The search for Austin Public School’s next superintendent has been narrowed to three finalists, including one from within the school district. Lori Volz, executive director of finance and operations at Austin Public Schools, who previously worked at the Albert Lea school district, has advanced to the final round of interviews along with Executive Director of … Read more
Senator Kent Eken (DFL-Twin Valley) spoke on the Senate floor Monday [February 15], about the importance of having Local Government Aid (LGA) in rural Minnesota. Referring to SF 749, he says this bill would significantly reduce LGA across the state, creating public safety budget concerns… EKEN 10 He said this bill is setting a dangerous … Read more
NORTHWOOD, Iowa – A Mason City man accused of a high-speed chase in Worth County is pleading not guilty. Jeffrey Lynn Hook, 44, is charged with eluding and OWI. A sheriff’s deputy says Hook was clocked doing 80 miles per hour on Highway 9 on December 14, 2020, and reached 93 mph before finally pulling … Read more
MINNEAPOLIS – The Minnesota Court of Appeals on Tuesday revived a lawsuit filed by the family of a Greenwood man who killed his wife and the couple’s three children before taking his own life in 2015. Relatives of Brian Short had sued Park Nicollet health system, alleging that doctors did not do enough to treat … Read more
Albert Lea school board members on Tuesday discussed options for bringing the district’s secondary students back to school for in-person learning for four days a week in the fourth quarter. After hearing presentations from various staff members about the district’s past and current COVID-19 cases – as well as potential framework for a return to … Read more
An Austin man has accepted a plea deal in connection to a 2019 undercover drug bust. A charge of felony second-degree drug trafficking was reduced as part of the plea agreement for Vincent Johnny, 30, on Friday in Mower County District Court. Johnny will be sentenced on April 15. -0-
The Austin City Council will be holding a series of public hearings on 2021 proposed street repairs during its next regular meeting. The council will also vote to set the public hearing date for street improvement project assessments to March 15. The council’s next regular meeting will be held Tuesday [Feb. 16] evening, in the … Read more
NORTHWOOD, Iowa – A Minnesota man is facing theft and forgery charges after allegedly cashing thousands of dollars worth of stolen checks in Worth County. Albert Lea police say deputies got a report of over $4,000 in checks being cashed in Albert Lea in October 2020, and the suspect’s signature did not match. Brandon Lee … Read more
ROCHESTER, Minn. – Austin Utilities is asking customers to conserve energy during the extremely cold temperatures. The electric company has issued a natural gas peak alert through Wednesday morning and is asking customers to turn thermostats down to 68 degrees during the day. At night, customers are being asked to turn the thermostat down even … Read more
Several Southeast Minnesota Walmart’s are now offering COVID-19 vaccines. Walmart has 36 locations in Minnesota where you can make an appointment for a COVID vaccine, with 6 of those in southeast Minnesota administering the COVID vaccine to those that are eligible, including in Alber Lea, Austin, Lakeville, Owatonna [OH-wa-TAHN-ah], Rochester, and Winona. There are also … Read more