Disasters

Giant oil skimmer being tested in Gulf of Mexico
A converted tanker billed as the world's largest oil skimmer is being tested in the Gulf of Mexico, where officials hope it will scrub millions of gallons of oil-tainted seawater.
President Barack Obama has declared disaster areas in seven Minnesota counties following last month's storms, making the counties eligible for federal funding.
BP spill nears a somber record as Gulf's biggest
BP's massive oil spill will become the largest ever in the Gulf of Mexico by Thursday based on the highest of the federal government's estimates, an ominous record that underscores the oil giant's dire need to halt the gusher.
A 44-year-old Brainerd man has been sentenced to 240 days in jail for crashing an ultra-light plane into Gull Lake last June while intoxicated.
Wind, waves from hurricane dock oil skimming boats
Dozens of small skiffs, huge shrimp boats and even a swamp tour boat were tied to docks, winds whipping their flags and waves rocking them even in the sheltered marina.