A new report suggests a Christian-based program is helping inmates leave prison and find housing and work. And a prison official tells MPR those benefits come at no cost to taxpayers. But some critics charge the program is taking advantage of vulnerable adults; others say it creates a separate class of inmates who get special benefits.

Minnesota prisons are joining other states nationwide that are allowing inmates to receive emails. MPR reports that the emails, which began this week, are coordinated by Iowa-based Advanced Technologies Group, which sends the emails to prison mailrooms. The messages are then printed out by staff members and delivered along with regular mail.

The lawsuit claims jail staff prescribed a lethal dose of methadone for Cody Laganiere in 2010. The coroner's report found that the methadone was one of the factors that contributed to an accidental death. In the last year Olmsted County has settled three wrongful death lawsuits involving jail inmates.

School officials in Rochester day more than 90 students called out sick. They believe the illnesses stem from a highly contagious strain of norovirus.

Burning restrictions take effect this weekend in 22 counties of northwestern and central Minnesota. As we enter the driest part of the calendar, state officials expect the fire danger will last into the winter. The latest report on the drought puts 96 percent of the state in the 'abnormally dry' category.

Two former Timberwolves players turned real estate developers face jail time at a court hearing today. Christian Laettner and Brian Davis face contempt for not paying a nearly 700-thousand dollar judgement to investors of a Baltimore real estate project.