tower

A report says sparks produced during maintenance probably caused last month's fire at Soudan Underground Mine State Park near Tower. The state fire marshal says the fire began in the shaft where the work was happening and didn't spread beyond it. It's considered accidental.

The owner of a dilapidated farm in northeastern Minnesota has been cited after investigators say they found a half dozen animals starved to death. St. Louis County sheriff's officials say four horses, a cow and a goat were found dead at the farm.