What's making news in Minneapolis:
Vikings stadium panel set; big tasks ahead: Gov. Mark Dayton named Michele Kelm-Helgen, his deputy chief of staff for legislative affairs, as chairwoman for the newly created five-member Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority. The authority, which could meet publicly for the first time as early as next week, will work in step with the Vikings on nearly every phase of a massive construction project that promises to reshape the downtown skyline for decades. (Richard Meryhew)
Funding cuts imperil safety, firefighters say: Reduced size of the Minneapolis Fire Department puts firefighters and the public at risk, legislators were told. (Randy Furst) See Renee Jones Schneider's photo gallery here.
Judge orders three children returned to parents: A judge has allowed children removed from their home over abuse allegations to return to their parents in a case that caused uproar in the Somali community, whose members claimed it was the result of a culture clash. (Abby Simons)
Woman championed peace, but died a homicide victim: Police found Lois Swenson dead in her bedroom about noon Wednesday after friends called to say they hadn't heard from her. (Mary Lynn Smith and Abby Simons)
Mom asks Coon Rapids hit-and-run driver to step up: The injured 9-year-old, Amir Taylor, a student at Lyndale Community School, was hit and seriously injured while riding his bicycle. (Abby Simons and Kristian Hernandez)
Man shot in back at Franklin Community Library is paralyzed (Masako Hirsch and Paul Walsh)
From the Twin Cities Daily Planet:
Tire store, warehouse planned at 14th and Marshall (Northeaster)
North Side revitalization plans slowed by economy and Hennepin County (TC Daily Planet)
Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame: A class-by-class list of all members
This retired journalist changed professional wrestling from Mankato
