Siri Freeh, of Lake Park, was among 22 contestants in the 2012 Miss Minnesota Scholarship Pageant. Freeh, 22, is a nursing major at the University of Minnesota. In January, she will compete for the Miss America crown in Las Vegas.

People are living longer and getting divorced more. One researcher at the University of Minnesota's Program in Human Sexuality says those are among the factors behind an increase in sexually transmitted diseases happening for people in their 60s and 70s.

The Department of Transportation says the draft was created based on input from a diverse group of Minnesotans over the past few months. A public hearing is scheduled for next week at MnDOT offices across the state and online.

James Killen's painting of a black Lab and two rooster pheasants took top honors. This is the third time Killen has won the contest. The 2012 pheasant stamp will be available for sale in next spring.

A Shakopee father was on the "Today" show as one of the final four in a "hottest dad" competition sponsored by iVillage, but he lost to an Ohio man.

It was Minnesota vs. Wisconsin in the finals of the National Best Bagger Competition in Las Vegas. But a Piggly Wiggly worker from Appleton edged out Blake Westling of the Eagan Byerly's. Competitors were judged in speed, bag-building technique, weight distribution, style, attitude, and appearance.