"A person may not hunt turkey with the aid or use of bait or feed or in the vicinity of bait or feed if the person knows or has reason to know that bait or feed is present," according to a news release from the DNR. "An area is considered baited for 10 days after the complete removal of all bait or feed."

The release described bait or feed as grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts or other food that is capable of attracting or enticing turkey and that has been placed by a person.

The National Weather Service Office in Chanhassen is watching a series of weather systems it says will affect the Upper Midwest through the end of the week and could result in rapid snow melt.

"Although it is early for a rapid snow melt for Minnesota, conditions over the next few days will aid in the melting process," according to the weather service office.

Liquid precipitation amounts are expected to range between 0.75 to around 1.25 inches through Thursday Night across Minnesota River Valley.

The University of Minnesota carp research team from Sorensen Labs successfully removed approximately 7,000 pounds of carp from Lake Riley on Friday. The carp seine was deemed a success by Przemek Bajer, a post-doctoral associate working on the carp research.

To see a video from on the lake while the carp counting and sorting was taking place, click below.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air pollution health advisory for the Twin Cities metropolitan area for March 4 through 6, according to a news release.

Ice-fishing shelters must be removed from inland waters no later than midnight Monday in the southern two-thirds of the state, and March 15 in the northern third.

The dividing line runs from the Minnesota-North Dakota border near Moorhead along U.S. Highway 10, then east along Highway 34 to Minnesota Highway 200, east along Highway 200 to U.S. Highway 2, and east along Highway 2 to the Minnesota-Wisconsin border near Duluth.

To learn more about orchids, visit Orchids Limited extensive Web site at www.orchidweb.com/About_Orchids.aspx; go to www.orchidweb.com/videoblog.aspx to view orchid videos. Visit our Web site for links.

By Unsie Zuege

“On Sunday, Feb. 28, as part of a continuing program of seeking ways to protect God’s creation, Pax Christi Catholic Community’s Environmental Challenge Ministry is holding an Environmental Expo after the 9 and 11 a.m. Masses,” according to a news release.

By Forrest Adams

University of Minnesota researchers were back in Chanhassen this week hunting for common carp in Lake Lucy and Lake Susan.

With a commercial fishing group from Cambridge, Minn., they removed some of the bottom feeders and radio tagged others. The group is scheduled to seine for carp on Lake Riley this Thursday.

By Forrest Adams

University of Minnesota researchers were back in Chanhassen this week hunting for common carp in Lake Lucy and Lake Susan.

With a commercial fishing group from Cambridge, Minn., they removed some of the bottom feeders and radio tagged others. The group is scheduled to seine for carp on Lake Riley this Thursday.

The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum grounds are now entirely tobacco-free, effective immediately.

According to a press release, "No smoking or use of tobacco is permitted on the grounds of the 1,137-acre University of Minnesota public garden and research facility located in the west metro suburb of Chanhassen.