Officials are learning more about the incident that affected 911 service for residents in eight southeastern Minnesota counties Monday, including Freeborn and Mower. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety said that technical difficulties are to blame for the issue in which callers could hear dispatch, but they could not hear the caller, according to a … Read more
Freeborn County Public Health Department workers have been busy with vaccinations for first responders. Officials said so far the county public health department has administered 179 vaccines, to public health staff, law enforcement, firefighters and other frontline workers. The next phase will include other health care providers, according to a news release. MEANWHILE… Gov. Tim … Read more
The Albert Lea City Council voted Monday to extend the city’s emergency declaration through Feb. 8 in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. City Manager Ian Rigg said having the emergency declaration in place at the city level allows the city to implement certain safety measures, including operating council meetings by Zoom, and to make … Read more
MASON CITY, Iowa – An Albert Lea man pleaded guilty to cashing fake checks. Jason Alan Roe, 43 is charged with forgery and 5th degree theft, after writing over $1,000 in bad checks at three separate Mason City businesses between December 21, 2019, and February 1, 2020. Roe has been ordered to spend five years … Read more
You may be paying more to fill up at the pump. Gas prices have increased in Minnesota recently, and are set to keep rising in 2021. Officials say with everyone staying home during the pandemic demand for petroleum plummetted, which caused gasoline prices to drop to levels we hadn’t seen in years. -0-
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – An Albert Lea wine bar is being fined $3,000 a day for violating statewide COVID19 protections. The Interchange Wine and Coffee Bistro was found in contempt for defying the court and endangering Minnesotans lives by continuing to open for indoor service against Governor Tim Walz’s dial back order to help prevent community … Read more
AUSTIN, Minn. – A Mower County woman accused of leaving her child in her vehicle while she was at work has pleaded guilty. Liliana Garcia, 29 of Austin, was arrested in November 2019 after Austin police received a call about a child left in a vehicle for hours at the Hormel plant parking lot, court … Read more
An August 2nd, 2021 trial date has been scheduled in Mower County District Court for an Austin man charged with murdering a teenage boy who was protecting his mother during a domestic violence dispute. 27-year old Jaime Vaca is charged with 2nd degree murder, attempted 2nd degree murder, and 1st degree assault in connection to … Read more
(ABC 6 News) – Governor Walz is expected to announce the loosening of restrictions on indoor dining, as well as other settings. In a statement the Governor’s Communications Director said that as COVID-19 numbers improve following the pause on activities around the holidays, Governor Walz will address Minnesotans live on Wednesday afternoon to announce a … Read more
NORTHWOOD, Iowa – Two Minnesota men pleaded not guilty in connection to an assault at a Worth County party in September. Xavier Prestin Judge, 20, and Abdulla Shigidy, 20, are both accused of attacking a man in the 2000 block of 340th Street near Plymouth on September 13, 2020. Judge’s trial is set to begin … Read more