News

The legendary metal band, Metallica, and their foundation, 'All Within My Hands', have come together with South Central College bringing them $100,000. This money will fund scholarships for the students looking to enter into the 'Advanced Agricultural Technician' certificate program at the North Mankato Campus or the 'Machine Tool Technology Right Skills Now' certificate at its Faribault Campus for this Fall semester, beginning August 21st. Making it the perfect gift for all those freshly enrolled. Typically, Metallica have always been generous in their choice of communities they perform in, often giving back a fraction from ticket sales to local Colleges and [...]

Republican lawmakers in Minnesota are calling for a special legislative session in order to address issues surrounding the state's new cannabis law. The first letter, sent out before the drug became legally available, alleged the law would "effectively legalize marijuana for minors." This was later found to be untrue due to the fact that minors possessing marijuana is already a petty misdemeanor. In the new letter sent out Tuesday, Republican Rep. Peggy Scott of Andover criticized the law further, citing the penalty for violating cannabis laws as a "slap on the wrist." Scott also expressed concerns over impaired driving, claiming that [...]

Minnesota Farmers and Ranchers Can Now Apply for Livestock Improvement Grants. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for their Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation Livestock Investment Grants. Farmers and ranchers in the state have the opportunity to use the grant money towards equipment and physical improvements that will improve their livestock operations. This includes building watering systems, fencing, and feeding equipment. The MDA expects to pay out around $1.5 million this fiscal year, and the application will close at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 12. Successful applicants will be contacted by early next year.

32yo State Representative Daniel Wolgamott from the St. Cloud area, faces misdemeanor charges following a traffic stop near Mora last month. Reports by the Minnesota State Patrol confirm that the charges are linked to allegations of driving while intoxicated. On Highway 23, a trooper reported sighting an expired registration on the rear license plate and weaving within the lane of Wolgamott’s vehicle, which had no front license plate. After further observation, the trooper observed “signs of alcohol impairment” and Wolgamott was arrested. He was later booked in Kanabec County Jail on suspicion of fourth-degree DWI. At the start of August, it [...]

  19yo Caylen Robert Blume of Mapleton has been charged with four felony counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct in Blue Earth County Court. Authorities began investigating Blume in February of this year after the father of a 15-year-old girl reported that his daughter had been sexually assaulted by Blume, who was 18 at the time. The father also indicated that his daughter is disabled, and has an IQ of 62. The victim's father believes that the sexual activity was forced and not consensual. In a forensic interview, the victim stated that Blume had abused her on multiple occasions before ceasing [...]

Local cannabis business partner, Matt Little is furious after police seized 22 marijuana plants from a smoke shop where they were being held for customer pickup. Little is a partner at Midwest Extraction Services in Waseca, and the plants had been labeled by strain or by THC concentration in accordance with the Minnesota hemp license, according to Little. The incident comes on the heels of the new legislation that legalizes home growing, which took effect August 1. Despite this, the rules surrounding public acquisition of the plants remain ambiguous, and police seized the plants without making any arrests. Little had been [...]

70yo William Daniel Pfeffer of Madelia, has been charged with another felony related to alleged sexual misconduct with minors. The additional charge was filed Wednesday in Blue Earth County District Court. Pfeffer had already been charged with a similar felony on July 3 and two similar felonies on July 10, according to court records. The newest accusation stems from an alleged incident involving a girl 8-9 years old, reported to police on July 31. The latest criminal complaint states that the incident allegedly occurred at a residence in Blue Earth County, and lists Pfeffer’s other charges. The July 3 charge alleges [...]

On Thursday, Governor Tim Walz (DFL-MN) continued a statewide tour to highlight investments in the workforce, this time visiting a nursing home training center in Roseville. Walz has continued to showcase investments in education, manufacturing, and public safety during the tour as part of the state's DEED's "Drive for Five" program, which is intended to strengthen the largest industries in Minnesota. Walz stressed the importance of investing in nursing homes and critical care in order to ensure better staffing. Although investments were previously made to meet new challenges and demands of the nursing home industry during the legislative session, it wasn't [...]