Minneapolis police investigating man’s death

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minneapolis police are investigating the shooting death of a man found inside a vehicle.

According to police, when officers responded to a report of shots fired at about 10 p.m. Friday they found the victim in a vehicle in an alley. He had at least one gunshot wound.

Police say a number of people were detained nearby but officers were trying to determine if they were involved.

The victim’s identity has not yet been released. It’s the city’s second homicide of the year.

Ryt-way is 1st Minn. business to join ICE program

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A food service business in Lakeville is the first Minnesota company to sign on to a federal program designed to ensure that its workers are legal.

The program is called IMAGE, or ICE Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers. It’s a voluntary program that allows businesses to partner with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Abortion opponents to march at Minn. Capitol

ST. PAUL (AP) — Abortion opponents including Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann are protesting at the Minnesota State Capitol Saturday on the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision.

It’s an annual march organized by Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, the state’s biggest anti-abortion group, to mark 38 years since the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion.

The event usually draws thousands of abortion foes.

Bachmann and fellow GOP Reps. John Kline, Erik Paulsen and Chip Cravaack are expected to speak from the Capitol steps.

Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life will also roll out its agenda for the state Legislature, which is under Republican leadership for the first time since the early 1970s.

Minn. biofuel producers get $750K in grants

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Seven Minnesota biofuel producers will be receiving nearly $748,000 in federal grants to expand advanced biofuel production.

The money will come from the Agriculture Department’s Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels.

U.S. Sen. Al Franken of Minnesota says the funds will allow the state’s biofuel producers to expand and innovate, creating jobs and reducing dependence on foreign oil.

Most of the total is going to Minnesota Soybean Processors, which will get nearly $400,000, Cargill Inc. at nearly $190,000 and Corn Plus LLP, which is getting nearly $130,000.

Smaller recipients include FUMPA Biofuels ($18,000), Chippewa Valley Ethanol Co. ($6,000), West River Dairy ($3,400) and Riverview LLP ($2,800).

The grants were part of a larger funding package announced by the USDA on Thursday for biofuel producers in 33 states.

Famous NE Minn. black bear Lily delivers twin cubs

ELY (AP) — Internet sensation Lily the black bear has again given birth in her northeastern Minnesota den — this time to twin cubs.

The first twin was born at 1:51 p.m. Friday, and the second followed at 3:03 p.m. That’s according to a Facebook post by Sue Mansfield, a biologist at the Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center in Ely.

Mansfield wrote on the center’s blog that Lily began clenching her teeth Thursday evening. That was what signaled the beginning of labor last year before she gave birth to her cub, Hope, while viewers watched on a web camera.

The bears have been holed up in their den since October.

Minn. basketball player still in critical

GLYNDON (AP) — A high school basketball player who collapsed during a game in western Minnesota remained in critical condition after undergoing heart surgery.

Perham player Zach Gabbard collapsed Thursday evening during a game at Dilworth-Glydon-Felton High School. A defibrillator was used on Gabbard before he was rushed to Sanford Medical Center in Fargo, N.D

The family has been updating CaringBridge.org, a website used to inform people about a patient’s condition. They posted that he had surgery Friday. A post Saturday morning said he remained in critical condition, after “up and down moments throughout the night.”

A Friday night post said he was “not out of the woods yet” and asked for thoughts and prayers.