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SWINE Flu-BLOOMINGTON NEW: Flu nixes handshakes at Bloomington graduation BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (AP) Bloomington students will get their diplomas, but no traditional handshake at their graduation ceremonies due to swine flu fears.

A student at Kennedy High School and one at Jefferson High School have been confirmed with the H1N1 flu virus, so the district has decided to skip handshakes.

District spokesman Rick Kaufman says board members and the superintendent will not shake the hands of any student. Instead, they'll give a head nod and say "congratulations." Kaufman says all district schools saw a spike Monday in the number of students absent due to "influenza-like illnesses." Kennedy had its graduation ceremony on Monday night. The Jefferson graduation is Tuesday.

Information from: Star Tribune, http://www.startribune.com MIDWEST GOVERNORS-CARBON CAPS NEW: Midwest governors group sets greenhouse gas goals MINNEAPOLIS (AP) New recommendations by Midwestern governors for a carbon cap-and-trade system include aggressive reduction goals that could bring big changes to a region that relies heavily on coal and manufacturing.

The plan calls for a nearly 20 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions over the next decade, and an 80 percent reduction by the middle of the century. That's from year 2005 levels.

The biggest polluters could get allowances to emit carbon and other greenhouse gases for a modest fee to help ease the cost of the transition to both industry and consumers.

The recommendations come after the governors of Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin along with the premier of Manitoba agreed to establish reduction targets.

INTERNET GAMBLING NEW: Minn. regulators drop bid to block online gambling ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Minnesota regulators have withdrawn a request that Internet service providers block access to hundreds of online gambling sites.

The decision made public Monday comes amid litigation by the gambling industry, which loudly objected to the push announced in April. In exchange for backing off, a state official says the industry has agreed to end its court fight.

John Willems of the state's Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division says in a new letter to Internet providers that they should jointly pursue other regulatory remedies for online gambling.

Initially, the state cited a federal telecommunications law in an attempt to pressure 11 Internet providers to wall off Minnesota resident access to poker and other gambling sites.

The Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

MISSING SOMALIS NEW: Death of Somali teen a mystery to Mpls. family MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Family members say the Somali teen who was killed in Somalia last week had dreams of becoming a doctor or a lawyer.

Burhan Hassan was 17 when he left Minnesota for his homeland. He was a student at Roosevelt High School.

His family learned Friday that Hassan was killed and buried in Mogadishu, the Somali capital.

But there are few details about what happened.

His uncle, Abdirizak Bihi (ab-DEER'-zack BEE'hee), says Hassan was in poor physical shape, had been sick, and that his family was working to try to bring him to the U.S. Embassy in Kenya.

Bihi says the family suspects Hassan was killed by members of al-Shabab. Family members believe Hassan was recruited to go fight with the terrorist group.

Hassan is the second known Minnesotan of Somali descent to die in Somalia. The first was Shirwa Ahmed, who died in October in a suicide bombing.

BUDDHIST TEMPLE-VANDALISM NEW: Rochester Buddhist temple vandalized ROCHESTER, Minn. (AP) A Buddhist temple in Rochester has been vandalized twice over two weeks.

The Olmsted County Sheriff's Office is investigating the incidents at the Buddhist Support Society.

Sgt. Scott Behrns says the second incident happened late Thursday or early Friday, when someone smashed spotlights and globe lights at the entrance to the property.

The weekend before, someone painted a cross on the driveway and the words "Jesus Saves" on the property.

Behrns says the person behind the incidents needs to "knock it off and grow up." Behrns says anyone who sees suspicious activity should call police.

Anyone with information is asked to call: (507) 328-6800.

Information from: Post-Bulletin, http://www.postbulletin.com CASCADE RIVER DROWNING NEW: Virginia man dies in Cascade River GRAND MARAIS, Minn. (AP) A 20-year-old man from Minnesota's Iron Range apparently drowned on the Cascade River just west of Grand Marais.

Cook County authorities say the body of Victor Torrel, of Virginia, was found early Sunday. He was reported missing Saturday night after he failed to return from a fishing trip.

Cook County Sheriff's officials said Monday that it appears the incident was an accidental drowning. Officials are still investigating, but foul play is not suspected.

The Cascade River empties into Lake Superior near Grand Marais.

GRUESOME PLOT-WOODBURY NEW: Woodbury man sentenced in plot to neighbor STILLWATER, Minn. (AP) A judge has sentenced a Woodbury heart transplant patient who planned to cut out the heart of a stranger in a bizarre murder plot.

Washington County District Judge Elizabeth Martin sentenced 19-year-old Andrew Busskohl to 90 days in the county jail, with seven suspended, and gave him four years' probation.

In April, Busskohl pleaded guilty to two gross misdemeanors related to his threat to kill Jim Fratto as he slept and then cut out his heart and eyelids. They both live in the same neighborhood.

In court Monday, Busskohl apologized and told the judge he understood that what he did was wrong and "extremely scary." One condition of the sentence is that a psychiatrist produce a complete assessment of Busskohl's possible capacity to commit similar crimes.

Information from: Star Tribune, http://www.startribune.com UMINN-SOLAR CAR RACE NEW: University of Minnesota team wins solar car race MINNEAPOLIS (AP) A team from the University of Minnesota is the winner of the 2009 Formula Sun Grand Prix, a closed-track race for solar-powered cars.

The team of engineering students from the university's Institute of Technology completed 487 laps on the 1.7-mile track throughout the three-day race in Cresson, Texas.

That was 94 laps more than the second-place finisher, the University of Kentucky. Northwestern University placed third.

It's the second straight Formula Sun Grand Prix victory for Minnesota. The last time the race was run was in 2005, and the U of M car Borealis III took first place.

This year's car is called Centaurus.

CROP REPORT NEW: Report: Rain helped, but farmers could use more ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Rain fell across much of the state late last week, but topsoil moisture held about steady for Minnesota farmers following a very dry May.

That's from the weekly crop-weather report from the Minnesota field office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture released Monday.

Statewide, 52 percent of topsoil was rated adequate to surplus for moisture compared with 50 percent one week ago. However, 20 percent was rated very short.

Corn was 96 percent emerged with an average height of 6 inches, matching the five-year average on both counts.

Soybeans were 97 percent planted and 74 percent emerged with an average height of 2 inches all about the same as the historical average.

Both crops were rated in generally good to excellent condition.

Vikings-FAVRE NEW: Report: Vikings tell Favre to decide this week MINNEAPOLIS (AP) The Minnesota Vikings reportedly have told Brett Favre to decide this week if he wants to play this year.

ESPN says coach Brad Childress imposed the deadline on the star quarterback. The network cited two unidentified sources Monday on its Web site.

ESPN has said that Favre had arthroscopic surgery last month on his ailing right shoulder. When Favre retired in February for the second time, he blamed a partially torn biceps tendon for his poor play late in the season. He said his health was the main reason behind his decision.

Childress and Favre's agent, Bus Cook, did not return messages from The Associated Press.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 06-09-09 0130CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list