Following Saturday’s severe spring storms in northwestern Minnesota, Governor Tim Walz has declared a peacetime emergency. The emergency authorizes the Minnesota National Guard to provide support for emergency flood operations, including personnel, equipment and resources. Beginning Saturday, the storm brought heavy rains and strong winds to northwestern Minnesota, causing flash flooding across the region. Flooding … Read more
FOREST CITY, Iowa – A Winnebago County man has accepted a plea deal in connection to a series of crimes in 2021. Court documents state that Travis Jon Fox, 43 of Forest City, is accused of trying to set a woman he was arguing with on fire last September. He was also arrested in Lake … Read more
AUSTIN, Minn. – A plea deal is sending a Mower County drug dealer to prison. Robert Edward Collins, 46 of Austin, was sentenced Thursday to seven years behind bars, with credit for 309 days already served. He was arrested in June 2021 in connection to an undercover drug sting in which the 46 year old … Read more
(Valley News Live) – A statewide, large-scale drug investigation has lead to more than a dozen arrests across several Minnesota counties. Multiple agencies conducted numerous traffic stops and search warrants targeting methamphetamine, and to date, over three pounds of meth and more than $11,000 has been seized. The cases are active with investigations ongoing and … Read more
(ABC 6 News) – A fire at an Albert Lea car dealership at the end of last month has been ruled an accident. The fire was reported at the Dave Syverson Auto Center March 30, and according to a press release Thursday “sparks from welding in the shop area landed in wooden products and other … Read more
Zumbrota, Mn – A major highway project that was postponed a couple of weeks due to inclement weather is set to get underway Thursday and motorists are being advised to expect some traffic delays on Highway 52 between Zumbrota [zuhm bro tuh] and Cannon Falls. The Minnesota Department of Transportation says those traffic delays are … Read more
DISTRACTED DRIVING ENFORCEMENT CONTINUES…The Owatonna Police Department is beefing up patrol as part of the Drive Smart campaign crackdown on distracted driving. Over 300 agencies across the state will be targeting drivers who aren’t watching the road as well as they should, a news release from the Owatonna Police states. -0-
After missing two years due to the pandemic, the Smokin’ in Steele BBQ and Blues Festival returns in 2022. The event features professional and amateur BBQ competitions, music, a car show, and food vendors. The annual event, which began in 2008, will be held at the county fairgrounds on June 3-4. Profits benefit the Owatonna … Read more
The Austin City Council is set to vote Thursday on allocating $1.18 million cash payments to citizens with no strings attached. If approved, the guaranteed basic income pilot program will give 85 families $1,000 of taxpayer funds a month for one year. Basic income is a government-funded policy that will partner with the California non-profit … Read more
(ABC 6 News) – Johnny Eugene Davis of Austin pleaded guilty to one count of eluding police. The 58 year old was charged with the felony after he admitted that he fled from the police on March 19, 2021, because he “didn’t want to go to jail.” He was wanted on a felony warrant, issued … Read more