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Bald eagle lands on fire truck during Sept. 11 tribute

COON RAPIDS, Minn. (AP) — A bald eagle has visited a Minnesota tribute marking the 17th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

The national bird landed Tuesday on top of a firefighters’ aerial truck parked on a highway overpass in the northern Minneapolis suburb of Coon Rapids.

Members of the Andover Fire Department were gathered to pay tribute to the nearly 3,000 people who died in the attacks and to the 9/11 emergency responders.

The Fire Department posted video of the eagle’s landing on its Facebook page. After perching on the basket at the top of the truck, the eagle flew off.

The Star Tribune reports that the unscripted event happened after several firefighters had set up department vehicles on the overpass, posted U.S. flags and draped a banner over the railing reading, “We will never forget.”

St. Thomas AD Fritz to retire

after 52-year run at school

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — University of St. Thomas athletic director Steve Fritz has decided to retire in the spring, ending a 52-year affiliation with the school.

St. Thomas made the announcement on Tuesday about Fritz, who began playing basketball for the Tommies in 1967. He spent nine seasons as an assistant coach before becoming head coach of the program in 1980. His final season on the bench was 2010-11, when the Tommies won the national championship.

As a player, assistant and head coach, Fritz had 829 wins in 1,199 games.

Fritz has been the athletic director since 1992. During his 27 years, St. Thomas teams have won seven NCAA Division III championships and 242 MIAC regular season titles in 21 different sports.

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