State Rep. Kerry Gauthier, DFL-Duluth, announced Wednesday morning that he was moving ahead with his re-election campaign. By evening he had changed his mind, forced out of the race by the furor surrounding his acknowledgement last week that he met a 17-year-old for sex at a highway rest stop.

Her lawyer says Susan Thornton will keep her job leading the panel that assigns lottery proceeds to Minnesota environmental projects. Thornton was fired last week with no notice and no specific reason given. A letter from lawmakers apparently rescinds that decision.

In the five years since the I-35W bridge fell into the Mississippi River, the span has been rebuilt, most of the lawsuits have been settled and a memorial has been constructed. But pain, grief and memories linger for survivors. Here are a few of the memorable stories from that day.

A World War II veteran who missed graduation at his Minneapolis high school 69 years ago will finally cross the commencement stage on Saturday. The 88-year-old joined the Marines in 1943 and was called off two days before his Roosevelt High School graduation ceremony.

Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd have a unique relationship as wide receivers for the Cardinals. Both were high school football stars in the Twin Cities, and now that they're in the NFL they've used their Minnesota roots to form a bond.

After a long wait, the remains of Navy Lieutenant William Swanson are home in Minnesota. Swanson's plane was shot down in 1965 and until recently he was listed as missing in action. But his remains were finally identified near a village in Laos and Monday family members saw Swanson buried with full military honors. Flags will fly at half-staff Tuesday in his honor.