Masks are now recommended in most of Minnesota’s 87 counties as the more contagious delta variant continues to spread. Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows more than 70 of Minnesota’s counties have substantial or high rates of community transmission and masks are recommended for everyone in indoor public spaces, vaccinated … Read more
Austin Utilities quickly restored power in Northwest Austin in the 18th Avenue and Murphy Creek area after a vehicle struck a transformer just after 10 a.m. on Thursday. According to Austin Police Capt. Todd Clennon, it was reported that a Chevy pickup knocked down the transformer in the 1800 block of Fourth Street Northwest, where … Read more
MANKATO – Waseca County has been deemed a COVID hotspot. The county, along with 9 others in the south-central region, reported a positivity rate spike for the fifth straight week. Confirmed cases jumped by 96.6%. Health officials blame COVID-19’s more contagious delta variant and low vaccination rates for climbing cases. Waseca County Public Health is … Read more
AUSTIN, Minn. – An Austin man charged with arson in connection to a strig of dumpster fires has learned his fate. Christopher Eric Olseson, 21 was sentenced Thursday to three years of supervised probation and ordered to undergo cognitive skill training. The 21 year old pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree arson for setting … Read more
An 11 year old Mower County boy was killed an ATV accident near Waltham Wednesday afternoon. Mower County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the 33000 block of 550th Avenue and reported that several people on the scene were performing CPR on the child who had been pinned under the ATV in a waterway for an undetermined … Read more
(ABC 6 News) – COVID concerns aren’t deterring people from attending the Freeborn County Fair. Wednesday was the second day of the Freeborn County Fair and because of the large turnout, with mostly unmasked fairgoers, some health experts are concerned about community spread of the deadly disease. Despite the warnings, the fair is going on … Read more
A Mower County man is facing charges after admitting he was on his phone when he caused a crash on Hormel Century Parkway. Austin Police reported that 23-year old Marcos Rodriguez told officers he drifted into a lane of traffic near the skate park Monday evening while looking at his cell phone, before colliding headon … Read more
WASECA – An electrical issue is suspected to have sparked a fire Monday that forced a Waseca thrift store to close indefinitely. Waseca Area Neighborhood Service Center and Food Shelf Director Denise Tipton said it’s unclear how long they’ll be closed, but they are still accepting donations at the garage near the store on store … Read more
A Waldorf man is accused of sexually abusing five boys he knows. Michael Lee Bennett, 32, was charged with 12 counts of felony criminal sexual conduct Tuesday in Waseca County District Court in connection to the incident in which the boys, ages 7 to 12, recently said Bennett had molested them multiple times, according to … Read more
ALBERT LEA, Minn. – An Albert Lea woman has accepted a ple deal in connection to a 2020 drug bust at the Freeborn County law enforcement center. Athena Alizabeth Berg, 28, entered a guilty plea Tuesday to third-degree possession of drugs, after authorities say Berg was apparently intoxicated when she tried to drive away, and … Read more