News

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI (LEARFIELD)  --  A farmer from southwest Minnesota will be the 2020 president of the American Soybean Association. Bill Gordon of Worthington was elected by the A-S-A board Thursday at the annual meeting in St. Louis.  Gordon previously served as treasurer and has been a national director since 2012. He says one of his goals is to recruit a diverse demographic to the association including women and African American farmers.  Gordon is pushing for a trade resolution with China and getting the United States-Mexico-Canada agreement signed by the president.

NEW ULM (LEARFIELD)  --  A criminal investigation is underway after a possible bomb and shooting threat at New Ulm High School. New Ulm Police say they received a tip from the F-B-I office in Mankato Tuesday afternoon of the threat to the high school via social media. Authorities say a suspect student was removed from the building Wednesday without incident and is cooperating with law enforcement. The investigation is ongoing and authorities say the completed report will be forwarded to the Brown County Attorney’s Office.

SPRINGFIELD (KMHL) – Allina Health plans to assume operations of the Mayo Clinic Health System in Springfield. In an email sent out to local providers in the area, Allina said it plans to provide primary care, specialty care consultations, telehealth/virtual visits, medical imaging, lab and rehabilitation services. Allina also plans to expand the partnership with St. John’s Lutheran Home to provide care for residents there as well. According to the letter though, Allina will not be assuming operations of the hospital and Emergency Department in Springfield or the Lamberton Clinic. The move will align health care in Springfield with the New [...]

OLIVIA (KMHL) – An Olivia man who admitted to sexually molesting a child has been sentenced to 6 years in prison. Ronny Oleson, 60, of Olivia, was sentenced to 74 months in prison to one count of 3rd degree criminal sexual conduct yesterday in Renville County District Court. In March, Oleson was arrested and charged with 8 felony counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct in the 3rd and 4th degree involving force or coercion and making sexual contact with a child under the age of 13 over a two year period. Oleson will have to register as a predatory sex offender and [...]

CLARA CITY (KMHL) – Ice was a factor in a single vehicle crash that occurred on State Highway 7 east of Clara City yesterday morning. According to the Minnesota State Patrol a 2000 Toyota Avalon was traveling east on Highway 7 when the vehicle lost control, left the road and struck a tree. Authorities say four people were injured, the driver, Jessica Perkins, 24, Clarkfield, was taken to the St. Cloud Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Authorities say 4-year-old Larissa Houle, of Clarkfield, Nashay Liggins, 30, of Marshall, and Layla Woods, 2, of Clarkfield, all passengers in the Avalon, were injured [...]

DES MOINES, IOWA (LEARFIELD)  --  Senator Amy Klobuchar appears to be gaining ground in the Democratic presidential race in Iowa. The new Emerson College Poll show Klobuchar in fifth place with 10-percent support.  It's the first time the Minnesota Democrat has polled in the double digits.  She was at six percent in last Des Moines Register poll. Joe Biden is in the lead at 23 percent, Bernie Sanders is a close second at 22 percent.

COTTONWOOD (KMHL) – A water boil advisory will remain in effect until at least Thursday afternoon in Cottonwood, even though crews have been able to replace the broken water main that caused issues in that community Monday and Tuesday. The city of Cottonwood’s Samantha Janowski tells Marshall Radio that even though the work to replace the water main has been completed, the city's water should be boiled before people drink it, use it for making ice, cooking or brushing their teeth. She says they want to make sure there's nothing harmful remaining in the water. The major main break cut off [...]

UNDATED (LEARFIELD) - Officials say five Minnesotans and four others from North Dakota and Wisconsin have been sickened by e-coli linked primarily to Fresh Express Sunflower Crisp Chopped Salad Kits. Doctor Kirk Smith with the Minnesota Health Department says like the larger national outbreak earlier the product contains romaine lettuce. "This product has romaine, but I have to stress that we do not know what the contaminated component was," said Smith. "Because it also contained other components like kale and red and green cabbage." The suspect products have a "use-by" date of December 7th, 2019 and should be thrown out. Smith [...]

WILLMAR (LEARFIELD)  --  One person is hospitalized and another is in jail after a shooting in Willmar. Police say a 25-year-old man was found lying in the street Tuesday morning.  The victim's name and current condition weren't released. Officers say a 26-year-old man who was holding a gun surrendered and was arrested.   The incident is still under investigation.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KMHL/LEARFIELD) - Smiles pretty much all around as House Democrats and the Trump administration announced agreement to move forward with the president's replacement for NAFTA. Minnesota Farm Bureau President Kevin Paap (PAP) says the USMCA modernizes and improves that earlier agreement. "Strengthen our science-based rules, take care of some wheat grading issues, dairy access that we've had some concerns about," said Paap. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minnes0ta) was also celebrating the announcement of the deal Tuesday. He called the passage of the USMCA a step in the right direction. "I have been pushing for months to [...]