A two-alarm blaze swept through a south Minneapolis building before dawn, collapsing the roof on the North American Carrousel and Cart Manufacturing Company at 2804 27th Av. S., Bob von Sternberg reports. The business's web site reveals it's no ordinary merchant: It makes "Hand Crafted Santa Sets, Easter Sets, People Powered Themed Amusement Rides, Themed Food and Merchandise Carts, Giant Santa Sleighs, Giant Easter Eggs and Flowers, Hand Painted Signs and Illustrations, Hand Carved Signs, Themed Kiosks and Store Display. Casino Props and Signs, and Themed Renaissance Festival Games and Props."

More than last year's change in flight patterns could be at work in the increasingly loud skies over the Ericsson and Keewaydin neighborhoods, so the Federal Aviation Administration will heed the cries of noise-addled residents and investigate the spike in airport noise, Pat Doyle reports.

Judge Patricia Kerr Karasov's claim that she lived in Hennepin County when she actually lived in Chisago County, along with her lack of cooperation with investigators, has cost her six months from the bench, Abby Simons reports. Whether the Supreme Court's disciplinary action calls into question Karasov's actions as a judge during that time remains to be seen.

CommonBond Communities' plan for 60 units of low-income senior housing on Snelling Avenue in south Minneapolis will get $8.7 million in federal money, Randy Furst reports.

The conflicting demands on the city's largest park could be resolved with a compromise plan that would retain a Par 3 golf course at Theodore Wirth Park while creating a hub for cross-country skiing and other "silent sports," Nicole Norfleet reports. The park is the starting line for the City of Lakes Loppet, whose finish line is moving to the heart of Uptown in its next running in February, Paul Walsh reports.

And in case you missed these stories yesterday:

The state found significant deficiences in the operations and oversight of an FBI-led task force set up after the disbanding of the scandal-ridden Metro Gang Strike Force, Randy Furst reports.

A Minneapolis musician's six-year quest for his stolen guitar ended with a happy reunion, Matt McKinney reports.

Horst Rechelbacher's $7 million Minneapolis condo overlooks the Mississippi River and provides a comfortable home for the empty-nester and his 13 dogs, Jim Buchta reports.