‘Star of Wonder’ Planetarium show at SMSU

A series of Planetarium Christmas and laser light shows entitled “Star of Wonder” will be at Southwest Minnesota State University in December.

The dates for the shows are Dec. 11 from 7-8 p.m., Dec. 18 from 7-8 p.m., Dec. 19 from 2-3 p.m., and Dec. 24 from 2-3 p.m. The SMSU Planetarium is located in the Science and Math building, room 108.

There is conversation on whether this phenomenon was either a star, planet, or supernova of some sort. Is there a scientific reasoning for why this happened? The “Star of Wonder” encapsulates both entertainment and educational factors, using scientific data, religious history, beautiful imagery, and traditional music. This production showcases all the various theories that led the shepherds and wisemen to the birthplace of Christ.

Astronomers have used scientific calculations to determine the time of Christ’s birth. The show gives some insight as to how they determined this, along with how planets move and how the calendar changes throughout the ages.

Tickets for this show are $5 at the door. To ensure a good seat, please arrive early. For more information, please contact ken.murphy@smsu.edu.

3rd federal team to assist Minnesota hospitals with COVID-19

ST. PAUL (AP) — A third federal medical team will arrive in Minnesota to support hospitals dealing with the high number of coronavirus patients, Gov. Tim Walz announced Thursday.

A team of 14 doctors, nurses, and hospital staff from the federal Department of Health and Human Services will support COVID-19 treatment and patient care at M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina.

The team will arrive on Friday and deploy for at least two weeks, with the option to extend, according to Walz’s statement.

The governor said he asked President Joe Biden for more help dealing with COVID-19 when Biden visited Minnesota earlier this week.

Two emergency staffing teams from HHS have already assisted Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis and St. Cloud Hospital.

The three federal teams are relieving doctors and nurses who have been treating a spike in hospitalized COVID-19 patients around the state.

“Even now, more than 19 months into our fight against COVID-19, we continue to be presented with new challenges and a need for new solutions,” said Laura Reed, Fairview Health Service’s chief operating officer. “A rise in COVID-19 cases, coupled with a significant need for acute care, has caused many hospitals across the country to reach capacity.”

On Wednesday, Minnesota hospitals reported 1,549 patients hospitalized for COVID-19, including 345 patients in intensive care units.

South Dakota woman sentenced in 1981 death of infant son

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A South Dakota judge on Thursday sentenced a woman to 10 years in the state prison system for her infant son’s 1981 death that went unsolved for decades.

Judge Bradley Zell called the sentencing of 60-year-old Theresa Bentaas a difficult decision that he belabored for weeks, in part because it was not clear whether her son died from complications during birth or abandonment in the South Dakota cold. Zell suspended nine years of the sentence, meaning Bentaas will likely spend two months in state prison and serve the rest of her time under community supervision.

“This is a terribly sad and difficult human event which now needs to be brought to conclusion,” Zell said, acknowledging that the sentence was likely a bitter pill for both Bentaas’ family that had begged for her to go free and community members who had pressed for a strict punishment.

Bentaas had entered an “Alford plea” to a first-degree manslaughter charge, meaning that she maintained her innocence but agreed to be sentenced as convicted guilty. Prosecutors dropped first- and second-degree murder charges in the plea deal.

Lawyers defending her maintained that Bentaas had not killed her son, but rather he died soon after a birth that was not expected, even by his mother.

A psychologist who interviewed Bentaas as part of a forensic psychiatric evaluation diagnosed her with “complete pregnancy denial syndrome,” saying she did not recognize her pregnancy until she woke up in the middle of the night in the pains of childbirth.

The psychologist, Dr. Cara Angelotta of Northwestern University, told the court on a video call that Bentaas described her infant son as “lifeless” and “ghost-like” immediately after his birth, but did not remember other details of that night. She said the shock of the birth could have severely impaired Bentaas’ memory.

The infant’s death was uncovered by the curiosity of two men, witnesses said Thursday. First, Lee Litz told the court he was test driving a jeep with several friends on Feb. 28, 1981 when he spotted blankets in a ditch.

“My curiosity got the best of me and I went over to see what it was,” he told the court Thursday. “That’s when I found Andrew laying there with his back towards me.”

Not guilty pleas entered for father accused in baby’s death

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Not guilty pleas have been entered for a Sioux Falls man charged in the death of his infant son.

Dylan Castimore, 22, appeared via video from the Minnehaha County Jail Wednesday on charges of murder and manslaughter in the death of 8-week-old Daxton Castimore.

An autopsy determined the baby’s death was caused by a skull fracture. A contributing factor in the child’s death was a lacerated liver. Court documents say the infant had several other injuries, including broken ribs.

Castimore is being held on a $1 million cash bond.

Both charges carry a maximum of life in prison upon conviction. A preliminary hearing is set for Dec. 16.