Minnesota native Shane Bauer says the joy of hugging family members again will stay with him forever. Bauer and Josh Fattal landed in New York, ending their Middle Eastern ordeal. The hikers spent more than two years in an Iranian prison on spying charges.

Officials from Oman say a plane is in the Iranian capital standing by to transport Minnesota native Shane Bauer and his friend Josh Fattal if they're released. Mediators are reportedly negotiating with Iran. The pair has been held for more than two years on charges of spying.

A deal to pay $1 million bail for the release of Minnesota native Shane Bauer and his friend Josh Fattal hit a snag because a judge whose signature was needed was away on vacation. The deal is expected to move forward when the judge returns Tuesday. Bauer and Fattal have been held for more than two years on spying charges.

The Associated Press reports Shane Bauer and his fiancee Sarah Shourd are spending time this week at his mother's home in Onamia. Bauer's mother say they haven't spent a lot of time talking about their time behind bars.

Bauer and Fattal say they were held in isolation. Phone calls with family members amounted to a total of 15 minutes in two years and they had to go on repeated hunger strikes to receive letters.

The delegation met for over an hour this weekend with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad about releasing Minnesota-native Shane Bauer and his friend Josh Fattal.

Minnesota-native Shane Bauer, fiance Sarah Shourd and friend Josh Fattal held an open house in Shakopee to thank everyone in the community who supported them during their 780 days behind bars in an Iranian prison on espionage charges.

Bauer died in his sleep on Wednesday night at age 62. He began his career at a Minneapolis bar and is credited, along with Louie Anderson and Scott Hansen, with helping to establish the Twin Cities as a major comedy market.