BROOKINGS, S.D. (AP) — A University of Minnesota dairy economist will speak at South Dakota University on Wednesday about current federal dairy legislation.

Marin Bozic will talk at the Alfred Dairy Science Hall from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The session is sponsored by the South Dakota Dairy Producers.

Bozic has been part of the team evaluating the impact of the Dairy Security Act and the Goodlatte-Scott amendment proposals currently under review in the U.S. Congress. His remarks are intended to help dairy producers determine how to weigh in with their Congressional representatives.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Not everything you plant in your garden this spring has to be colorful. Some plants stand out because they are edible. And nothing compares to the fragrance and flavor of fresh herbs.

WCCO stepped into a garden center to take a look at the herbs and vegetables you could be growing right now.

Therese Sexe, who designs containers at Leitner’s Garden Center in St. Paul, gave WCCO a tour of their Edible House, starting with oregano.

“It has a fuzzy leaf, but it is still edible,” she said. “And there are other varieties of oregano, too.”

The Edible House also has many varieties of mint, sage, basil, rosemary and thyme you can buy.

“Children love herbs because they can just pick off the leaves and eat them,” she said.

According to Sexe, whether you plant your herbs in ground on in a pot, you’ll be happy with what you get.

“It’s up to you. If you have room in the ground, you can do that. Most will survive our winters. You can do a container and have it right next to your back door,” she said.

Sexe also told WCCO about a newer variety of tomatoes that people are raving about — grafted tomatoes.

“It is a sturdy, disease resistant graft this tomato is planted on and it makes them produce a lot of tomatoes,” she said.

You can extend the life of your fresh herbs by hanging them up in bunches and drying them out or picking off the leaves and freezing them.

If you want to learn more about Leitner’s Garden Center on Randolph Avenue in St. Paul and their services, like selecting and planting flowers for your containers, click here.

The health department has been working with the City of Minneapolis and the state agriculture department to locate the source of the raw milk used to make the cheese. Authorities believe the cheese was made in a home and was sold on a street corner near East Lake Street in Minneapolis.

The cases were first detected late last month. Of the 25 known cases, 15 required hospitalization. All have recovered.

The health department used the outbreak to stress the dangers of consuming raw dairy products.

“It only takes a few bacteria to cause illness. Milking a cow is not a sterile process and even the cleanest dairy farms can have milk that is contaminated. That’s why pasteurization — or the heat treatment of milk to kill the harmful pathogens — is so important,” said Dr. Heidi Kassenborg, director of MDA’s Dairy and Food Inspection Division.

It is suspected this particular outbreak has run its course, the department suggested, but if you have any cheese that matches their description, you should throw it out.

Yes, we’ve set a record high for five straight days, but the current price of $4.31 a gallon is a penny lower than the day before and now there’s word that fuel from refineries on the Gulf coast will soon be diverted to the Upper Midwest.

“So, we do expect a slight decline to start perhaps later this week or early next week, with more significant declines by the middle of June,” AAA’s Gail Weinholzer said.

NewsRadio 830 WCCO’s Steve Murphy Reports

The fuel is being diverted to this region because we have the greatest need, with the highest prices in the nation.

A new survey finds Minneapolis has the highest gas prices in the Lower 48 states at $4.27 per gallon. The average U.S. price of a gallon of gasoline has jumped 11 cents over the past two weeks.

The Lundberg Survey of fuel prices released Sunday says, of the cities surveyed in the Lower 48 states, Tucson, Ariz., has the nation’s lowest average price for gas at $3.18.

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Over the weekend, when it wasn’t raining, you may have spent some time in your garden, planting flowers. Or maybe just getting the soil ready for what you will plant.

It is a sea of colors at Leitner’s Garden Center in St. Paul, a look that many of us would love to replicate in our yards. Gardeners who work there say we should go big and bold when selecting plants this season.

Therese Sexe, a container artist at Leitner’s, stressed how important it is to know which flowers like the sun and which ones crave shade.

“Impatiens …  work well in the shade and they give you a lot of color and are very reliable,” she said. “Here’s another one that’s bold and good to go. These are gerbera daisies. They are beautiful and good to go. They like the sun and give you color all summer as well.”

Sexe said she would rank petunias among the heavy favorites for spring flowers. They can handle a little shade or sun. They also work well in hanging baskets.

“(Baskets) are not hard to care for. Water them every day, feed them every couple of weeks like all annuals,” she said.

For working up your garden soil, Sexe suggested pulling up the weeds and adding some compost from either manure or a compost center. She said that would add amendments to loosen up the soil and add nutrients.

If you want to learn more about Leitner’s Garden Center on Randolph Avenue in St. Paul and their services, like selecting and planting flowers for your containers, click here.

The Twin Cities is averaging $4.34 per gallon, while Chicago’s averaging $4.30. Honolulu is third with $4.26.

Earlier this week Sen. Amy Klobuchar called on the Department of Energy to take action.

“This spike in gas prices is hurting families, businesses and farmers across Minnesota and disrupting commerce,” Klobuchar had said. “Scheduled maintenance at refineries should not be allowed to cause such major disruptions in supply. That’s why I have called on the Department of Energy to thoroughly review the closures and the timing of maintenance operations and take action to prevent future supply problems that cause consumers pain at the pump.”

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – The term “Going Green” can be a little intimidating.

But Saturday at the Union Depot in St. Paul, MN Goes Green organizers hope to make it easy with everything from repurposing items in your house, to fashion and food.

“I think most people want to do the right thing,” said Scott Mayer of MN Goes Green. “They want to recycle and make the earth a friendly place.”

And MN Goes Green can help.

“We have over 35 vendors who are going to be there offering some really simple do it yourself ways to be environmentally friendly,” Mayer said.

Co-ops such as Mississippi Market get fresh food, grown locally, no matter the season.

“We have more co-ops in Minnesota than anywhere else in the country,” said Liz McMann of Mississippi Market

People will also be able to bring old garments from their closet to have them turned into something new — a dress was even made out of a shower curtain.

And knick knacks from around the house turn into treasures, like cigar boxes becoming bird houses.

Owners of electric cars will also be outside the Union Depot, and can answer questions about how the cars work and how much they cost to run.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — What’s 10,000 Minutes of Minnesota Craft Beer?

It’s a packed week with member events and 612 Brew is a good place to start, as a cold one could, in fact, be considered art.

“When you look at art, you want to appreciate it, you want to take it in — it’s the same thing with beer, a lot of work goes into it,” Robert Kasak said.

This isn’t the only taproom to taste.

“There’s 10,000 variations of beer when you look at the industry, the home brewers in the state of Minnesota,” said Clint Roberts, executive director of the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild.

And with 10,000 minutes in a week, the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild is hoping everyone fills their time with ales and lagers — like 612 Brew’s ginger beer.

“I literally grate 70 pounds of ginger and throw it into the boiler,” Kasak said.

The labor of love can be found in the 50 breweries across the state.

“When you buy a Minnesota craft beer, or a local item, it literally is brewed by the guy down the street in your town,” Roberts said. “It supports your friends and neighbors.”

If you don’t want to fight the crowds in northeast Minneapolis, there are events all over the state, from Duluth to Rochester.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – It’s not exactly grilling weather this weekend with the rain, but that won’t be stopping Minnesota Monthly’s Second-Annual Grill Fest on Saturday and Sunday.

The best lesson? Everything can go on a grill, from vegetables to meat, say the executive chefs at The Dakota.

Though the chefs prefer the taste that comes from charcoal, they don’t mind the ease of using gas.

Drooling a bit? Head on down to The Depot in Minneapolis and check it out.

It’s $35 and click here for more.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Some elementary school kids in south Minneapolis got some real show-and-tell this morning.

FFA high school kids from the Morris area brought real farm animals to Risen Christ Catholic School. The idea was to teach city kids where their food comes from, and the big grills were fired up.

Everyone who wanted a burger got one for lunch.

“You ask them questions like, Where does your burger come from? And they say the grill. Where does your pizza come from? Little Ceaser’s. You know, they have all these ideas of the food comes from a grocery store or a restaurant,” said Natasha Mortenson, an FFA advisor.

The Future Farmers of America (FAA) get funding for this outreach from commodity groups, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and others.

The top prize now has an estimated cash value of $376 million.

The jackpot has been growing after none of the tickets sold matched all the winning numbers in Wednesday night’s $360 million drawing. The numbers drawn on Wednesday night were 2, 11, 26, 34 and 41, with a Powerball of 32.

The new jackpot now ranks as the largest in Powerball history and the second biggest lottery jackpot overall.

What would you do with the money if you won this weekend’s jackpot? Sound off in the comments section below.

The Minnesota Department of Health said Friday neither child required hospitalization. Both are less than 1-year-old and are recovering.

Krinos Foods, in New York, recently voluntarily recalled its Tahini sesame paste because of possible salmonella contamination. The Michigan Department of Agriculture recently did routine testing on a sample of the product in a retail store and advised Krinos of the positive test results.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says the Krinos sesame paste was distributed to retail stores nationwide.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

The Twin Cities’ average price for gas is the most expensive in the nation at $4.32 per gallon, according to GasBuddy.com. Chicago is second ($4.28), Honolulu is third ($4.25) and Santa Barbara is fourth ($4.17).

This comes after Thursday’s record-breaking day with an average of $4.22.

On Thursday, Sen. Amy Klobuchar called on the Department of Energy to take action, penning a letter to Energy Secretary Steven Chu.

“This spike in gas prices is hurting families, businesses and farmers across Minnesota and disrupting commerce,” Klobuchar said. “Scheduled maintenance at refineries should not be allowed to cause such major disruptions in supply. That’s why I have called on the Department of Energy to thoroughly review the closures and the timing of maintenance operations and take action to prevent future supply problems that cause consumers pain at the pump.”

The gas price spike came after the closure of oil refineries in the Midwest for maintenance, including two large refineries in the Chicago area.

Earlier this week, AAA’s Gail Weinholzer said we will not see any relief in prices at the pump before mid-June and there’s a chance we won’t see any significant relief before  July 4.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – As farmers get underway with their spring planting, some bee farmers in Minnesota are already counting their losses.

In the last couple days one major producer reported that thousands of honey bees suddenly died.

In 2005, Minnesota was the sixth largest honey producer in the nation. But since 2006, millions of bee colonies have died off in Minnesota and across the nation.

“Whatever it is, it’s affecting the nervous system of the bees,” said Rand Honl of Honl’s Bees, Inc.

When Honl checked on his hives Tuesday morning, it wasn’t the bees in the air that caught his attention but the ones on the ground.

Bee keeping runs in the family. Every spring Honl and his wife bring thousands of honeybees cross-country from Texas to Winthrop, Minn. Their honey is shipped across the country. But in more than 50 years of business, Honl has never seen this.

Their bees were fine last week, now most of the worker bees are gone.

Each bee box Honl has produces about 100 pounds of honey. Worker bees make all of the production possible.

Worker bees bring in the pollen, and Honl thinks by venturing into farm fields his bees were hit by pesticides.

“It’s something to do with farm chemicals. Right now, you know, they’re planting. They’re spraying. It’s got to be something to do with farm chemicals,” Honl said.

And Honl believes he isn’t alone. Other beekeepers across the country have reported similar problems. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture took samples of his dead bees, as did Bayer Crop Science, a company that makes pesticides.

It’s still too early to determine what killed Honl’s bees.

In a statement, Bayer said: “Reports of this kind should be carefully investigated. (We) understand the necessity for healthy bees as pollinators for agriculture and food production.”

Whatever the cause, it’s a major buzzkill for Honl’s business.

“You see this, and it’s just the pits, you know,” said Honl.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has reported that there isn’t one specific cause for the drop in bee colonies in the United States.

In addition to certain pesticides, the USDA says mass planting of a single crop and certain parasites have also been factors.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Tom and Marcia Sheppleman asked: Where does Minnesota’s gas come from?

Almost all of Minnesota’s gasoline is refined here in Minnesota, according to the Department of Commerce. The Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery near Rosemount makes 70 percent of the state’s gas. The rest comes from the Marathon Refinery in St. Paul Park.

Minnesota’s oil comes almost exclusively from Canada. But the amount fluctuates, according to Jake Reint, spokesman for Flint Hills in Minnesota.

He said that 80 to 90 percent of the oil for they purchase to make gasoline is from Canada. Pine Bend also brings oil in from North Dakota. In the past they’ve brought some in from the Gulf of Mexico.

Sheila from Stacy asked: What does a couple closed Chicago refineries have to do with our prices?

Because those repairs are taking a while, Minnesota refineries were selling gas to Chicago, according to Patrick DeHaan, petroleum analyst from GasBuddy.com. Right now the entire region has a tight supply… and so prices here jumped quickly.

Diane Runyan from New Brighton: Where is the North Dakota oil going?

According to Justin Kringstad and North Dakota’s Pipeline Authority, 71 percent of the oil goes out on train cars to refineries on the coasts.

Eight percent of the oil stays in North Dakota at its only refinery. Twenty percent goes on pipelines to the Midwest, some to Minnesota.

Dave Johnson from Owatonna: Why do they shut down several refineries at the same time?

Different companies own those refineries, and right now it would be against anti-trust laws to coordinate like that.

If you knew that two refineries were going to do maintenance, you might stockpile and take advantage of the higher price, according to Reint from Flint Hills.

“If you know the markets going to be short a certain number of barrels, you’d have a huge issue,” Reint said.

He said the equipment is set up to do maintenance on a part of the facility while continuing to produce gasoline from other parts of the operation.

“It’s a very competitive marketplace, and there are serious anti-trust rules. We don’t know what other refineries are doing,” said Reint.

Regardless, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), is calling for an investigation to see if there are ways to prevent having multiple closures in the same region at the same time.

“Scheduled maintenance should not be allowed to contribute to such a major gasoline shortage,” Klobuchar said.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – WCCO viewers picked what they believed to be the Best Patio in Minnesota, and Psycho Suzi’s in Northeast Minneapolis came out on top.

When sitting on Psycho Suzi’s patio, it’s easy to feel like you’ve left the North Star state.

“I describe it as your tropical oasis in Minne-snow-ta,” said Psycho Suzi’s Shannon Weed.

There are thatched umbrellas, tropical flowers, and a full assortment of umbrella drinks.

Suzi’s has been a Nordeast favorite for a decade, but only moved to the edge of the river a few years ago.

“Having this amazing opportunity to be on the Mississippi, I think that is hugely beneficial,” Weed said.

Not only did it give them more space, but it allowed for a whole new type of customer.

“We have people that cruise up on their boats, hang out here for the day, then cruise back down the river,” she said.

In fact, not only is the super-sized patio dog friendly, they’ve added a second level.

“I mean, it’s a balcony, overlooking a 300-person patio on the Mississippi,” Shannon said. “It’s kinda like a no-brainer, you have to do it.”

Add that to a menu packed with scratch-made pizzas, and Minnesota’s beloved tater tots, and it’s easy to see why Suzi’s patio has quickly become a summer staple.

“It’s just the amount of care that goes into it because we know how, how important this patio is not only for us, but for Minnesota,” Weed said.

This weekend would be a good time to check the patio out as Art-A-Whirl is taking place, and Suzi’s will be hosting a puppy fashion show.

The top two percent of income earners will pay two percent more on a portion of their income. The per-pack tax on cigarettes will rise by $1.60. Some corporate tax preferences will go away. But there won’t be any changes to the alcohol tax.

Gov. Mark Dayton, House Speaker Paul Thissen and Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk say the agreement will pave the way for the Legislature to pass its budget before a mandatory Monday night adjournment to the session.

Combined, the taxes will generate $2 billion more for Minnesota’s two-year budget. But the leaders say there is $400 million in potential property tax relief in their plan.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Drivers, and their wallets, have likely noticed the big 15 percent jump in gas prices this week. Some saw prices as high as $4.29 a gallon.

So, we sent Heather Brown to find out how people can get a little relief. Watch the report above to find out!

The Department of Employment and Economic Development says the cold, snowy April slowed hiring in seasonally sensitive sectors including construction, leisure and hospitality, and local government. The biggest job losses were in trade, transportation and utilities.

Steve Hine, director of the state’s labor market information office, says the federal budget sequestration cuts may have played a role, too.

Despite the job losses, Minnesota’s unemployment rate improved a tenth of a point to 5.3 percent in April. That’s the lowest rate since May 2008.

Also, the state’s total number of unemployed people dropped to 159,000, the first time that number has fallen below 160,000 since June 2008.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

The gas price spike came after the closure of oil refineries in the Midwest for maintenance, including two large refineries in the Chicago area.

AAA’s Gail Weinholzer said we will not see any relief in prices at the pump before mid-June and there’s a chance we won’t see any significant relief before the Fourth of July.

On Thursday, Klobuchar penned a letter to Energy Secretary Steven Chu.

“This spike in gas prices is hurting families, businesses and farmers across Minnesota and disrupting commerce,” Klobuchar said. “Scheduled maintenance at refineries should not be allowed to cause such major disruptions in supply. That’s why I have called on the Department of Energy to thoroughly review the closures and the timing of maintenance operations and take action to prevent future supply problems that cause consumers pain at the pump.”

AAA said only California, Hawaii and Alaska have a higher average price currently than Minnesota.

Klobuchar requested the energy department examine the timing of the refinery closures to “prevent future supply shocks.”

Experts with University of Minnesota Extension say reports of winter injury and winterkill of alfalfa continue to intensify across parts of southern Minnesota. That’s contributing to an existing shortage caused by two years of drought. The service has begun surveying farmers to get a better grip on the extent of the damage.

And producers are examining their options. Many of them will end up purchasing hay or growing some type of emergency crop to feed their animals.

Extension has set up a web page with educational resources for producers with questions about forage supplies. The service has also set up one on late planting, since many Minnesota farmers faced delays getting into their fields due to late-season snow.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — “When did that happen?” is the question most motorists are asking Wednesday, after seeing the latest price for a tank of gas.

Gas prices shot up to more than $4 statewide overnight — the highest being reported as $4.25 in the west metro, according to Gail Weinholzer, director of public affairs for AAA Minnesota/Iowa.

Even at Costco, which is typically the cheapest for gas, is reporting $4.09, she said.

And unfortunately, Weinholzer said there’s no relief on the way.

“What’s interesting is that over the last month we’ve seen about a 30-cent increase and yet, we’ve also seen a 30-cent increase today alone,” she said. “We started the day at an average in Minnesota of about $3.85 and virtually every place that I’ve talked to today is reporting in excess of $4.19.”

Weinholzer said on Thursday, we’ll “shatter” the previous record for the highest statewide average for gas. The previous record was $3.98 in July 16, 2008.

“Tomorrow morning we will report the highest statewide average that has ever occurred in the state of Minnesota,” she said.

The reason for this crazy price hike?

Two large refineries in the Chicago area — one owned by BP, the other owned by Exxon Mobil — have shut down for an extended period of time for maintenance, Weinholzer said.

“It’s not unusual for refineries to close for a week or so for maintenance but when I say ‘extended,’ one of these facilities has been closed since the middle of April and neither of them will restart before Memorial Day,” she said.

That means the supply has been severely constricted and subsequently, prices have shot up.

For those of you that typically try to wait it out and refill when the price drops again, you may be waiting longer than you’d like.

Weinholzer said we will not see any relief in prices at the pump before mid-June and there’s a chance we won’t see any significant relief before the Fourth of July.

“This is affecting the entire upper Midwest, from North Dakota to Michigan,” she said.

Rumors that the gas spike has something to do with the upcoming Memorial Day weekend — and big traveling weekend at that — are false, Weinholzer said.

“That is absolutely not the case,” she said. “There’s a significant portion of the country paying significantly less for gas than we are.”

Weinholzer said their website, fuelgaugereport.com shows a graphic where motorists can see this rise in gas prices is only hitting the Midwest region.

A glimpse at what is known and what is left to be decided on taxes, which are being raised to plug a future $627 million budget hole and increase spending for education, property tax relief and job creation grants.

TAXING THE TOP

Gov. Mark Dayton, whose family founded the department store chain that spawned Target Corp., campaigned on a “tax-the-rich” platform. In year three of his term, that will come to pass.

It’s the workhorse tax in the budget framework between Dayton and Democrats who run the Legislature. They have agreed to establish a new fourth tier on the state’s income tax. It would hit the top 2 percent of earners — applied to taxable income above $250,000 for married couples and $150,000 for single filers.

The new tax rate is still subject to negotiation, but will fall somewhere between 8.49 percent and 9.85 percent. That’s above the state’s current top tax rate of 7.85 percent.

THE TOP OF THE TOP

The tax burden could be even heavier for some.

As part of the agreement, there will be a temporary surcharge on taxable income above $500,000. The money derived from that will pay off roughly $850 million in state debt to schools racked up during prior budget fixes. Once that debt is erased, the surcharge goes away.

Here’s the catch: When lawmakers vote they won’t know the tax rate. It probably won’t be set until August, when the state budget agency formally closes the books on the last fiscal year. Any money left over from this fiscal year goes to repay schools, meaning the amount the surcharge needs to raise gets smaller.

Rep. Ann Lenczewski, the House Tax Committee chairwoman, said she expects the surcharge to be a couple of percentage points or less. It would start with this tax year.

TOBACCO TAX

People who smoke or chew tobacco will play a big role in bailing out the state budget.

Hundreds of millions of dollars will be drawn from higher tobacco taxes.

The per-pack tax on cigarettes will rise by at least 94 cents but perhaps as much as $1.60.

Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk said he would be surprised to see Minnesota’s tax shoot past the Wisconsin rate. That state now charges $2.52 per pack, and Minnesota would match that by upping its tax by $1.29.

The excise tax on moist snuff and cigars could go up by 20 percent or more.

STRETCHED SALES TAX

More things will fall under the state sales tax, but the list isn’t nearly as long as it once was.

The tax will touch services that are now exempt. Businesses that seek custom computer software and those that route their goods through warehouses will pay tax on those services, for instance. Admission to premium stadium seats and suites at sporting events will be taxed, too.

Most goods and services sold directly to consumers that weren’t taxed before won’t be taxed now. A plan to tax clothing, tattoos, wedding services, over-the-counter drugs, home maintenance and car repairs was dropped.

The extra money from the sales tax would pay for a sales tax exemption planned for purchases by city and county governments. The exemption will cost state government about $100 million per year, but lawmakers say it should ease pressure on locally imposed property taxes.

ALCOHOL TAX

House Democrats are keeping open the possibility of raising beer, wine and liquor taxes for the first time since 1987.

But their budget dance partners don’t want to go that route, especially top officials in the Senate.

The House plan would fetch more than $338 million from the added booze tax. Its backers claim that it amounts to 7 cents per drink, but brewers and others in the alcohol industry argue that the true impact on consumers could be twice that because the cost will be passed throughout the production and retail chain.

PROPERTY TAXES

While state taxes rise, Democrats are confident that property taxes will be tamped down — or even cut.

The budget outline has $400 million set aside for programs aimed at preventing increases in the taxes imposed by local governments. Some of the money takes the form of extra aid to cities and counties. Some will be used to buy off levies that schools use to supplement their state aid.

And some will go directly to renters and homeowners through existing tax relief programs.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

“The new logo reflects our 20 years of evolution, while paving the way for all of the fresh, exciting, new plans for Mall of America,” said Maureen Bausch, executive vice president of business development at the mall.

The new logo maxes out the star motif that previously played only as the accent mark in the mall’s previous logo.

Also, multiple colors have replaced the old logo’s emphasis on red and blue. However, a representative for the mall said that there were also designs to complement various occasions — pink for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, silver and gold for the holiday season, and on Independence Day, a return to red, white and blue.

The mall also unveiled a new tagline: “Always new.”

Mall Of America ranks as the one of the largest malls in North America, after the West Edmonton Mall in Alberta and the two separate buildings making up the King of Prussia Mall near Philadelphia.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Just a day after the new Vikings Stadium design was unveiled, a new redevelopment plan is in the works for the stadium’s backyard.

The city of Minneapolis is partnering with Ryan Companies to build a $400 million project in east downtown that includes a parking ramp, offices, retail space, housing space, and a park called “The Yard” – all with connecting skyways.

Web Extra: “The Yard” Photo Gallery

“There were all sorts of plans for this part of downtown but nothing has ever happened,” said Mayor R.T. Rybak. “Well, dog days are over. We are announcing one of the largest developments in the history of Minneapolis that will transform this area.”

The project will require the Star Tribune to relocate downtown and will generate about 2,000 jobs. Ryan Companies will be covering most of the costs. The city will be responsible for $65 million, which they plan to pay for by selling a bond and collecting revenue from the parking ramp.

“We want to create an urban park experience and a development that has excellent transit access and is very appealing to anyone who lives and works there,” said Ryan Companies VP of Development Rick Collins.

“You can do an awful lot when you bring a development that generates 3.5 million dollars a year”, Rybak said.

The Yard will be open for tailgating on game days. The city plans to break ground on the project in spring 2014 and finish it by 2016.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Actress, activist and philanthropist Angelina Jolie revealed in the New York Times she had a voluntary double mastectomy, and said her decision came after learning she had an 87 percent risk of getting cancer.

The actress discovered she had the potentially deadly BRCA gene mutation after losing her mother to ovarian cancer in 2007.

She said the surgeries were successful, and that her chances of getting breast cancer are now less than 5 percent.

BRCA-1 mutation is responsible for about 5 percent of all breast cancer diagnosis and about 15 percent of all ovarian cancers.

“It wouldn’t ensure [Jolie] would have gotten cancer, but it creates a substantial increased risk,” Allina Health Counselor Shari Baldinger said.

Baldinger said patients who are at risk for carrying the mutation should get tested so they can be proactive in their health.

“It’s a simple blood test,” she said. “So, physically, it’s not a tough decision. But it’s powerful.”

The tests cost about $4,000 and Baldinger said they are covered by most insurers. If a family member does test positive for the mutation, screening other family members costs $400 to $500.

If breast cancer runs in your family, you can ask your doctor for the test. However, they will know if it’s the best test to determine if you’re at risk for cancer.

Doctors and genetic counselors look at the results and can determine the short-term and long-term risks.

“If you tell a 27-year-old they have an 87 percent risk of cancer, it may not be inaccurate, but then the 27-year-old is going to want her breasts off yesterday,” Baldinger said. “If you point out this is your risk over the next five to 10 years, it may be more manageable. And not as overwhelming. Then we’ll discuss what are the other options.”

Surgery is just one of the treatment plans for BRCA patients.

The first option is to continue screening for cancer. It won’t prevent it, but it can help catch it. The BRCA mutation also increases the risk for ovarian cancer, which can be hard to catch early and it spreads faster.

“Removing tubes and ovaries are less dramatic surgery than a mastectomy,” Baldinger said. “But it has a more significant effect because women go into menopause.”

A hysterectomy is recommended if the woman is younger and done having a family. After understanding the immediate and long-term risks, some patients, such as Jolie, opt for surgery.

Dr. Margit Bretzke, a general surgeon at Abbott Northwestern’s Piper Breast Center, said nationally, a majority of people who carry BRCA-1 or BRCA-2 don’t do a prophylactic or preventative mastectomy surgery.

The third option is chemotherapy prevention, and taking medicine that will lower your chances of getting cancer.

Next, doctors recommend looking at which lifestyle changes you can make to be healthier.

“If it’s good for your heart, it’s generally good for your breasts — except for red wine,” Bretzke said.

Doctors stress that having the BRCA mutation doesn’t mean you won’t live a full, healthy, and happy life.

“There are women who have this genetic risk and live to be 90, and don’t get any cancer,” Baldinger said.

MAPLE GROVE, Minn. (WCCO) – Nadia Cakes in Maple Grove has people lining up for their delicious cupcakes. And the story of how the shop’s owner ended up in Minnesota is perfect for Mother’s Day weekend.

Abby Jimenez won The Food Network’s Cupcake Wars with an absolutely incredible Triple Berry Cheesecake Cupcake.

“There’s the graham cracker crust, New York-style vanilla bean cheesecake,” Jimenez explains. “It’s got a sour cream glaze, whipped cream, graham cracker, and triple berry compote.”

Jimenez has zero official training as a chef. She took a cake decorating class and started experimenting. Her first Nadia Cakes store was in California.

“My husband and I wanted to open a second store,” she said. “We took a 23-state, cross-country trip, and landed in Minnesota. The three kids are in public school, which is fantastic here. They have all their friends in the neighborhood, and the people here are very welcoming.”

The children’s family portrait hangs in the bakery at Nadia Cakes — and yes, Nadia is the middle child.

“Nadia lets it go to her head,” Jimenez said. “She comes into the shop and tells people it’s her shop.”

Nadia Cakes use a little pudding in the batter, and a magical extract that costs $145 per bottle.

Every day there are at least 14 different flavors up for sale.

“Yesterday, we had 24 flavors in the case, today we have about 18,” Jimenez said.

Valentine’s Day is the biggest week for the store, but Mother’s Day is a close second.

“It’s all about our kids,” Jimenez said. “This is a family-run business. My husband I both work the business. It’s family first. We did it for the kids.”

Jimenez still has her Nadia Cakes store in California — she and her husband take turns flying back to check on it.

It’s part of the Midwestern fight in many towns to slow down the growth of sand mines and production facilities.

Those against the sand mines want lawmakers to step in.

In part four of Inside Minnesota – and our conclusion to the series – WCCO’s Susie Jones talks to a lawmaker about what’s being done to answer citizens’ concerns.

PARK RAPIDS, Minn. (WCCO) – Park Rapids will be jumping in mere hours with the arrival of the governor.

Tim Young is a great ambassador for the ice-cold 2013 fishing opener. He’s been here before.

Young guided former Gov. Al Quie in Park Rapids only two days after ice out back in 1979. And they hammered it with a jig and a minnow fishing in the shallows.

That’s advice another Park Rapids area fisherman and ambassador agrees with. Mayor Robert Tufts of Dorset goes by Bobbie. He’s 4, but he knows there are fish here, and he knows how to catch them.

In his four years, Bobbie’s never seen the challenge of ice this late. But veteran Young hasn’t either.

“In my lifetime, I’m 65 years old, and I’ve never seen it,” Young said.

Still, even with the ice, he thinks there are fish to be caught just like in 1979.

“They were active and we caught a bunch,” Young said.

And even if you don’t get on some fish because of the conditions, the ambassadors of the Park Rapids area promise a good time.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) – Mother’s Day is almost here.

And that means a lot of us will be sending flowers to the women who mean the most to us.

WCCO viewers’ choice for Minnesota’s best flower shop is Martha’s Gardens.

Tucked away in St. Paul’s Merriam Park is a busy little flower shop capable of producing some very big work.

Martha Gabler Lunde — the Martha in Martha’s Gardens — is one of those people who ooze creativity.

Whether her focus is on flowers, or painting, or music, she’s always thinking. But even with her active imagination, Martha never envisioned opening her own shop.

“I do love the industry and what I do,” she said. “But owning a business, and being a mother wasn’t exactly in the plans.”

Those plans changed 15 years ago when Martha’s husband suddenly got very ill, and she was faced with the possibility of supporting her family all on her own.

“I don’t know that I would have had quite all of the ambition and drive had I not been going through such a health crisis within my family,” she said.

But her husband bounced back and her business blossomed.

Now her creativity is in full bloom. Martha isn’t shy about using non-traditional ingredients in her designs.

The hope is that customers are able to find the same joy in the arrangements that Martha and her crew find in making them.

“I think really it’s just about giving to people … distributing happiness,” she said.

The competition was tight this week, too, Angela’s Bella Flora in Duluth was a close runner-up.

In this installment of Inside Minnesota, WCCO’s Susie Jones talks to two concerned citizens who want to put the brakes on this project.

Listen.

Inside Minnesota: Silica Sand Storm (Part 3)

Susie went to a mine that’s been in operation for decades where they showed her how St. Charles’ proposed sand mine would work.

Inside Minnesota: Silica Sand Storm (Part 2)

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Gov. Mark Dayton says he has a plan that may rescue the state’s funding package for the new Vikings stadium.

New electronic pulltabs have not made as much as expected, so lawmakers are still looking for a different source of revenue for the state’s portion.

What’s the source? Well…it’s a secret.

The governor says he has a plan, but he won’t publicly say what it is. He will only say “it’s something you’ve never imagined”.

A lot of people never imagined that e-pulltabs would fall so far short of expectations — to the point that it might not be able to be counted on as a secure source of stadium funding.

Meanwhile, lawmakers are preparing to impose a memorabilia tax on a wide range of pro-sports related items.

On Wednesday, Dayton said his new plan just might work.

“I’m not going to make any predictions about e-pulltabs, e-bingo,” Dayton said. “I think it will improve. I don’t know how much, but I want to find a secure funding source that is sufficient so that even if it fails there would be enough revenue to pay back the bonds.”

The plan, the governor said,  doesn’t involve getting the Vikings to pay more.

So when will the plan be made public?

The governor said he doesn’t want to ruin the surprise. However, that’s not the word some irritated lawmakers would use to describe it.

They’re very concerned about the funding, and about the backup proposals to make up for the shortfall.

Note: The legislative session ends soon.

For years, the industry repelled long-term investors with high debt, losses, labor strife, bankruptcies, and roller-coaster stock prices. Now, airline bosses are eager to show that those days are over and their companies are good investments.

“Airlines used to be boom and bust companies, extremely risky. More airlines went out of business than earned a profit,” said S&P Capital IQ analyst Jim Corridore. “I think what Delta did today is they made a huge statement that, at least for them, it’s a different story.”

Delta said Wednesday that the dividend and stock buyback will return $1 billion to shareholders. The airline has posted a profit for three straight years, while trimming its debt by $5 billion.

CEO Richard Anderson said Delta’s financial plan “furthers our commitment to becoming the airline of choice for our employees, customers and shareholders.”

Other airline CEOs have also spoken of measuring their company’s success by its return to shareholders.

“We are running United like a real business, for long-term success,” said Jeff Smisek, CEO of United Continental Holdings Inc., on an April 25 investor conference call. But United has been losing money, and has had to give raises to employees and spend money fixing technology issues as it works through its 2010 merger with Continental. United said in a statement Wednesday that it is working to achieve its goals for financial returns “and will look to opportunities in the future” for other ways to spend its money.

US Airways Group Inc. is profitable, but has been focused on its own proposed merger with American.

Of the large U.S. airlines, only Southwest Airlines Co. pays a dividend — one penny per share per quarter. Southwest’s stability and consistent profits have helped it attract institutional investors such as pensions, which have avoided other airlines because of their volatility.

J.P.Morgan analyst Jamie Baker wrote in a note to clients that Delta’s dividend and share repurchase should win over more institutional investors, making its shareholder base more like Southwest’s. The moves should also boost Delta’s shares, Baker said.

He thinks United will follow Delta in a year or two, and the merged American sometime after that.

“We expect other managements will follow, or will have to answer to their owners as to why not,” he wrote.

Delta will pay a quarterly dividend of 6 cents per share on Sept. 10 to people who own the stock on Aug. 9. The yield, a measure of how much a company pays out in dividends relative to its stock price, would be 1.3 percent, based on Wednesday’s closing price.

The airline also plans to buy back $500 million of its stock by mid-2016. Buybacks have the effect of returning cash to shareholders because their shares then represent a bigger slice of the company and its profits.

Several companies have announced new or expanded share repurchases this year. Companies in the Standard & Poor’s 500 index authorized $208 billion in buybacks in the first quarter, and in April, Apple’s board authorized a $50 billion buyback, the largest ever.

Delta last paid a dividend in 2003. Airlines then were reeling from a slow economy, travel worries because of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and high costs left over from better times.

Delta’s trip through bankruptcy court from 2005 to 2007 wiped out its shareholders. United, US Airways, and Northwest also went through bankruptcies in the 2000s. American Airlines is in bankruptcy protection now, and plans to emerge as part of its merger with US Airways.

Delta bought Northwest in an all-stock deal in 2008. It earned about $2.4 billion from 2010 to 2012 and cut its adjusted debt to $11.7 billion from $17 billion at the end of 2009. Delta said it’s on track to owe $10 billion by the end of this year.

The carrier said its five-year plan calls for it to “achieve and maintain” adjusted debt of $7 billion. Delta ended 2012 with $3.4 billion in cash, which it uses to reduce the amount of adjusted debt it reports.

Berkshire Hathaway chief Warren Buffett was asked on Saturday whether airlines have become a good investment because of the consolidation in the industry. Buffett has sworn off airline investments ever since Berkshire Hathaway held preferred stock in U.S. Air in the 1990s. Berkshire eventually made money off the shares but not as much as Buffett expected.

Buffett said he continues to think airlines are a terrible business and a terrible investment with an insatiable appetite for capital.

“If it ever gets down to one airline and no regulations, it will be a great business,” he said.

Delta Air Lines Inc. is based in Atlanta. Its shares were up 58 cents, or 3.2 percent, to close at $18.66 after rising as high as $18.84 earlier. The last time Delta stock was that high was February 2008.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Jim Carlson owns the Last Place on Earth. He tells the Duluth News Tribune about 200 people have gotten the tattoos since he began the promotion about three weeks ago. He says he covers the cost up to $150, directly reimbursing the tattoo parlors.

Carlson says he also offers “incense” — a euphemism for one form of synthetic drug — to customers who get the tattoos.

City officials have tried without success so far to shut down Carlson’s store. The store has been raided several times, and Carlson and his son face federal and state drug charges.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A WCCO story about germs at indoor playgrounds has led to a new state resource for parents.

The report showed high levels of bacteria on every surface tested at three different indoor playgrounds.

That doesn’t necessarily mean a child will get sick, but the higher the number of bacteria, the better the chance.

Republican State Senator Mary Kiffmeyer hoped to pass a bill regulating the cleaning of indoor playgrounds, and while it didn’t go to a vote, but the Department of Health has created this web site.

The biggest lesson is simple — wash your child’s hands before and after they use the playground.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) – From long lines for Wild T-shirts, to packed hockey bars even when the team’s on the road –- St. Paul’s getting a financial boost from the postseason run of the state’s favorite hockey team.

Cossetta’s manager said people ordered pizzas in record numbers to take home when the Wild played in Chicago last week.

And on Tuesday night, manager Ray Vanyo is hoping their remodeled rooftop will be packed.

“The extended season is huge for us especially because it was a shortened season,” he said. “To get the extra playoff games is great.”

As for Jamie and Michael Freeman, they’re on their honeymoon this week.

“We’re going to try and find some tickets,” she said.

Taylor Jabs already has hers.

“We’ve gone to 13 games, so pretty much all of them,” Jabs said. “And we’re not even season ticket holders.”

Vanyo put the day in perspective.

“When everyone’s going to a hockey game in their shorts and flip-flops that’s a special time in Minnesota,” he said.

The silica sand mining industry exploded in Wisconsin over the past few years, with mines growing in number from about 10 to more than 100.

WCCO’s Susie Jones has the following special report called ‘Inside Minnesota’. It looks at one small town in southern Minnesota that is now the epicenter of the sand mining debate.

Listen.

Inside Minnesota: Silica Sand Storm (Part 1)

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Most of us spoil our pets — from spas, to high-end fashion to tasty treats — and you can find it all at Sunday’s Haute Dog event at Calhoun Square.

That’s where they all have a chance to strut their stuff on the runway.

“We outfitted them in some designer clothes and collars, leashes, we even put some crystal on them,” Julie Earling said.

Haute Dog at Calhoun Square even serves up new foods for posh pooches.

“We will be featuring freeze dried foods from various companies,” said Dan Mechley from It’s A Pet’s Life.

Some are locally made, too, such as Raw Bistro from Cannon Falls.

“We’ll have some coupons they can take into stores and get different products, as well as samples,”said Justin Magnuson of Raw Bistro.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – If you haven’t bought your mom a card or gift yet, you better get going.

Next Sunday is Mother’s Day, and here are some tips on easy, inexpensive treats from Bonnie Bazella at Lund’s.

If you’re not creative, the Lund’s at Penn Avenue will be offering a free cupcake decorating event next Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

And they’ll even package it up for you.