The State Patrol says a driver in Maplewood pulled his vehicle over, got out, and lay down in the highway in front of an oncoming truck. It's the third time in three months in the Twin Cities that an apparent suicide has involved stepping in front of Interstate traffic.

The Minnesota National Guard says the group partnered with Croatian soldiers to train, mentor and advise Afghan soldiers and provide supplies to local schools. They're expected to arrive home this weekend.

A former Minnesota nurse is appealing his conviction for aiding two suicides. His lawyer will argue the nurse was exercising free speech when he went online to encourage depressed people to kill themselves. Prosecutors say the First Amendment protection does not apply to that kind of speech.

Investigators are looking into whether harassment had a role in the death of a 13-year-old Kasson-Mantorville Middle School student. The Rochester Post Bulletin reports Rachel Ehmke parents believe bullying pushed her to commit suicide Sunday.

Gov. Mark Dayton is ordering the Minnesota National Guard to help battle the blaze that has burned at least 24,000 acres near Greenbush. Officials say the fire started Wednesday afternoon and has spread rapidly due to brisk winds.