(Washington, DC)  --  It looks like another COVID surge could be on its way.  The CDC is predicting 42 states will see a rise in hospital patients over the next two weeks, including Minnesota, Wisconsin and Florida.  Daily admissions have already jumped by 20-percent.  What's more, the CDC expects another five-thousand people to lose their battle with coronavirus before the end of the month.  It's predicted that Ohio, New York and New Jersey will likely see the most cases.

(Kasota, MN)  --  The Blue Earth County Sheriff's Office is announcing over one-thousand fentanyl pills have been found and seized.  The department says a drug task force found the pills in a storage locker Wednesday in Kasota just north of Mankato.  The pills are blue and made to look like prescription oxycodone pills according to deputies.  The announcement by the Sheriff's Office says one suspect is in custody relating to the seizure and is facing charges of drug possession and sales.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is joining with other state attorneys general in calling for President Biden to cancel all federal student loan debt.  Ellison and attorneys general from New York, Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, New Mexico, Washington, and Puerto Rico sent a joint letter to Biden Monday, urging him to erase all federal student loan debt through an executive order.  The letter points to benefits to the borrowers and the impact the action would have on racial and economic justice initiatives.  That request follows comments by Biden that he would be taking "a hard look" at taking executive action.

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin [[SHO-vin]] is facing at least two decades in prison after reaching a plea deal in his federal civil rights trial.  Chauvin pled guilty yesterday morning to one count of violating George Floyd's civil rights during his deadly May 2020 arrest.  Prosecutors agreed to dismiss a second civil rights violation charge and a set of charges related to allegations he badly beat a Black teen with a flashlight in 2017.  The judge sentenced Chauvin to 20 to 25 years in prison.

South Central College's Customized Workforce Education division is offering a unique program designed to provide individuals with autism the training needed to prepare for a career as a computer numerical control (CNC) operator.  The “Uniquely Abled Academy” will be offered at SCC’s North Mankato Campus from June 6 – August 26, 2022. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply by May 9 at southcentral.edu/uaa.

MANKATO – In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month in May, the Mankato Family YMCA is encouraging community members to join the conversation about mental health. Mental health is how we think, feel and act. At the Y, we recognize that we all have mental health, and mental health is an important part of our physical health and social-emotional well-being, as well as a core component of our identity. “We can all play a role in supporting each other’s mental health – at the Y and in our communities,” said John Kind, Executive Director. “The first step is to start talking [...]

A single-engine plane crash occurred at the Mankato Regional Airport, 3030 North Airport Road, last night (Tuesday, May 3) at approximately 7:48 p.m. when the plane was approaching the runway. The pilot, a 78-year-old male, was the only individual in the plane. He was taken to the local hospital by ambulance with non-life threatening injuries.  The aircraft, a 1997 Vans 6A, is based out of the Mankato Regional Airport and is not associated with the Minnesota State University, Mankato aviation program. The incident is under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board. No further information is [...]

Jay Dulas is running for Waseca County Sheriff in this years' election "I am announcing that I am running for Waseca County Sheriff in this years’ election. He says: My 25-year career in law enforcement has been motivated by my desire to help and serve others. For the last 23 years, I have proudly served with the Waseca County Sheriff’s Office. I started my career as a Corrections Officer, Dispatcher, and for the last 22 years have been a Deputy Sheriff as well the Crime Prevention Officer within the department. I have also assisted in training new officers that have joined [...]

(Kasota, MN)  --  The Blue Earth County Sheriff's Office is announcing over one-thousand fentanyl pills have been found and seized.  The department says a drug task force found the pills in a storage locker Wednesday in Kasota just north of Mankato.  The pills are blue and made to look like prescription oxycodone pills according to deputies.  The announcement by the Sheriff's Office says one suspect is in custody relating to the seizure and is facing charges of drug possession and sales.

Brief update that the Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office expanded the search area north of Eagle Lake today and did not locate Nyawuor Chuol or anything of interest.  The MN State Patrol helicopter assisted by searching wetland and slough areas from the air while Sheriff’s Office personnel and members of the Eagle Lake Fire Department conducted an extensive ground search of wooded areas.  Additional searches are planned for tomorrow and an update will be provided again by the end of the day.   "We remain optimistic for a positive outcome and our thoughts are with Nyawuor and her family."