The Career Navigator Program had another successful year, which will wrap up tomorrow, Friday, April 26 with the last group of approximately 140 ninth graders visiting South Central College. The students come from Maple River and St. James High School. This the third year of the Career Navigator Program, a collaboration of South Central College, South Central Service Cooperative and area school districts in the South Central Perkins Consortium. The three entities work together to schedule students from schools from throughout the region for all-day career exploration experiences at SCC.

With fewer than four weeks to go in the legislative session, Governor Tim Walz and Senate Republicans remain far apart on several key issues--including healthcare, transportation and taxes. Walz says the key to avoiding a special session: "Well it starts with the idea that compromise is a virtue, not a vice. It starts with the idea that I need numbers, the Senate needs to do their work." Senate Republicans say the Governor's spending plan is overreaching. Walz says he still expects lawmakers to finish their work on time. The session is set to end on May 20th.

“ASK A TROOPER” by Sgt. Troy Christianson of the Minnesota State Patrol   Question: I want to install a lift kit and put bigger tires on my Jeep. I want to comply with all the state laws. What is a bumper height law and the law about tires that extend out past the fenders?   Answer: Anytime you make any modification or alteration to a vehicle’s stock suspension and tires/rims, it can change how that vehicle handles, steers, brakes and could affect its overall performance. Below are a list equipment violations and safety issues that I have seen over the years [...]

It’s finally spring and time to start digging in the dirt. Kim Sogaard from Edenvale Nursery will be giving a presentation, Maximize Outdoor Space with Plants That Pop, Thursday, April 25 from 2-3:30 pm at the VINE Adult Community Center. Attendees will learn about beautiful, new, and improved plant varieties, eye-catching color combinations, and how to use varied leaf textures to add interest.  Sogaard will help you make this the summer to maximize enjoyment of your outdoor space with easy to grow plants. The presentation is free for VINE members and open to the public for $5 per person.  For more [...]

Sen. Amy Klobuchar has agreed to become the second Democratic presidential candidate to hold a town hall meeting on Fox News Channel. Fox's announcement comes two days after Sen. Bernie Sanders participated in a similar meeting on Fox. It reached 2.55 million viewers, more than any other similar event so far in the 2020 campaign cycle, and drew some online anger from President Donald Trump. Klobuchar's town hall will be on May 8 and will be held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Like the Sanders event, it will be anchored by Fox's Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum.

Evidence of this year's harsh winter is washing up along some shorelines in southern Minnesota. While dead and dying fish washing ashore can be discouraging to see it's the result of a natural process called "winterkill." "Every year we see a depletion of oxygen under the ice but the rapid change in events from January to February some of our shallow lakes in Minnesota started to really see a drop in dissolved oxygen." The DNR's Jack Lauer says if you do see a large number of dead or struggling fish to contact your local DNR office right away.

Motorists are advised that several state highways in south central and south west Minnesota are currently impacted by downed powerlines. Highway 59 from Worthington to Fulda remains closed due to downed powerlines. Other highways where power lines are down but the road is open with caution advised include: Highway 15 Fairmont to Iowa Highway 71 Jackson to Iowa Highway 86 Wilder to Iowa In addition several I-90 rest areas are closed due to loss of power including eastbound and westbound at Adrian, eastbound at Jackson (Clear Lake) and the Worthington Weigh Scale. Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead and check driving [...]

Stephanie Schriock, the president of the political action committee EMILY’s List, will present Minnesota State University, Mankato’s 14th annual Carol Ortman Perkins Lecture at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 10 in the University’s Centennial Student Union Ballroom. The lecture is open to the public. Free tickets are available in the Minnesota State Mankato Women’s Center, located in Centennial Student Union, Room 218, or by calling 507-389-6146. An event preview provided by the Minnesota State Mankato Women’s Center include the following information about Schriock: “Under Schriock’s leadership, EMILY’s List has expanded and tripled its staff and resources, leading to the election of record numbers of women to [...]

Since it's the season to be outdoors, more people spend time outside sitting by a recreational fire. Following are tips to stay safe: Fire pits, fire rings, or fireplaces must be 25-foot from any building or other combustibles. If using an enclosed fireplace, the distance should be at least 15-feet from any building or other combustible objects. A fire should never be closer than 15 feet to anything combustible. Recreational fires are allowed in the city of Mankato without a permit as long as state provisions are met. Recreational fires should be used for cooking, social, or recreational purposes. Materials permitted [...]