Head coach Mike Cross was among five Elk River coaches remaining on paid administrative leave, the District 728 school board announced Monday, as an investigation of a hazing incident continues. Meanwhile, the football program for grades 10-12, suspended since Wednesday, resumed on Monday with a practice closed to news media. Seven coaches who were reinstated Sunday night operated the practice.

District officials on Monday identified the five coaches remaining on paid leave to be Cross, John Pink, Brad Olson, Mark Leland and Rick Michalak. See more in Star News exclusive by Sports Editor Bruce Strand.

When Bobby Yang returns a 90 mph serve with a powerful forehand shot then races to the opposite side of the court to backhand another, he isn’t just playing tennis – he’s releasing mighty emotion and activating powerful energies rooted in a painful and not-so-distant past.

You see, 13-year old Bobby’s life took on a tragic twist when his mother was murdered and his father was incarcerated just a few years ago. See more in Sue Austreng's ABC Newspapers story.

Bobby Yang perfects his forehand shot while participating in the National Junior Tennis League Tennis Leadership Camp in Atlanta, Ga. (Photo by Joe Murphy/USTA)

Op. Edit. by Sen. Al Franken -- If we learned that the government was planning to limit our First Amendment rights, we’d be outraged. Well our rights are under attack – not from the government but from corporations seeking to control the flow of information online.

I believe that net neutrality, preserving a free and open Internet, is the First Amendment issue of our time.

Read more: Sen. Franken urges FCC to keep Internet free and open

Sidelines by Bruce Strand -- This must be the gloomiest week in the history of Elk River football. Ever since the reports emerged of excessive hazing, a barbaric practice most of us thought was a relic of  the past, in the wrestling room between practices Tuesday, the gridiron rites of August have been cruelly sacked, at least locally.

Giddy anticipation of, and preparation for, the first kickoff has been replaced by the spector of grim-faced youths sitting with their parents in a tomb-quiet school office waiting to be interrogated, of exchanges with coaches who normally enjoy chatting with the press about their sport being reduced to muttering a polite but firm “Sorry, no comment,” of football fields that should be rife with grunts and thuds and flying sweat this time of year suddenly turned silent with grass untrodden and blocking sleds untouched. See more in Sidelines column by Bruce Strand.

Widening of TH 61 in the area of CSAH 22 has been taking place over the last few weeks.

The traffic control will be removed and the turn lanes will be open for use by Sept. 3, 2010; however, the signal system will not be in place until mid-November due to the manufacturing time frame.

Read more: Turn lanes on CSAH 22 in Wyoming to be open for use on Sept. 3

A St. Francis artist will exhibit her paintings Labor Day weekend in an effort to send kids in need to a visit at Kelley Farm in Elk River.

Mary Olson will show four pieces of her artwork in the second annual “Painting the Farm” fund-raiser, Sept, 4, 5 and 6. Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Monday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Oliver H. Kelly Farm is located at 15788 Kelley Farm Road off Highway 10.

Nine local artists this year capture the farm’s history in the exhibit of the historic 1860s Kelley Farm. Fifty original pieces of artwork will be offered for sale. See more in Elyse Kaner's ABC Newspapers feature story.

Mary Olson, an artist from St. Francis, will display four pieces of artwork in Kelley Farm’s second annual “Painting the Farm” fund-raiser during Labor Day weekend. (Photo submitted)

A 17-year-old Blaine male is in stable condition after being shot early Sunday morning during a house party in Andover.

No suspects are in custody and the investigator has not been able to talk to anybody who witnessed the shooting inside the home in the 18000 block of Tamarack St. N.W. The victim was rushed to the hospital for treatment and the investigator will speak to him as soon as possible, according to Lt. Paul Sommer of the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office. See more in Eric Hagen's ABC Newspapers story.

What Coon Rapids fire officials called a “dramatic fire” early Monday morning did significant damage to a house, but everyone got out safely.

The fire at 200 106th  Ave. N.W. was fanned by strong southeast winds, according Fire Chief John Piper. “The fire went from a small fire to a large fire in a couple of minutes,” said Fire Marshal Todd Williams. See more in Editor Peter Bodley's Coon Rapids Herald story.