Army Corps OKs plan to block carp

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ commanding officer has endorsed a $778 million plan for upgrading a lock-and-dam complex near Chicago to prevent Asian carp from invading the Great Lakes.

Lt. Gen. Todd Semonite signed the final report Thursday. It now goes to Congress, which would need to give authorization and funding for the project to proceed.

The plan focuses on the Brandon Road Lock and Dam on the Des Plaines River near Joliet, Illinois. It’s considered a chokepoint where Asian carp and other invasive species could be prevented from migrating into Lake Michigan.

Scientists say if Asian carp become established in the Great Lakes, they could out-compete native fish.

Child undergoing more procedures

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The family of a 5-year-old boy who survived after being thrown from a third-story balcony at the Mall of America in Minnesota says he will undergo further medical procedures.

The Woodbury family posted Thursday evening on a GoFundMe page that the procedures are “non-life threatening complications” related to the fall. The boy, named Landen, plunged 40 feet when he was randomly grabbed by Emmanuel Aranda and tossed over the railing. Aranda has pleaded guilty to attempted premeditated first-degree murder in the April 12 attack. Landen suffered head trauma and multiple broken bones.

The GoFundMe site has raised more than $1 million over the past month.

Man charged in tractor-attack

GRAND RIVER, Iowa (AP) — A southern Iowa man has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly using a tractor to spear a county sheriff’s car and push the vehicle more than 100 feet.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety says Decatur County Sheriff Ben Boswell and two deputies were called Thursday afternoon to a family dispute at a home near the tiny town of Grand River.

The first deputy who arrived was confronted by 54-year-old Gerry Greenland, who was driving a John Deere tractor outfitted with a front-end bale spear. Police say Greenland drove toward the patrol car but the deputy drove out of the way.

Greenland then drove toward the sheriff’s car, piercing the driver-side door and pushing the car until finally stopping.

Deputies arrested Greenland on the attempted murder charge.

Boswell wasn’t hurt.