Gophers wide receiver Brandon Green has been granted a medical hardship waiver by the Big Ten Conference. Green's participation in the 2010 football season (two games) will not count against him. He will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Green saw action in the first two games of the 2010 season before missing the rest of the season because of a knee injury. He did not record a catch last season. For his career, Green has 42 receptions for 599 yards (14.3 yards per catch) with two touchdowns.
BWCA permit fee cut It's not too often the government cuts fees -- in half.
But that's what will happen beginning Tuesday for people who reserve permits to enter the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota. The reservation fee, formerly $12, is being cut to $6. User fees -- including the $16-a-day fee for adults -- hasn't changed.
The U.S. Forest Service said the cost savings is because of increased efficiency of the reservation system. Officials merged the reservation service with the National Recreation Reservation System, which is a one-stop online reservation service for all federal lands in the U.S. The changes also reduced printing, mailing and copy costs and allows work once done by contract employees to be done by agency staff.
The BWCA call center and customer service numbers also were merged into the centralized system, extending hours of operation. That number is 1-877-444-6777.
DOUG SMITH
Moose permits cut by half Concerned over a declining moose population in northeastern Minnesota, state officials said Monday they will cut the number of moose hunting permits available this year in half.
The Department of Natural Resources will issue 105 licenses this fall, down from the 213 last year. Wildlife officials figure hunters will kill about 50 moose. Only bull moose can be hunted. The move should increase the proportion of bulls in the population. The DNR's new moose management and research plan recommends using bull-cow ratios as a measure to determine whether the hunt should continue.
Last year, hunters killed 109 moose, a success rate of 51 percent. Officials estimate the northeast population at about 4,900. Hunting permits are issued in a random drawing, and hunters only get one permit in a lifetime. The season is Oct. 1-Oct. 16.
DOUG SMITH
Gophers pick assistant New Gophers volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon has named Alfee Reft an assistant coach. Reft was one of two liberos on the USA Men's National Team roster. "Alfee was a great volleyball player, but he's a better volleyball coach," McCutcheon said. "... The knowledge and experience he brings will be invaluable."
