MARSHALL (KMHL) – The Marshall School District is moving to distance learning. In a press release, Monday, school district officials announced there will be no classes on Wednesday or Thursday this week, while the staff prepare to transition to full distance learning. Marshall School District Superintendent Jeremy Williams says students will begin Distance Learning classes on Friday. School District officials say the plan for now will be to return to Hybrid Learning on Monday November 30, but officials say that will rely, in part, on county and internal school numbers.

UNDATED (LEARFIELD)  --  The Minnesota Department of Transportation says more than 200 road and bridge projects were completed or advanced during the 2020 construction season. Officials say there were also 36 rail safety and 15 airport projects completed as well. MnDOT assistant commissioner Jay Hietpas said, "while COVID-19 created challenges in some areas, the reduced traffic volumes we saw early in the season helped in some cases to minimize disruptions to travelers." The MnDOT projects included the Highway 23 project between Cottonwood and Granite Falls, and Highway 5 near the M-S-P airport.

ST. PAUL (LEARFIELD)  --  Minnesota has set a new record for the number of positive COVID-19 test results.  The Department of Health reported 5,908 Sunday, setting a new single-day high. Thirty-one deaths push the state’s death toll to two-thousand-656.  The report indicates more than 16-thousand health care workers are among the 180-thousand-plus who have been infected by the virus. Gov. Tim Walz is expected to renew the peacetime pandemic state of emergency later this and that will bring on a sixth special session of the Minnesota Legislature.

Photo: DeAnne Holland, Avera Marshall (FILE PHOTO) MARSHALL (KMHL) – Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center is re-opening a drive-thru COVID-19 sample collection site beginning Tuesday. The drive thru site will be at Avera’s Carlson Street location and it will operate from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. Avera says individuals do not need an appointment or to call ahead before coming. "We are seeing a steady rise in cases of COVID-19 in our region along with increased activity in our clinics with patients experiencing respiratory concerns," said Avera Medical Group Vice President, Amber Crowley. "As we get [...]

Marshall Mayor Bob Byrnes         3,013 votes Steve Ritter        2,290 votes Noel Ayala              701 votes Marshall School Board Bill Swope                                          4,417 votes       26.49% Matt Coleman                                   3,735 votes       22.40% Bill Mulso                                          [...]

UNDATED (LEARFIELD) - State health officials have reported more than two-thousand coronavirus cases for five straight days in Minnesota. Nearly three-thousand positive COVID-19 tests were confirmed Monday, increasing the state's total to 153-thousand-620 cases since the pandemic began.  Nine more Minnesotans died of virus complications which brings the death toll to two-thousand-484. "The takeaway for today is that Minnesota is in a bad spot due to the rapid community spread of COVID-19," said Kris Ehresmann. "And it's going to get worse before it gets better." More than 36-thousand tests contributed to Monday's numbers.

MARSHALL (KMHL) – The Marshall School District will start a search for a permanent superintendent. The school board made the decision during their meeting Monday evening. Jeremy Williams has been serving as the interim superintendent since July 1st, and while board members complimented him on his leadership of the district, they felt the best thing to do would be to conduct a search for a superintendent. The board referred the issue to committee to put together search details.

COTTONWOOD (KMHL) – There’s good news today for anyone who uses Highway 23 heading out of Marshall to the east. The Minnesota Department of Transportation is scheduled to re-open Highway 23 east of Green Valley this afternoon – weather permitting. Construction on the highway has been underway the last 7 months. That project has included resurfacing, and several safety features like adding turn lanes at several locations and realigning some of the intersections. MnDOT says motorists may see some lane closures over the next few weeks, while work crews finish the off-road grading and cleanup.

MARSHALL (KMHL) – Nine residents at Avera Morningside Heights Care Center in Marshall have tested positive for COVID-19. The medical center confirmed the news through a press release Friday afternoon. Avera Marshall said it has opened a separate unit for COVID-positive residents, in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, and in an attempt to minimize exposure to other residents in the facility. “The health and safety of our residents is our top priority,” said Avera Marshall Vice President of Clinical Operations Dodie Derynck. “Our team has worked tirelessly to protect the health of our residents over the course [...]

WILLMAR (LEARFIELD)   --   Authorities in west-central Minnesota are releasing the name of the woman struck and killed by a train Wednesday afternoon. The Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Department says 68-year-old Marcy Swanson of Willmar was walking on the tracks near Kandiyohi when she was hit by an eastbound B-N-S-F train. Swanson died at the scene.