Star Tribune
Twin Amur tigers are first to be born at Como Zoo in more than 40 years
Two amur tiger cubs — one boy and one girl — born last week at Como Zoo in St. Paul, and zoo officials are calling their arrival historic and “exciting” for its conservation efforts.
The twins are the first tigers to be born at Como in more than 40 years, and offer hope for this critically endangered species, said Como Zoo and Conservatory Director Michelle Furrer.
“This is an extraordinary milestone for Como,” she said. “The birth of these tiger cubs is not only a testament to the dedication and expertise of our animal care team but also a beacon of hope for the conservation of Amur tigers worldwide.”
Fewer than 500 amur tigers — also known as Siberian tigers — remain in the wild as they face critical threats from habitat loss, poaching and human-wildlife conflict, Furrer said.
The cubs’ 7-year-old mother, Bernadette, came to Como in October 2023 after spending time at the Oregon Zoo. The father is 11-year-old Tsar, who was born at the Sedgwick County Zoo in Kansas and has been a Como resident since February 2019.
The pairing of the first-time parents was made following a breeding recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Amur Tiger Species Survival Plan, a program dedicated to the management and conservation of Amur tigers in accredited institutions across the country.
“These cubs represent a significant success for the Amur Tiger Species Survival Plan and for the future of the species,” said Wes Sims, director of animal care and health at Como Park. “Our team is incredibly excited about the birth of these two tiger cubs. It’s a testament to the dedication and hard work of our team that these amazing animals have successfully bred in our care.”
The cubs’ father will remain on view, but the public will have to wait to see the mother and yet-to-be-named newborns as they will live in private for the next several months, zoo officials said.
BISMARCK, N.D. — The adult son of U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer is expected to change his plea on Friday in connection with a pursuit and crash that killed a North Dakota sheriff’s deputy last year.
Ian Cramer, 43, was scheduled to go to trial next week beginning Tuesday for charges of homicide while fleeing a peace officer, preventing arrest, reckless endangerment, fleeing an officer and drug- and driving-related offenses tied to the Dec. 6, 2023, pursuit and crash death of Mercer County Sheriff’s Deputy Paul Martin, 53.
Cramer pleaded not guilty to the charges in April. He was initially charged with manslaughter, which was later raised to the homicide offense, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine. A notice filed Wednesday indicates his change of plea is scheduled for Friday by videoconference.
The details of Cramer’s change of plea weren’t immediately clear. The Associated Press left phone messages with Cramer’s attorney and Mercer County State’s Attorney Todd Schwarz.
Bismarck police said Ian Cramer’s mother had taken him to a hospital because of mental health concerns. Court documents say he crawled into the driver seat of his parents’ vehicle after his mother got out and smashed in reverse through the closed garage door of the hospital’s ambulance bay. Court documents say he later fled from deputies when one confronted him in Hazen, about 70 miles (113 kilometers) from Bismarck.
Cramer hit speeds over 100 mph (160 kph) and kept going even after a spiked device flattened two tires, according to court documents. More spikes were set up, and Cramer swerved and then crashed head-on into Martin’s patrol vehicle and launched him about 100 feet (30 meters), authorities said. Martin was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
In March, Ian Cramer pleaded not guilty to separate felony charges of theft, criminal mischief and reckless endangerment in connection with the events at the hospital. A jury trial is scheduled for November.
Sen. Kevin Cramer, a Republican, has said his son ”suffers from serious mental disorders which manifest in severe paranoia and hallucinations.” Ian Cramer is being held at the McLean County Jail in Washburn on $500,000 cash bail.
“DHS takes seriously our role in promoting the health, safety and well-being of children and vulnerable adults, and our obligation as a steward of a significant amount of public dollars. The Office of Inspector General continues to review tips, referrals and data to identify the need for investigations,” department officials said in a statement.
In the letter to Demuth, DHS Inspector General Kulani Moti said there are nearly 300 agencies doing the early autism intervention work who are enrolled in Minnesota Health Care Programs.
The agency does screening site visits when a provider is enrolling in the health care programs, Moti noted, and they have to fill out an assurance statement attesting that they have certain experience and training. Individuals in contact with kids and families also have to pass a background check. The state does a revalidation screening process for the autism service providers every five years.
Moti outlined two potential next steps that could bring additional oversight: licensing service providers and clarifying whether DHS should be required to review the employment status of providers. The agency has been consulting with people in the autism community on whether the state should license early intervention providers and is going to give lawmakers their recommendations on that in the upcoming legislative session, the letter said.
“We look forward to working with you in the upcoming legislative session to strengthen the oversight of EIDBI,” Moti wrote.
The letter also listed the outcomes in the 10 closed investigations into autism intervention providers from the past five years. In the most recent cases, both closed this January, the state recovered more than $86,000 from Northstar Therapy Services in Edina, and recovered $192,000 and leveled a $5,000 fine on St. Paul-based Senzilla Health Services, Inc.
While Timberwolves guard Mike Conley was in Minneapolis for Sunday’s Minnesota Vikings home game, where he fired up the crowd before kickoff, his west-metro home was targeted by burglars, police said Wednesday.
The break-in of Conley’s sprawling residence in Medina occurred mid-afternoon Sunday and was the second of three carried out that day by at least two suspects while the homes were unoccupied, said Police Chief Jason Nelson.
In each instance, the chief said, the thieves got away with a yet-to-be determined amount of jewelry.
The perpetrators “may have done some surveillance or figured out some patterns” of the people who lived at the homes before striking, Nelson said.
In each case, the suspects approached the houses from the rear, broke in through lower-level windows, entered primary bedrooms, scooped up what jewels they could and were out within five minutes, the chief said.
Video surveillance at the Conley home on the southwest side of the city captured the image of a vehicle driving off that might be tied to the suspects. Nelson said there have yet to be any arrests.
One of the other homes was down the street from Conley’s, while the third was on the southeast side of Medina, the chief said.
Conley’s multimillion-dollar residence sits along a road with few other homes within shouting distance.
