Helder found incompetent to stand trial
Luke Helder, the former college student accused of planting pipe bombs in mailboxes across the Midwest nearly two years ago, was declared incompetent to stand trial Thursday by a federal judge.
( TODD DVORAK, Associated Press, 04/01/2004 05:36 PM EST)

Minnesota Fishing Report
This is the Explore Minnesota Fishing Report as of Thursday, April 1. The Fishing Report will be temporarily discontinued until conditions are safe for open water angling.
( Outdoor News, Associated Press, 04/01/2004 05:09 PM EST)

Midwest manufacturing sector improves
State summaries from the Mid-America Business Conditions Survey conducted for March at Creighton University, with comments from economist Jim Knudsen:
( Associated Press, 04/01/2004 05:07 PM EST)

Survey: Midwest manufacturing sector improves
The manufacturing sector in the Midwest improved in March, but that was accompanied by higher inflationary pressures, a survey of supply managers and business leaders indicated Thursday.
( JOE RUFF, Associated Press, 04/01/2004 05:05 PM EST)

Big changes in Big Easy for women's Final Four
Dawn Staley remembers the games, of course. There also was a hospital visit to cheer up patients and a banquet.
( MARY FOSTER, Associated Press, 04/01/2004 05:01 PM EST)

Vikings' Mixon Sentenced for DWI
Minnesota Vikings defensive end Kenny Mixon was sentenced to 30 days in the county workhouse and 60 days of home monitoring Thursday after being convicted of drunken driving last month.
( Associated Press, 04/01/2004 04:44 PM EST)

News from around Minnesota
The pair of large bronze or brass cannons, complete with a few cannon balls, have gone missing here and City Hall and the U.S. Army want them back.
( Associated Press, 04/01/2004 03:59 PM EST)

Happenings in the 2004 legislative session
The Minnesota Family Council planned to start running radio ads Friday in the districts of 10 senators who voted against bringing a gay marriage bill to the floor before it had a committee hearing.
( Associated Press, 04/01/2004 03:22 PM EST)

Passing rate on 10th-grade writing test holds steady
The passing rate on Minnesota's 10th-grade basic skills writing test held steady for a fourth year at about 91 percent, although an achievement gap between white students and ethnic minorities persisted.
( BRIAN BAKST, Associated Press, 04/01/2004 03:05 PM EST)