A 53-year-old Rochester man was killed when he crashed his garbage truck on Interstate 90 near Austin, Minnesota, on Wednesday. According to the State Patrol’s report, Dean Allen Sinnwell apparently lost control of his truck on westbound I-90, skidded into the median and overturned, before coming to a rest on the south side of the … Read more
Albert Lea voters said yes to the renewal of a school operating levy on the ballot for Tuesday’s election. Albert Lea Public Schools asked voters to renew an existing property tax levy of $581 per student to help with funding for the district and to avoid a $2 million budget cut. The request was approved … Read more
An Austin man charged with multiple counts of criminal sexual conduct involving an underage girl has been sentenced to probation, community work service and a fine in Mower County District Court. A judge ordred 21-year old Kristopher Lin Cook to 25 years of supervised probation and to perform 500 hours of community work service or … Read more
Blooming Prairie voters overwhelmingly approved a $34 million school bond referendum. It was a long night, but around 10 p.m. Tuesday, the ballots in the special election for a two-question bond referendum were tallied, with Blooming Praries voters sending a resounding “Yes,” to both questions, something Blooming Prairie Superintendent Chris Staloch says will help with … Read more
The State Patrol is investigating a fatal crash Wednesday afternoon near Austin. Authorities reported the deadly rollover crash occurred on I-90 near mile marker 183, killing the 53 year old driver when he apparently lost control of his truck, skidded off the freeway and overturned into a ditch, Preliminary reports indicate. The victims name is … Read more
An Austin man sentenced last week in connection to a 2020 undercover drug trafficking case is facing more time in jail. David Maphanh, 39 has been sentenced to eight years in prison after being sentenced on second degree drug sales to a confidential informant on three separate occasions last year resulting in 94 months in … Read more
A two-vehicle accident on I-35 in Scott County sent two Austin teens to the hospital Monday. The Minnesota State Patrol reported that a 17-year old girl and a 17 year old boy who was riding with her were injured when they collided with a vehicle on I-35 in New Market Township, causing the teen driver’s … Read more
An Austin man will not go to jail for child sexploitation charges. 21-year old Kristopher Lin Cook was sentenced recently in Mower County District Court to 25 years of supervised probation after pleading guilty to raping a 15-year-old girl multiple times, including when the victim was heavily intoxicated and Cook choked the child. As part … Read more
AUSTIN, Minn. – A Mower County man is headed to prison after he pleaded guilty to assault charges from an incident last summer. Raul Zavala Jr., 29 of Austin, was sentenced Tuesday to seven years and two months behind bars for stabbing a man he was arguing with and also for firing a gun during … Read more
Austin man who sexually assaulted a group home staff member has accepted a plea deal in the 2020 case. 23-year old Sean Michael Minor was convicted and sentenced Thursday in Mower County District Court to two years in prison for a felony charge of 4th degree criminal sexual conduct. As part of the plea deal … Read more