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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Plus: State senators Grant Hauschild and Rob Farnsworth launched reelection campaigns; the Hibbing School District named a new acting superintendent; and the Rock Ridge High School will soon host the first high school hockey game broadcast in Ojibwe. -
The exodus follows reports that the U.S. Department of Justice was scrutinizing the political activity of the woman killed last Wednesday by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. -
The appointment comes in the wake of two high-profile resignations in the Hibbing School District, which is looking to make around $2 million in budget cuts. -
State Sen. Grant Hauschild announced he would run for a second term to represent District 3, which includes portions of Cook, Itasca, Lake, Koochiching and St. Louis counties. -
The same announcers from the historic Minnesota Wild Ojibwe-language broadcast in November will announce hockey games against Cloquet-Esko-Carlton and Grand Rapids on Jan. 20 and 30, 2026. -
Plus: Mesabi Metallics is in the final steps of opening its long-planned mine in Nashwauk.
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The Hibbing Republican was first elected to the Minnesota Senate in 2022. -
In tandem with the Rural Health Transformation Fund, Republicans in Congress passed sweeping Medicaid cuts set to kick in this year. -
The attorney general filed a federal lawsuit to end "Operation Metro Surge," tribal nations are waiving fees for new tribal IDs for their members and ICE has reportedly been spotted in Detroit Lakes. -
Demonstrations and events in Bemidji, Grand Rapids and Brainerd aimed to speak out against aggressive immigration enforcement that is largely focused on the Twin Cities metro.
