MANKATO (LEARFIELD)  --  Damage from erosion is a growing problem on the Minnesota River. Parts of the river’s eastern bend near Mankato have more than doubled in size since the 1940s.  State officials are trying to come up with new plans to reduce the erosion. Cities in the river’s path are seeking millions of dollars to be used to raise roads, reinforce bends, and move infrastructure farther away from the Minnesota River banks.

ST. PAUL (LEARFIELD) - On this first day of the 2020 legislative session, big differences over the dollar amount of a bonding bill for state public works projects. Some Democrats are talking three-and-a-half billion dollars -- likely the largest figure ever proposed in Minnesota. House Speaker Melissa Hortman won't quote a specific number. "We should have the largest responsible sized bonding bill that we can have," said Hortman. Hortman adds that she would like to see the state commit to maintaining buildings on college campuses and water and wastewater infrastructure that have long been forgotten about. Senate Republicans, though, want a [...]

CHANHASSEN (LEARFIELD)  --  The National Weather Service is said to be on heightened alert as Minnesota heads for a flood season which could be even worse than last year. River levels are still higher than normal and much of the state went into winter with the ground saturated.  Hydrologist Craig Schmidt says the chances for reaching major flooding at this time of the year are normally about 10 percent – now, that figure is 80 percent. Experts are advising people – even those who live in areas which don’t normally flood – to consider buying some level of flood insurance. Remember, [...]