County commissioners are expected to finalize this week a plan for an expansion of the Hennepin County morgue through a merger with Dakota and Scott counties. If the merger proceeds, Hennepin County medical examiners will start providing services for Dakota and Scott counties Jan. 1 at its downtown Minneapolis morgue -- which will be remodeled to handle its expanded staff and caseload.

Twelve counties in southeast Minnesota are exploring ways to improve services and save money. The Twin Cities Daily Planet reports one idea would collaborate certain departments such as IT and finance as well as child support enforcement and child care licensing. The regional collaboration could offer a virtual services center accessible from a website or smartphone application. A report, detailing the implementation plans as well as an estimate of cost savings and job losses, is due in April.

Minneapolis police are consulting with federal agencies after a Longfellow Park employee discovered a dead cat Monday. KARE 11 reports the animal had been burned and staked to a tree stump with an American flag. A President Obama/Biden campaign sign was also nearby.

In a letter sent to President Barack Obama, Ron Larsen, a candidate for the New Ulm City Council, notes that he's long had a nagging feeling he was put on this earth for a specific reason: "Now I know it was to take down a sitting U.S. president." That got the Secret Service's attention, and an agent paid him a visit in May, the New Ulm Journal reports.

In an era when more people are connecting with others online, one-third of Americans don't know their neighbors' names. But more than 100 Twin Cities neighborhoods are now using Nextdoor.com to meet the people they wave to over the fence. The free social website also aims to create regular communication among neighbors and create stronger and safer neighborhoods.

Some Ramsey County residents could see dramatic increases in their property taxes despite the county's plan to cut spending. Hundreds of taxpayers turned out at a hearing to plead with leaders to lessen the tax burden, but many people had equally passionate pleas to preserve public services.

The latest 2012 budget proposal would cut spending by $50 million. It also would eliminate 127 jobs and close the Eden Prairie service center in order to to cope with less funding from the state.