Regional news

Retired worker boosts city's health care fund This city's troubled retiree health care fund is getting a $9,000 boost from one of its own.

A city retiree, whose identity has not been released, told city officials he was grateful for the medical care his city benefits provided, City Administrator John Hall said.

The retiree told the city he gave the money because he felt those who were able to contribute should, Hall said.

Duluth has more than $300 million in unfunded liability for health care for current and future retirees and their families, and the number is growing.

Bird-watching lures tourists to town Owners of Henderson's newest storefront enterprise, a one-stop birding information center, hope to attract visitors from near and far.

"This area attracts a huge number of migrating waterfowl, but nobody knows about it, so we decided to tell the world about it," said Dolores Hagen, who opened Henderson Feathers in a historic building she owns on the town's Main Street.

The birding information center, which offers prime viewing spots and advice on birding activities in the Minnesota River Valley, is a joint venture with the Henderson Chamber of Commerce. The lobby of the center displays local merchants' wares.

Henderson's main birding attraction is the bald eagle, but the area also attracts 17 varieties of ducks in the spring, Hagen said.

Eagles often go to nearby Buck's Lake in late winter to find fish trapped in the ice. "We've counted as many as 72 in late February, early April," said local birding buff Art Straub.

"It's just great," Hagen said of the eagle watching. "They're right in your face -- in tree branches above your head."

Deal helps students compete for airline jobs A new partnership between Mesaba Airlines and Minnesota State University, Mankato, will give aviation students a chance at working for the regional carrier.

Under the agreement announced Thursday, students who complete 10 specified courses and log 250 hours in the air will get an interview with Mesaba -- although there's no guarantee of a job.

Craig Ruedy, head of Minnesota State's aviation department, said students can complete the 250 hours while still in school. Ruedy remembers graduating from the program in 1988 and having to amass more than 1,000 hours of flight time before he could land a commercial aircraft.

Mesaba operations director Joseph Restifo said the airline, which is owned by Northwest Airlines, is looking to hire more pilots as it has nearly doubled its fleet.

ASSOCIATED PRESS