LYND (KMHL) – A positive test for COVID-19 has officials in the Lynd School District shifting 6th through 8th grade students to distance learning. According to a post on social media, Lynd students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade will not have class today, and will begin distance learning on Monday. The district says the move is being made out of an abundance of caution because of a positive COVID-19 test. According to the post, students in kindergarten through 5th grade will be in-person learning under hybrid guidelines.

MOORHEAD (LEARFIELD) - Gov. Tim Walz said yesterday the spreading COVID pandemic could make things difficult over the next six to 12 weeks for parts of Greater Minnesota. Walz, while talking in Moorhead Wednesday, said marshalling medical resources won't make dealing with the challenge any easier in parts of the state. "That poses problems because the workforce is much narrower, and in some of these cases we don't even have hotels nearby to the facilities," said Walz. "If we're bringing in teams to work, they may have to drive a considerable distance each and every day." "That poses problems because the [...]

HERON LAKE (KMHL) – Two Waite Park men were killed when a semi collided with a Ford Focus west of Windom Monday. The Minnesota State Patrol says Hussen Noor, 30, of Waite Park, and Abdiqadar Abdi, 25,  of Waite Park were in the Focus that was involved in an accident with a semi along State Highway 62 west of Windom. Authorities say the Focus was southbound on Cottonwood County road 5 when it collided at the intersection with the semi which was traveling on Highway 62. According to the State Patrol, the semi-truck driver was not injured.  

MARSHALL (KMHL) – Lyon County has already broken its all-time record for early voting. County Auditor/Treasurer E.J. Moberg through a press release reported that more than 5,218 absentee and mail ballots had already been accepted so far. Moberg notes that Lyon County sent a total of 8,207 absentee and mail ballots to Lyon County voters this year. Some of the higher turnout for early voting comes from having an increased number of mail ballot precincts in the county. A total of 26 of the county’s 33 voting precincts have switched to using mail ballots only this year.

MINNEOTA (KMHL) – It’s a return to school today for 7th through 12th grade students in the Minneota School District. It has been a week of continual change in the district. Minneota Schools Superintendent Dan Deitte (Dee-ette) gave a lot of credit to staff that he says stepped up to help students return to school this week. "You know you don't go into it expecting that, but when they stepped up and they are volunteering their hours to help out, it really shows the power of a small town, said Deitte. Earlier this week, the district thought all students would be [...]

ST. PAUL (LEARFIELD)  --  Minnesota’s secretary of state says the Electoral College needs to be reformed. Steve Simon points out that the confirmation of U-S Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett means five of the nine justices sitting on the court bench have been nominated by presidents who lost the popular vote. The Electoral College was created during the Constitutional Convention in 1787 as a compromise between those who wanted direct popular elections for president and those who preferred to have Congress choose a president. It would require a constitutional amendment to abolish the Electoral College.

SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA (LEARFIELD) - A major Minnesota provider, Sanford Health, is merging with Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Healthcare, the largest provider in that region of the country. "We've got about nine months of regulatory filings, planning and a lot of other work that needs to be done for this to become a real combined organization next summer," said Sanford CEO Kelby Krabbenhoft. Krabbenhoft says Sanford will retain its brand for now. "Just like Good Samaritan was, in the merger we just recently did, an accepted big brand on a national platform, Sanford Health on the eastern frontier of this [...]

MANKATO (LEARFIELD) -- The reaction to COVID-19 has claimed another marquee event. Hockey Day in Minnesota, planned for Mankato in 2021, has been postponed. Mankato will now host the event in 2022. The day-long celebration of hockey at all levels was due to celebrate its 15th anniversary in 2021. Organizers say there will still be some sort of celebration in 2021 with details to be announced later.

MINNEOTA (KMHL) – Students are not to report to school today in the Minneota Public School District. Superintendent Dan Deitte announced on Facebook last night, that all custodial staff in the school were close contacts to COVID-19 and must quarantine. The post says without custodial staff, they are not able to professionally clean and sanitize our facilities. As a result, Minneota will be moving to full distance learning. According to the post, while the district is in distance learning, there will be no extracurricular activities or athletics. Staff should report to school today – and distance learning in the Minneota district [...]

MARSHALL (KMHL) – Fire investigators announced the cause of a deadly explosion near Marshall in August. Gail Schipanski, 74, and his wife Nancy Schipanski, 71, were killed in the blast that occurred at the couple’s home. Marshall Fire Chief Quentin Brunsvold tells Marshall Radio the explosion was caused by fugitive LP gas that entered the home from a damaged LP supply line outside the home. Investigators believe the home exploded when the dryer was started around 6:30 that morning. The blast destroyed the couple’s home – and could be felt for miles.