Firefighters in St. Cloud battled a blaze at a downtown bar. Several area streets were closed as smoke billowed from a fire at the Press Bar early Monday. St. Cloud Fire Chief Dean Wrobbel says firefighters were pulled out of the building because of structural concerns and have gone into defensive firefighting mode to protect the adjacent buildings. WJON reports …

MotorWorks, a brewery in Bradenton, Florida, recently made the news when it began putting the photos of adoptable pets on its cans. When Monica Mathis, who lives in Minnesota, saw the story on social media, she immediately recognized her missing dog Hazel on one of the cans and contacted Manatee County Animal Services to see if they could be reunited. …

The southern Minnesota police officer gravely wounded in a shooting has undergone reconstructive surgery for broken bones in his face and skull. A family post on Arik Matson’s CaringBridge web page says the surgery Monday at North Memorial Health Hospital left him dealing with some pain and swelling, but otherwise went well. The 32-year-old Waseca officer was shot in the …

The U.S. Department of Transportation proposed rule changes Wednesday that would narrow the types of animals that could be taken on planes as emotional support animals, the AP reports. The new rules would allow airlines to ban all animals from flights except specially trained service dogs–including cats, pigs, pheasants, rabbits, snakes, and untrained dogs. People would also have to pay …

Minnesota is awarding more than $23 million in grants to 30 projects throughout the state to help bring high-quality broadband access to underserved and unserved parts of the state. Gov. Tim Walz announced the grants Tuesday. He says the grants will help bring the state closer to its goal of ensuring that every Minnesotan has high-speed internet access by 2022. …

The Kansas City Chiefs will meet the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV on February 2, after both teams won their divisional championship games Sunday, ESPN reports. The Chiefs defeated the Tennessee Titans 35-24 in the AFC Championship game in Kansas City, led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who rallied the chiefs from a 17-7 deficit to claim the victory. …

Looking for the purr-fect music to make your cat happy? Spotify has you covered. On Wednesday, the streaming platform launched Pet Playlists, which give users the ability to make their very own customized 30-song mixes not just for felines, but any furry (or non-furry) friend. According to Elite Daily, all you have to do is choose what kind of pet …

The pastor of a southern Minnesota police officer who was shot in the head says he is showing small signs in his fight for recovery. Waseca Officer Arik Matson remains hospitalized in critical condition. Matson was gravely wounded Jan. 6 as he and three officers responded to a call about a suspicious person roaming backyards in Waseca, about 70 miles …

The New York Times writer Erinne Magree points out that being a kind traveler is every bit as important as being a savvy traveler, especially when dealing with staff and employees at hotels, restaurants and other locations. She has compiled the following list of kind suggestions for those those about to embark on their next trip. Address workers and employees by …

Bad news for parents: This year’s flu shot is “not a very good match” for a common strain of illness that’s especially tough on children, CNN reports. “It’s not a very good match for B/Victoria,” says Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, referring to the strain. “It’s not an awful match, but it’s …