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St. Cloud animal shelter looking to reunite 94 Crosby-area cats with owners

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A half hour before the Tri-County Humane Society in St. Cloud was due to close Thursday, the cats started pouring in.

For hours, the cats, which law enforcement and Minnesota Federated Humane Society had removed from a home in Crosby earlier in the day, kept coming. Off a trailer and into the shelter, with a dozen staffers staying until almost midnight to help with vaccinations and antibiotics. In all, 94 felines filled each of the shelter’s cat kennels and then some.

The group included two litters of nursing kittens. Staff tried the best they could to match each kitten with the proper mother.

“We had to get them food and water and in a clean space — they hadn’t been in a clean space,” said Marit Ortega, executive director of the Tri-County Humane Society, adding that some cats had fleas and respiratory infections. “They’re in rough shape, but it could have been worse. When we were done, we walked through and took stock. To see so many of them relaxed and sleeping — they’re in a really good place now.”

Along with the Minnesota Federated Humane Society, Crosby police had executed a search warrant after reports of animal cruelty and neglect. In addition to the 94 living cats, eight dead ones were found inside. A press release from Crosby police did not detail what happened to the person hoarding the cats, and police chief Michael Van Horn declined comment Friday.

The animals needed a place to go, and the shelter in St. Cloud had had space, having expanded in 2020.

“We had no idea what we were saying yes to,” Ortega said. “Surprisingly, they’re all friendly. We didn’t have trouble handling any of them.”

One had a microchip. Staffers located the cat’s owner, who had lost the cat seven years ago. The owner immediately drove to St. Cloud to pick the cat up.

“It was an indescribable moment,” Ortega said. “They were absolutely thrilled.”

Ortega hopes more owners can be reunited with lost pets.

Anyone who has lost a cat in the Crosby area in the last 10 years or so is asked to send a photo of the feline to pets@tricountyhumanesociety.org.

The state has a five-day waiting limit before strays are put up for adoption. The Tri-County Humane Society is accepting deposits on the cats, which will be available starting Wednesday. Deposits will be refunded should a cat be reclaimed by its owner.

In the meantime, the veterinarian at the St. Cloud shelter will spay the female cats.

“I hope that on Wednesday our doors are just overflowing with people wanting to help,” Ortega said.

If you’re not a cat person, have no fear: Every dog kennel at the Tri-County Humane Society is full, too.



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The Great Halloween potential snow accumulation of 2024 is upon us

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In Minnesota, the real “October surprise” will always be the weather.

We started the week in shorts, crunching through the last of the autumn leaves, basking in temperatures that soared into the 70s. We knew it wouldn’t last. The forecast told us it wouldn’t last. The storm clouds gathering on the horizon told us it wouldn’t last.

It didn’t last. Wednesday’s chilly rains hint at snow in the forecast for Halloween. Forget the Blizzard of ‘91 and start layering your costumes for the Potential Accumulation of ‘24.

At the National Weather Service’s Twin Cities office, meteorologists have tracked this year’s wild weather gyrations, from weirdly snowless winter to soggy spring to stormy summer to a long, warm autumn drought. Whatever the weather, Minnesota seemed to get too much of it or not enough. Now, surprisingly, central Minnesota is looking at the possibility of this year’s first and last October snowfall.

“We’ll have snow mixed in with rain early Thursday morning,” said meteorologist Jacob Beitlich. “But as you go through the morning, there’s going to be a narrow band of heavy snow that’s going to develop.”

Northeast and central Minnesota into northwest Wisconsin are most likely to see that heavy snow land on their jack-o’-lantern, Beitlich said. Unlike last Halloween’s snowstorm, the ground should be warm enough to keep the snow from turning the Thursday commute into a complete mess.

“Most folks will have a wet driveway in the morning, but there will be some of us that will see snow that will be heavy at times in the morning,” he said.

By the time any trick-or-treaters hit the streets in the evening, the snow will probably be gone, but it will be a raw, damp and blustery night. Temperatures will drop into the 30s, the winds will pick up and plenty of Minnesotans will take a page from the 1991 playbook and layer those costumes. Pirate costume too drafty? Cut some eyeholes in a blanket – boom, you’re a pirate ghost. Already planning to trick-or-treat as a ghost? Throw a parka over your sheet – now you’re the ghost of an arctic explorer.



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How a Wisconsin pizzeria’s error led dozens to eat pizza made with cannabis oil

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The total number of people who were hospitalized as a result of the contaminated pizza and the extent of the injuries were not immediately clear. The health department did not immediately respond to a question seeking that information. But the department said it had “received dozens of reports” from people feeling affected and alluded to multiple people having been sent to the hospital.

“Possible THC-related symptoms include dizziness, increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, nausea, vomiting, anxiety, panic attacks, paranoia, hallucinations, short term memory impacts, time distortion, and sleepiness,” the department said. “Keep in mind each person’s reaction may be different, and the concentration of THC in the pizza can vary by piece.”

The comments on Famous Yeti’s social media posts were overwhelmingly positive. Many people expressed appreciation for the business’ openness about its mistake and expression of regret. A few customers also — possibly in jest — saw the news as even more reason to patronize the restaurant.

“When i come and I wink twice,” one commenter wrote, “I want that pizza alright lol.”



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Friends testify about Madeline Kingsbury’s abuse in Adam Fravel trial

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DuBois also told the court about a talk she had with Kingsbury in mid-March 2023, a few weeks before Kingsbury went missing. Kingsbury had planned to leave Fravel by then, but she told DuBois that Fravel had said “she would not be leaving with his kids,” according to DuBois.

In a meeting at a hotel near Mayo around the same time, DuBois said she noticed a reddish mark around Kingsbury’s neck. DuBois asked Kingsbury if there was anything Kingsbury needed and later provided her with some concealer so others wouldn’t notice.

“(Kingsbury) said she was figuring out a plan so that it didn’t happen again,” DuBois said.

During cross-examination, defense attorney Zach Bauer pointed out that DuBois, Scott and Kolka all became familiar with each other after Kingsbury’s disappearance, implying their conversations about the case may have led them to become biased against Fravel.

Bauer challenged Kolka on how she stored items she took from Kingsbury’s house in April 2023, when Kingsbury was still considered missing. Kolka turned over to law enforcement bedsheets that came from Kingsbury’s house after Kingsbury’s body was found in June 2023, but Bauer pointed out those items, as well as other evidence law enforcement examined at Kolka’s house, wasn’t properly secured.

“Anybody could have come through the house at that time,” he said during questions.



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