ST. PAUL (LEARFIELD) - Governor Tim Walz says as of today (Mon) there's adequate personal protective equipment for medical personnel in Minnesota for right now. In a press call yesterday, the governor acknowledged that if the peak were to hit Minnesota right now though - there would not be enough protective equipment for health care workers. "That's why it was important for us to determine to the best of our ability where the peak would be, and then to use everything we could to push it back a little ways," said Walz. Walz says the federal government's response is getting better [...]

ST. PAUL (LEARFIELD) - Hit with a flood of unemployment insurance claims, state officials are asking Minnesotans to follow a schedule when applying for jobless benefits. "If the last digit of your social security number is 0,1,2 you should apply on Monday. If the last digit of your social security number is 3,4,5 you should apply on Tuesday, and if the last digit of your social security number is 6,7,8 or 9 you should apply on Wednesday," said Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Steve Grove. He adds they're leaving Thursday and Friday open for anyone who missed their assigned day. Grove is [...]

UNDATED (LEARFIELD) - Minnesota farmers hoping to get into the fields soon for chemical application should be cautious, according to Dave Nicolai  (NICK-uh-lie) University of Minnesota Extension crops educator. Nicolai says farmers are hoping for a dry spring. "We went into the fall very wet, and of course excessive rains are just going to add to it and just slow things down," said Nicolai. "At the later end of April we expect to be our target." Nicolai says the first thing that needs to happen is for the ground to become frost-free, which is an ongoing process.

OLIVIA (KMHL) – Bail has been set at a half million dollars for a Hector woman who is accused of shooting her boyfriend and killing him last week. Elizabeth Lynch, 35, of Hector, appeared in Renville County Court in Olivia yesterday on charges of 2nd Degree Murder and 2nd Degree Manslaughter for killing 42-year-old Anthony Tebben at a home the two shared in Hector last week. According to a criminal complaint, Lynch claims she shot Tebben by accident in the head after he threw a plate at her early Thursday morning.

(KMHL) – Students in the Marshall School District will begin their distance learning plan today. Marshall Schools Superintendent Scott Monson said last week that distance learning will look different the rest of the year from what students and teachers have been used to. "It's just going to look different," said Monson. "I don't know that it's realistic to expect that 7:45 to 3:45 is going to be the new norm for all of our students to learn in that window of time, and all of our staff to be 'teaching' during that time." In addition, he adds the state has applied [...]

WINDOM (KMHL) – Another southwest Minnesota county has a positive case of the coronavirus. According to the Minnesota Department of Health, a resident from Cottonwood County has tested positive for the virus. So far, health officials say the individual is following all requirements and recommendations. On Friday, a resident from Lincoln County also tested positive. Earlier in the week a resident of Lac Qui Parle County also tested positive for the virus. Statewide officials said on Sunday there were 503 confirmed cases of the virus in Minnesota, and 9 fatalities.

ST. PAUL (LEARFIELD)  --  The Minnesota D-N-R says do not believe a social media post saying the state's fishing season is canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. The false report was made on Minnesota D-N-R letterhead and encouraged anglers to request access to their favorite fishing areas in the state. The D-N-R says all bodies of water will be open for fishing this season. The fishing opener this year for trout is April 18th, walleye, sauger and northern pike on May 9th and muskie on June 6th,

MARSHALL (KMHL) – A person from Lincoln County has tested positive for COVID-19. The announcement was made by Southwest Health and Human Services earlier today. The agency says it is the first confirmed case in the six county area that’s served by the agency. In a press release, Carol Biren, the public health director, says it is likely the virus is circulating in all of our communities. The agency says to slow the spread of the disease and the ability for health care systems to provide the best care - they continue to recommend people Stay home if they're sick Wash [...]

ST. PAUL (LEARFIELD) - The state's "Stay at Home" order goes into effect at midnight. "You can leave your home, pick up groceries, go get food, prescriptions, if your jobs in the critical section, it's essential - you're going to work," said Walz. "If you leave home do social distancing, keep six feet away, don't touch folks." Walz added that people are encouraged to go outside and do activities - "fresh air is a good thing." Walz says the order is meant to help slow down the transmission of COVID-19 and buy some time to get hospitals more prepared.

ST. PAUL (LEARFIELD) - The Minnesota Legislature convenes today to approve emergency funding for the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic (Thursday). The House session is scheduled to start at noon and the Senate meets at 2 p-m.  Governor Walz has requested more than 300-million dollars. Lawmakers will be following social distancing requirements during the floor sessions.  In the Senate, 14 members plus the president will be seated in the chamber.  Other members will be in the retiring room, the east gallery, Senate President's office and four other rooms. The microphones will be sanitized between each speaker, and doors to the [...]