Volunteer cops; Oil production record set in N.D.; Red Scare

Nest Labs blasts Honeywell as uncool in lawsuit response

Pioneer Press: "A high-tech startup being sued for infringing on Honeywell's thermostat patents is blasting Honeywell in U.S. District Court in Minnesota with a defense that can be summed up thusly: 'We're hot, and you're not.'"

Duluth mayor says his first experience stage diving is likely his last (with video)

Duluth News Tribune: "Mayor Don Ness celebrated Trampled by Turtles Day with a feat of athleticism, shades of which likely haven't been seen since 1992 when he and his Duluth Central teammates finished third in the Class AA state boys basketball tournament."

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Michele and Marcus Bachmann's 'ex-gay' clinic's practices described by undercover filmmaker

HuffPo: "Although Marcus Bachmann has continually denied that his Christian counseling clinic practices so-called "pray away the gay" therapy, yet another prominent LGBT activist is testifying to the contrary."

Ellison fires back after West makes Communist allegation

MPR News: "At an event in Florida, Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) told an audience, 'I believe there are about 78 or 81 members of the Democrat Party that are members of the Communist Party,' West said, 'It's called the Congressional Progressive Caucus.' While the CPC includes the most liberal members of Congress, none belong to the Communist Party although Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, has described himself as a socialist before. 'Calling fellow Members of Congress 'communists' is reminiscent of the days when Joe McCarthy divided Americans with name-calling and modern-day witch hunts that don't advance policies to benefit people's lives,' said Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) and fellow CPC co-chair U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva in a statement."

Ellison also took his defense of the CPC to MSNBC.

N.D. oil production sets record in February

Grand Forks Herald: "Output is up 60 percent from February 2011 and 114 from February 2010. North Dakota remains third among states as production averaged 558,254 barrels per day."

Moorhead Police force benefitting from volunteer officers

WDAY: "Volunteer cops have passed out more than a million dollars' worth of parking tickets, saving the city thousands of dollars. A couple dozen volunteers are lightening the load of professional officers, in more ways than one."

Winning wheel of Dutch gouda sells for $8,400 at Wisconsin auction

Pioneer Press: "A 24-pound Dutch cheese named the best in the world at an international competition held in Madison last month has been auctioned for $8,400, or $350 per pound."