MEDINA (LEARFIELD) -- Minnesota-based Polaris issued a “stop riding and stop selling” order affecting over a quarter-million of its snowmobiles. Officials say they’re cooperating with federal officials on a likely recall and will provide free repairs once the fix is fully tested. The company warns of a fire hazard from degraded fuel in gas tanks, particularly after extended storage. Polaris says the problem has resulted in 30 gas tank ruptures, 16 fires, and one reported injury. Affected are some Matryx models from 2021 to 2023, Axys from 2015 to 2022, and Select Trail Performance from 2013 and ‘14.

UNDATED (LEARFIELD) - Critics are blasting Republican candidate for governor Scott Jensen's education plan, which would convert very-low-performing public schools -- such as Minneapolis  -- into charter schools, self-governed schools or non-public schools. "The list to us looks like the greatest hits of failed and discredited policies from the last 20 years," said Education Minnesota teachers union president Denise Specht. But Jensen fired back saying Specht "has every right to speak about what failure looks like." "Our public K-through-12 system in Minnesota is failing," said Jensen. "Teachers recognize it. Parents recognize it. Kids recognize it. Superintendents aren't gonna stand with Ed [...]

DANUBE (KMHL) – One of the three people injured in a two-vehicle crash in rural Renville County has died. The Renville County Sheriff’s Office says Kadin Huntley, 19, of Montevideo, died as a result of his injuries from an accident that occurred Sunday afternoon at the intersection of Renville County Road 1 and 4. According to authorities, Huntley was a passenger in a 2002 Ford Focus, which was involved in the crash with a 2017 Subaru SUV. The sheriff’s office says both drivers also were treated for injuries at the Olivia hospital. The crash remains under investigation with the Renville County [...]

UNDATED (LEARFIELD) – It may be August, but you’re being warned. "Shake, shiver and shovel," said Peter Geiger, spokesman for the Farmers' Almanac. He notes that Minnesota is being designated as the hibernation zone. "It sounds horrible," added Geiger. "We do talk about some snows in the middle of October, November, more significant snow at the end of November, we talked about some snow in early December." When it comes to subzero temperatures, January is when we can expect the arctic blast to blanket the state.

DANUBE (KMHL) – A crash in rural Renville County injured three people, one of them critically Sunday afternoon south of Danube. The Renville County Sheriff’s office says a 2002 Ford Focus was heading west on Renville County road 4, and missed the stop sign and collided with a 2017 Subaru SUV driven by an Omaha, Nebraska man. Authorities say a passenger in the Focus, 19-year-old Kadin Huntley, of Montevideo, was transported to North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale, and is in critical condition. The driver of the Focus, Calin Huntley, 19, of Montevideo, was treated for minor injuries. And the driver [...]

HAZEL RUN (KMHL) – Officials in Yellow Medicine County are shutting down a bridge along County Road 3 south of Clarkfield. The Yellow Medicine County Highway Department says bridge 7102 is being shutdown to traffic until further notice. Officials say a routine bridge inspection turned up a finding that the bridge’s timber piles have deteriorated to a level where the bridge is a critical safety concern. Officials say the bridge had been scheduled for replacement, but the county has been waiting for state funding to remove and replace the structure.

WABASSO (KMHL) – An ATV accident in rural Redwood County has claimed the life of a 7-year-old girl. The Redwood County Sheriff’s Office says Addison Lynn Knott, 7, of Wabasso, died after the ATV she was riding rolled around 4:30 Thursday afternoon. Authorities say Knott was driving the ATV which rolled near the 29000 block of 250th Street in rural Redwood County. Sheriff’s officials are still investigating the cause of the crash.

ST. PAUL (LEARFIELD) - Governor Tim Walz, Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan and a group of Democratic lawmakers are at the State Capitol this morning (845am), condemning Republican candidate for governor Scott Jensen's comments comparing COVID restrictions to Nazi Germany and the Holocaust. Jensen contends Germans lost their freedoms little by little before World War Two, and the same thing is happening in America: "People are making noise over something because they didn't like a word that was chosen or this or that," said Jensen. "But I think if we look at the process of incremental change, is that something that happens [...]

ST. PAUL (LEARFIELD)  --  Minnesota state revenue officials say without legislative action student loan forgiveness will be taxable. The Legislature never passed its 2022 tax bill to confirm with federal changes.  President Joe Biden announced Wednesday a wide-ranging debt cancellation program where many student loan holders could get 10-thousand dollars of their debt forgiven. That forgiveness would increase a person’s tax liability and potentially reduce tax credits or deductions a person would otherwise be eligible to receive.