RUSSELL (KMHL) – A motorcycle crash southwest of Russell left an Indiana man dead. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, Dustin Lehman, 44, of Lafayette, Indiana, was traveling northbound on Highway 23 when the 2020 Harley Davidson he was riding left the road and crashed in the ditch. Authorities say the crash occurred shortly after 10 PM Saturday night.

Photo: City of Marshall Facebook Page MARSHALL (KMHL) – The City of Marshall announced a new piece of artwork that is being installed at Independence Park in Marshall in commemoration of the city’s 150th Anniversary. The artwork was fabricated by Bend-Rite Fabrication and was installed yesterday on the south side of the park along Highway 23. Local residents are creating additional details and they will be added near the M frame. The city will hold an official unveiling on the morning of August 18th.

WABASSO (KMHL) – The Darryl Worley concert that was scheduled for Friday night in Wabasso has been cancelled. According to a press release from The Roadhouse, Worley tested positive for COVID and his shows in Wabasso and in Ohio this weekend are being cancelled. The Roadhouse says they ae planning to move forward with a new show for next year. For those who purchased tickets for the show, refunds can be obtained at The Roadhouse Bar & Grill or at outhousetickets dot com.

ST. PAUL (LEARFIELD) - Governor Tim Walz defends a ten-year economic expansion plan from a special panel he called together, which stresses affordable child care, housing and health care... better K-12 education...and workforce training -- but doesn't emphasize business tax cuts. Walz said today (Wed) at a metal fabrication company in Stacy, "When you ask the business community what's your top concern right now? They will tell you workforce. And then they will very quickly pivot to, how can you make that workforce stronger? And then they will pivot quickly to child care and things like that." Walz’s challenger, Republican Scott [...]

RAYMOND (LEARFIELD) -- A woman is dead after the van she was driving collided with a garbage truck south of Raymond in Kandiyohi County. Deputies say 56-year-old, Nicolasa Bernabe-Lopez, of Willmar, died at the scene of the accident on Tuesday morning. Authorities say the crash occurred around 9:45 Tuesday morning, the crash remains under investigation.

UNDATED (LEARFIELD) - The Interagency Fire Center in Grand Rapids says wildfire danger is "low-to-moderate" in northern Minnesota, but increasing into the "moderate" range in southern parts of the state: "As the conditions continue to dry, that fire danger rating will continue to fluctuate and move higher," said Leanne Langeberg of the fire center. "If we get those soaking rains and we get more moisture, that helps to alleviate the potential for wildfire to spread." But August often ushers-in drier weather, and Langeberg says last weekend's storms missed areas most in need of rain.

MARSHALL (KMHL) – There are a lot of challenges facing the agricultural community today, perhaps none of those challenges are as big of a threat to the industry as the challenges it has telling it’s own story to the general public. Ken Franzky, from Centrol Crop Consulting, served as a facilitator during the State of Agriculture Forum held in Marshall yesterday. He notes that only 2 percent of the population today is involved in production agriculture. "Most of the public doesn't realize how [there food] gets to the grocery store," said Franzky. "It starts on the farm, goes through some transportation [...]

ST. PAUL (LEARFIELD) – State officials are evaluating nearly 1.2 million applications to see which are eligible for their share of 500 million dollars in COVID "hero pay" bonuses. James Honerman (HONN-er-man) with the Department of Labor and Industry says after all applications are reviewed, an e-mail will inform people that either no further action is necessary, or their application has been denied with an opportunity to appeal. "And that appeal period is anticipated to be Tuesday, August 16th through Wednesday, August 31st," said Honerman. After that, officials will determine the final number of eligible applicants, and equally divide the 500 [...]