Finding Minnesota.

Michelle Rose Chlan, 26 of Shakopee, can serve her sentence in a work release program, if eligible. In addition to 15 years of probation, she must register as a predatory offender.

In December 2011, Chlan pleaded guilty to one of three counts of third-degree sexual conduct in connection with the case.

According to a criminal complaint, Chlan was engaging in multiple sex acts with the boy she had met at a school in Shakopee through her job as a para-professional. The incidents happened between June of 2009 and July of 2010 in Burnsville.

The complaint states that Chlan performed oral sex on the boy at least three times during that time period. Chlan told police she was a teacher’s aide in one of the classes the boy was in and knew the behavior was wrong. Chlan would give the boy rides home when his mother wasn’t available for transportation. Sher performed oral sex on the boy once behind a K-Mart and twice behind a Burnsville soccer complex, according to the complaint.

Chlan must adhere to a long list of condition including psychiatric treatment, attend a sex offender program, submit to polygraphs as directed, have no contact with minors, submit to random searches and have no contact with victims.

The indictment, filed Feb. 14, charges Antonio Chavez Aguirre Jr., 29 of Balsam Lake, Wis.; David Michael Cook, 38, and Trisha Nicole Cullen, 28, both of Hibbing; David Richard DeKing, 54 of Carlton and Shad Daniel O’Neil, 33 of Grand Rapids, with one count of conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. Aguirre Jr. and DeKing were also charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams of methamphetamine.

Cullen and O’Neill were additionally charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and O’Neil was also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to the indictment, all five conspired with each other to distribute at least 500 grams of methamphetamine from the spring of 2011 to Jan. 26, 2012. The four men were also accused of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it on various dates. O’Neil is accused of possessing two handguns.

O’Neil has prior felony convictions of marijuana sale, first-degree burglary, writing bad checks and conspiracy to offer forged checks, all offenses in St. Louis County. O’Neil has also previously been convicted for a second-degree controlled substance and a fifth-degree controlled substance offense.

If convicted, all five face a maximum penalty of life in prison for the conspiracy charge. Possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, while possession with intent to distribute less than 50 grams has a maximum sentence of 20 years. O’Neil could face up to 10 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Metro Transit announced the closure will continue through Wednesday — and until further notice — with replacement bus service running at the Franklin Avenue, Lake Street/Midtown and 38th Street stations. Highway 55 will also remain closed from 26th Street East to Lake Street.

The rail service has been disrupted since Monday, when a cable connection broke on the Sabo Bridge over the Hiawatha light-rail line and Highway 55. The timetable for when the work on the bridge will be completed has not been determined.

The Hiawatha line continues to operate normally between Target Field and Franklin Avenue and also at Mall of America and 38th Street.

Customers are advised to expect delays and check the Metro Transit website for the latest updates.

City engineers began consulting with the Sabo Bridge’s original designers on Tuesday to start formulating a plan to repair the bridge.

The bridge closed Monday after the cable connection broke on the bridge’s mast, causing a pair of suspension cables to break loose. The connection for a second pair of cables was also found to be compromised, and even though they’re still in place, work must be done to avoid further damage.

The bridge includes 18 cables on each side of the bridge.

A release from the city states, “It is impossible to tell at this time, early in the response, how long the light rail and street closures will continue, however, a priority is to restore light rail service. The Sabo Bridge itself will remain closed until repair work is completed.”

Even though things are technically getting started this week, March is truly the craziest month of the high school sports athletic year. In the next five weeks, champions will be decided in girls and boys hockey, girls gymnastics, wrestling, boys swimming and girls and boys basketball.

State champions have already been decided in alpine and Nordic skiing as well as dance team.

This week, it’s all about girls hockey and gymnastics. We’ll take a brief look at both.

Girls Hockey: Minnetonka, Breck Lead Loaded Brackets

In Class AA, arguably the top team in the state isn’t playing at the Xcel Energy Center this week. Hill-Murray was upset by Roseville in the Section 4AA title game last Friday, leaving Minnetonka as the favorite to win the tournament with the top seed. Roseville is the No. 2 seed, and if both teams win out, they’ll face each other in the state championship on Saturday.

Edina is the No. 3 seed and Lakeville North is the No. 4 seed. I would keep an eye on that Mounds View squad. The Mustangs beat Blaine for the Section 5AA title and have proven they can play with anybody in the most crucial of circumstances. With that said, I’ll take Roseville to win it all.

In Class A, Breck got the top see and Warroad is the No. 2 seed. Maybe the most intriguing match-up in the quarterfinals will be between a pair of former conference rivals. No. 4-seeded Red Wing faces Hutchinson, who left a few years back for the Wright County Conference. Detroit Lakes might also be the surprise of the Class A bracket as they are 13-14 and beat No. 1-seeded Alexandria to earn their trip to state.

I would love nothing more than to see Breck face Warroad in the state title game. It’s metro versus greater Minnesota, two hockey powerhouses and the two top seeds. Class A action starts Wednesday, while Class AA play starts Thursday.

State Gymnastics: Northfield Looks To Continue Dominant Run

The Northfield gymnastics team hasn’t lost a meet in more than three years. That 35-meet streak includes beating state power Roseville for a state championship two years ago and repeating as state champions last year. The Raiders are looking to establish their tradition of dominance with a third team title this year. They all but coasted to a section title on Friday and have seven gymnasts back from their state championship team.

Northfield and Roseville will likely battle for the state crown again this year, but some other teams lurk in the shadows. Other qualifying teams include Park Cottage Grove, Cambridge-Isanti, St. Cloud Tech, Lakeville North, Stillwater and Minnetonka.

In Class A, it’s Perham’s tournament to lose. The eight-time defending state champions are back with six gymnasts from last year’s state championship run. Melrose, New Prague and Breck are also back after competing at the state meet last year. The other qualifying teams include Austin, Jackson County Central, Rush City/Pine City/Hinckley-Finlayson and Big Lake. I would keep an eye on New Prague as a dark horse in Class A.

The Class A team tournament is at 11 a.m. Friday and the Class AA meet is at 6 p.m. There is also a competition for individual state qualifiers on Saturday.

It looks to be an exciting kick off to the winter state tournament season this week. Tune into WCCO-TV’s High School Sports Rally Friday night at 10:20 p.m. as Mike Max, Frank Vascellaro and John Lauritsen will have all the action covered.

The assault happened on early Monday morning on the 400 block of 4th Street East.

Police say a masked man, identified as 29-year-old Brian Freeman, entered the home and attacked residents inside.

Christopher Michael Fulmer, 37, of Blue Earth was killed after being bludgeoned by a tool, which investigators are still working to find.

Three women were also hurt in the incident — 38-year-old Candice Freeman and two daughters, 19-year-old Brittany Devary and an unnamed 15-year-old. A third daughter, age 6, was not injured in the attack.

Freeman is Candice Freeman’s husband.

Freeman has not yet been charged in the case, but was booked into the Faribault County Jail.

The first fire occurred around 3 p.m. Saturday on the 1500 block of 30th Avenue North. The Minneapolis Fire Department responded to the fire, which was outside a school on the playground.

The playground equipment and mulch beneath it were fully engulfed and a number of windows were broken at the school, according to reports. The estimated damage is at least $60,000.

Authorities say the area smelled like gasoline and combustible gas was detected around the metal slide posts.

There were no injuries reported. Officials were able to determine the fire was set intentionally.

Then, the following day, another playground fire was reported in Brooklyn Park. According to the Brooklyn Fire Department, the fire began around 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Park Brook Elementary School.

Upon arrival, crews found a large fire on the play structure at the school. The playground equipment was destroyed and the fire was ruled suspicious.

Brooklyn Park authorities and the Minneapolis Fire Department are looking into a possible connection between the two fires.

Joel Maturi announced earlier this month that he will step down as athletic director when his current contract expires at the end of June. He is staying at the university as a faculty member and special assistant to Kaler.

Kaler said the four-person search committee will include Timothy Mulcahy, vice president for research at the University of Minnesota, Mary Jo Kane, the director of the Tucker Center for Research on Girls and Women in Sport at the U of M, Amy Phenix, the chief of staff for Kaler and John E. Lindahl, the managing general partner of Norwest Equity Partners and a graduate of the Carlson School of Management.

The larger 21-member panel includes student-athletes, Gopher coaches Don Lucia and Meg Stephenson, former student-athletes Quincy Lewis and Susan Grimm and Gophers athletics supporters Lou Nanne, Dave Mona and Darrell Thompson.

Kaler said the panels will work with Parker Executive Search to find the school’s new athletic director. They hope to have finalists for the position by late April, a person named by early May and in place by July 1.

Web Extra: See Full Map (.PDF)

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Fresh off the national stage of a failed presidential bid, Republican Michele Bachmann said Tuesday that she will seek re-election to her Minnesota congressional seat, even though her home is being thrown into a district currently represented by a Democrat.

A judicial panel released a new congressional map that put Bachmann’s St. Paul suburb of Stillwater in the new 4th District. Had Bachmann decided to run there, it would have set up a potential general election matchup with six-term incumbent Betty McCollum, the state’s only other woman in the U.S. House.

Instead, Bachmann said she plans to seek re-election in the redrawn 6th District, which runs from suburbs north of the Twin Cities in a line northwest to the city of St. Cloud. She said that represents “the heart” of the district she has represented since 2007.

WCCO’s John Williams Interviews Bachmann

Bachmann said the national prominence she gained on the presidential stump paves the way for her to be an even more outspoken advocate for fiscal conservatism in Congress. She made a splash early by winning a high-profile straw poll of Iowa Republicans in August but was unable to maintain the momentum. She dropped out of the race in early January after finishing last in the leadoff caucuses in Iowa, the state where she was born.

“I embody the voice of the 6th Congressional District,” Bachmann said. “I faithfully took that voice all across the United States, and amplified that very common sense Minnesota heartland voice of not spending more money than we take in, not increasing anyone’s taxes and having the government live within its means.”

Bachmann, a favorite of tea party conservatives who has often clashed with establishment Republicans, fared better in the court-drawn map than the one drawn by Minnesota’s GOP-controlled Legislature in 2011. Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton vetoed that plan, saying at the time he believed Republicans unfairly targeted Democratic incumbents and that he was only willing to sign redistricting proposals if they had bipartisan support.

The inability of Dayton and GOP lawmakers to agree on a political realignment threw the issue into the courts, where it has almost always landed in recent decades. Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorie Gildea appointed a panel of state judges to draw up new maps, and the group considered proposals from interested groups including the state Democratic and Republican parties.

Bachmann’s 6th District gained nearly 100,000 residents since the 2000 census, forcing the panel to trim suburban areas on its eastern edge — including the Stillwater precinct where Bachmann lives. Shortly after word of Bachmann’s decision broke Tuesday, McCollum’s campaign sent out a press release taunting Bachmann for “running away” from a challenge.

The new 6th is largely made up of her longtime turf and political power base, including the suburban city of Anoka where her family moved when she was 12 and counties northwest of the Twin Cities dominated by the kind of socially conservative voters who have traditionally supported her. If anything, the district might be even more conservative because it gained a portion of Republican-leaning Carver County.

That comes at the expense of her fellow Republican, U.S. Rep. John Kline, whose 2nd District appeared to grow slightly more favorable toward Democrats.

There were few revisions to Minnesota’s other seven congressional districts as a result of redistricting, the once-per-decade redrawing of congressional and legislative boundaries to reflect post-census population shifts. Bachmann was the only one of Minnesota’s eight members of Congress to be displaced; the other three Republicans and four Democrats stayed in the districts they currently represent.

Neither Bachmann nor Kline has gained a Democratic opponent yet.

Bachmann’s presidential bid will hand campaign fodder to her eventual opponent. She missed 71 percent of congressional votes between when she declared her presidential candidacy last June and when she dropped out in early January. Also, while campaigning in Iowa she repeatedly stressed her roots in that state directly to Minnesota’s south.

While members of Congress aren’t required to live in the districts they represent, Minnesota state lawmakers do face that requirement. Of the state’s 201 legislators, 46 were thrown into districts with fellow incumbents, including the Republican House majority leader, Matt Dean.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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