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Several cats were rescued and no injuries were reported after a fire damaged a Ramsey home and spread into a large grassy area Sunday, May 3. Firefighters were called to a structure fire on 157th Lane NW, according to the city of Ramsey. The fire extended to a large grassy area south of the structure. The Rum River Fire District said crews extinguished the structure fire and rescued several cats from the building with assistance from the Andover, Nowthen and Oak Grove fire departments. Two firefighters immediately treated the cats after they were removed from the home, according to the district. ...

Federal and state law enforcement searched two Fridley autism centers April 28 as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged fraud involving publicly funded social-service programs. The Fridley locations were Empower Skill Academy and Aspen Associates LLC. The searches were part of a broader investigation involving the Department of Homeland Security and the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families. The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families said in an April 28 statement that the law enforcement actions were the result of state, county and federal agencies working together. ...

Hello. This is Piper the cat writing. I belong to Madeline, the girlfriend of Elliot Steeves, who works for Adams MultiMedia of East Central Minnesota and recently moved in with her. As I stand here for the brief amount of time I have to type on this keyboard, I want to inform you all of one very simple fact: I am utterly beautiful. I am a proper calico — a domestic longhair, most likely — with long, white-spotted fur and fabulous nails. My biscuit-making skills with my paws are so amazing that I can type on a keyboard. ...

The cooling system that keeps ice frozen at the National Sports Center’s Super Rink is 28 years old, and officials say replacing it has become a critical infrastructure need. State legislators are seeking bonding money for the project, but the request comes during a year when infrastructure needs across Minnesota exceed the funding likely to be available. Jayme Murphy, director of health, data and analytics for the National Sports Center, said the Super Rink is a state-owned building and is eligible for state bonding funds. ...

Inside a Blaine cafe on the evening of April 23, survivors and police delivered the same warning: human trafficking can begin in familiar places — a home, a hotel room, a gaming app or a phone screen. The Growing Change Together fundraiser, held at Storyteller Cafe, brought together survivors, police and community members to raise awareness about human trafficking and signs that someone may be at risk. The fundraiser supported the Stories Foundation, which works to combat human trafficking. ...

Sen. Andrew Matthews, R-Princeton, has introduced a bill that would provide St. Francis with a $3 million grant for water and sewer improvements along Highway 47 from Cree Street to 241st Avenue. The funding, which would come from state bonding, was presented to the Senate Transportation Committee on April 22. St. Francis Mayor Mark Vogel, testifying before the committee, said the city needs to replace existing water and wastewater lines, some of which date back to 1979. ...

The Senate Transportation Committee heard legislation April 22 aimed at addressing safety concerns at the intersection of Highway 65 and Bunker Lake Boulevard, according to a press release. The bill, authored by Sen. Michael Kreun, would direct funding from the Trunk Highway Fund toward redesign and construction of the intersection. “This is Anoka County’s top transportation priority for a reason,” Kreun said. “The intersection is widely considered one of the most dangerous in the county, and it’s unsafe for every single person who travels that corridor.” ...

The Nowthen City Council voted 3-2 April 14 to appoint Michael Hoium to the Planning Commission, choosing him over former Mayor Jeff Pilon after a divided discussion over the interview process and the future of planning and zoning in the city. Mayor Shane Hybben and Council Members Mary Rainville and Dan Swenson voted for Hoium. Council Members Ken Glaser and Dan Breyen opposed the appointment and favored Pilon. Glaser said that after watching the Planning Commission meeting, he understood Pilon to be the members’ primary choice. Hybben confirmed that everyone had voted for Pilon and that some had also voted for Hoium. ...

Nowthen’s first small cannabis cultivation business is moving forward, but its owner told the City Council the operation will look less like an industrial grow site and more like a “glorified garden.” The City Council unanimously approved an interim use permit April 14 for Matthew and Rhiannon Paradise to grow cannabis on a 7,000-square-foot portion of their 39.5-acre farm at 19420 Rhinestone St. NW. The cannabis would be grown outdoors and sold to dispensaries, according to the applicants. ...

Hello. This is Piper the cat writing. I belong to Madeline, the girlfriend of Elliot Steeves, who works for this paper and recently moved in with her. As I stand here for the brief amount of time I have to type on this keyboard, I want to inform you all of one very simple fact: I am utterly beautiful. I am a proper calico — a domestic longhair, most likely — with long, white-spotted fur and fabulous nails. My biscuit-making skills with my paws are so amazing that I can type on a keyboard. ...