Blood drive is Dec. 2 in Hendricks

Community Blood Bank will be the host of a community blood drive from 2-6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2, at Hendricks Community Hospital. This blood drive will provide blood to local patients in need throughout the holiday weekend. The public will have an opportunity to donate blood to impact patients’ lives in the area.

Donors must be at least 17 years old (16 years old with a signed parent consent form found at www.cbblifeblood.org), weigh 110 pounds or more and be in good general health the day of the donation. Bring an I.D. It is recommended that a person eat and drink plenty of fluid prior to donating. Community Blood Bank is not associated with any other blood bank organizations.

For more information log onto www.cbblifeblood.org or call Hendricks Community Hospital at 507-275-2219. Walk-ins are always welcome.

3 arrested in Bloomington, suspected in homicide

BLOOMINGTON (AP) — Police in a Twin Cities suburb have arrested three people in a suspected homicide and are searching for the victim’s body.

Authorities in Bloomington say 29-year-old William Albrecht was last seen Nov. 15 at a local residence. A 31-year-old woman and men, ages 26 and 32, who were with Albrecht when he was last seen have been arrested.

Investigators searched the house Tuesday and said they found evidence linking the three to Albrecht. The search was done soon after Minneapolis police opened a missing persons case in connection with Albrecht’s disappearance.

The Star Tribune reported Deputy Police Chief Mike Hartley did not say what evidence points to Albrecht being a homicide victim.

Bicyclist killed in downtown Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Police said a bicyclist has died in a collision with a truck in downtown Minneapolis.

The crash happened about 4 p.m. Wednesday in the Downtown West neighborhood. Police spokesman John Elder says the driver of the truck is cooperating with the investigation.

The victim has not yet been identified.

Dogs maul 11-year-old boy at Minnesota bus stop

MAPLEWOOD (AP) — An 11-year-old Maplewood boy is recovering after two dogs attacked him as he got off his school bus.

Sixth-grader Carter McKay got off the bus after classes at John Glenn Middle School in Maplewood Monday afternoon. His mother, Christina Frokjer, says two dogs were standing in his yard when Carter got home.

Frokjer told Minnesota Public Radio News the dogs got her son on the ground and bit him repeatedly in the leg.

A passer-by used an umbrella to drive off the dogs. A neighbor also tried to help and was bitten.

Maplewood police seized the dogs. Both were euthanized.

Carter was expected to leave the hospital Thursday. The Maplewood city attorney is reviewing the case for violations of city leash ordinances.

15-year-old in custody in northern Minnesota homicide

CASS LAKE (AP) — Authorities in northern Minnesota said a 15-year-old boy is in custody in the death of a 19-year-old man in Cass Lake.

Cass County Sheriff Tom Burch said Thursday the victim has been identified as Brandon Morgan Jr. of Cass Lake.

Burch said the 15-year-old was taken into custody and formal charges are pending.

The sheriff said Morgan’s death has been ruled a homicide and the investigation continues.

Deputies were called Monday evening to a home in Cass Lake and found Morgan’s body. No details about how he died have been released.

Survey of bankers shows rural economy growing in November

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new survey of bankers suggests the economy continues growing in rural parts of 10 Plains and Western states, but the ongoing trade disputes continue to hurt the outlook for more growth.

The Rural Mainstreet survey’s overall index improved to 54.2 in November from October’s 51.4. Any score above 50 suggests a growing economy, while a score below 50 indicates a shrinking economy.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss, who oversees the survey, says bankers still have a weak outlook for the region because of the ongoing trade war with China.

The confidence index for the region remained in negative territory at 44.4 in November even though it was higher than October’s 36.5.

Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.