BLAINE: $3 Million Curling Arena Up for Consideration  Supporters of the Fogerty Arena curling center say it’s night and day compared to the last time they tried to get city support ten years ago.  Blaine’s finance director offered the possibility of city bonding to help get the club off the ground. Much legwork remains to be done, including calculating the curling fees and finding experienced individuals to build membership.

AUSTIN:  Forecast: Taxpayer Savings on Way Due to Shortfall of Snow The lack of snow so far brings a forecast for budget savings in 2012. How much depends on what happens the rest of the winter, but to date the city has made up for the higher than budgeted costs for last winter’s snow removal.

ST. CLOUD:  Twice as Many Students Receiving Reduced-Price Lunches as in 2000  The number of students receiving free and reduced-lunches in St. Cloud schools decreased slightly last year, but overall has doubled since 2000.  Nearly one out of every two students now receives a break for school lunch, while the percentage in surrounding school districts varies from 19 percent to 33 percent of students.

INTERNATIONAL FALLS:  Controversy Flows Over Water Rate Increases for Some  Several dozen residents attended a city committee meeting on recent water rate increases that have affected rural water hauling businesses and their customers. The businesses fill their tanks with city water and within the city limits, but are charged about 50 percent more than customers in town.

MOTLEY:  Disputed Street Project Could Cost Taxpayers $77,000  Cost over-runs in a street and utility improvement project are at the center of a dispute between the city’s engineering company and contractors.