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Where best to send our juvenile delinquents? Douglas County commissioners dove into that dilemma this week, weighing competing offers from detention centers in Moorhead and Willmar. Said one: “Willmar would welcome us with open arms” — but might not always have room. Another: “If you compare apples to apples, Moorhead is better” — but the financially troubled facility wants a commitment of 2.5 beds per month. Douglas County, already on tap to send 2.3 delinquents to Moorhead each month, tabled the topic of choosing juvie halls, which can get ugly. 

Elsewhere in Minnesota news this morning …

DULUTH: Empty jail for sale. St. Louis County is taking offers through Aug. 14 for the old county jail after the Duluth City Council delayed demolition on historic preservation grounds. [Duluth News Tribune]

ST.CLOUD: Race relations on mend, mayor says. Prof disagrees: “St. Cloud doesn’t change … St. Cloud State is never going to change.” [Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder]

STATEWIDE: Do you know where your governor is? Yes, he went south, but not all the way to Argentina. Gov. Pawlenty travels to Arkansas tonight to speak to a GOP gathering that last year hosted… South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford. [Associated Press]

WILLMAR: Housing project “in limbo.” Here’s another Willmar housing project with a tax break, but it’s not doing any better than the suddenly shuttered Wendy’s restaurant — all that’s built is the curbs and stuff where the building should be. [West Central Tribune]

ALEXANDRIA: Invaders! Zebra mussels holding onto a coffee can were found in Lake Le Homme Dieu. [Minnesota Public Radio]

ST. CLOUD: World’s longest bike parade to be attempted. Is this just a fancy way of saying they want the Northstar Commuter Rail line? [St. Cloud Times]