Minneapolis news in the Star Tribune:

Everyone knows that the treasures in the marbled hallways of the world's great museums often carry the invisible stain of plunder - yet the Minneapolis Institute of Arts is earning plaudits for its willingness to part with an ancient Greek vase that was likely stolen from Italy. While you're at the museum wishing the vase farewell from its 28-year home, you can take in the St. John's Bible, an illuminated manuscript that took modern Minnesota monks and a British calligrapher 11 years to finish. Also noteworthy among the city's temples to the arts: a fantasy camp at Orchestra Hall that allows amateurs to make music with the pros.

Up in north Minneapolis, a nonprofit's plan to build 48 units of apartments for low-income and homeless families at 1800 Emerson Av. N. has met with opposition from the Old Highland Neighborhood Association, which would prefer the money go to rehabbing existing homes. Yet a report says the need is acute - with 50 percent more families in Hennepin County going homeless, likely a result of the May tornado that devastated the North Side.

Poor folks used to live in the flophouses and missions in the old Gateway District downtown. Chances are they wouldn't be able to afford the gleaming apartments in the $70 million residential-retail building envisioned for the northwest corner of Washington and Hennepin.

Public safety: Amy Senser has been charged with a felony in the hit-and-run death of Anousone "Ped" Phanthavong, who is eulogized by his friend and employer in an op-ed piece today. A young man who admitted taking part in the robbery-turned-triple-murder at the Seward Market last year testified against his alleged accomplice.

Finally, today reporter Steve Brandt marked the passing of Andrew "Gene" Carr, the advertising man who brought the world "Minnegasco Mini," the Indian maiden with a flame in place of the feather. CenterPoint Energy no longer trots out Mini, since depicting Indians as mascots is, fortunately, mostly a thing of the past. Yet she still smiles at us from manhole covers.