ALBERT LEA, Minn. – A Freeborn County man convicted on child sexploitation charges has accepted a plea deal in the case. One day after his trial began on 10 counts of criminal sexual misconduct, Juan Eduardo Rodriguez Morales, 40 of Albert Lea, pleaded guilty to lesser charges and was sentenced Thursday to 14 years in … Read more
LAKE MILLS, Iowa – An elderly Lake Mills man is recovering after his SUV collided with a train Thursday in Lake Mills. The Iowa State Patrol says Mavis Bergo, 91 of Lake Mills, was driving north on South Washington Street when he ran through a stop sign at South 6th Avenue and the front of … Read more
FREEBORN COUNTY, Iowa – Power may not be back on in Hartland until sometime Friday. The Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office says Xcel Energy crews worked through the night. The company’s outage map lists more than 200 customers in Hartland were left without power following this weeks deadly storms. -0-
PEMBERTON, Minn. – A 67-year-old woman was killed after colliding with a semi driven by a Freeborn County man at the intersection of Main St., and Hwy 83 just north of Albert Lea Thursday afternoon. The Minnesota State Patrol says the woman was southbound when she crashed with the northbound semi driven by Jeffrey Norris … Read more
The National Weather Service was expected to begin damage assesment Thursday in communities hit by possible tornadoes Wednesday night. Significant damage reports are coming in to the National Weather Service after the historic Dec. 15 severe weather outbreak led to numerous severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings in southeast Minnesota. The town of Hartland, just north … Read more
FOREST CITY – A Des Moines man whose 2011 child sexploitation case in Winnebago County was dismissed is facing new charges after a backlog of untested sexual assault kits linked him to the crime. The new evidence allowed prosecutors to file a new charge against Billy John Tucker, who’s accused of having inappropriate contact with … Read more
KIMT-TV 3 NEWS – Wednesday’s storm also left thousands without power in North Iowa, including in Clear Lake, Mason City, and surrounding areas. And, customers in the Freeborn/Mower coop also were left in the dark after losing power. -0-
NORTHWOOD, Iowa – A major gas leak forced evacuations in Worth County. Authorities said residents on Central Ave. from 8th St. to 11th St., in Northwood, and north to 4th Ave., were urged to find safe shelter, after severe storms rolled through the area Wednesday, and caused a gas line to rupture. -0-
ABC 6 News) – We have several reports of damage in Hartland in Freeborn County. A line of very powerful, & severe storms blasted through the area from southwest to northeast Wednesday evening. AND… A confirmed tornado was reported in southeastern Minnesota Wednesday night, according to the National Weather Service. The first confirmation was reported … Read more
Social media threats of violence targeting schools in Minnesota are on the rise. At least 10 schools in Minnesota, including in Austin, have reported threats of violence in recent days, in the wake of the deadly Oxford High School shooting in Michigan on Nov. 30. The Austin Police Department said Monday, Dec. 13, it investigated … Read more