Larson sent to Blue Earth

Ashton Larson, sentenced Wednesday to a staggered jail sentence of 180 days, entered the Freeborn County jail immediately to begin serving her first 60-day term. She had no prior time served.

She spent Wednesday night in the Freeborn County jail before being sent on Thursday to the Faribault County jail in Blue Earth, the same facility that co-defendant Brianna Broitzman served her 60 days in.

Larson and Broitzman had pleaded guilty to charges of disorderly conduct by a caregiver, all gross misdemeanors. The charges were connected to elder abuse at an Albert Lea nursing home.

Who let the hogs out?

Freeborn County sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of criminal damages to property at 64337 160th St., Alden, at 7:23 a.m. Wednesday. It was reported that a hog confinement building was broken into, tools were taken and hogs were let loose. A report was filed.

Credit card used inappropriately

Identity theft was reported to the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office at 18588 680th Ave., Alden, at 2:01 p.m. Wednesday. According to reports, a credit card had been used online and a report was filed.

Watch out for snowplows

The Minnesota Department of Transportation reminds parents to keep children safely away from the road while snowplow drivers are working. “With many children on winter break from school, playing in all this snow is a great winter activity,” said Tom Sorel, MnDOT commissioner. “We want to make sure that this holiday break remains a great time for families throughout the state.”

Mankato Clinic laptop with patient data is stolen

MANKATO (AP) — The Mankato Clinic says a laptop with information on nearly 3,200 patients was stolen from a nurse’s car last month.

Clinic chief executive Randy Farrow says it’s unlikely anyone has accessed the password-protected information.

The records included patients’ full names, dates of birth, medical record numbers and diagnosis information. Farrow says the records did not include financial information, Social Security numbers or home addresses.

The theft occurred about Nov. 1. Clinic officials sent letters to all affected patients Thursday.

Farrow says the delay in notification came about because the clinic was doing an internal investigation to understand the extent of the situation.

The clinic says it notified federal officials about the security breach as required.

Port Authority

The Albert Lea Port Authority will hold its regular meeting at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011, at the Albert Lea Business Development Center at 2610 Y.H. Hanson Ave.