The Space Tower at the State Fair was closed briefly Wednesday after the ride was receiving reduced power. Power was fully restored about two hours later. This is the third ride at the fair that needed to be temporarily shut down due to various issues so far this year.

The River Raft was closed after it had malfunctioned three times Tuesday afternoon and once on Monday. Ride operators told patrons the issue involves an electrical short that is kicking on an automatic shutoff. Last week, the Stratosphere Tower was closed after it stalled several times due maintenance issues.

A popular ride at the Minnesota State Fair malfunctioned Thursday, leaving riders hanging for about 20 minutes, KARE 11 reports. Twenty-four riders on the Stratosphere Swing Tower were suspended 100 feet above the Midway after a safety latch became jammed while the ride was descending.

The Stratosphere Swing Tower stopped again in mid-air Friday morning. It was the second time in two days for the ride. The 200-foot-tall attraction, making its debut this year at the Minnesota State Fair, also stranded riders Thursday for about 20 minutes. KSTP reports that the same ride also stalled out at the Wisconsin State Fair.

The State Fair's troubled Stratosphere Swing Tower was idle most of Saturday for a maintenance issue unrelated to the problem that grounded it during the fair's first two days. The ride finally was up-and-running just after 8 p.m. Saturday night.

Xcel Energy says its Monticello nuclear power plant automatically shut down at 11:07 a.m. Tuesday, but officials aren't sure why and a cause is being investigated, the Pioneer Press reports. All plant safety systems were functioning, officials with the Minneapolis-based utility said. The shutdown posed no danger to the public or workers, Xcel officials said. The plant is not expected to be down long.

Opening day at the fair started off a little bumpy with a brief ride malfunction and lower attendance at the pig barn after the Swine Flu virus raised cause for concern. Day two kicks of with the Governor's Fire Prevention Day and Alan Jackson performs at the Grandstand tonight.

The news site's editor Jon Collins tells MinnPost that parent company American Independent News Network is laying him off and closing the site, among others around the country, as it merges with another media company.