Marshall (KMHL) - United Community Action Partnership has announced their new 24/7 crisis line for people experiencing homelessness. Homelessness has become an issue during the COVID-19 pandemic from job loss and a shortage of affordable housing options. Real-life examples of homelessness UCAP has observed include: people “couch hopping”, living in a vehicle, sleeping in storage units, locking themselves in their place of work, warming up in 24-hour businesses, or multiple families living in one single-family apartment. “We are excited to be able to offer this as a resource throughout our service area,” said Angela Larson, Family Services Director at UCAP. “We [...]

Marshall (KMHL) - Avera Marshall is beginning to offer COVID-19 vaccinations to patients. The organization is reaching out to patients who meet the state’s current priority criteria to schedule them for appointments. “Patients don’t need to call us. We will call them when we have a vaccine appointment available for them. We are not developing a waiting list at this point,” said Debbie Streier, Regional President and CEO, Avera Marshall. "We will reach out to our patients over age 65, beginning with the oldest individuals.” Avera Marshall plans to hold vaccine clinics at its Carlson Street campus on Friday, Feb. 5 [...]

Redwood County (KMHL) - The Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office has completed a preliminary autopsy of Quincy Schaffer and found hypothermia as a contributing factor in Mr. Schaffer’s death. Schaffer’s body was found on Sunday, January 31, 2021, in a wooded area behind a residence located within the Lower Sioux Indian Community after going missing early last week. The autopsy found no significant physical injuries indicating assault or other cause of death.

Marshall (Press Release) –  Mayor Bob Byrnes and City Administrator Sharon Hanson recently presented Community Services Officer Cliff Bahr with recognition as the city’s 2020 Employee of the Year.  Officer Bahr was recognized with this honor during the city’s COVID-Modified Annual Employee Recognition Event held January 11, 2021. Officer Bahr has been employed with the City of Marshall since 2002, first as a part-time Community Services Officer and later promoted to full-time Community Services Officer on June 27, 2011. In a year of unprecedented year of change and challenge, Officer Bahr’s positive attitude and strong work ethic never wavered in 2020. [...]

Redwood County (KMHL) - Authorities in southwestern Minnesota say 21-year-old Quincy Domingo Schaffer, who went missing in Redwood County last week, has been found dead. The Lower Sioux Tribal Council said in a statement that the circumstances of Schaffer’s death are under investigation by the community police department. Schaffer had been missing since last Tuesday and according to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, his body was found Sunday in a lightly-wooded area within the Lower Sioux Indian Reservation.

  ST. PAUL (Press Release) – Today, Governor Tim Walz announced that the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) will award grants totaling $20,645,425 to 39 projects in the sixth year of the Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant program. State grant dollars are matched by $33,695,279 in local funds, for a total investment in broadband infrastructure of $54,340,704.   “The pandemic this past year has made it crystal clear that fast, reliable broadband access is critical for people living in Greater Minnesota – for everything from education and health care to business operations and telecommuting,” said Governor Walz. “These grants [...]

Marshall (KMHL) - The Marshall City Council approved Tuesday the creation of a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Commission. It is part of the City’s wider effort to help make the City an inclusive community for everyone, and to promote belonging as well as creating an ongoing dialogue, through which the city can explore inequities, share information, and be a change agent for race equity within our community. “This Commission is an important first step and aligns with our community goal from our planning sessions held in 2019 where diversity, equity and inclusion were key comments expressed,” said Mayor Bob Byrnes. [...]

Minneapolis (WCCO) - During a press conference held at noon on Tuesday, Governor Tim Walz released his two year budget proposal. His proposal aided his education plan and would offer economic relief for small businesses and families affected by COVID-19. This proposal has an estimated value of $52.4 billion.   The governor is seeking a 1.5% increase in the income tax for those earning $1 million or more. He also wants the capital gains tax to increase by 1.5% as well which is a tax on investment gains. Walz also wants an increase in the corporate tax rate from 9.8% to [...]

St. Paul (LEARFIELD)  --  Governor Tim Walz announced on Monday his “Due North" education plan. This plan will reform school funding, expand opportunities for students of color, and in Greater Minnesota, and build the most qualified and diverse teaching workforce in the nation. Walz says "this needs to be the best state in the country for a child to grow up -- brown, white, black, indigenous." Republican state Representative Ron Kresha of Little Falls says the governor's plan lacks any meaningful reforms to raise academic achievement and is "crafted by organizations that have obstructed progress and choices for students and families."

Ghent (KMHL) - Beginning Tuesday, January 19 at 12 p.m. Marshall will be one of nine sites for a community COVID-19 vaccine pilot program. These pilot sites will initially serve adults 65 years of age or older and educators, school staff, and child care workers. Representative Chris Swedzinski, (R-Ghent), issued the following statement about the new Marshall COVID-19 vaccine pilot site: "This pilot site will be critical for delivering the vaccine to Minnesotans who want it in Southwest Minnesota," Swedzinski said. "I am grateful that folks in our area won't have to travel hundreds of miles to get vaccinated. Targeting the [...]