The federal Environmental Protection Agency has awarded a $58,000 grant to plant rain gardens, trees and a shoreline buffer in Duluth's Park Point.

The grant, announced Wednesday by Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken along with Rep. Rick Nolan, will be used to help prevent some 89,000 gallons of untreated stormwater runoff from reaching Lake Superior.

The EPA's Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Shoreline Cities Grants Program awards money to shoreline cities for water quality improvement projects.

Pam Louwagie

Little Falls

Bear charges at golfers, then hides near homes

Golfers on the ninth hole of the Little Falls Golf Course got a scary surprise last Tuesday afternoon when a bear estimated at more than 200 pounds charged at them.

The golfers called 911, drawing response from the Little Falls Police Department and Morrison County Sheriff's Office. Officers found the bear in a small patch of woods by the 18th hole, near a residential area where children were playing outside. They tried to shoo away the bear, but it didn't work.

After contacting the DNR and hearing previous complaints about a bear hanging out in the same area, the bear was deemed a threat to public safety and shot.

Little Falls occasionally hears reports of bears in populated areas, Police Chief Greg Schirmers said.

"It's very sporadic," he added. "It seems like this year, we saw probably more activity than we have seen in past years."

Minnesota is home to about 20,000 black bears, according to the DNR. Hunters kill about 3,000 per year, the agency reports. The black bear is the only bear species in the state.

Pam Louwagie

CARLTON COUNTY

Wanted: County residents with outstanding warrants

Anyone with an outstanding warrant in Carlton County can stop by the courthouse Aug. 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to start resolving the matter in the county's first ever "warrant workout day."

Public defenders, prosecuting attorneys, probation officers and judges will be available to meet with those who have warrants. Visitors can also make arrangements to pay overdue fines.

The event is meant to make things easier for anyone living with a warrant hanging over his or her head, said Amy Turnquist, Carlton County court administrator.

"Anyone with an active warrant can be arrested at any time, and will often face at least a night in jail if arrested," she said. Those who stop by for warrant workout day can meet with a judge and begin resolving their case to avoid arrest or other negative consequences, she added.

A similar event was held at the St. Louis County Courthouse in May. An official there said most outstanding warrants are for low-level offenses or ordinance violations.

Matt McKinney