HIBBING — Three potentially explosive tubes discovered in a shed in Hibbing triggered a response from the Crow Wing County bomb squad.

The plastic tubes filled with what appeared to be gun powder were brought to the police station Saturday. The person who brought them in told officers he was helping a friend clean out a shed when they discovered the tubes.

The bomb squad safely disposed of the tubes. Police say the explosives were apparently used to blow up beaver dams.

Xcel negotiates for solar projects

MINNEAPOLIS — Xcel Energy is negotiating deals for big solar projects in Minnesota.

In a regulatory filing, the Minneapolis-based power company said it is negotiating with three energy developers to build large solar projects to comply with Minnesota’s mandate that investor-owned utilities get 1.5 percent of their power from the sun by 2020.

The company said 36 energy companies proposed 111 large solar farms in response to Xcel’s request for bids.