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Charges Dropped Against Some In 'Operation Squarehook'

A U.S. District Court judge is dismissing charges against five Native American defendants who were accused of poaching walleye from northern Minnesota lakes and selling them on the black market. The five are among the dozens of people charged last spring following an extensive undercover operation by the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and tribal fish and game agents. The two-year sting was code named "Operation Squarehook," in reference to the nets used to capture large numbers of game fish.

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Heat, Drought Conditions Raise Minn. Wildfire Risk

With high temperatures and drought conditions in parts of the state, fire officials are warning about the risk of wildfires and urging people to be careful in dry areas. Tom Fasteland is a coordinator with the Minnesota Interagency Fire Center in Grand Rapids. He says part of the state is still covered with green vegetation, which reduces the risk of fire, but the landscape can change quickly in a heat wave. He says people should be careful in recreational parts of the state. He says areas around Bemidji, Detroit Lakes and Cass Lake are dry, and in parts of northern and central Minnesota the fire-danger rating is "high" or "very high."

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