St Paul (KMHL)  - A bill that was introduced Monday by Senator Gary Dahms of Redwood Falls passed the full Senate . Senator Dahm’s bill would extend the state’s reinsurance program for another year which will ensure that insurance rates in the individual market will remain stable, and without any additional cost to the tax payers. “We saw how destabilized the health insurance market could be back in 2016," Dahms said, "Many counties had zero or only one provider on the individual market and premiums went up almost 50 percent. Our successful reinsurance program stabilized the market, brought in choices for [...]

Marshall (KMHL) - Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center is now inviting people age 65 and over to call the organization’s call center if they would like to be placed on a waiting list for the COVID-19 vaccine. Individuals can call 507-532-9661. “We are thrilled to be making progress in vaccinating our most vulnerable populations,” said Debbie Streier, Regional President and CEO, Avera Marshall. “We’ve been able to schedule many individuals 85 and over for appointments, and now we’re happy to expand the age range. Our call center continues to call patients, but we aren’t always able to reach people when we [...]

Avera has announced that Bobbi Jo Vandendriessche, DNP, has been named Vice President of Avera Medical Group for the Avera Marshall region. Vandendriessche has been serving in this position on an interim basis since December and has been with Avera Marshall since 2018. In her new role, she will have leadership responsibilities over Avera Medical Group clinic operations across the Marshall region, including Marshall, Granite Falls, Tyler, Lake Benton, Tracy, Springfield and Redwood Falls. In addition, she will maintain executive leadership over emergency and urgent care services to support collaboration between these clinical teams. “I’m excited for the opportunity this new [...]

Marshall (KMHL) - Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center is now allowing people in the area who are ages 85 and over to call and get their name on a list to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. “We are committed to vaccinating our most vulnerable populations,” said Debbie Streier, Regional President and CEO, Avera Marshall. “We prioritized calling our most elderly patients for vaccine appointments first. We haven’t been able to reach all of them – some people’s phone numbers have changed; some may not have been able to answer when we called. So we are asking people age 85 and over to [...]

St Paul (KMHL) - On Wednesday Governor Tim Walz announced that starting on Monday, all middle and high school students can return to classrooms for hybrid or in-person learning. The governor says he expects all schools in the state to offer some form of in-person learning by March 8. “It’s time for students to be back in the classroom,” Walz said in a statement. “We aren’t out of the woods, but our relentless progress with vaccines and Minnesotans’ vigilance has put us closer than ever to the end of this pandemic. Our progress means we can get more students safely back [...]

St. Paul (LEARFIELD)  --  Governor Tim Walz will outline his plan today at noon to bring more Minnesota middle- and high-school students back on campus. Walz says "we're further along in in-person learning than most places, and I think this is just the way to make sure that we don't end up with an outbreak." House Deputy Republican Leader Anne Neu Brindley says data show all Minnesota students can be back in the classroom right now and that if the governor's plan is anything like the Biden administration's, it will be a step backward.  The governor notes 85 percent of K-through-eight classes [...]

MINNEAPOLIS (KMHL) — On Friday Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced further loosening of restrictions on businesses that include increased indoor capacity limits. Restaurants will also be able to stay open until 11 p.m. It is expected to be approved and will take effect Saturday at noon. “Our small businesses have made enormous sacrifices for the health of their employees and communities,” Walz said. “Today, we can make these cautious, common sense adjustments to support them because of the progress we have made controlling the spread of COVID-19 and getting the most at-risk Minnesotans vaccinated.” The adjustment to COVID-19 mitigation measures include: [...]

Cottonwood (KMHL) - Lakeview School District voters passed both parts of a two-question referendum. The 10.8-million-dollar two-part referendum focuses on updates for the 2002 part of the Lakeview School building, which would consist of replacing the roof and HVAC system, and the school athletic fields which includes resurfacing the track, providing new turf on the football field and also converting one of the softball fields to a youth baseball field. “We’re really thankful for the community’s support,” said Lakeview Superintendent Chris Fenske. Next step for the school district will be to start planning with construction documents and bids.

Buffalo (WCCO) - The Wright County Sheriff's Office has identified the suspect in this morning's shooting at a Buffalo health clinic as 67-year-old Gregory Ulrich. Buffalo Police Chief Pat Budke says the suspect was known to local law enforcement. Officials believe he acted alone and are not looking for additional suspects. They do not believe it to be related to domestic terrorism. “The history that we have as a department with this individual makes it most likely that this incident was targeted at this facility or someone within that facility,” Buffalo Police Chief Pat Budke said. “He has lived in this [...]