Blue Earth County Public Works reminds drivers that County Road 27 from US Highway 14 to County Road 2 remains closed at this time and is still actively under construction.    Drivers should avoid using the road unless they live along this segment.  In recent days there have been numerous safety concern issues between construction crews and vehicles speeding through the project.  Blue Earth County takes the safety of motorists, construction workers, and County employees seriously and we are asking for the publics assistance with that.  Patience and caution are needed as construction crews complete the final grading, sign installations, seeding [...]

The annual archery deer hunt in Rasmussen Woods, 555 Stoltzman Road, and on approved public and private property throughout the City, begins Saturday, September 18 and ends Friday, December 31. Bowhunters participating were required to pass a proficiency test and a bowhunters safety course, be at least 18-years-old and possess a valid Minnesota archery deer license. This purpose of the hunt, which aligns with archery season, is to cull the deer herd as recommended by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Pro-choice advocates are gearing up for a big fight against the Texas abortion law that the U-S Supreme Court let stand, and which they fear could come to Minnesota.  Senator Tina Smith praised comments by Tippy Amundson, who says a medical condition would not only have taken the life of her unborn child, but also would have prevented her from having any other children: "Abortion is referred to as a choice, but I did not choose it.  It was the only choice I had." Amundson says to those who support the Texas abortion law and similar measures: "I encourage others to [...]

Officials say Minnesota traffic deaths caused by people not wearing seatbelts could surpass last year's numbers, which were the highest since 2014.  Mike Hanson, director of the state Office of Traffic Safety, says the last seatbelt survey found 93.4 percent of Minnesotans buckle up -- however... "When you look at that, that remaining six-plus percent of Minnesota drivers and occupants who don't put that seatbelt on, but yet they result in one-third of our fatalities." A "Click It or Ticket" enforcement campaign begins Sunday across Minnesota and runs through the end of September.

An influential Republican in the state Senate is calling for data security review of an app the Walz administration launched, which gives Minnesotans access to their vaccination records on their mobile device.  Ham Lake Senator Michelle Benson says the administration could have brought the proposal to the legislature for proper vetting: "It was an opportunity to build trust, and the administration decided to go around the legislature." Benson says the "Docket" app is essentially a government-approved vaccine passport, despite Governor Tim Walz saying in April he had "no intention" of implementing one.    Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm says while she thinks many [...]

Today the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is hosting the second session in a month-long virtual series aimed at educating lawyers, judges and others in the justice system about people struggling with substance abuse disorder. Tori Utley with the foundation says as the series continues they hope attendees develop a deeper understanding of the issue. "What addiction is and how the neurobiology of addiction and trauma and childhood experiences play into that experience. We want to educate on what the process of change looks like for these folks." Utley says the sessions will give attendees specific real world tools to help those [...]

(Washington, D.C.)  -- Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is requesting that the secretary of defense investigate possible mistreatment and neglect of Afghan refugees at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin.  She is joined by fellow lawmaker U.S. Representative Gwen Moore from Wisconsin.  Published reports say some refugees have yet to receive a new set of clothing, including undergarments.

(Minneapolis, MN)  --  Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is pleading not guilty to a 2017 confrontation where he is accused of kneeling on a 14-year-old boy's neck.  Chauvin is accused of depriving the teen, who is Black, of his right to be free of unreasonable force.  Chauvin allegedly grabbed the teen by the throat, hit him in the head with a flashlight and then held his knee against the boy's neck while he was cuffed and not resisting.  Chauvin is already serving time for the murder of George Floyd after he knelt on Floyd's neck for around nine minutes in [...]

(Minneapolis, MN)  --  Two people are in the hospital after a stabbing and shooting just south of downtown Minneapolis.  Police say two men got into an argument in the 19-hundred block of Chicago Avenue Thursday afternoon.  Police say one man was stabbed and the other was shot.  Both are expected to survive and neither of them have been charged.

(West St. Paul, MN)  --  West Saint Paul police are investigating after two dead bodies are found inside a garage.  Police say the bodies were found in the 100 block of Thomas Avenue West Thursday afternoon.  Police say they weren't able to identify the bodies or determine their cause of death because of how long they'd been there.