Marshall (KMHL) - A dozen COVID-19 deaths have been reported statewide, including two confirmed deaths in southwest Minnesota. According to the Minnesota Department of Health, the victims were a Lyon County resident and a Redwood County resident who were both in their 80’s. New confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been rising in the area, which includes a total of 21 new cases and four probable cases amongst Lyon county residents. This now brings Lyon county’s total number of COVID-19 deaths to 48 and confirmed cases to 3,182.

Ivanhoe (KMHL) - On Thursday, Divine Providence Health Center in Ivanhoe announced that they will be closing their long-term care facility this summer. This decision will affect only the long-term care facility, not the independent living apartments adjacent to the care center. Factors leading up to this decision included low occupancy levels, changes in long term care trends and the COVID-19 pandemic. This closing will impact a total of eight residents and 35 employees.

Tyler (KMHL) - As construction of the new Russell - Tyler -  Ruthton school continues to make progress, the district is also planning to start construction of a $3.9 million athletic complex. This would include a track and artificial turf football field in Tyler. Before anything can begin, the complex needs to be reviewed by the Minnesota Department of Education. The athletic project is separate from the $35 million pre-k through 12 school construction project and would not have a tax increase.

Wabasso (KMHL) - The Wabasso Public Schools Board of Education has narrowed down their search for a Superintendent position down to four finalists. They are: Jake Tietje, Rick Ellingworth, Jon Fulton, and Michael Pagel. Interviews will be held on Thursday, April 1st at the Wabasso Public School, with the candidate attending virtually.

Balaton (KMHL)  – Slope maintenance work on Highway 14 in Balaton will begin Monday, March 29. It will start with the removal of trees and as weather conditions become favorable, work will continue with the placement of riprap and erosion control measures to repair and stabilize the slope which is experiencing erosion. The project located at the Highway 14 bridge at the south end of Lake Yankton will take place off the roadway; however, a temporary lane closure and flagging operation is possible to accommodate heavy equipment. The project is scheduled to be completed within three weeks, weather permitting. MnDOT asks [...]

St. Paul (KMHL) - On Thursday, the Minnesota Senate passed legislation establishing a 2021 Polar Vortex Loan Account for municipal utilities that purchased natural gas in February during the extreme cold weather that occurred. The bill provides $15 million from the state general fund for zero interest loans for utility providers. "When we think energy, I'm sure hardly any Minnesotans believes that a cold front down in Texas could have a disastrous impact on Minnesota, said Luverne Republican Senator Bill Weber. "Unfortunately, as a result of the vortex and consequential gas market fluctuations, we're seeing just that. Today's bill provides much [...]

St. Paul (LEARFIELD)  --  Governor Tim Walz made it official today that all Minnesotans age 16 and older will be eligible for the COVID vaccine starting next Tuesday.  The governor's spokesman says it comes as the federal government has promised an increased supply of vaccines by April.  The State Health Department's Kris Ehresmann says that would mean for us in terms of new people that could get vaccinated each week, it ends up being about 304 thousand doses coming in, both through our federal retail pharmacy streams as well as the allocation that comes to Minnesota.  The Walz-administration will direct providers [...]

St. Paul (LEARFIELD) - State lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow rural electric cooperatives to use existing and future held easements for broadband. Brian Krambeer is President and CEO of My Energy Cooperative and he says there are 44 electric co-ops in Minnesota, and also states, "...and many of the electric co-ops are putting fiber in the ground themselves just to operate their electric distribution systems and what we're hoping to do is be able to utilize some of the resources that the electric co-ops have to be able to offer that to other retail providers to deliver broadband" [...]

St. Paul (LEARFIELD)  --  Governor Tim Walz says Minnesota ranks first in the nation for the percentage of vaccines distributed administered to patients.  The state has administered 88-and-a-half percent of the vaccine doses it has received which is number-one, according to the C-D-C. The governor said, "we won't stop until every Minnesotan who wants a shot gets one." State Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said Tuesday that  two-million-250-thousand people have been vaccinated.  More than one-point-four million have had the first shot and  854-thousand Minnesotans have had a complete series of vaccinations. North Dakota ranks second in the nation for vaccinations administered, says [...]

St. Paul (LEARFIELD)  --  State health officials are hosting two temporary COVID-19 vaccination events this week in southwestern Minnesota.   The clinics are aimed at workers in food processing and agriculture and other eligible Minnesotans.  The doses are being administered at the MERIT Center in Marshall and the Worthington Events Center.    Marshall and Worthington join the seven large-scale sites in the state's Community Vaccination Program. Governor Tim Walz says these new locations provide even more opportunities for people to get their shots.