MARSHALL (KMHL) – It’s full speed ahead on a proposal for Lyon County to compact the recycling it collects at drop sites around the county. The Lyon County Board of Commissioners this week authorized the county to enter into negotiations with Southwest Sanitation to lease building space for it to begin doing that. The county estimates the move will save the county about $14,000 a year. Lyon County currently maintains 13 drop-cites in area cities.  

ST. PAUL (LEARFIELD) - Top Republican lawmakers say there are still unanswered questions, after Governor Tim Walz announced the first nursing home will be accepting less-critical COVID patients from overburdened hospitals in Minnesota. Rochester Senator Carla Nelson asks if incoming COVID patients will be contagious -- and if residents and their families will be notified that they're arriving. "Making sure that residents are protected, staff is protected and that of course patients who are being transferred from hospitals to long-term care settings are being protected," said Nelson. State health officials did not respond to a request for comment. Two weeks ago [...]

MINNEOTA (KMHL) – Voters in the Minneota School District approved a proposal on a technology levy, but defeated a building referendum proposal. Minneota voters approved a $500-thousand dollar technology levy, but did not approve a proposed $7.6 million building bond. Minneota’s technology levy will be used fund things from the district’s one-to-one technology program to equipment for Minneota’s Career and Technical Education infrastructure. The second question, which would have funded updates to school facilities, including permanent restrooms at the football field failed.  

FRANKLIN (KMHL) – A Franklin man was injured in an ATV accident that occurred Saturday afternoon. The Redwood County Sheriff’s Office says Matthew Olson, 26, of Franklin was injured when the ATV he was driving lost control while making a turn along Redwood County Highway 2. Authorities say the crash was reported around 5:45 Saturday evening. Olson was airlifted to North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale. Authorities say alcohol may have been a factor in the crash.

MARSHALL (KMHL) – The Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce will have a new home next month. The chamber is moving from it’s current location on West College Drive – across from the Schwan’s corporate office, to it’s old location on West Main Street. "The building we are at now was actually purchased by another company," said Gruhot. "They were looking to bring in a business that's probably a better fit at some point, and we're looking for something a little bit smaller and it kind of worked out," said Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce President Brad Gruhot. He says with Visit [...]

MARSHALL (KMHL) – Members of the House Capital Investment Committee will be in Marshall this evening as they wrap up their first day of a three-day listening tour, hearing proposals for state-backed construction projects ahead of the legislative session. Lawmakers will hear the proposals this evening at Southwest Minnesota State University, beginning around 6 p.m. Legislators will hear several different proposals including one from city of Tyler on sanitary sewer reconstruction and a project to replace runway lights at the Redwood Falls airport. The committee’s three-day tour will also take them through Willmar, Olivia, Pipestone, Luverne and Worthington as well.

OLIVIA (KMHL) – One man was serious hurt in a tractor accident that occurred just southwest of Olivia Monday morning. The Renville County Sheriff’s Office said a man was driving the John Deere tractor pulling an empty grain cart northbound on a rural road southwest of Olivia when the driver lost control of the tractor and ended up in the ditch. Authorities say the driver of the tractor was thrown about inside the cab and suffered significant injuries. Sheriff’s officials say the man was flown from the scene to North Memorial Health in Robbinsdale with serious, but non-life-threatening agencies.

COTTONWOOD (KMHL) – Two men have been sentenced to probation and ordered to pay more than $1 million dollars in restitution for shooting at and rupturing a pipeline near Cottonwood in April of 2019. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says Eric Weckworth-Pineda, 25, of Cottonwood, and 21-year-old Tanner Sik (sheek) of Ivanhoe caused the pipeline to rupture after firing several shots at it on April 24, 2019. Magellan Midstream Partners L.P., who owns the pipeline says the rupture caused more than 3,900 gallons of diesel fuel to spill into the Yellow Medicine River and cost more than $1.1 million to clean up [...]

Photo courtesy: Southwest Minnesota State University, smsu.edu MARSHALL (KMHL) – Southwest Minnesota State University students are dedicating today to a day of service. SMSU says the day is called “Mustangs Give” and the university says its an opportunity for students and staff to give back to the communities and organizations that support SMSU. SMSU President Kumara (coo-MAR-ah) Jayasuriya (jai-AH-suh-REE-ah) says it’s a new initiative this year and he adds there are 250 students and faculty volunteering. "I want us to be able to partner with the community, so we can get to the next level," said Jayasuriya. "It is [...]

RENVILLE (KMHL) – Authorities in Renville have identified both the victim and suspect in a shooting that occurred in that community last week. According to a press release from the Renville Police Department, 31-year-old Pablo Gutierrez, of Renville, was killed in the shooting. Authorities say he was transported by ambulance and lifesaving measures were attempted, but he was pronounced dead following Thursday night’s shooting. Authorities were called to the scene around 10:15 p.m. on Thursday. Police say Julian Valdez, 26, of Renville, was taken into custody and is being held pending formal charges by the Renville County Attorney’s Office. Authorities say [...]