Arrest in hit-and-run that killed U of M student

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A 29-year-old Twin Cities man has been arrested in connection with last week’s hit-and-run that led to the death of a University of Minnesota student.

Minneapolis police Sgt. Stephen McCarty says Friday that tips and information from witnesses led police to the suspect. Investigators are seeking additional information.

McCarty says the man was arrested Thursday on suspicion of murder. The Hennepin County attorney’s office has until Monday to file charges.

Court records show the man was convicted of careless driving and driving while impaired in two separate 2008 incidents. His probation on the DWI conviction just ended last month.

Twenty-three-year-old Benjamin Van Handel of Appleton, Wis. Died Thursday from injuries suffered in the April 15 hit-and-run. Two others suffered minor injuries.

Prince’s Minn. land removed from public auction

CHANHASSEN (AP) — A 20-acre piece of land in the Twin Cities owned by recording artist Prince has been removed from public auction after it fell into foreclosure.

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Co. arranged to auction the land in Chanhassen on May 13. But, Prince spokesperson Kiran Sharma says the mortgage balance of $368,000 has been satisfied.

Carver County records set the property’s value at about $1 million. The foreclosure in the latest in several delinquencies for the rock star. Last year, Prince paid $1.3 million in current and delinquent property taxes for 14 properties in the county, including his recording studio in Chanhassen. The Star Tribune says he was also late paying taxes in the county in 2006 and 2008.

Hibbing nurses set 3-day strike

HIBBING (AP) — Nurses have scheduled a three-day strike next month at the Range Regional Health Services hospital in Hibbing.

The Minnesota Nurses Association says nurses Friday delivered to management their 10-day intent-to-strike notice, as required by federal labor laws.

The strike is set to begin at 7 a.m. Wednesday, May 4, and end at 7 a.m. Saturday, May 7. It would involve about 150 nurses.

The two sides have been negotiating for nearly nine months. The union says the main sticking points have been staffing levels, scheduling and a management proposal that lumps sick days and vacation days together.

Another negotiating session is scheduled for next Thursday.

GOP’s Pawlenty wants US ambassador out of Syria

ST. PAUL (AP) — Potential GOP presidential contender Tim Pawlenty wants the U.S. to recall its ambassador to Syria and seek economic sanctions to send “a clear and strong signal” opposing the nation’s violent crackdown on demonstrators.

In a written statement Friday, the former Minnesota governor also pressed President Barack Obama to seek a formal condemnation from the United Nations Security Council.

At least 75 people were killed Friday when Syrian security forces fired bullets and tear gas at protesters. It was the bloodiest day of a month-long uprising against Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Obama is condemning the latest use of force against anti-government demonstrators and says the regime’s “outrageous” use of violence against the protesters must “end now.”

Pawlenty is among several Republicans considering a bid to challenge Obama’s re-election next year.