An area state lawmaker supports a tax change to help those in the agriculture industry during the upcoming legislative session. State Senator Nick Frentz of North Mankato "Expenses allowed for farm equipment is allowed at the federal level," said Frentz. "And I'd like to see that pursued at the state level." Frentz says with the one-point-three billion-dollar surplus there is a possibility of a supplemental budget being passed by lawmakers this session as well.

A Madelia native will be laid to rest this weekend. 28-year-old James Rodgers was one of three men killed December fifth when a Minnesota National Guard helicopter crashed 15 miles southwest of St. Cloud. Funeral services for the St. James High School graduate will be held Sunday at one p.m. at the Howard Lake-Waverly-Winstead High School in Howard Lake. Visitation will be held Saturday night from four until nine p.m. at the Chilson Funeral Home in Winstead and two hours prior to services at the high school. Rodgers will be laid to rest during a private interment at Fort Snelling National [...]

Over the holiday season, postal carriers will be delivering around 800-million packages nationwide. Kristy Anderson is the Minnesota spokeswoman for the United States Postal Service. She says if you haven't already signed up for informed delivery to better track your packages: "You'll get a daily email. A picture of all your mail that's coming for that day. And any packages that are even in the future or next day on there so you can kind of keep an eye on it" You can sign up for this free service at informed-delivery-dot-com. (informeddelivery.com)

The Mankato school board is expected to decide the daily class schedule for the next academic year at its meeting Monday night. Superintendent Paul Peterson says the district is proposing a multi-tiered busing schedule. Peterson says while doing research on the issue, many districts were surprised Mankato is still on a single-tiered system. Peterson says the board will also decide on next year's school calendar. (Monday) night's board meeting will begin at five-30 at Civic Center Plaza.

A Mankato man was charged Wednesday in Blue Earth County District Court with charges related to several incidents. Court records say 29-year-old Thomas James Swanson was charged with three counts of theft and one count of fifth-degree possession of marijuana. Authorities say Swanson was identified via video surveillance stealing a package from a Mankato residence on Monday. Court records say Swanson was pulled over by a police officer later that day. Authorities the vehicle he was driving was allegedly stolen from St. Paul and items related to three thefts were found inside his vehicle.

A New Ulm man is facing numerous charges after a Monday morning incident in Eagle Lake. Blue Earth County court records say 33-year-old Jose Estrada has been charged with two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, two counts of first-degree burglary, third-degree sexual assault, second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, four counts of domestic assault, threats of violence and domestic abuse violating an order of protection.

There were no serious injuries reported in a 26-vehicle pileup on Interstate 35 near Owatonna yesterday. The Minnesota State Patrol says around nine-20 Thursday morning, patrol officers responded to a vehicle in the center median at milepost 41, one mile north of the Highway 14 interchange. Authorities say while the trooper was assisting the vehicle, a second vehicle went into the median behind the first vehicle. The State Patrol says 20 passenger cars and six jackknifed semis were involved in separate crashes after that. The situation forced the closure of the interstate for three hours. Authorities reopened the interstate around 12:30.

MnDOT says the Highway 14 and 15 Minnesota River Bridge in New Ulm could open as early as next week. MnDOT spokesperson Rebecca Arndt says crews are hoping the bridge could be open to traffic as early as the afternoon of Wednesday, December 18th. Motorists are advised to expect traffic control changes at the intersection of highway 14 and Nicollet County Road 37. MnDOT says the current all-way stop will revert back to a two-way stop, with thru traffic on highway 14. Crews are expected to return in the springs to complete aesthetic work.

The Chair of Senate Finance Committee says Minnesota's one-point-three billion-dollar surplus is a sign the state is managing its finances well. Senator Julie Rosen of Vernon Center credits actions by democrats a few years back for part of the sound financial footing. "When my colleagues across the aisle had the gavel, they put in a stipulation that 33 percent of any budget surplus needs to go into a reserve fund," said Rosen. "That was a very smart move on their part." Rosen says there are many areas that can be looked at because of the surplus, including depreciation tax deductions for [...]