Toddler survives fall from 3rd-story window
by The Associated Press

ST. CLOUD -- Police say a 3-year-old boy is expected to survive after falling from a third-story apartment window in St. Cloud.

Police say the boy's mother had just finished giving three children a bath when the boy went to look out a window and leaned against a screen Friday. The screen gave out, and the boy fell almost 30 feet onto concrete.

A nursing supervisor says the boy, identified as Yasir Mohamed Abdi, is in serious condition at St. Cloud Hospital.

Police Sgt. Tim Lewellyn says the boy apparently broke several bones but is expected to survive.

Petters defense asks appeals court for retrial
by The Associated Press

ST. PAUL --  Lawyers for Tom Petters are asking a federal appeals court to order a new trial for the Minnesota businessman, who was convicted last December of running a $3.7 billion Ponzi scheme.

In papers sent Friday to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, they say Petters' accusers "were amongst the most prolific liars, forgers and con artists in recent memory."

The defense contends it was not allowed to present the jury with full evidence about a key prosecution witness, Larry Reynolds. He's a convicted felon and disbarred lawyer who had been in the federal witness protection program. The defense claims Reynolds masterminded the fraud within Petters' company, without Petters' knowledge.

The defense also calls Petters' 50-year sentence "barbaric."

Former co-worker threatened over unemployment benefits
by Jim Maurice, WJON.com

ST. CLOUD -- A 48-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly threatening a former co-worker.

St. Cloud police were called to the 100 block of Lincoln Avenue Southeast on Wednesday.

A female employee says she received a threatening phone call from Jeffery Martilla of Minneapolis. When the woman told Martilla his unemployment benefits had run out, he told her he was going to come there a "put a bullet in her head".

He was arrested at his Minneapolis home and is awaiting charges.

Man hit in the head with glass bottle
by Jim Maurice, WJON.com

ST. CLOUD -- A St. Cloud man says he was hit in the head with a glass bottle while he slept on the couch.

St. Cloud police were called to the 1200 block of 2nd Street Northeast at about 1:00 this (Friday) morning.

The victim says he was attacked by 61-year-old Barbara Campbell of St. Cloud around 7:00 last night.

The victim suffered non life-threatening injuries.

St. John's Prep drops football for this fall
by Jim Maurice, WJON.com

COLLEGEVILLE -- When the high school football season starts next month, the St. John's Prep team will not be taking the field.

Athletic Director Bryan Backes says only 14 boys signed-up, and that's not enough to make a team.  He says they had 25 last year, but eight of them graduated and another player transferred to another school.

Backes says three more boys opted to study overseas this fall.

He says he's working with an area district for a cooperative sponsorship. That would allow the players from St. John's Prep to play on a neighboring district's football team, if they wanted to.