GILMAN, Minn. (WCCO) — At the Gilman Creamery in central Minnesota, relief is stacked in long rows — bales of donated hay, set to be loaded and delivered to cattle ranchers more than 800 miles away.

In early March, drought and driving winds swept wildfires across huge swaths of Oklahoma and Kansas, scorching more than 700,000 acres of grazing and crop land and killing thousands of heads of beef cattle.

“Not only are they losing homes, barns and fencing, but cattle, their livestock,” said Gilman-area poultry farmer Pattie Bixby.

When she learned of the devastation, Bixby and fellow farmers began organizing a massive Minnesota relief effort.

“We’re fellow farmers, and it’s not a state thing – we know how devastating it is to lose a farm,” Bixby said.

Many of the herds were so badly burned and injured that ranchers had no choice but to put the prized livestock down. Other herds were left without food when at least 40 ranches and homes were destroyed in Kansas alone.

Minnesota farmers and companies are stepping up to help. Donations of hay and farming supplies are pouring into the creamery collection point, ready to be shipped to those in need.

Truckloads of hay have already been delivered to Kansas ranchers, desperate for feed.

One of those donating his trucks and fuel is James Trantina, a Collins Brothers Towing operator.

“I heard about the fire but didn’t know how bad it was,” Trantina said.

Now he is helping organize other trucking companies to join in the relief effort. Dozens of trucks and semi-trailers will head to Kansas on Saturday to deliver tons of hay and supplies.

“I don’t have hay to donate and I’m not a farmer, so I’m donating trucking,” Trantina said. “We have five trucks with trailers, so I’ll donate that to get the hay down there.”

More than $90,000 worth of hay has already been donated, not to mention the $30,000 value of fencing, posts and supplies packed for delivery. Still, it will take many more deliveries to get ranchers back on their feet.

Saturday’s relief caravan is scheduled to meet at the Gilman Creamery at 7 a.m., when trucks will be loaded and dispatched.

Donations of farming supplies and household items are still encouraged. There is also a need for monetary donations to help defray the $34,000 in fuel costs for the caravan.

If you would like to help with donated supplies or monetary support to defray fuel expenses, contact Bixby at (320) 515-9656 or at https://www.facebook.com/pbixby3.

ST. PAUL, (WCCO) — Minnesota lawmakers are assembling the biggest spending bills of the year. And it’s the time of year when many others are falling by the wayside.

There are some pretty controversial bills that are suddenly in trouble.

Until now, state lawmakers were in “talk” phase. Now, they’re in “do” phase. And for a couple of very controversial gun measures, they are saying no.

The major Public Safety Bill won’t include a law to let legal gun owners to carry a gun without a permit, and carry it in any public place they choose.

And this year, the state won’t expand the “Stand Your Ground” laws, those laws would re-define the circumstances in which people can shoot someone in self-defense.

It was certainly a surprise and a setback to gun rights supporters, who say they will look for other ways to pass the measures. But it’s going nowhere.

We heard Wednesday about the big tax cuts House Republicans are proposing. But today we got a look at the bill, and there are several other unusual items in there.

It’s called the Tax Bill, but this is where a lot of goodies live, even if they are not really “taxes.”

Here’s a few examples: It bans all future funding for new light rail construction projects. It says no to funding for a high speed rail between Twin Cities and Rochester. It abolishes annual automatic cigarette tax hikes, and eliminates a premium tax on cigars.

There’s a tax cut for outside activities at next year’s Super Bowl in Minnesota. And seemingly out of nowhere, there’s a penalty on cities that spend money to host a Minnesota World’s Fair in 2023.

Some lawmakers consider it “frivolous.”

There is also a lot of stuff you wouldn’t expect at the Capitol right now. One legislative bill is dramatically exposing a State Fair donut booth.

It’s all about a little donut booth just inside the entrance of the State Fair near the Grandstand. A Bag O’ Donuts is $5.

What you probably don’t know: This donut booth is run by a DFL group in Ramsey County… It’s a political action committee. So when you buy a bag of donuts, it’s a contribution to DFL political campaigns. They go $60,000 in contributions last year alone.

One Republican lawmaker wants to see a big sign on the booth telling people that.

“Do you want to defend this type of an operation? Does the end justify the means? Is it right to deceive people making a purchase and having it become a political contribution?  I don’t think it does,” Rep. Randy Jessup, a Republican from Shoreview, said.

 
Founding partners Bill Brown and the late Terrance Curtis began Studio A in the early 1980s on a shoestring budget, a bounty of ingenuity, a blast of raw talent and a never ceasing can-do attitude. More than three decades later, this vibrant Los Angeles-based dance studio not only thrives, but is in overdrive with technology playing a big part in that success. Owner/Dancer Bill Brown discusses the process.

 
How do you utilize technology for teaching your dance classes?

Back in the early 80s when I was struggling to make rent on the dance studio, my other big expense was music. To keep my classes fresh, I introduce new music every week. Back in the day, I would listen to the radio to keep current. Then I went to the record store to purchase an entire album of a particular group to get just one song — expensive, between seven and twelve bucks. Today, getting the right music is much more economical with both my time and my credit card balance. I sit at my computer, open up iTunes and listen to music samples. I find a song I like, click purchase and immediately add to my playlist.

 
What is the benefit of using digital music?

Digital music is perfect. I buy a song once, use it as frequently as I like while never needing to replace a scratched album. Also, other songs within the genre I purchase are suggested to me, and more often than not, I buy those too. Since my students often approach me after class to ask the name of a certain song that they like, I take this as an indicator that I am finding great music.

 
Does social media play a part in your small business?

Since most of my students use Facebook, I use this platform to market my business by posting a weekly video of the class dancing the routine, capturing it on my iPhone. Since I constantly vary the dance combination, students check in to see what’s up for the week, be that hip-hop, lyrical, Broadway or even three-quarter time. For each video, I use the tag line, ‘See you on the floor!’ I also use catchy titles for the videos, like when the presidential election was decided. I titled that week’s dance: When Life Seems Low, Dance Goes High! In a sense, I am developing an online personality. Views are well into the hundreds and comments are always positive. I use Instagram too, posting 20-second dance videos that produce tons of likes.

 
How has technology helped to build your business?

My recent biggest business increase sprouted from one line that I posted at the top of my website’s homepage that says, ‘Last minute rental space by text.’ Within a month, my rentals dramatically increased. That’s because wherever I am I can negotiate a rental by texting. In this society, people want instant results, and I can provide. I have also learned to update my own website so I am in control of when a schedule needs last minute updating, like when an instructor cancels a class. Since the site is always up-to-date, I let my students know they can rely on that information to be the most current.

 
How else do you use technology?

For surveillance. Cameras that are set up on my building can be accessed by my iPhone. That means I can make sure the gate to my studio has been properly locked by the last person who made use of the space. Back in the day, I sometimes made a special trip back to the studio just to make sure the gate was locked. Plus, at any given time from anywhere I am, I can see the sidewalk in front of the building to make sure there is no suspicious activity, which gives me great peace of mind.

 
This article was written by Jane Lasky for CBS Small Business Pulse.
 

Bryan Altman

Everything is amplified now that the Sweet 16 is here, including emotions, the importance of games and even the size of the crowds.

Oh, and the dunks too. Those get amplified as well.

Oregon big man Jordan Bell apparently got the memo and acted accordingly in the first half against the Michigan Wolverines, throwing down two dunks that’ll have the rim shivering with fear the next time he approaches.

The first, was probably about an 8/10 for an in-game dunk. Standard fare, good form and all that.

But his second slam, a one-handed behemoth, will be plastered on highlight reels for the next day at least.

The game on the whole between the No. 7 seed Wolverines and the No. 3 seed Ducks has been up to snuff as well. Oregon took a 35-33 lead into halftime, which should set up for an incredible second half.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump declared it a “great day for American jobs” on Friday as he formally green-lighted the Keystone XL pipeline, clearing the way for the $8 billion project to finally be completed.

In a reversal of the Obama administration’s earlier decision, the Trump administration issued a presidential permit enabling Calgary-based TransCanada to build the pipeline. Appearing alongside TransCanada’s CEO in the Oval Office, Trump called it part of a “new era of American energy policy” that he said would lower costs, reduce reliance on foreign oil and create thousands of U.S. jobs.

“It’s going to be an incredible pipeline,” Trump said. “Greatest technology known to man or woman and, frankly, we’re very proud of it.”

He said TransCanada could now build Keystone “with efficiency and with speed” and said the federal government was working out final details “as we speak.”

The decision caps a years-long fight between environmental groups and energy industry advocates over the pipeline’s fate that became a proxy battle over global warming. It marks one of the biggest steps taken to date by the Trump administration to prioritize economic development over environmental concerns.

The State Department, responsible for reviewing the project because it crosses an international border, determined that building it serves U.S. national interests. That conclusion followed a review of environmental, economic and diplomatic factors, the department said.

It wasn’t immediately clear what, if anything, had changed since the State Department reached the opposite conclusion two years ago, other than the election of a new administration. President Donald Trump planned to address Keystone during an announcement on Friday morning, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said on Twitter.

TransCanada, which first applied for a presidential permit in 2008, called the decision a “significant milestone.”

“We greatly appreciate President Trump’s administration for reviewing and approving this important initiative,” said TransCanada CEO Russ Girling. “We look forward to working with them as we continue to invest in and strengthen North America’s energy infrastructure.”

But Greenpeace, one of the pipeline’s most vocal opponents, said it sent a signal to the world that the U.S. is “moving backwards” on climate and energy, and pledged to keep fighting it nonetheless.

“Keystone was stopped once before, and it will be stopped again,” said Annie Leonard, the group’s U.S. director.

The 1,700-mile (2,735 kilometers) pipeline, as envisioned, would carry oil from tar sands in Alberta, Canada, to refineries along the Texas Gulf Coast, passing through Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma. The pipeline would move roughly 800,000 barrels of oil per day, more than one-fifth of the oil Canada exports to the U.S.

Portions of Keystone have already been built. Completing it required a permit to cross from Canada into the U.S.

Yet even with a presidential permit, the pipeline still faces obstacles – most notably the route, which is still being heavily litigated in the states. Native American tribes and landowners have joined environmental groups in opposing the pipeline.

TransCanada said Friday it would continue engaging with “neighbors throughout Nebraska, Montana and South Dakota to obtain the necessary permits and approvals to advance this project to construction.”

In an unusual twist, the presidential permit was signed by Tom Shannon, a career diplomat serving in a senior State Department role, rather than by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. The former CEO of oil company Exxon Mobil recused himself after protests from environmental groups who said it would be a conflict of interest for Tillerson to decide the pipeline’s fate.

Canadian Natural Resource Minister Jim Carr said the Canadian government is pleased with the decision. Ninety-seven percent of Canada’s oil exports go to the U.S.

“Nothing is more essential to the American economy than access to a secure and reliable source of energy. Canada is that source,” Carr said.

Oil industry advocates say the pipeline will improve U.S. energy security and create jobs, although how many is widely disputed. Calgary-based TransCanada has promised as many as 13,000 construction jobs — 6,500 a year over two years — although the State Department previously estimated a far smaller number. The pipeline’s opponents contend the jobs will be minimal and short-lived, and say the pipeline won’t help the U.S. with energy needs because the oil is destined for export.

A Trump presidential directive also required new or expanded pipelines to be built with American steel “to the maximum extent possible.” However, TransCanada has said Keystone won’t be built with U.S. steel. The company has already acquired the steel, much of it from Canada and Mexico, and the White House has acknowledged it’s too difficult to impose conditions on a pipeline already under construction.

Environmental groups also say the pipeline will encourage the use of carbon-heavy tar sands oil which contributes more to global warming than cleaner sources of energy. President Barack Obama reached the same conclusion in 2015 after a negative recommendation from then-Secretary of State John Kerry.

TransCanada first applied for a permit in 2008. Years of politicking, legal wrangling and disputes over the pipeline’s route preceded Obama’s decision to nix the project.

The Obama administration argued the pipeline would undercut U.S. efforts to clinch a global climate change deal that was reached weeks later in Paris.

The Trump administration has dropped fighting climate change as a priority and left open the possibility of pulling out of the Paris deal.

(© Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

NEW YORK (AP/WCCO) — Bob Dylan opened up about his music and songwriting and discussed his relationships with Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and others in a rare and lengthy interview posted to his website Wednesday.

In the Q&A with author Bill Flanagan, Dylan recalled Sinatra telling him, “`You and me, pal, we got blue eyes, we’re from up there … These other bums are from down here.”‘

Of the many superstars who died last year, including Muhammad Ali and Merle Haggard, Dylan said the deaths hit him hard: “We were like brothers … It’s lonesome without them,” he said.

When asked about why Presley didn’t show up for a recording session with Dylan and George Harrison, he replied: “He did show up — it was us that didn’t.”

Also, regarding his childhood in Minnesota, he had this to say:

Minnesota has its own Mason Dixon line. I come from the north and that’s different from southern Minnesota; if you’re there you could be in Iowa or Georgia. Up north the weather is more extreme – frostbite in the winter, mosquito-ridden in the summer, no air conditioning when I grew up, steam heat in the winter and you had to wear a lot of clothes when you went outdoors. Your blood gets thick. It’s the land of 10,000 lakes – lot of hunting and fishing. Indian country, Ojibwe, Chippewa, Lakota, birch trees, open pit mines, bears and wolves – the air is raw. Southern Minnesota is farming country, wheat fields and hay stacks, lots of corn fields, horses and milk cows. In the north it’s more hardscrabble. It’s a rugged environment – people lead simple lives, but they lead simple lives in other parts of the country too. People are pretty much the same wherever you go. There is good and bad in most people, doesn’t matter what state you live in. Some people are more self-sufficient than other places – some more secure, some less secure – some people mind their own business, some don’t.

He also called Duluth “a dark place, even in the light of day – curfews, gloomy, lonely, all that sort of stuff.” He added that when he arrived in the Twin Cities, they were “rock and roll towns. I didn’t know that. I thought the only rock and roll towns were Memphis and Shreveport.”

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A man is dead after his car struck a tree west of the metro Thursday night.

The crash occurred near 5836 65^th Street Northeast in Franklin Township just before 11:30 p.m.

Deputies found a 2005 Chevrolet Suburban that had hit a tree with extensive damage to the front end. The driver and lone occupant of the vehicle, 49-year-old David Sabourin, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Wright County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office said Sabourin was traveling north on County Line Road when he lost control on a curve, left the roadway and hit the tree.

(credit: CBS)

His family said the victim was a father of four. He was the owner of Sabourin’s Liquor Store, and also served as a custodian at Delano High School.

Terry Cook worked alongside Sabourin at Delano High School.

“He was Mr. bubbly personality, caring, very likable man,” he said.

Cook got the news in a staff meeting.

“Tough day,” he said, “tough way to learn about a good friend.”

And a good person, he says. Sabourin was a volunteer firefighter who helped care for his sick mother, a nurturer.

“His main thing, he was always concerned about other people, he had a bout with cancer a few years ago and it was never about him, it was about everybody else,” Cook said.

A man who wore many hats and touched many hearts.

The crash is still under investigation.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Landlords in Minneapolis will soon be required to accept tenants using Section 8 housing vouchers.

On Friday morning, Minneapolis city council members approved the ordinance unanimously that is aimed at combating discrimination when it comes to housing.

The ordinance will prohibit landlords from refusing applicants who use Section 8 and other government housing vouchers, like GRH.

Many landlords in the city spoke out against the ordinance, claiming it will prompt landlords to hike up rent prices to avoid participating in the program.

“We are very concerned that this could have a destabilizing effect on the market, that the housing choice voucher program runs according to a certain mechanism and part of that is rent maximums. That could put upward pressure on rents to avoid participation in the program,” said Cecil Smith of the Minnesota Multi-Housing Association.

Those in support of the measure cite 58 other jurisdictions across the country that have similar ordinances.

“Now, we will no longer be permitted to have properties advertise ‘No Section 8 May Apply’, something that long has been a tremendous barrier to really what is a relatively small group of individuals,” said Elizabeth Glidden, council member for Minneapolis Ward 8.

This ordinance goes into effect in May of next year.

The Minneapolis Public Housing Authority released a statement in support of the decision:

Today the Minneapolis City Council voted unanimously in favor of amending the Minneapolis Civil Rights Ordinance to prohibit discrimination against Housing Choice Vouchers (also known as “Section 8”) as a form of income for tenants seeking housing in the city. The change will take effect on May 1, 2018.

“The Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA) welcomes this council action that prohibits discrimination against families with Housing Choice Vouchers. While we do not believe this change is a cure-all for the challenges voucher families face in finding affordable housing, it will be a helpful step in addressing this issue. It will require that voucher families receive the same consideration given to other prospective tenants, and eliminate the “No Section 8” warning that is unfortunately all too common in rental listings. We are hopeful that the change will encourage some families to consider neighborhoods of greater opportunity, which they might previously have felt were off-limits.

“In the year until the amendment takes effect, MPHA is committed to making changes that we believe will improve the experience for property owners and create opportunities for families utilizing the program. These changes will include enhancements to our inspections protocol, changes to payment processes, an extension of housing-search-time, improved communication and feedback opportunities for owners, and deeper collaboration with the City of Minneapolis and other regional public housing authorities. Our initial proposed changes are online (mphaonline.org/HousingChoiceDocuments) and we look forward to providing ongoing updates as we make these improvements.

By Chuck Carroll

Sixteen years ago Thursday, World Wrestling Entertainment, then World Wrestling Federation, stunned the professional wrestling world by purchasing the company it had been in a bruising battle with for nearly 20 years. March 23, 2001 was the day World Championship Wrestling and the Monday Night Wars died. Executives at AOL Time-Warner saw little value in WCW after purchasing Turner Broadcasting. The acquisition included cable networks TNT and TBS, which were home to WCW Monday Nitro and WCW Thunder since the shows debuted. Despite drawing millions of viewers each week, WCW was sold for what some would say was little more than a bag of donuts. WCW’s viewership had eroded from the height of its popularity in the late 1990s and was lagging behind WWF, but was still among the top draws on cable. Indeed, Vince McMahon got a bargain.

On this anniversary the question has arisen whether history is on the verge of repeating itself. A report recently surfaced that WWE was eying a takeover of Ring of Honor, a promotion currently considered by many to be their biggest rival. The rumor stated that there had been ongoing discussions between Stamford, Connecticut-based WWE and ROH parent company Sinclair Broadcasting Group, which is headquartered outside Baltimore. Such speculation has set off a firestorm among wrestlers as well as fans active in online wrestling communities.

Is the wrestling world going to be turned on its head again after a decade and a half? No.

ROH will not be sold to WWE, according to two people with direct knowledge of the situation. One high-ranking source said “there is no story here.”

During an interview earlier this month, ROH COO Joe Koff emphatically denied rumors of a potential sale.

“No. No, no, no,” Koff told me. “It’s very flattering and humbling to us. It validates what we’ve done. A lot of their current performers and stars are ROH guys and we have their history. So maybe the content of the backstories of Kevin Steen before he became Kevin Owens or AJ Styles’ run in Ring of Honor, Tyler Black (aka Seth Rollins), Claudio (Castagnoli aka Cesaro) … all of the guys who have wrestled for us. We have their backstory and where it began… That’s our content.”

The two sides are open to continuing a professional relationship that is mutually beneficial. However, Koff also said the idea of WWE purchasing the ROH tape library is highly unlikely.

“I’m always open to any conversation,” said Koff. “We do business with them if they want to do a DVD or VOD if they need footage from early matches they do come to us. We are open to work with them on that basis because it doesn’t hurt us. It actually helps us.”

WWE did not respond to a request for comment.

>>MORE: From the world of Pro Wrestling

ROH is a proving ground for future WWE headliners and is now also becoming a destination for ex-WWE wrestlers exploring opportunities outside of the Vince McMahon-led wrestling juggernaut. Recently, Matt and Jeff Hardy signed short-term deals that will have them appear in ROH for the “immediate future,” while Bubba Ray Dudley signed a longer-term contract. WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair also had a brief rocky stint with the company in 2009.

WWE has polled fans about having ROH content on the popular WWE Network in the past. But whether the two sides are able to broker an agreement to syndicate ROH programming to WWE’s 1.5 million subscribers remains to be seen. It’s unclear what level of interest ROH has in such an arrangement.

ROH currently streams content on their own website and FITE TV, a digital combat sports network featuring a number of independent promotions as well as Impact Wrestling. The next event to stream on the platform will be ROH Supercard of Honor XI on April 1. The show is about an hour’s drive from Orlando where WrestleMania will be held the following day.

Chuck Carroll is former pro wrestling announcer and referee turned sports media personality. He once appeared on Monday Night RAW when he presented Robert Griffin III with a WWE title belt in the Redskins locker room.

Follow him on Twitter @ChuckCarrollWLC.

Off the Menu with Dara can be heard every Saturday from 11 a.m. to noon on News Radio 830 WCCO! See all of Mpls. St.Paul Magazine’s Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl’s Top 5 lists here!

It’s sort of the worst season right now—though it pains me to admit. Spring produce isn’t here, everything from last fall is getting old and hairy; carrots and squash are even getting kind of old and awful. What’s a bored cook to do? I say get some limes and go nuts! We can drink our limes, eat our limes, and get some good vitamin C and not be bored. We can do this folks—lime style!

CBS Local– In life we can try our hardest to do the right things and make the right decisions but sometimes the desired result isn’t achieved. That’s life. Unfortunately, according to a study led by Bert Vogelstein and Christian Tomasetti, cancer is no different. They found that cancer can be a matter of chance more often than we’d like to believe.

Vogelstein did an admirable job of breaking down the arcane scientific terms and process into layman terms. Essentially, cells divide and make mistakes copying DNA. They’re “naturally occurring mutations.” For the most part, the mistakes are negligible and not uncommon. But, unfortunately, sometimes those mistakes come in the wrong gene.

“Occasionally they occur in a cancer driver gene. That’s bad luck,” said Vogelstein.

Vogelstein and Tomasetti’s findings were published in Science Magazine, and they looked to quantify just how much of cancer could be preventable or how much of it was random.

“We all agree that 40 percent of cancers are preventable,” said Vogelstein. “The question is, what about the other cancers that aren’t known to be preventable?”

Their findings were fairly shocking: 66% of the gene mutations are completely random. To complete that pie chart, they found that 29% are due to environment while a relatively minuscule 5% is hereditary.

To break it down further, they said that most of the time when children are diagnosed with cancer, it’s these random mutations.

“They need to understand that these cancers would have happened no matter what they did,” said Vogelstein. “We don’t need to add guilt to an already tragic situation.”

Of course, different forms of cancer have different results. For instance, lung cancer can be obviated by abstaining from tobacco.

“We’re not saying the only thing that determines the seriousness of the cancer, or its aggressiveness, or its likelihood to cause the patient’s death, are these mutations,” said Vogelstein. “We’re simply saying that they are necessary to get the cancer.”

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Police in Burnsville are asking the public’s help in finding a suspect involved in a bank robbery.

According to police, around 2:20 p.m. Thursday, a suspect handed a note to a teller at the TCF Bank inside Cub Foods at 300 East Travelers Trail demanding money. The teller handed over an undisclosed amount of money to the suspect, who then fled.

Police said no weapon was seen and no one was injured.

If you have information about this robbery, contact Burnsville Police Investigator Andrew Newton at 952-895-4670. The FBI is offering a reward for information in this case.

By Mario McKellop

Most Americans are aware that expenses related to the purchase of a new home and relocating are eligible for tax deductions. However, the four million word document that governs the U.S. taxation system is filled with all kinds of odd and little-known deductions. Here’s a rundown of seven unusual deductions that can help lower your tax burden.

Weight Loss Treatment

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, 35.9 percent of the adult American populace are obese. If you are one of those Americans and your doctor has determined that your excessive weight is a serious threat to your health, you may be able to deduct certain expenses related to getting healthy. If a doctor recommends that you enroll in a weight loss program to treat a weight-related medical condition such as obesity, hypertension and high blood pressure, you can claim its membership fees as an itemized deduction. However, your weight loss expenses must represent at least 10 percent of your adjusted gross income (AGI).

Landscaping

If you are the sole proprietor of a home–based small business, you may be able to deduct some of your landscaping expenses. The logic behind the deduction is that maintaining a vibrant lawn, perfectly trimmed hedges and a handsomely painted fence can play an essential role in the operation of your business. To qualify for this deduction, you must meet with customers in your home and have a valid reason why quality landscaping helps you attract and retain clients.

Stop Smoking

In an effort to help millions of American kick the habit, the IRS offers tax deductions for the costs associated with quitting smoking. To be clear, stop smoking aids like nicotine patches and gums are not applicable. However, the cost of a smoking cessation program can be deducted, provided that it represents 10 percent of your AGI. Seeing as such programs have been found to be among the most effective ways of beating the addiction, enrolling in one is a good idea for your physical and financial health.

Pet Relocation Expenses

It’s common knowledge that certain non-employer covered job relocation expenses can be claimed as itemized deductions. However, what many people may not know is that they can count pet relocation costs among their claimed expenses. Applicable fees include the cost of an airline ticket for your pets or for a door to door pet relocation service.

Swimming Pool

If you are suffering from an ailment that causes chronic pain, such as severe arthritis, you may be able to claim the cost of getting a swimming pool on your taxes. It should be noted that a deduction for swimming pool has only been claimed in the past in instances where taxpayers have been able to prove that swimming was a medically prescribed treatment, the pool was only used for therapeutic purposes and that their condition was serious enough to prevent them from regularly visiting an off-site aquatic center.

Classroom Supplies

If you’re a teacher at a K-12 school, you probably went out of pocket more than a few times to purchase some much-needed classroom supplies. If so, you’ll definitely want to hold onto those receipts, because the IRS allows select educators to claim a $250 itemized deduction for teaching materials.

Gambling Losses

If you had a bad run of luck at the track or at a casino, you may be able to deduct some of your gambling losses. That said, it’s important to be aware of the fact that whatever you claim in gambling losses cannot exceed the amount of money you won gambling.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – The Minnesota Vikings and defensive end Brian Robison have agreed to a contract extension, according to ESPN.

NFL reporter Field Yates said on Twitter the 33-year-old signed a one year extension through 2018. The contract comes with $5.15 million guaranteed and a base salary of $7.5 million over two years, according to Yates.

The Vikings drafted Robison in the fourth round of the 2007 draft. He has spent his entire 10 year career with the team, amassing 56 sacks. Robison has been a full-time starter on the line since 2011.

Robison finished third on the team in sacks last season with 7.5. Everson Griffen was second with 8 and Danielle Hunter, taking limited snaps as a rotational player, led the team with 12.5.

ROCHESTER, Minn. (AP) — A 5-year-old boy who briefly lost the teddy bear that has helped him through cancer treatment was reunited with his stuffed animal thanks to Mayo Clinic workers, a round of social media shares and a police escort.

Aiden Remme, of Brewster, was undergoing his 60th round of chemotherapy when Teddy went missing. Remme has brain cancer and has never undergone a scan or surgery without his stuffed animal.

The Rochester Post Bulletin reports that Aiden’s mom, Tracy, called for help on social media asking people near Mayo to help search for Teddy. After more than 1,000 shares, the bear was found by a Mayo Clinic employee on Wednesday.

A police officer picked up the bear from Mayo and it was back in Remme’s arms later that afternoon.

(© Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Muslim civil rights group is calling on the broader public to help fight bigotry.

The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations is holding an event Saturday designed to get thousands of Minnesotans to stand up against hate.

CAIR-MN’s Executive Director Jaylani Hussein says there have been two incidents in the last week of Muslim women being followed in Minnesota. He says Muslims can’t fight hatred alone.

Those who attend Saturday’s event will be given ideas for concrete actions they can take to help — such as taking a stand on social media or hosting community conversations.

About 1,200 tickets have been sold for Saturday’s event, and Hussein anticipates that number will grow. The event kicks off a larger campaign to get 10,000 Minnesotans active in challenging bigotry.

(© Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

“Grease” is the word at Chanhasssen Dinner Theaters.

The popular musical depicting quintessentially 1950s America — with T-Birds, Pink Ladies, leather jackets and poodle skirts — is hitting the stages in Chanhassen, where it’s set to run through Oct. 28.

Actors Aleks Knezevich and Caroline Innerbichler, who play Danny and Sandy, dropped by WCCO 4 News At Noon.

For more information on the show, or to purchase tickets, please click here.

Meet Monster!

Monster is a 1-year-old Shepherd mix who came to Northwoods Humane Society after being found on someone’s private property.

Volunteers describe him as a very lovable dog. He is kind and gentle. He was found with two other dogs, but a meet-and-greet is always encouraged. Also, it is unknown if he is good with other pets or kids.

For more information on Cookie, or other animals, visit the Northwoods Humane Society online.

By Mario McKellop

The birth of a child brings a number of changes in the life of a couple. One of the many significant life changes new parents experience is the impact having a child has on their tax status. Here are a few tips that will make that transition process easier.

Get Your Child A Social Security Card

Right off the bat, one of the first tax-related tasks new parents need to complete is ensuring that their newborn is issued a Social Security number. Typically, new parents can get the paperwork started at the hospital right after the birth. This is important because without is a Social Security number, you can’t claim your child as a dependent. If you file a return for a dependent that has not been assigned a Social Security number, you can be subject to a fine and a delayed tax refund.

Claim The Dependent Exemption

As of 2016, you and your spouse can exempt $4,050 of your adjusted gross income (AGI) for every qualified child you claim on your tax return as a dependent.  It should be noted that you claim the full value of the dependent exemption for the first tax year your child was born or adopted.

Take Advantage Of The Child And Dependent Care Tax Credit

One of the major expenses new parents have to cope with is paying for child care. Thankfully, the federal government’s Dependent Care Tax Credit makes dealing with these new costs a bit more manageable. Depending on your income level, you can claim a tax credit worth 35 percent of your child care expenses up to $3,000, or up to $6,000 if you can claim more than one dependent. However, to claim to this tax credit, you’ll need to have the tax ID or Social Security number of your child care provider.

Change Your W-4

Because of the new tax credits and deductions you’ll be able to claim on your tax returns, you don’d need your employer to withhold as much money from your paycheck. Once you take your new bundle of joy home, contact your company’s HR department to make the change to your W-4 Form and you’ll soon see a boost in your regular take home pay.

Use the Earned Income Tax Credit

The government’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) provides some financial relief for low-income families. While married couples without children can claim an EITC of $506 if they make less than $14,880 in AGI for single filers or $20,430 for joint filers, the threshold rises to $39, 296 for single filers and $44,864 for joint filers for new parents and the claimable EITC jumps to $3,373.