The man accused of stealing Dorothy's ruby slippers from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids appears likely to plead guilty.
Court filings show a change of plea hearing is scheduled for later this month in the federal criminal case against Grand Rapids man Terry John Martin.
Martin is charged with one count of theft of major artwork and was indicted in May, 18 years after the 2005 theft.
The slippers were on loan from a private collection for a return visit to the Judy Garland Museum. The actress honored by the museum spent the first four years of her life in the city.
At the time of theft, the slippers were insured for $1 million, but the current fair market appraisal value of the slippers is $3.5 million. The slippers are one of the four remaining pairs left from The Wizard of Oz.
In 2018, the Grand Rapids Police Department and FBI announced they'd recovered the iconic footwear after they were missing for more than a decade.
Blastomycosis cases on the rise
Cases of a severe fungal infection called blastomycosis are increasing along the North Shore and areas of northern Minnesota.
Blastomycosis can infect humans and animals, and dogs are among the most commonly reported animals to contract the infection.
The Minnesota Department of Health reports the infection usually occurs by breathing in spores of the fungi found in moist soils, particularly in wooded areas, such as boreal forests and along waterways.
The median number of animal cases doubled from 100 to 200-plus since 2016, and Ireland estimated data from last year will show more than 400 cases.
The increase can be attributed to better overall reporting, Ireland said, but environmental conditions such as above-normal precipitation and flooding play a significant role.
Symptoms of the infection include loss of appetite, skin lesions, limping, cough, weight loss, respiratory problems, and blindness. Treatment is available, although it may be a lengthy process.
There are currently no methods to test soil for the fungus, but the Department of Health notes people might consider minimizing visits with their pets in areas with recent flooding, excavation, or regions with moist organic matter.
Gathering of community health workers puts spotlight on growing field
Demand for community health workers continues to rise, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting a 14 percent growth in the industry over the next ten years. Organizers in Bemidji hosted the sixth annual community health workers conference Friday, Sept. 29, at the Hampton Inn and Suites.
Classes begin in January for certification in Community Health Work at Northwest Technical College, and a grant from the Minnesota Community Health Workers Alliance has a scholarship round opening this month to cover the cost of tuition.
KAXE/KBXE Reporter Larissa Donovan has more.
Designs being accepted for new state flag, seal
Minnesotans can now officially submit their ideas for the next state flag and seal.
The State Emblems Redesign Commission is accepting public submissions on the Minnesota Historical Society website and by mail through Oct. 30.
The commission was established in this year's legislative session to adopt a new design for the state seal and flag by the beginning of 2024.
All entries must be original and follow the guidelines, and participants must be 18 or older, or have their submissions entered by a parent or legal guardian. Each eligible person can submit up to three designs each for the state flag and state seal.
Five submissions for the new state seal and state flag will be selected for final consideration by the commission.
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Michael Brown has undergone two surgeries and is recovering at Sanford Health Hospital in Fargo after a Bemidji Police Department squad struck him July 15, 2026. -
Epidemiologist Elizabeth Schiffman joined the KAXE Morning Show to talk ticks after a death from a rare tick disease in the Brainerd lakes area. There are many rare diseases and types of ticks in Minnesota. -
The company boasts University of Minnesota-linked, homegrown technology that could reduce reliance on the rare-earth minerals industry China mostly controls. -
Law enforcement has identified a family in connection with the May 2026 fire in northern Crow Wing County, but they've been uncooperative, and the sheriff doesn't expect charges. -
Community members and dancers provided a healing space for the grieving family of Rikki Skog, 37, whose body was found July 16, 2026, under suspicious circumstances. -
Plus: Minnesotans have until July 22, 2026, to submit comment on the MPCA's Impaired Waters List. -
Forty-six lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands were added, including Big Stony Lake near Park Rapids, Emily Lake in Crow Wing County and Birch Lake in Hackensack. -
Carlton County is considering enacting a year-long moratorium on data centers. An interim study would investigate whether data center regulations are needed in the county. -
The proposed mine would primarily focus on nickel and copper. It is the first underground mine proposal in Minnesota to reach the public review process. -
The Tamarack mine will primarily harvest nickel and copper. It faces opposition due to copper nickel mining's relation to water contamination.
