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Marty Walsh has worked with nonprofits, community leaders and others to create a Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail.

Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail gets boost with a nearly half-million-dollar state grant

The long-distance trail project now will turn to hiring a trail director and building more community support.

Nortech Systems closing Blue Earth facility prompting 74 layoffs

4:36pm
Maple Grove-based Nortech Systems does complex engineering and manufacturing of electromedical and electromechanical parts for clients in the medical,
Electronics manufacturer Nortech Systems closing Blue Earth Minnesota facility 74 layoffs
  • Maple Grove manufacturer closing plant near Brainerd, affecting 60 to 70 jobs

A $10M referendum failed last fall; now Rochester schools are doubling their request

May 15
The Edison Administrative Building photographed in Rochester in August 2022.
District officials warn that school closures are likely if voters reject the proposal.
  • Duluth schools' $52M levy fails for second time
Rochester
May 14
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Columbia says this circled person is Paul Orta Jr. of Blue Earth, Minn. Prosecutors accuse him of toss

Southern Minnesota man pleads guilty for role in Jan. 6 Capitol riot

Paul Orta Jr., from Blue Earth, tossed aside police barricades and rushed toward a line of officers during the effort to prevent Joe Biden from being certified as the next president.
Local
May 13

Man dies after being struck by train in Rochester

The 23-year-old's name has not yet been released.
Outdoors
May 11
Anglers head out from a packed boat access early Saturday morning on Bald Eagle Lake in White Bear Lake.

The weather and the bite made for a dreamy state fishing opener

The bite might have been mixed in places, but there was certainty for many Minnesotans: It was an ideal day to be out.
Sports
May 11
Adelynn Petersen, 12, Parker Wiemann, 14, and Katelyn Magnuson, 13, from left, fish for whatever they can catch during the Root River Roundup on Satur

Live: Updates and photos from the Minnesota fishing opener

Hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans are participating in Saturday's fishing opener, with walleye the preferred game fish.
Local
May 11
The contents of a time capsule from 1920 found in the cornerstone of the old Owatonna High School earlier this year. Courtesy Steele County Historical

Owatonna opens time capsule tucked in the high school a century ago

The rusty metal box was filled with newspapers, city history and lots of telling financial statements.
Twins
May 10
Debbie Weinberg, 87, normally would be watching her beloved Minnesota Twins on television, but instead finds other ways to pass the time at her home i

Neal: Hurt most by Bally-Comcast fight? Superfans like Debbie

The most-tenured of fans can't watch their Twins on TV, and that might be the best reason of all to settle this squabble. C'mon, CEOs, figure this out.
High Schools
May 10
Holy Family's P.J. Herron is among the 16 boys still in the running to be Mr. Minnesota Golf.

List of 32 in running for Ms. and Mr. Minnesota Golf is revealed

The awards go to the top high school senior golfers in the state, and the winners will be named June 9.
High Schools
May 10
Junior Reese Reimler is a big contributor to Champlin Park's 10-game winning streak.

Three softball teams make it their moment in the state rankings

Champlin Park, winner of 10 in a row, landed in Class 4A's top 10. Farmington in 4A and Red Lake Falls in 1A are new No. 1s.
Music
May 9
Maggie Panetta and Nate Nelson own the store Treedome in Rochester in addition to now serving as directors for the Mid West Music Fest.

Scene Makers Q+A: Rochester store owners head up Winona's Mid West Music Fest this weekend

Maggie Panetta and Nate Nelson of Treedome discuss hosting 60-some bands and why Minnesota's smaller cities are so cool.
Local
May 8
Downtown Albert Lea in 2021.

Albert Lea Pride drag show draws controversy after venue pulls out

Venue change comes amid planning for city's second-ever Pride celebration.
High Schools
May 8
St. Paul Academy freshman Zahir Hassan is ranked third in Class 1A this week, down from No. 1.

High school boys tennis teams bear down on the postseason

A new No. 1 player, Garrett Webb of Mounds Park Academy, leads the Class 1A individual rankings in the final week of the regular season.
Sports
May 8
Clockwise from top left: Mounds View head coach Dan Engebretson, Mounds View assistant coach Marty Morgan and Woodbury wrestler Alex Braun were honore

Wrestling Hall of Fame reveals award-winners, new members

Alex Braun of Woodbury and Lanna Walter of Sauk Centre/Melrose were named wrestlers of the year, and Dan Engebretson and Marty Morgan from the Mounds View coaching staff were honored.
High Schools
May 8
Maple Grove's Ryan Stendahl rose from fourth to second in the most recent Class 2A individual rankings.

Maple Grove reclaims lost ground in boys golf rankings

The Crimson began the season at No. 1 but fell to fourth. Now they stand third behind Spring Lake Park and Cretin-Derham Hall.
High Schools
May 6
From left, Steve Branca, Mary Branca Rosenow and Denny Branca show off the framed uniform that the Rochester John Marshall baseball program gave them

Rochester high school baseball program honors longtime coach

Lou Branca, who died in 2023 at age 94, coached at John Marshall for two decades after two years in the minor leagues.
High Schools
May 6
Carter Raymond, shown during last season's Class 2A championship game, is Randolph's pitcher and is batting .447 with four doubles, three triples and

Change at the top looms in high school softball rankings

Farmington's victory over Rosemount will weigh heavily. Meanwhile, Randolph stands strong at 14-0 in Class 2A.
Business
May 6
Attorney General Keith Ellison speaks during a press conference in April. Ellison filed fraud Medicaid fraud charges against a group of Faribault admi

Minnesota AG Ellison brings charges in Faribault area Medicaid fraud scheme

Co-conspirators are accused of fraudulent billing for transportation, interpreter and specialty clinic services.
Colleges
May 5
Minnesota State Mankato coach Emilee Thiesse carries the championship trophy off the court in St. Joseph, Mo. on March 29.

Neal: What happens after you win a national title?

The parties start, and some don't stop. The phone rings. The contracts come. Life is good right now for basketball coaches and fans in Mankato.
Local
May 3
Organizers and supporters of the Bravo Zulu House celebrate a groundbreaking of the novel veterans sober living project in Winnebago, Minn., late last

New sober house for veterans in southern Minnesota wants to treat the real issue: PTSD

Organizers say the Bravo Zulu House in Winnebago could kickstart a new nationwide model for recovery.
Local
May 3

Austin man sentenced to 32 years for killing woman who was playing with a stun gun

Me'darian L. Mcgruder received 386 months in prison during a sentencing hearing Friday.
Local
May 3
Mankato-area sirens working again; faulty phone line caused failed test

Mankato-area sirens working again; faulty phone line caused failed test

Blue Earth County is working on a backup system in case the sirens fail in the future.
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