An unidentified man has been dropping off truckloads of live pigeons at a truck wash in Worthington, according to its employees, the Worthington Daily Globe reports. In one release captured on a surveillance video, about 1,000 birds exploded from the truck trailer, and nearly as many were released last week.

The Star Tribune reports that this summer a team of Minnesota scientists, with some funding from the state's taconite industry, have quietly launched a $900,000 research project in an effort to solve an environmental mystery that has puzzled them for years: Why are mercury levels in Minnesota fish among the highest in the Great Lakes region?

Scientists studying the wolf population on Isle Royale were told of a grisly discovery in late May that could explain the reason for a dwindling number of wolves on the island. Three wolves -- including an alpha male -- fell into a water-filled mine shaft, leaving the aimless pack without a leader.

The Department of Natural Resources is closing islands in two Minnesota lakes until the Newcastle virus is no longer a threat.

City officials say it could take months to learn why one of the bridge's cables broke, shutting down traffic on the busy street and light rail track that run beneath it. The bike-and-pedestrian bridge is only five years old and had recently passed an inspection.

The Twin Cities could get nearly an inch of rain Thursday as temperatures drop during the day, leaving the possibility for a little slush and snow, but no accumulation. It was already snowing early Thursday in western parts of the state as the cold front moves in. Areas in the northern part of the state could get 2-3 inches of snow on the grass, forecasters say.

Last year, more than 42,000 individuals signed up for the 5k walk or run event., but race officials tell KARE 11 registration is down about 12 percent so far this year.