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Southwest RDC to have annual meeting
The public is invited to attend the Southwest Regional Development Commission's annual meeting on Thursday, July 13, at the Hiawatha Lodge in Pipestone, beginning at 4 p.m. and conclude with dinner. This year's guest speaker is Mayor Mike Huether, city of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Huether will speak on regional economic development and the importance of both private and public investment in our communities.
Registration is necessary. If you plan to stay for dinner the cost is $15 per person. If you are attending the meeting only there is no charge but you are still asked to register. RSVP by calling the SRDC Office, 507-836-1644 or by email: rwynia@swrdc.org prior to June 29.
Bow angler lands Minnesota's largest invasive carp
REDWOOD FALLS (AP) -- A bow angler has landed the largest invasive carp ever recorded in Minnesota.
The Department of Natural Resources said the bighead carp was caught Sunday in a private gravel pit near Redwood Falls. The fish measured 47.5 inches long and weighed 61.7 pounds.
Invasive fish coordinator Nick Frohnauer called the capture "somewhat alarming" given the carp's size and location. The carp was captured about 80 miles upstream from the only other bighead carp captured in the Minnesota River.
The DNR said the fish likely entered the gravel pit during high water. The pit is in the Minnesota River flood plain.
Invasive carp have been progressing upstream since escaping into the Mississippi River in the 1970s. The large fish compete with native species and pose a threat to rivers and lakes.
Ex-governor, wrestler Jesse Ventura to work for Russian TV
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Former Minnesota governor and professional wrestler Jesse Ventura said he hasn't been able to find work since his highly-publicized defamation lawsuit against the estate of "American Sniper" author Chris Kyle, so he will work for Russian TV with a new commentary show.
Ventura told The Associated Press on Thursday that he has personal assurances from Russian President Vladimir Putin that "The World According to Jesse" won't be censored by the government-funded RT network.
Ventura, 65, lost his health insurance with the Screen Actors Guild union last year because he wasn't doing enough work in the industry. The former governor said finding work has been a challenge because of the publicity generated by his lawsuit against Kyle's estate.
"I can't get a job in the U.S. No one will touch me," Ventura said. "My United States union throws me in the dirt and who comes to the rescue? Russia."
RT has provided the health insurance he lost with the actors guild, the Star Tribune first reported. Ventura said he signed a contract last fall for 32 shows, but hasn't yet filmed an episode, which he'll do in Minnesota. The first installment was to air in the next month or so, he added.
Ventura's 2015 show "Off the Grid" was produced by Ora TV, the on-demand network launched by TV host Larry King, and was carried by RT America, the U.S. channel of the Moscow, Russia-based RT network.
A federal jury in 2014 awarded Ventura $1.8 million in his lawsuit against his fellow Navy SEAL, Chris Kyle, who Ventura sais defamed him by alleging he made derogatory remarks about the special operations force. The jury award was overturned by the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2016.
The subject matter in Ventura's new show will be broad based.
"It'll be my viewpoint on what's happening around the world," Ventura said. "I want to do it. But, in some ways I was forced to do it."
Ventura served as Minnesota governor from 1999 to 2003 as a member of the Reform Party.
Dairyland, Minnesota Power to partner on Superior plant
SUPERIOR, Wis. (AP) -- Dairyland Power Cooperative will partner with Minnesota Power to build a $700 million natural gas electric plant in Superior.
Dairyland CEO Barb Nick said the natural gas generation will complement the solar and wind resources Dairyland has added to its portfolio and shows the company's commitment to renewable energy.
The La Crosse Tribune said coal has been the backbone of Dairyland's generation resources, but it's been adding renewable resources with a plan to reduce coal's share of capacity to 50 percent by 2026.
The Superior plant needs regulatory approval in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Groundbreaking is expected in 2018.
Wisconsin wolf population up 6 percent
MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- New data shows Wisconsin's wolf population has grown to around 950 animals.
The figures from Department of Natural Resources monitoring show between 925 and 952 wolves roam the state. That's up about 6 percent from the then-record count of 866 to 897 wolves last winter. The currently population could be higher. Volunteer trackers counted wolves during the winter, when the population reaches its lowest point before pups are born.
Online DNR records show that so far this year there's been 15 confirmed wolf attacks on livestock and one confirmed attack on a hunting dog. The state has paid out $196,397 in wolf damage compensation so far this year. It paid out $200,505 over all of 2016.