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By The Associated Press

E-CIGARETTES-MINNESOTA

Minnesota House votes to expand state’s indoor vaping ban

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota House has voted to ban vaping from bars, restaurants and workplaces statewide.

The House approved the ban 100-25 Thursday in a move aimed partly at reversing the growing popularity of e-cigarettes among young people.

The bill would restrict the use of e-cigarettes wherever tobacco smoking is currently banned under the Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act, which covers most public buildings and workplaces. It beefs up existing state and local restrictions against vaping in certain settings.

The chief author, Democratic Rep. Laurie Halvorson, of Eagan, says it’s meant to ensure that all Minnesotans can breathe clean air in public places.

The bill is backed by Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation, which hopes it will now get a hearing in the Senate, given its bipartisan support in the House.

FARM DISASTER AID

Minnesota Legislature backs disaster aid for barn collapses

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Legislature has approved expanding a zero-interest disaster loan program for farmers, just in time for producers with buildings damaged by heavy snow this winter.

The bill unanimously passed the Senate Thursday, and then passed House without opposition. It now goes to Gov. Tim Walz for his signature.

The bill broadens eligibility for the Disaster Loan Recovery Program run by the state’s Rural Finance Authority. It adds uninsured losses from the weight of snow, sleet or ice to the list of damages covered by the program. It would be retroactive to Jan. 1.

The proposal was one of many that were included in a massive budget bill vetoed by Gov. Mark Dayton last year.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture says around 75 barns statewide have collapsed this winter.

AP-US-WOLVES-US-PROTECTIONS-THE-LATEST

The Latest: Wolves resilient, but proposal tests expansion

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A proposal to strip grey wolves of federal protections could curtail their rapid expansion across vast swaths of the U.S., yet the predators already are proving to be resilient in states where hunting and trapping occur.

The Interior Department on Thursday declared grey wolves recovered across the Lower 48 states. If finalized, the proposal would allow hunting in more areas.

The species has seen a remarkable turnaround — from near-extermination to more than 6,000 grey wolves spread across nine states.

Critics say hunts could kill thousands of the animals and prevent their further spread.

But in the Northern Rockies, where legal wolf harvests began a decade ago, the animal’s numbers have held relatively steady and packs have expanded west into Oregon, Washington and California.

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DEATH PARTY

Man charged with murder in overdose death of ailing wife

SEARLES, Minn. (AP) — A Minnesota man accused of removing his ailing wife from a care centre, taking her home and holding what he described as a “death party” before she died has been charged with murder.

Fifty-eight-year-old Duane Johnson had been charged with criminal neglect in the January death of his wife, Debra Lynn Johnson, at their home in Searles. Brown County prosecutors have now added a third-degree murder charge.

Prosecutors say Johnson told investigators he was fulfilling a promise to his wife that he would not let her die in a nursing home when he removed her from a transitional care facility against medical advice.

Authorities say Johnson told them he gave some methamphetamine to his wife because she wanted to party before her death.

A criminal complaint says the 69-year-old woman died of a methamphetamine overdose.

GROUND TURKEY RECALL

Butterball recalls ground turkey after 4 salmonella cases

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Butterball LLC is voluntarily recalling more than 78,000 pounds of raw ground turkey products nationwide as Wisconsin health officials investigate four salmonella cases in the state.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services said Thursday that the four patients have the same strain of salmonella and are linked to the Butterball ground turkey products being recalled.

Health officials say a Minnesota resident who reported eating ground turkey also has the same strain of salmonella as the Wisconsin cases but the brand of the product consumed is unknown.

The Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection and local health departments are aiding in the investigation by state health officials.

The products being recalled have establishment number “EST. P-7345” in the USDA mark of inspection. The products were shipped to retail locations nationally.

WOMAN KILLED-CHILD ABDUCTED

Man arrested for killing mother of his child, girl missing

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee police have arrested the man wanted for killing the mother of his child, wounding a second woman and for abducting the toddler. But, there is no sign of the 2-year-old girl.

Dariaz Higgins was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon on Milwaukee’s northwest side. A second person was arrested for harbouring a fugitive.

The girl, Noelani Robinson, is still missing and an active Amber Alert remains in effect in her disappearance. Police say they are investigating leads that the child may be in St. Cloud, Minnesota or Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Higgins is charged with fatally shooting Sierra Robinson and wounding another woman Monday afternoon.

The Associated Press

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